Cologne - Krieler Dömchen

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior".

The official name of this Romanesque church is "St. Stephanus", as it is dedicated to the protomartyr. It is believed, that this small building is the second oldest church in Cologne. Only St. Gereon is older. a legend tells, that Hildebold, who became Archbishop of Cologne later, has worked here, when Charlemagne met him. When Charlemagne was here, the existing church was made from timber. This church got replaced around 900, that again was enlarged and remodeled a couple of times later.

There are remains of a small hall, that may have existed to the 16th or 17th century. Here the local judge met the delinquents.This now bricked up side door once lead to that hall from the church.

In the early times - and over centuries - this was the parish church of the village Kriel, and while the neighbouring City Cologne had a Dom (Cathedral), Kriel had a Dömchen (small Dom). In the 19th century Kriel became a part of Lindenthal - and by now this is Cologne.

Of course the church was to small, when the population grew. In the backdrop is the bell-tower of the new parish church, dedicated to Albertus Magnus.