Cologne - Kartäuserkirche

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 "Kölner Kartause", a Carthusian monastery was founded in 1334 by Walram of Jülich here. At that time more than 100 Carthusian monasteries existed in Europe, but this was the first in the town, where Saint Bruno, founder of the Order was born. The monastery developed into the largest Carthusian convent in Germany and existed until 1794, when the invading French troops forcibly dissolved it.

After WWII, the mostly destroyed complex got rebuilt. The church, erected mid 14th century and dedicated to St. Barbara, was open now.

The church is as well a testimony of the long-lasting friendship between two well known German artists. Gerhard Marcks (Bauhaus master) created the baptismal font and the altar cross and Charles Crodel (member of the Berlin Secession) designed the stained glass windows.