Martin M. Miles' photos

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 church was founded in the 9th century as a chapel of a Franconian lord. Afterwards it became the parish church of the boat- and fishermen´s village of Noithusen that in 1106 was integrated into Cologne´s new city wall. This church got replaced 1200 - 1230. The new church, (seen here) was sponsored by the Overstolz and Lyskirchen families. The church is a vaulted galleried basilica wirh a double towered choir facade, facing the Rhine river. 1520/30 almost all Romanesque windows got replaced by Gothic tracery windows. In 1784 the church was severely damaged by ice drift. Renovations were done from 1868 to 1876.

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 Conventual Franciscans (aka Minorites), had this Gothic church built. The early Gothic choir was erected 1245 to 1260, the nave was completed in the 14th century. Here is the tomb Duns Scotus Duns Scotus (1266 – 1308) was a Scotsman from a town named Duns. He is considered to be one of the most important philosopher-theologians of Western Europe in the High Middle Ages. He was a Friar Minor, his ordination to the priesthood took place in Northampton in 1291. Around 1300 he was in Oxford and in 1302 he began lecturing at the University of Paris. Later that year he was expelled from the university for siding with Pope Boniface VIII in his feud with King Philip IV of France over the taxation of church property. Duns Scotus was back in Paris in 1304 where he continued lecturing there until he was dispatched to the Franciscan studium at Cologne in 1307. Duns Scotus died in Cologne in November 1308. The tomb bears the Latin inscription: "Scotia me genuit. Anglia me suscepit. Gallia me docuit. Colonia me tenet."

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 Conventual Franciscans (aka Minorites), had this Gothic church built. The early Gothic choir was erected 1245 to 1260, the nave was completed in the 14th century. Here is the tomb of Adolph Kolping. Adolph Kolping, born to a family of as poor shepherd in 1813, proved to be an able student while in school from but his poorness prevented him from furthering his education. In 1831 he travelled to Cologne as a shoemaker's assistant and became shocked with the living conditions of the working class that lived there. He decided to become a priest, though he remained a shoemaker until 1841. Kolping was ordained to the priesthood in 1845 in the "Minoritenkirche". He first served in Elberfeld, a center of industrialisation in that time After his return to Cologne he established Cologne's branch of the "Gesellenverein", the origin of the present international "Kolpingwerk". He is remembered as the "Father of All Apprentices" www.kolpingwerk-europa.net/en/home.html

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 Conventual Franciscans (aka Minorites), had this Gothic church built. The early Gothic choir was erected 1245 to 1260, the nave was completed in the 14th century. After the French troops occupied Cologne in 1794, the convent had to leave and the building was used for storage. The church became property of the cathedral chapter. and a renovation started. Adolph Kolping, the "Father of All Apprentices", was the second president of the "Gesellenverein" ("Journeymen's Union") had used this church for the Gesellenverein since 1849. After the 262 separate air raids, conducted on Cologne during WWII fire had destroyed the church, the vaults and parts of the southern nave were lost. The reconstruction of the "Minoritenkirche" undertaken by the by the "Kolpingwerk" was completed in 1958.

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 Conventual Franciscans (aka Minorites), had this Gothic church built. The early Gothic choir was erected 1245 to 1260, the nave was completed in the 14th century. After the French troops occupied Cologne in 1794, the convent had to leave and the building was used for storage. The church became property of the cathedral chapter and a renovation started. Adolph Kolping, the "Father of All Apprentices", was the second president of the "Gesellenverein" ("Journeymen's Union"), he had used this church for the Gesellenverein since 1849. After the 262 separate air raids, conducted on Cologne during WWII fire had destroyed the church, the vaults and parts of the southern nave were lost. The reconstruction of the "Minoritenkirche" undertaken by the by the "Kolpingwerk" was completed in 1958.

In 2018 I spent some time in hospital, where I had the impression, that the food, that was served, was not really healthy wholefood. The taste sometimes was a bit strange. To be polite. Here is lunch.

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". Sometimes it is claimed, that Cologne is the norternmost Italian city. Obviously the Romans left some specific genes here. So dining on a sidewalk in front of the restaurant is not that uncommon. "Jakob Fertig" across the road is a restaurant, that serves traditional regional dishes like rhenish Sauerbraten prepared from horsemeat.

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 "Severin Strasse" named after the church once was a Roman road running south through a Roman necropolis. An Christian oratory existed here already at the end of the 4th century. In Carolingian times a basilica was here. A community of clerics had settled and already before 800 St. Severin, the third Bishop of Cologne, is documented as patron saint. The construction of a three-aisled basilica started in the 10th century. About 1230 the choir was extended over the hall crypt (which is mostly locked nowadays). In this crypt the relics of St. Severin were stored. The new choir got consecrated in 1237. Around 1500 the Romanesque church got reconstructed in Gothic style and the Gothic tower was finally completed in 1550. The convent got dissolved 1802 after the French took over Cologne and St. Severin became a parish church. During WWII St. Severin got severely damaged, the vaults of the central nave were down, all roofs were destroyed. The reconstruction was done 1945 - 1961. The common sight of the nave - with furniture. The reliquary of St. Severin was opened in 1999 for an examination. It turned out that the relics were stored together with textiles in a separate reliquary box made of oak wood. This box had seals from earlier openings, including one from the time of Archbishop Hermann III of Hochstaden (1055-1099). According to the investigations, the bones and the silk fabrics into which they were wrapped date from the time around 400, the time when Bishop Severin is said to have lived according to tradition. The wooden shrine was built between 939 and 949 after dendrochronological examinations.

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 "Severin Strasse" named after the church once was a Roman road running south through a Roman necropolis. An Christian oratory existed here already at the end of the 4th century. In Carolingian times a basilica was here. A community of clerics had settled and already before 800 St. Severin, the third Bishop of Cologne, is documented as patron saint. The construction of a three-aisled basilica started in the 10th century. About 1230 the choir was extended over the hall crypt (which is mostly locked nowadays). The new choir got consecrated in 1237. Around 1500 the Romanesque church got reconstructed in Gothic style and the Gothic tower was finally completed in 1550. The convent got dissolved 1802 after the French took over Cologne and St. Severin became a parish church. During WWII St. Severin got severely damaged, the vaults of the central nave were down, all roofs were destroyed. The reconstruction was done 1945 - 1961. After a restoration, that was completed in 2017, for a while in 2017 all furniture was taken out and some mosaics, that may have survived WWII could be seen. They are in a decorative, geometric style called "cosmatesque". This technique goes back to the Roman family Cosmati, the leading family workshop of marble craftsmen for generations. It is said, that Laurenzo Cosmati (~ 1150) was apprentice of Greek / Byzantine Masters. His sons continued the work. Upto about 1300 the comatesque style spread all over Europe.

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 "Severin Strasse" named after the church once was a Roman road running south through a Roman necropolis. An Christian oratory existed here already at the end of the 4th century. In Carolingian times a basilica was here. A community of clerics had settled and already before 800 St. Severin, the third Bishop of Cologne, is documented as patron saint. The construction of a three-aisled basilica started in the 10th century. About 1230 the choir was extended over the hall crypt (which is mostly locked nowadays). The new choir got consecrated in 1237. Around 1500 the Romanesque church got reconstructed in Gothic style and the Gothic tower was finally completed in 1550. The convent got dissolved 1802 after the French took over Cologne and St. Severin became a parish church. During WWII St. Severin got severely damaged, the vaults of the central nave were down, all roofs were destroyed. The reconstruction was done 1945 - 1961. After a restoration, that was completed in 2017, for a while in 2017 all furniture was taken out, what gave a quite different impression of the nave.

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 "Severin Strasse" named after the church once was a Roman road running south through a Roman necropolis. An Christian oratory existed here already at the end of the 4th century. In Carolingian times a basilica was here. A community of clerics had settled and already before 800 St. Severin, the third Bishop of Cologne, is documented as patron saint. The construction of a three-aisled basilica started in the 10th century. About 1230 the choir was extended over the hall crypt (which is mostly locked nowadays). The new choir got consecrated in 1237. Around 1500 the Romanesque church got reconstructed in Gothic style and the Gothic tower was finally completed in 1550. The convent got dissolved 1802 after the French took over Cologne and St. Severin became a parish church. During WWII St. Severin got severely damaged, the vaults of the central nave were down, all roofs were destroyed. The reconstruction was done 1945 - 1961. After a restoration, that was completed in 2017, for a while in 2017 all furniture was taken out, what gave a quite different impression of the nave.

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 "Severin Strasse" named after the church once was a Roman road running south through a Roman necropolis. An Christian oratory existed here already at the end of the 4th century. In Carolingian times a basilica was here. A community of clerics had settled and already before 800 St. Severin, the third Bishop of Cologne, is documented as patron saint. The construction of a three-aisled basilica started in the 10th century. About 1230 the choir was extended over the hall crypt (which is mostly locked nowadays). The new choir got consecrated in 1237. Around 1500 the Romanesque church got reconstructed in Gothic style and the Gothic tower was finally completed in 1550. The convent got dissolved 1802 after the French took over Cologne and St. Severin became a parish church. During WWII St. Severin got severely damaged, the vaults of the central nave were down, all roofs were destroyed. The reconstruction was done 1945 - 1961, but restoration work continued.

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 annual "Köln Marathon" (Cologne Marathon) is held since 1997 in early October. Hundreds of volunteers are needed to organize - and to clean up.

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 annual "Köln Marathon" (Cologne Marathon) is held since 1997 in early October. Thousands of athletes make this to one of the most popular runs in Germany. They are cheered by an enthusiastic crowd. The pacemakers (yellow shirts) will run the full distance in about 4 hrs. (written on the red balloons). So the participating runners have a kind of orientation.

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". A Roman villa once occupied the hill on which the church stands. Around 870 the first church got erected here and in 955 Archbishop Bruno the Great (brother of Emperor Otto the Great) added a Benedictine abbey. . In 966, work was begun on a new church to go with the monastery. The church was consecrated in 980. During the construction the bones of St. Maurinus were discovered. Holy Roman Empress Theophanu, who was married to Emperor Otto II in 972, ordered the construction of the current facade. The monastery was dissolved after Cologne was occupied by French forces in 1794. The church served as a horse stable, and, when Cologne became Prussian in 1815, as a Protestant garrison church. The tomb of Theophanu, niece of the Eastern Roman Emperor Johannes I. Tzimiskes and wife of Otto II. His father Otto I had the idea of unifying the eastern and the western empires, so he sent delegations to Constantinople in order to win over a Byzantine princess as consort to his son. Finally Gero, Archbishop of Cologne, was successful but instead of the desired Emperor´s daughter he brought young Theophanu to Italy. Some advisors recommended to sent her away, but Otto I could not follow the advice, considering the relationship with Byzantium. Theophanu and Otto II were married by Pope John XIII in April 972 and she was crowned as Holy Roman Empress the same day in Rome. Otto II succeeded his father in 973. Theophanu accompanied her husband on all his journeys an achieved a privileged position with influence in affairs of the empire. Theophanu was criticized for her "decadence", manifested in her bathing and introducing new luxurious garments and jewelry into the royal court. She is credited with introducing the fork to Western Europe. Otto II died suddenly on 7 December 983 at the age of 28. Three-year-old Otto III had already been appointed King of the Romans. Theophanu had him crowned at Aachen Cathedral, with herself ruling as Empress Regent on his behalf. Theophanu ruled the Empire for five years, from May 985 to her death in 990. Her first act as regent was securing her son, Otto III, as the heir to the Holy Roman Empire. Theophanu also placed her daughters in power by giving them high positions in influential nunneries all around the Ottonian-ruled west, securing power for all her children. She was for sure one of the most important women of the middle ages. Theophanu and Otto II, blessed by God, and flanked by St. Pantaleon and the Hagia Sophia. A relief on the modern sarcophagus.

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". A Roman villa once occupied the hill on which the church stands. Around 870 the first church got erected here and in 955 Archbishop Bruno the Great (brother of Emperor Otto the Great) added a Benedictine abbey. . In 966, work was begun on a new church to go with the monastery. The church was consecrated in 980. During the construction the bones of St. Maurinus were discovered. Holy Roman Empress Theophanu, who was married to Emperor Otto II in 972, ordered the construction of the current facade. The monastery was dissolved after Cologne was occupied by French forces in 1794. The church served as a horse stable, and, when Cologne became Prussian in 1815, as a Protestant garrison church. The tomb of Theophanu, niece of the Eastern Roman Emperor Johannes I. Tzimiskes and wife of Otto II. His father Otto I had the idea of unifying the eastern and the western empires, so he sent delegations to Constantinople in order to win over a Byzantine princess as consort to his son. Finally Gero, Archbishop of Cologne, was successful but instead of the desired Emperor´s daughter he brought young Theophanu to Italy. Some advisors recommended to sent her away, but Otto I could not follow the advice, considering the relationship with Byzantium. Theophanu and Otto II were married by Pope John XIII in April 972 and she was crowned as Holy Roman Empress the same day in Rome. Otto II succeeded his father in 973. Theophanu accompanied her husband on all his journeys an achieved a privileged position with influence in affairs of the empire. Theophanu was criticized for her "decadence", manifested in her bathing and introducing new luxurious garments and jewelry into the royal court. She is credited with introducing the fork to Western Europe. Otto II died suddenly on 7 December 983 at the age of 28. Three-year-old Otto III had already been appointed King of the Romans. Theophanu had him crowned at Aachen Cathedral, with herself ruling as Empress Regent on his behalf. Theophanu ruled the Empire for five years, from May 985 to her death in 990. Her first act as regent was securing her son, Otto III, as the heir to the Holy Roman Empire. Theophanu also placed her daughters in power by giving them high positions in influential nunneries all around the Ottonian-ruled west, securing power for all her children. She was for sure one of the most important women of the middle ages.

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". A Roman villa once occupied the hill on which the church stands. Around 870 the first church got erected here and in 955 Archbishop Bruno the Great (brother of Emperor Otto the Great) added a Benedictine abbey. . In 966, work was begun on a new church to go with the monastery. The church was consecrated in 980. During the construction the bones of St. Maurinus were discovered. Holy Roman Empress Theophanu, who was married to Emperor Otto II in 972, ordered the construction of the current facade. The monastery was dissolved after Cologne was occupied by French forces in 1794. The church served as a horse stable, and, when Cologne became Prussian in 1815, as a Protestant garrison church. During World War II the roof, parts of the outer walls and a large part of the interior were destroyed, but after the war the church was restored. The church is dedicated to Saint Pantaleon. This is probably connected to Otto II´s wife Theophanu, who was the niece of the Eastern Roman Emperor Johannes I. Tzimiskes. She brought not only relics to Cologne but as well skilled craftsmen, who may have settled near this church. The quarter still is named "Griechenmarkt" and in medieval times there was a "Porta Grecorum". The reliquar from 1180 holds the relics of Saint Maurinus. A similar, holding relics of Saint Albanus, is loacted right of the alter.

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". A Roman villa once occupied the hill on which the church stands. Around 870 the first church got erected here and in 955 Archbishop Bruno the Great (brother of Emperor Otto the Great) added a Benedictine abbey. In 966, work was begun on a new church to go with the monastery. The church was consecrated in 980. Holy Roman Empress Theophanu, who was married to Emperor Otto II in 972, ordered the construction of the current facade. The monastery was dissolved after Cologne was occupied by French forces in 1794. The church served as a horse stable, and, when Cologne became Prussian in 1815, as a Protestant garrison church. During World War II the roof, parts of the outer walls and a large part of the interior were destroyed, but after the war the church was restored. The church is dedicated to Saint Pantaleon. This is probably connected to Otto II´s wife Theophanu, who was the niece of the Eastern Roman Emperor Johannes I. Tzimiskes. She brought not only relics to Cologne but as well skilled craftsmen, who may have settled near this church. The quarter still is named "Griechenmarkt" and in medieval times there was a "Porta Grecorum". The late Gothic rod screen was erected in the early 16th century. Today it carries the organ.