St. Stephanus

St. Stephanus is a Gothic church in Kornelimünster featuring a three-nave hall layout with late Gothic design elements and a rectangular tower that has barrel vaults beneath its ground level. The interior structure combines multiple aisles that create distinct spaces within the building's overall form.

First documented in the 12th century, this church served as the mother parish for the local area before converting to a cemetery church in 1802. This shift marked a significant change in how the building was used by the community.

The name St. Stephanus honors the saint, and visitors can see multiple altars and religious artworks displayed throughout the interior spaces. The arrangement of these elements shows how the church interior was organized to serve its community's spiritual needs.

The church sits on a ridge overlooking the former Abbey Church of St. Kornelius and is reached by a set of stairs leading upward. The stepped approach helps visitors navigate the natural slope of the terrain while accessing the building.

A lightning strike in 1835 destroyed the original gabled roof sections, requiring complete replacement with a simpler single roof design. This event left a permanent mark on the building's profile and how the tower appears today.