St. Cecilia's Church, Romanesque church museum in Altstadt-Süd, Germany.
Description
St. Cecilia's is a three-aisled Romanesque church with rounded apses and medieval frescoes in its upper choir. The building retains its original barrel-vaulted wooden roof dating from the 12th century and now functions as a museum.
History
The church was built between 870 and 888 under Archbishop Willibert's tenure, replacing a Roman bath complex beneath the site. The structure survived major conflicts and air raids, underwent restoration, and reopened as a museum dedicated to medieval religious art.
Culture
The Schnütgen Museum displays medieval religious artworks within a sacred space that itself forms part of the collection. Visitors experience how these objects interact with their original architectural setting and create a unified whole.
Practical
The museum is easily reached by public transport and sits centrally in the old town. Keep in mind that stairs to the upper choir are steep and interior spaces are compact, so crowded periods may feel confined.
Did you know?
Beneath the church lie remains of a Roman bath, marking an earlier layer of settlement in the city's long history. Though not open to visitors, these ruins remind us that the ground itself holds centuries of stories.
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