Basilica of the Holy Apostles, Romanesque church on Neumarkt in Cologne, Germany
The Basilica of the Holy Apostles is a Romanesque church in the heart of Cologne with a distinctive triple-apse eastern end and three towers that define its outline. The interior is structured by a central nave flanked by symmetrical side aisles that guide the eye toward the altar.
A monastery was founded here in the 10th century; its first Apostle church was probably a simple building. Under Archbishop Heribert (999–1021) or his successor Pilgrim (1021–1036), a large Salian church was built, called the "Pilgrimbau". Around 1150 a new west choir was built and a 67-metre west tower was erected on the filled-in crypt, apparently after a fire. In 1965 Pope Paul VI raised the church to a minor basilica.
The church is dedicated to the twelve Apostles, and its Kölsch name is Zint Apostele. Since the 10th century a collegiate foundation (Stift) stood here, whose canons served the church until secularisation. Pope Paul VI raised it to a minor basilica on 18 September 1965 with the apostolic letter Templis praeclaris.
The church sits centrally between Neumarkt and Hahnenstrasse, within easy walking distance of the old city's shopping district. Visitors should keep in mind that religious services may affect access at certain times.
The two eastern towers are integrated into the trefoil chancel, so the church presents three apses toward Neumarkt rather than a single rounded end. The western tower reaches about 67 metres, making it the third-highest tower among Cologne's Romanesque churches. A short octagonal crossing tower with a lantern rises above the clover-shaped choir.
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