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Antoniterkirche

A Gothic Protestant church in the middle of the Schildergasse – Cologne's most visited church after the cathedral, known for Barlach's ‘Hovering Angel'.

The Antoniterkirche is a Gothic Protestant church in the middle of the Schildergasse shopping street. Its central location makes it Cologne's most visited church after the cathedral – an oasis of calm amid the bustle.

Source: Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-06-23

At a glance

  • Built: 1350–1378 as the church of the Antonine order
  • Denomination: Protestant (since 1802)
  • Location: Schildergasse, the main shopping street
  • Famous for: Ernst Barlach's "Hovering Angel"

From monastery to city church

The three-aisled Gothic basilica originally belonged to the monastery of the Antonine order. During the French occupation the monasteries were dissolved; in 1802 the Protestant congregation received the church, which was remodelled under Ferdinand Franz Wallraf. After severe destruction in 1942 it was rebuilt by 1952.

The Hovering Angel

The church became widely known for Ernst Barlach's bronze sculpture "Der Schwebende" ("The Hovering Angel"), a moving memorial. The "Political Night Prayer" held here also gave the Antoniterkirche a reputation far beyond Cologne.

Gallery

© User Bodoklecksel on de.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
© Horsch, Willy - HOWI · CC BY 3.0 · Commons
© Horsch, Willy - HOWI · CC BY 3.0 · Commons
© D-Kuru · CC BY-SA 3.0 at · Commons
© D-Kuru · CC BY-SA 3.0 at · Commons
© D-Kuru · CC BY-SA 3.0 at · Commons
© Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
© Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
© Andreasdz · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Commons
© Jean Housen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
© Rothwild (Florian Hirschmann) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
© Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons

Map

Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.

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Alt St. Alban – Ruin and Memorial at Quatermarkt

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Great St. Martin Church

One of Cologne's twelve great Romanesque churches – its distinctive crossing tower shapes the old-town skyline by the Rhine.

Cologne Cathedral

The Gothic cathedral of the Archdiocese of Cologne (157 m), begun in 1248 and completed in 1880 – a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 and the city's landmark.

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Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-23