St. Laurenz (Cologne Old Town)

The church is believed to have originated as the palace chapel of the late-antique Praetorium. It first appears in written records in the 10th century. A larger Romanesque structure was built in the 12th century, followed by a Late Gothic remodelling in the 15th century. In the 17th century, Anton Wormbs — later Vicar General of Cologne — served here as parish priest for a time. Following secularisation, the church was closed in 1803 and used as a tobacco warehouse before being demolished in 1818.

The parish is considered the first in Cologne to have kept Schreinsbücher — property registers dating back to 1130. These records were the forerunners of today's land registry.

The church once housed valuable artworks that are now held in museums in Cologne, Munich, Frankfurt am Main, Brussels, New York, and Cleveland. These include altarpieces by Stefan Lochner, Dierick Bouts, and Derick Baegert. The stained glass from St. Laurenz has also received particular scholarly attention. An early 15th-century painter is known by the sobriquet "Master of St. Laurenz", named after a painting once kept there.

The church's central Old Town location is still recalled today by the street names Laurenzplatz and Laurenzgittergässchen.