St. Maria im Kapitol
The largest of Cologne's twelve Romanesque churches – famous for its trefoil plan, the carved wooden door of 1065 and its Renaissance rood screen.
St. Maria im Kapitol is the largest of Cologne's twelve Romanesque churches and the oldest trefoil-plan church in the region. Its name recalls the Roman temple that once stood on the site.
Source: Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-06-24
At a glance
- Style: Early Romanesque (11th century)
- Location: old town, near Heumarkt
- Highlights: trefoil choir, carved wooden door (c. 1065), Renaissance rood screen
- Status: once Cologne's main church after the cathedral
A church of the first rank
Legend has it that Plektrudis, wife of Pepin, had the church built on the remains of the Capitol. For centuries St. Maria played a leading role: the archbishop celebrated the first Christmas mass here, and on Epiphany the city council processed from here to the cathedral. Its treasures include the finely carved wooden double door from the 11th century and the magnificent Renaissance rood screen.
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Sources & links
- 🌐 Official website
- Wikidata (retrieved 2026-06-24)
- Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-06-24, rev 267539924)
- Website (retrieved 2026-06-24)
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-23