Linneper Hof (Reifferscheider Hof), Cologne
Former noble courtyard on Cologne Cathedral's precinct, originally the archbishops' residence — demolished in the 1740s, now part of the Roman-Germanic Museum grounds.
For centuries this canons' residence stood at the heart of Cologne's cathedral immunity district, changing hands among several noble families before vanishing in the 18th century.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- Noble courtyard and canons' residence, hereditary monastic estate of the cathedral chapter
- Location
- Domhof, south of the choir of Cologne Cathedral
- Families
- Reifferscheid, Linnep, Sayn-Wittgenstein, Neuenahr
- Origin
- Residence of the Archbishops of Cologne, known as the "Old Palace" (antiquum palatium)
- Demolition
- Torn down in the 1740s
- Today
- Site of the Roman-Germanic Museum
- District
- Altstadt-Nord (city centre)
The estate once stood immediately south of Cologne Cathedral, right next to the old Carolingian Hildebold Cathedral, which was not demolished until 1248 – meaning both buildings temporarily stood side by side.
Location within the Domhof
The estate stood east of the church of St. Johannis in Curia (St. John the Evangelist), with the high court located to the west of that church. Access to the immunity district of the cathedral precinct was through the "Drachenpforte" gate in the east or the "Hachtpforte" in the southwest.
From Archbishop's Palace to Canons' House
Originally the seat of Cologne's archbishops, the estate bore the name "Old Palace." In 1237 or 1238, Archbishop Henry I of Müllenark donated it to the cathedral chapter as housing for canons. Until 1248, the old Carolingian Hildebold Cathedral stood right beside the building.
Changing Ownership
Members of the Reifferscheid family were the first to occupy the estate. In 1375, former canon Ludwig von Reifferscheid sold it to Wilhelm von Tomberg; passing through Wilhelm von Sombreffe and Gottfried von Chiny, it reached subdean Johannes II von Linnep in 1398 — the origin of the name Linneper Hof. With the death of Dietrich von Linnep in 1461, the last male descendant of the Lords of Linnep, ownership passed to the Sayn-Wittgenstein and Neuenahr families.
The 1477 Episode
In 1477, canon Georg I von Sayn-Wittgenstein granted lifetime use of the estate to Archbishop John II of Baden of Trier. John was in Cologne at the time, having delivered, as envoy of Maximilian I of Austria, the marriage proposal to Mary of Burgundy. Just days later, on 23 July 1477, he concluded a monetary alliance with the Electorates of Mainz and the Palatinate, and with Jülich.
Timeline
- 1237/1238Archbishop Heinrich I of Müllenark donates the court to the cathedral chapter
- 1375Ludwig von Reifferscheid sells the court to Wilhelm von Tomberg
- 1397Wilhelm von Sombreffe transfers the court to Gottfried von Chiny
- 1398Gottfried von Chiny sells the court to Johannes II von Linnep
- 1462Werner von Sayn-Wittgenstein sells the court to Johann von Neuenahr
- 1477Georg I von Sayn-Wittgenstein grants the court to Archbishop Johann II of Baden
- 1499Dietrich II zu Nuenair becomes provost of Soest, court to revert
- 1518Leonhard Maiss the Elder has construction done for 600 guilders
Map
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-09-08
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