5 .
G R O S S S T .
M A R T I N
C H U R C H
AN GROSS ST. MARTIN 9-11
With its distinctive crossing tower and trefoil
choir , Groß St . Martin has shaped the skyline
of Cologne ’ s historic Old Town since the
Middle Ages . In Roman times , the site was
located on an island in the Rhine and
contained several warehouses . The church
was built on top of these warehouses and
incorporated their remains . The dimensions
of the church were based on those of the
southeastern part of the ancient storage
complex .
After Groß St . Martin was severely damaged
in World War II , impressive archaeological
excavations were made underneath the choir .
As a result , the smooth transition from the
foundations of a Roman warehouse to the
walls of the church aisles can still be clearly
seen . The upper parts of the church were
reconstructed after World War II and are a
typical example of Rhenish architecture from
between 1150 and 1250 . Today the interior of
this former Benedictine church is
characterized , on the one hand , by its
imposing architecture and , on the other , by
its minimalist furnishings .