St. Gereon

The late classical and medieval influence can be clearly seen in this unusual church, whose dome, together with the Hagia Sophia and Florence Cathedral, is one of the most stunning. From inside, in particular, the impression made by the decagon for the visitor is overwhelming. The ribs of the bright red domed building run together at a height of 34 metres, spanning a room with a diameter of 21 metres.

St. Gereon
Address:	Gereonskloster 2-4 50670 Cologne
Phone:	0221/134922
Fax:	0221/1390306
Opening hours:	Mon. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sun. 12.30 p.m. - 6 p.m. Crypt open for visits Wed. 3 p.m. - 5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Remarks:	groups please make an appointment
Milestones
4th century	In the middle of a Roman burial place, an unusual central construction was created above the oval-shaped site
9th century	A canons' order integrated itself
11th century	Archbishop Anno II had the crypt and a canon chancel added
12th century	Under Archbishop Arnold von Wied, the chancel was lengthened, and the eastern façade created
1219-27	The Roman oval construction was reshaped into a decagon, and the stunning dome built
14th century	The sacristy was probably built by the Cathedral workshop

The late Roman oval-shaped building was constructed as a memorial church in the 4th century with Roman walls reaching a height of up to 16 metres. From the 11th to the 13th century it had been reconstructed as decagon and vaulted, becoming one of the most impressive pieces of architecture between the Hagia Sophia in Byzantium and St. Peter's in Rome.

In the crypt, the 11th century Hohenstaufen floor mosaics can still be seen. The western side of the crypt opens up into the »Confessio«, where stone sarcophaguses with the relics of Roman martyrs are displayed.