Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Groß St. Martin

Brauweiler, now a district of Pulheim, borders Cologne to the east, but is still largely surrounded by agriculture. In the "Fundatio monasterii Brunwilarensis", a source of the late 11th century, the construction of a wooden chapel in which relics of Saint Medardus from Soissons were kept is mentioned. Count-Palatine Hermann I had a new chapel built of stone and rebuilt a destroyed manor nearby. Around 991, the wedding between Count Palatine Ezzo-Ehrenfried and Mathilde, a daughter of Emperor Otto II and Theophanu, took place here. On this occasion, Ezzo transferred the estate. During a pilgrimage to Rome before 1024, Ezzo and Mathilde received relics of St. Nicholas and a cross from the Pope for the foundation of a monastery. The abbot Poppo of Stablo was entrusted with the foundation of the monastery. In 1024 seven monks arrived at Brauweiler and began the construction of the monastery. The church and monastery were consecrated in 1028. From 1065 until his death in 1091, Wolfhelm of Brauweiler, later Saint Wolfhelm, was abbot here. A period of prosperity was brought about by the introduction of the Bursfeld Reform in 1467. The abbey last built the prelate's wing from 1780 to 1785. After the French occupation of the Left Bank of the Rhine, the abbey was dissolved in 1802 in the course of secularization. The abbey church became a parish church, while the buildings were used as a labor institution from 1815 by the Prussian government. Since 1920, the "Bewahrungshaus" and "Zellengebäude" were rented to the Cologne justice administration. These two buildings served as a concentration camp for one year starting in 1933, then as a prison for the Cologne Gestapo until 1945. Over 1000 people were imprisoned here by the Nazis during the entire period. St. Nikolaus, the former abbey church, was built between 1136 and 1240. The impressive westwerk is from around 1140. The choir was built around 1200, modeled on Groß St. Martin in nearby Cologne.

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". -- The founding of the church, erected on the ruins of a Roman temple, located on an island of the Rhine, is proven for the second half of the 10th century. Soon after a convent of Hiberno-Scottish missionaries was established. The Irish were replaced by local monks a century later. At that time the relics of St. Eliphius were kept here, and as Archbishop Anno II (1056-1075) had a vision by St. Eliphius, who asked for a second tower, a tower was erected over the east choir. In 1150, a fire destroyed much of Cologne. The abbey caught in the conflagration it is supposed that the entire Church was destroyed. The rebuilding started with the erection of a tri-apsidal structure. This is the only element of the church still present today, as a second fire hit the construction side in 1185. In the middle of the 13th century, new walls for the three apses were completed, with larger windows. The nave was also made five meters longer, and the atrium in the west was built. The church got completed end of the 13th century. In 1378, a fire destroyed the roofs of the four towers and a storm in 1434 created more troubles. Three of the four gables of the towers were thrown down. Everything got repaired, but the unstable construction of a western flanking tower resulted in the destruction of it in 1527. The French army occupied Cologne in 1794 and in 1802 the abbey at Groß St. Martin was disbanded in 1802. The church became a parish church. Restoration of the neglected church started in 1843. In 1875 the church received a new roof, newly built western gables, a new window in the south wall, and finally, the completion of its two missing towers. The church was badly damaged by aerial bombing during WWII. In 1942 the tower and nave burnt to the ground. The sacristy building and north apse were also destroyed. In January 1945 the triforiums of all three apses were destroyed, and the foundation of the central tower had sustained a direct hit. After the war, it was debated whether the church should be restored, and how it should be restored. Should the church be left as a ruined memorial to the war? Or should it be fully restored? In spite of some scepticism, restoration work began in 1948. By 1954, the walls and supports for the apses of the church completely rebuilt. In 1971 the nave and the new roof were completed. When the interior restorations were completed in 1985, the church was opened to worshippers again. Since 2009 Groß St. Martin is being used by a branch of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem and is open for visitors.

Groß St. Martin (Great Saint Martin) was founded on remnants of a Roman chapel, built on what was then an island in the Rhine. A local legend tells, that it was founded by missionaries Plechelmus and Viro and funded by Pepin of Herstal and his wife Plektrudis. But scholars have turned that down. It it undisputed, that Cologn Bishop Brun (925-965) founded a chapter of canons here and bestowed relics of St. Eliphius to the church of St. Martin. Under Archbishop Eveger the canons were replaced by iroscottish Benedictians The current building with the soaring crossing tower was erected, after a fire, between 1150-1250. The architecture of its eastern end forms a triconch or trefoil plan, consisting of three apses around the crossing. This part was already consecrated in 1172. When the French occupied Cologne the secularization started. The monastery was disbanded in 1802 and the last monks had to leave, Groß St. Martin became a parish church. First reataurations started mid of the 19th century. Groß St. Martin was badly damaged by aerial bombing during WWII. The first ever 1,000 bomber raid by the RAF (codenamed "Operation Millenium") was conducted on Cologne in May 1942. That day the tower and nave of the church were burnt to the ground. The sacristy building and north apse were also destroyed. In the following year a chapel on the northern side was destroyed and in January 1945 the triforiums of all three apses were destroyed. At the end of the war almost 95% of the buildings in the old city were destroay or badly damaged. There was a controverial discussion after the war, what to do with the ruined church, as many prefered to leave it as a ruined memorial to the war. But in the end it was decided to rebuild Groß St. Martin. This startet in 1955 and took 40 years. The church was reopened in 1985. As of 2009 Groß St. Martin is being used by a branch of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem. Gr0ßs St. Martin to the left - the Cathedral to the right.

Groß St. Martin (Great Saint Martin) was founded on remnants of a Roman chapel, built on what was then an island in the Rhine. A local legend tells, that it was founded by missionaries Plechelmus and Viro and funded by Pepin of Herstal and his wife Plektrudis. But scholars have turned that down. It it undisputed, that Cologn Bishop Brun (925-965) founded a chapter of canons here and bestowed relics of St. Eliphius to the church of St. Martin. Under Archbishop Eveger the canons were replaced by iroscottish Benedictians The current building with the soaring crossing tower was erected, after a fire, between 1150-1250. The architecture of its eastern end forms a triconch or trefoil plan, consisting of three apses around the crossing. This part was already consecrated in 1172. When the French occupied Cologne the secularization started. The monastery was disbanded in 1802 and the last monks had to leave, Groß St. Martin became a parish church. First reataurations started mid of the 19th century. Groß St. Martin was badly damaged by aerial bombing during WWII. The first ever 1,000 bomber raid by the RAF (codenamed "Operation Millenium") was conducted on Cologne in May 1942. That day the tower and nave of the church were burnt to the ground. The sacristy building and north apse were also destroyed. In the following year a chapel on the northern side was destroyed and in January 1945 the triforiums of all three apses were destroyed. At the end of the war almost 95% of the buildings in the old city were destroay or badly damaged. There was a controverial discussion after the war, what to do with the ruined church, as many prefered to leave it as a ruined memorial to the war. But in the end it was decided to rebuild Groß St. Martin. This startet in 1955 and took 40 years. The church was reopened in 1985. Seen here is the nave. The stairs (left) lead down to the crypt. As of 2009 Groß St. Martin is being used by a branch of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem.

Groß St. Martin (Great Saint Martin) was founded on remnants of a Roman chapel, built on what was then an island in the Rhine. A local legend tells, that it was founded by missionaries Plechelmus and Viro and funded by Pepin of Herstal and his wife Plektrudis. But scholars have turned that down. It it undisputed, that Cologn Bishop Brun (925-965) founded a chapter of canons here and bestowed relics of St. Eliphius to the church of St. Martin. Under Archbishop Eveger the canons were replaced by iroscottish Benedictians The current building with the soaring crossing tower was erected, after a fire, between 1150-1250. The architecture of its eastern end forms a triconch or trefoil plan, consisting of three apses around the crossing. This part was already consecrated in 1172. When the French occupied Cologne the secularization started. The monastery was disbanded in 1802 and the last monks had to leave, Groß St. Martin became a parish church. First reataurations started mid of the 19th century. Groß St. Martin was badly damaged by aerial bombing during WWII. The first ever 1,000 bomber raid by the RAF (codenamed "Operation Millenium") was conducted on Cologne in May 1942. That day the tower and nave of the church were burnt to the ground. The sacristy building and north apse were also destroyed. In the following year a chapel on the northern side was destroyed and in January 1945 the triforiums of all three apses were destroyed. At the end of the war almost 95% of the buildings in the old city were destroay or badly damaged. There was a controverial discussion after the war, what to do with the ruined church, as many prefered to leave it as a ruined memorial to the war. But in the end it was decided to rebuild Groß St. Martin. This startet in 1955 and took 40 years. The church was reopened in 1985. As of 2009 Groß St. Martin is being used by a branch of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem.

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". The "Poller Wiesen" (Wiese = meadow) are a great place for getting tanned in summer - and of course watching the fantastic panorama. Seen in front of "Groß St. Martin" ("Great St. Martin") and the cathedral ("Kölner Dom") is the green Severinsbrücke. Cologne´s "Rheinauhafen", the former harbour was developed during the 1880s on the opposite bank of the Rhine. It spanned about 2kms along the river A "Rheinauhafen" redevelopment project and reconstruction started in 2002 and was completed 2011. While the formerly commercial port is now being used as a marina, most buildings (some are former wharehouses) house numerous prestigious companies, posh flats and expensive restaurants. In the center are the three Kranhäuser ("crane houses") that were completed in 2008. Their shape, an upside-down "L", is reminiscent of the harbor cranes that were once used to load cargo from and onto ships in the old "Rheinauhafen". Some really expensive real estate over there.. Lovin' Spoonful - Summer in the City www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5bUmx-hk-c

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". Cologne´s panorama, seen from the Südbrücke ("South Bridge"). To the right is "Groß St. Martin" ("Great St. Martin") and the cathedral ("Kölner Dom"). The green "band" is part of the Severinsbrücke. Where the the three Kranhäuser ("crane houses", completed in 2008) and all the buildings left are, was the old harbour of Cologne. The yellow structures with the pointed gables are similar to the warehouses, that once lined the harbour.

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". When I was in Cologne I learned, that it is possible to walk over all bridges, that cross the Rhine. I tried them all - and the Südbrücke ("South Bridge") now is my favourite bridge. There are no cars, as this two track bridge is used by freighttrains, pedestrians and cyclists. The Südbrücke was built from 1906 to 1910. During the construction works in 1908 the middle arch collapsed, an accident in which eight workers were killed. In WWII the bridge was largely destroyed in an air raid in January 1945. It got rebuilt an opened for operation again in 1950. The steel structure has three spans (101,5 m + 165 m + 101,5 m) with a total length of 368 m and a width of 10.34 m. The pylons are built in a Neo Romanesque style and furnished with sculptural decorations. The panorama of Cologne, seen from the Südbrücke. The "next" bridge is the green Severinsbrücke (completed in 1959). Right to the cathedral ("Kölner Dom") is "Groß St. Martin". To the left are the three Kranhäuser (crane houses), completed in 2008.

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". When I was in Cologne I learned, that it is possible to walk over all bridges, that cross the Rhine. I tried them all - and the Südbrücke ("South Bridge") now is my favourite bridge. There are no cars, as this two track bridge is used by freighttrains, pedestrians and cyclists. The Südbrücke was built from 1906 to 1910. During the construction works in 1908 the middle arch collapsed, an accident in which eight workers were killed. In WWII the bridge was largely destroyed in an air raid in January 1945. It got rebuilt an opened for operation again in 1950. The steel structure has three spans (101,5 m + 165 m + 101,5 m) with a total length of 368 m and a width of 10.34 m. The pylons are built in a Neo Romanesque style and furnished with sculptural decorations. The panorama of Cologne, seen from the Südbrücke. The "next" bridge is the green Severinsbrücke (completed in 1959). Right to the cathedral ("Kölner Dom") is "Groß St. Martin". To the left are the three Kranhäuser (crane houses), completed in 2008.