The Förderverein Romanische Kirchen Köln e. V. is a German association which financially and conceptually supports research, restoration and preservation of Romanesque churches in

Cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...

. It was founded in 1981 and also organises public relations, guided tours and lectures to improve public awareness of these churches. Günter Heidecke was one of its founders and also acted as its chairman until 2002. In 2012 the Förderverein set up a foundation (the Stiftung Romanische Kirchen Köln) to continue funding the Förderverein's activities. Since 2013 the Förderverein has also been advocating for the Romanesque churches of Cologne to become a

UNESCO World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

, though such an application was first considered in 1980 by the city conservator

Hiltrud Kier Hiltrud Kier (née Arnetzl; born 30 June 1937) is an Austrian art historian and academic. She was city conservator to Cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western state of North Rhine-West ...

List of churches supported

12 major churches

The began with the twelve major Romanesque churches in the city: * St. Andreas * St. Aposteln *

St. Cäcilien St. Cecilia's Church (Cäcilienkirche, ) is one of the twelve Romanesque churches in Cologne’s old city, maintained by the Förderverein Romanische Kirchen Köln, Foundation of Romanesque Churches in Cologne. The present building, little change ...

St. Georg St. Georg (Sankt Georg; ) is a central quarter in the borough Hamburg-Mitte of Hamburg, Germany. In 2020 the population was 11,349. History In 1410 the articles 17 and 18 of a contract (''Rezeß'') between the Senate and the citizens were regula ...

* St. Gereon * St. Kunibert * St. Maria im Kapitol * St. Maria in Lyskirchen * Groß St. Martin *

St. Pantaleon St. Pantaleon, also Sankt Pantaleon (Central Bavarian: ''Pontigo'') is a municipality in the Braunau am Inn (district), district Braunau am Inn in Upper Austria, Austria. A monument was erected by the riverlet Moosach in memory of the slave worker ...

* St. Severin *

St. Ursula Saint Ursula (Latin for 'little female bear', german: link=no, Heilige Ursula) is a legendary Romano-British Christian saint who died on 21 October 383. Her feast day in the pre-1970 General Roman Calendar is 21 October. There is little inform ...

13 small churches

13 smaller churches outside Cologne's medieval city wall were later added: * Deutz, Abtei Alt St. Heribert * Dünnwald, St. Nikolaus * Esch, St. Martinus * Heumar, Alt St. Cornelius (Alter Turm) * Lindenthal, Krieler Dömchen St. Stephanus * Lövenich, St. Severin * Merkenich, St. Brictius * Niederzündorf, St. Michael *

Niehl Niehl is a municipality in the Bitburg-Prüm, district of Bitburg-Prüm, in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany. References

Bitburg-Prüm {{BitburgPrüm-geo-stub ...

, Alt St. Katharina * Oberzündorf, St. Martin * Rheinkassel, St. Amandus *

Rodenkirchen Rodenkirchen () is a southern borough (''Stadtbezirk'') of Cologne (Köln) in Germany. It has about 110,000 inhabitants and covers an area of . The borough includes the quarters Bayenthal, Godorf, Hahnwald, Immendorf, Marienburg, Meschenich, Rad ...

, Alt St. Maternus ''(Kapellchen)'' * Westhoven, Nikolaus-Kapelle

Former parish churches

Added in 2005 were: * St. Johann Baptist *

St. Peter ) (Simeon, Simon) , birth_date = , birth_place = Bethsaida, Gaulanitis, Syria, Roman Empire , death_date = Between AD 64–68 , death_place = probably Vatican Hill, Rome, Italia, Roman Empire , parents = John (or Jonah; Jona) , occupation ...

- 11th century tower * Alt St. Alban - now part of the Gürzenich * St. Kolumba - now part of the Kolumba-Museum * Alt St. Mauritius ( Köln-Buchheim) - 1200 apse * St. Hubertus ( Flittard) - 12th century tower Two of these only had partially preserved Romanesque elements, now integrated into later buildings. Alt St. Pankratius in Köln-Worringen was considered but not added.

References

Bibliography (in German)

* ''Colonia Romanica''. Jahrbuch des Fördervereins Romanische Kirchen Köln e.V. Erscheint jährlich seit 1986 im Greven-Verlag, Köln. * Hiltrud Kier: ''Via Sacra zu Fuß, Kölns Städtebau und die Romanischen Kirchen''. Bachem Verlag, Köln 2003 (²/2005) . * Ulrich Krings, Otmar Schwab: ''Köln: Die Romanischen Kirchen – Zerstörung und Wiederherstellung''. Reihe Stadtspuren Bd. 2, Köln, Bachem Verlag, 2007 (712 S. mit CD Chronologie des Wiederaufbaus). * Sybille Fraquelli: ''Zwölf Tore zum Himmel. Kinder entdecken: Die Romanischen Kirchen in Köln''. J.P. Bachem Verlag, Köln 2007. . * Sybille Fraquelli: ''Ein bunter Traum. Kölns romanische Kirchen im Historismus (Begleitband 2 zur Sonderausstellung im Kölnischen Stadtmuseum 2012)'', Emons, Köln 2012, . * Jürgen Kaiser (text) and Florian Monheim (photos): ''Die großen romanischen Kirchen in Köln'', Greven Verlag, Köln 2013, . * Jürgen Kaiser (text) and Florian Monheim (photos): '' Kleiner Führer der großen romanischen Kirchen in Köln'', Hrsg. vom Förderverein Romanische Kirchen Köln e. V. und vom Rheinischen Verein für Denkmalpflege und Landschaftsschutz e. V., Greven Verlag, Köln 2015, *

and

Ulrich Krings Ulrich (), is a German given name, derived from Old High German ''Uodalrich'', ''Odalric''. It is composed of the elements '' uodal-'' meaning "(noble) heritage" and ''-rich'' meaning "rich, powerful". Attested from the 8th century as the name of Al ...

: ''Die Romanischen Kirchen in Köln'', Köln, 3. Auflage 1986. * Hiltrud Kier: ''Die romanische Kirchen in Köln. Führer zu Geschichte und Ausstattung'', J. P. Bachem Verlag, Köln 2014, . * Hiltrud Kier: ''Die kleinen romanischen Kirchen. Führer zur Geschichte und Entwicklung Kölner Vororte'', J. P. Bachem, Köln 2015, . * Sabine Czymmek: ''Die Kölner Romanischen Kirchen'', Schatzkunst, Bd. 1, Köln 2008, Bd. 2, Köln 2009 (= Colonia Romanica, Jahrbuch des Fördervereins Romanische Kirchen Köln e. V. Bd. 22, 2007 und 23, 2008). Funding bodies 1981 establishments in Germany Clubs and societies in Germany Historic preservation organizations * * {{Germany-org-stub