The Förderverein Romanische Kirchen Köln e. V. is a German association which financially and conceptually supports the research, restoration and preservation of
Romanesque churches in
Cologne
Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city pr ...
. 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
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
, 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 ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Li ...
.
List of churches supported
12 major churches
The Förderverein began with the twelve major Romanesque churches in the city:
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St. Andreas
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St. Aposteln
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St. Cäcilien
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St. Georg
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St. Gereon
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St. Kunibert
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St. Maria im Kapitol
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St. Maria in Lyskirchen
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Groß St. Martin
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St. Pantaleon
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St. Severin
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St. Ursula
Ursula (Latin for 'little she-bear') was a Romano-British virgin and martyr possibly of royal origin. She is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion. Her feast day in the pre-1970 G ...
13 small churches
13 smaller churches outside Cologne's medieval city wall were later added:
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Deutz,
Abtei Alt St. Heribert
* Dünnwald, St. Nikolaus
* Esch, St. Martinus
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Heumar, Alt St. Cornelius (Alter Turm)
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Lindenthal, Krieler Dömchen St. Stephanus
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Lövenich, St. Severin
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Merkenich, St. Brictius
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Niederzündorf, St. Michael
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Niehl, Alt St. Katharina
* Oberzündorf, St. Martin
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Rheinkassel, St. Amandus
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Rodenkirchen, Alt St. Maternus ''(Kapellchen)''
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Westhoven, Nikolaus-Kapelle
Former parish churches
Added in 2005 were:
* St. Johann Baptist
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St. Peter - 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,
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Hiltrud Kier
Hiltrud Kier (née Arnetzl; born 30 June 1937) is an Austrian art historian and academic. She was city conservator to Cologne
Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Li ...
and
Ulrich Krings: ''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).
{{Authority control
Funding bodies
1981 establishments in West Germany
Clubs and societies in Germany
Historic preservation organizations
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