Basilica of St. Gereon
St. Gereon
One of Cologne’s twelve Romanesque churches, with the largest medieval decagonal dome, its origins dating back to the Roman era.
St. Gereon is the most distinctive of Cologne’s twelve Romanesque churches, and its origins go back to a Roman burial structure of the 4th century. The decagonal main hall, completed between 1219 and 1227, has a dome about 34 m high. It is one of the largest domes in medieval Europe and the largest centralized building between Roman antiquity and the Gothic period. The underground crypt preserves 11th-century mosaic floors, and the eastern long choir and twin towers date from the late Romanesque period. Admission is free. Avoid walking around during Sunday morning Mass. It is about a 12-minute walk from the cathedral.
Opening hours
Usually 10:00–18:00; open after Sunday Mass
Nearby sights
- EL-DE House (NS Documentation Centre)
- Romano-Germanic Museum
- Hahnentorburg
- Schildergasse & Hohe Straße
- Kolumba
- Früh am Dom
- Belgian Quarter
- Christmas Market at Cologne Cathedral