St Mariä Himmelfahrt

St. Mariä Himmelfahrt was built between 1618 and 1678 as a three-nave gallery basilica and is the most important Baroque church in Cologne, which was restored to its original state after the war. Despite its baroque appearance, St. Mariä Himmelfahrt is still indebted to the medieval building tradition, as can be seen from the tracery windows, for example, but the bright lighting in the room and the furnishings of the church are already (early) baroque. Its exterior is dominated by the striking façade with the flanking towers and the steeple in the choir area. Inside, the high round columns, the arrangement of the galleries and the net vaulting in the nave and choir area are impressive, but the high altar, which occupies the height of the choir and was reconstructed after the war using original parts, is particularly striking. The beautiful altar of the Virgin Mary in the southern side choir has been preserved in its entirety and can be admired in its original state. The pulpit and the figures of Christ, Mary and the apostles attached to the pillars and the staircase to the choir area also deserve attention. Today, the church is used by the Italian Catholic community in Cologne, which means that services can be held in Italian.