St. Gereon’s Basilica (Basilika Sankt Gereon) in Cologne stands as a Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint Gereon. The church received the title of minor basilica on 25 June 1920. Historical records first mention a church dedicated to St. Gereon in 612, marking the early development of the site. However, Archbishop Arnold II von Wied began construction of the present structure in 1151, and craftsmen completed the building in 1227. As a result, the basilica became one of the twelve great Romanesque churches in Cologne, contributing to the city’s rich architectural legacy.
The church features an irregular design, particularly its nave, which has a decagonal oval dome. This dome measures 21.0 meters long and 16.9 meters wide and was completed in 1227. The dome rests on Roman walls, which remain visible to this day. It stands as the largest dome constructed in the West between the 6th-century Hagia Sophia and the 15th-century Duomo of Florence, marking a major achievement in architectural history.
In 1898, Ernst Seifert built the organ, adding a significant musical feature to the church. Later, architect Andreas Dilthey made contributions to the interior, further enhancing the church’s visual and historical significance.
Archaeological excavations uncovered an earlier structure at the site, believed to be a funerary building from the 4th century. By the 6th century, the structure had transformed into a church. Gregory of Tours likely referred to this early church as the Church of the Golden Saints (ad sanctos aureos). These findings provide valuable insights into the church’s evolution and underscore its importance in both religious and architectural history.
Connectivity of St. Gereon's Basilica, Cologne, Germany
St. Gereon’s Basilica is well connected by air, rail, and bus to the rest of Cologne and beyond. The transport links to the basilica make it easily accessible for visitors from different parts of Germany and abroad.
Airways
The Nearest Airport to St. Gereon’s Basilica is Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN), which is located 15 km from the basilica. From the airport, visitors can take a taxi for about 20-25 minutes or use public transport via S-Bahn Line S13 or S19, which takes approximately 15 minutes to reach Cologne Central Station (Köln Hauptbahnhof). From there, it's a short 10-minute walk to the basilica.
Railways
The Nearest Major Train Station is Köln Hauptbahnhof (Cologne Central Station), which is situated 2 km from St. Gereon’s Basilica. From the station, visitors can either walk to the basilica in 20 minutes or take Tram Line 18 to Neumarkt, which takes about 5 minutes, followed by a 10-minute walk to the basilica.
Roadways
The Basilica is also easily reachable by bus. Bus Line 142 connects Köln Hauptbahnhof to the St. Gereon stop in just 5-10 minutes, and from there, it’s a short walk of about 5 minutes to the basilica.
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Mass Schedule
Sundays : 9:30 AM, 11 AM and 4:00 PM
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