Greater St. Martin is a church in the Byzantine style, but over time it was partially rebuilt in the Gothic style with Baroque elements.
Big Saint Martin
Church of st. Martin (Groß St. Martin) or, as its inhabitants call it, Big St. Martin, is located next to Cologne Cathedral and the Town Hall. It was built in the XII-XIII centuries.
The foundation for it was the ruins of Roman food depots. A fragment of a Roman column in a niche of one of the walls, according to legend, does not allow a person with evil intentions into the church.
In World War II, the temple was almost destroyed. Local authorities wanted to keep it as a memorial. But later they decided to restore. The church was consecrated again in 1985. Today it belongs to the Order of the Benedictines.
Architecture
Church of st. Martina is a magnificent Byzantine-style building. The magnificent tower and spire of the church are surrounded by four small turrets.
The interior of the temple is also made in the Byzantine style and looks very modest in comparison with the monumental appearance. The arch of the main hall resembles the church of St. Sofia in Constantinople. On high vaulted windows - multi-colored stained-glass windows with images of saints, so the hall is constantly dark. The altar is made in the form of a clover leaf.
Greater St. Martin is best seen from Fish Market Square. Sitting at a table of a street cafe, you can admire the church against the background of the river.
How to get there
Take metro U5 to Rathaus station.
