Basilica of the Holy Apostles, Cologne Church

Address: Cologne (Köln), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Website: https://www.romanische-kirchen-koeln.de/

Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun services per schedule

Admission: Free (entry); some guided tours may charge.

The Basilica of the Holy Apostles (Basilika St. Aposteln) is a Romanesque church in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, and one of the city’s twelve major medieval churches. Its core dates to the 11th and 12th centuries and it retains characteristic Romanesque forms.

Visitors encounter the heavy masonry, a central tower and a series of interior chapels and altars added over the centuries. The building illustrates the typical Romanesque plan and local variations used in Cologne’s ecclesiastical architecture.

The basilica developed in the High Middle Ages and has been conserved and adapted for ongoing liturgical use. It remains an active parish and an element of Cologne’s ensemble of Romanesque monuments.

St. Aposteln stands in Cologne’s historic centre, accessible from the old town and close to other medieval churches.

• Romanesque church: One of Cologne’s twelve major Romanesque churches, its fabric dates to the 11th and 12th centuries and exemplifies the city’s medieval ecclesiastical architecture.

What to See#

• Main basilica building: The primary church building featuring Romanesque massing and a central tower typical of Cologne’s medieval churches.
• Interior chapels: Interior chapels and altars that reflect the church’s long liturgical use and local patronage traditions.

Located in Cologne’s old town, the basilica is a short walk from the Heumarkt and is well served by trams and regional public transport.

• Visit outside major Cologne festivals to avoid crowds in the Old Town.
• Look for the church's Romanesque columns and the small chapels with fresco fragments - these are often missed by quick visitors.
• Pair a visit with the Romanesque churches walking route that includes several early-medieval basilicas in the city.