home Treatment and prevention What is worth seeing in Bonn? Religious attractions of Bonn - temples, cathedrals and mosques Bonn Cathedral.

What is worth seeing in Bonn? Religious attractions of Bonn - temples, cathedrals and mosques Bonn Cathedral.

Today I'll tell you about our last stop, the city of Bonn, and give you a walking route around the city that will allow you to easily explore the entire city center in just a few hours.

Bonn is a city with ancient history, located 20 km from on the banks of the Rhine River and is also part of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Bonn's population is almost 350 thousand, which gives the city the right to occupy 19th place in terms of population in all of Germany.

The first known settlement on the site of modern Bonn dates back to 11 BC. Then a camp of the ancient Roman army appeared there and the first fortress was erected - Castra Bonnensia. However, archaeologists believe that there have been settlements in this area for the last 14 thousand years.

Most tourists associate Bonn with the composer Ludwig van Beethoven, who was born in this city in 1770. Many of the city's attractions are directly related to the name and work of Beethoven, but Bonn has several more interesting places and many intriguing legends and stories.

This city still has a strong political influence, because for 42 years Bonn was the capital Federal Republic Germany. The city lost its status in 1991 when the capital was moved to Berlin and the German government was reunited.

Sights of Bonn

On the map I have marked for you the sights that I recommend for a walk around Bonn if you are in the city for just a few hours, for example, on the way to or from the airport. And also a few places that are worth a look if you are staying in the city a little longer:

Among other things, the city has a lot of museums: the German Museum, the Beethoven House, the Art Museum, the Alexander König Zoological Research Museum and the Egyptian Museum.

Now I will tell you about some of these attractions in more detail.

Bonn Cathedral (Bonner Münster)

The cathedral is open every day from 10am to 7pm except on Sundays when the cathedral closes at 4pm.

Ludwig van Beethoven in Bonn

As I already said, there are a lot of attractions in this city that are directly connected with the name of this great composer. To begin with, I recommend that you take a walk around the Beethoven Monument on the central square of Münsterplatz.

Monument to Beethoven

Then take a walk towards Beethoven's House.

Beethoven's house

It was in this house that Ludwig van Beethoven was born in 1770. The core of the museum's collection consists of manuscripts, drawings, musical instruments and other memorabilia. One of the most valuable exhibits is Beethoven's last piano.

Today, the Beethoven House owns the largest and most comprehensive collection of Beethoven items in the world.

Exact address: Bonngasse 20, 53111
Cost of admission: 6 euros, but there is a family pass (2 adults + children) for 12 euros.
Official website of the museum - beethoven.de

Poppelsdorf Castle and Botanical Garden

Today the castle is used as a faculty of the University of Bonn, but there is also a small mineralogical exhibition in the castle building. And plus the building itself is under reconstruction. We walked around it, walked around the Botanical Gardens and went to look for some open place for lunch.

I suggest going there through Old cemetery, because the way there will lie through the campus of that very University of Bonn.

It was very interesting to see what the university building looks like from a foreign perspective, to appreciate the local student dormitories and the entire area in general. I compared it with Moscow Aviation Institute, where I spent the first two years of my university life. And the difference is quite significant!

Some more photos of the walk in Bonn. You will encounter these views if you follow my route for exploring the city.

St. Martin's Church, Bonn Cathedral - Bonner Munster. The temple is depicted on the coat of arms of the city of the 13th century and since that time is a symbol of the city. At this place 2000 years ago buried two executed Roman soldiers, Cassius and Florentius (Cassius & Florentius) who did not want to renounce the Christian faith. They are revered as saints and patrons of the city. Inside the basilica are busts of two former legionnaires. Outside... lie their huge heads! Two huge heads legionnaires created in 2002 by a sculptor from Turkey by Yediler. The appearance of the church today is similar to that of the 11th - 13th centuries. It is characterized by elements of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Near Munster are Martin Fountain And Pillory .

Initially, on the site of the temple where the goddess Diana was worshiped (in the altar of the temple in 1910, a walled stone was discovered with a dedication to the goddess Diana, which suggests the existence of an older Roman shrine at this place). Around 235, two Roman legionaries Cassius and Florence arrived in Castra Bonnencia (that was the name of the settlement at this place), who were put to death for their Christian faith(Roman Emperor Maximian Herculius - Maximianus Herculius - ordered his legionaries to execute Christians - and those who did not obey the order of the emperor were killed). In the 4th century, Saint Helena, mother of Constantine I the Great, built a small memorial tomb over their graves. Archaeological excavations have shown that the basilica stands on the site of a Roman temple and necropolis. In the 6th and 7th centuries, the memorial hall was expanded and many people were buried next to the martyrs, both inside and outside the building. The next expansion took place in the 8th century.

Around 1050, the church was completely destroyed and construction began on a modern Romanesque building, which dates back to the 11th–13th centuries - a three-nave basilica with two towers. In the 13th century, after a fire, they decided to reconstruct the church and change its appearance from Romanesque to Gothic. The new basilica appeared on the city's coat of arms. In 1643, Cassius and Florence were officially declared patron saints of the city of Bonn. The church suffered severe damage in 1583 - 1589, in 1689; it was rebuilt in 1883 - 1889, in 1934, and after air raids during the Second World War. In 1956, Bonn Cathedral received the honorary title of Pontifical Minor Basilica - "Basilica Minor". In general, the cathedral was a monastery church, but after the dispersal of the monasteries by Napoleon during the French occupation in early XIX century and the demolition of the neighboring parish church of St. Martin, in 1812 the cathedral became a parish church.

The temple has five towers: two square towers on the east side, a round central tower 96 meters high and two thin towers on the west. All are topped with spiers. The nondescript western part of the cathedral is one of the oldest parts of the basilica, dating back to the 11th century.

The interior decoration is quite lush and rich. The nave of the basilica dates from 1220 and is a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic elements. It is illuminated through identical modern stained glass windows with a colored center and a black and white pattern around the edges.

At the rear of the nave stands a huge statue of Helen, cast in bronze and installed in 1610, donated by Cardinal Franz Wilhelm Von Wartenberg.

The font belongs to XII century. In 1966, a small image appeared on it Noah's Ark. Near the font in the northwestern corner there is an image of St. Helena, St. Cassia, St. Florence and panoramas of the city of Bonn (1704).

In the south transept there are several modern frescoes, including a large image of St. Christopher. There is also an altar of St. John with a relief depiction of the scene of the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist and John the Evangelist writing the New Testament.

In the north transept are a 1400 fresco of the Three Wise Men (who are said to have stopped to rest near Cologne Cathedral), an equestrian statue of St. Martin of Tours, and the tomb of Archbishop Ruprecht of Cologne (1463–1478). In general, there are four burial places of archbishops.

In the front (eastern) part of the nave there are two large sculptures in romanesque style(c. 1200), angel and devil. A staircase under the altar leads to an underground chapel where prayer services are usually held. Here, on a stone pedestal between the eastern pillars, a reliquary with the relics of Cassius and Florence is kept. Behind a closed bronze door is the tomb of the martyrs; the door is opened only on the day of celebration of these saints, October 10. Inside the tomb are marble slabs covering the graves of the legendary Christian martyrs Cassius and Florentius, and a couple more. Black marble slabs appeared here in 1701.

The altar above the chapel dates back to the 11th century and was decorated with paintings in the 19th century. On the vault at the back of the temple there is a fresco of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (1300). The main altar was made in 1865; here you can see sculptures of Saints Cassius, Florence, Martin and Helena. Near the altar there are two small sculptures from the 12th century. One of them is called "Writing Angel". The other is "The Devil with the Scroll".

The mosaic located on the apse was created in Venice in 1894 and is based on the Byzantine Deesis motif. The mosaic on the windows depicts the creation of the World and dates from 1951–1952.

In the southwest corner of the church there is a door leading to a hidden gallery. Its vaults are decorated with carvings depicting horses, lions and dragons. There is a fountain in the center of the gallery. The covered gallery, entered by a door in the south-west corner, was built in the 12th century, at the same time the two-storey collegiate buildings were added, which are still occupied by the clergy of the basilica. The north side of the gallery was demolished in the 13th century to widen the south aisle of the cathedral.

On the open area in the eastern part of the basilica lie large heads of the Roman martyrs Cassius and Florence; they were created in 2002 by the sculptor Iskander Yediler, the creator of the sculpture of St. Benno in Munich and St. Gereon in Cologne.

Open Sunday 8:30 - 19:15, Monday - Saturday 7:30 - 18:45, 12th century courtyard, respectively 13:00 - 17:30 and 10:00 - 17:30. The entrance is free.

TOURISTS' ANSWERS:

The former capital of Germany, the city of Bonn, is one of the oldest cities in the country. Its ancient streets remember very well how soldiers of the Great Roman Empire walked along them two thousand years ago. The most famous native of Bon is the inimitable and brilliant composer and musician Ludwig van Beethoven. The city itself is very beautiful, not to mention the most picturesque surroundings: the Siebengebirge mountain range, the Rhine Valley, smoothly turning into the Cologne Bay, not to mention the Rhineland nature reserve. All these beauties are complemented by quite a few historical attractions and perfect architectural structures, so you won’t be bored.

Bonn Cathedral / Bonner Munster

The main pride of local parishioners, the Basilica of St. Martin, is located at the address: Germany, Bonn, Gerhard-von-Are-Strasse, 5. Initially, at the location of the temple, there was an ancient religious building in which the pagan goddess Diana was worshiped. At the beginning of the 11th century, it was decided to build a new church on these ruins. In the 13th century, after a fire, church authorities decided to reconstruct the church, and at the same time change the appearance, from Romanesque to Gothic. And so over the course of many centuries, the cathedral changed over time (the Baroque style was added). The interior of this Catholic Cathedral looks quite lush and rich. Pay your attention to two wonderfully executed marble altars from the 17th and 18th centuries and a statue of St. Helena, cast in bronze and installed in 1610. The temple is a historical monument and is therefore open to tourists. The inspection starts at 09.00 hours, closing time is 19.00 hours.

University of Bonn

Regina-Pacis-Weg 3 53113 Bonn - one of the most famous universities in Germany is located at this address. Founding date of this educational institution- 1777. At the end XVIII century, neighboring France occupied these lands, as a result of which the university was closed and only 20 years later, student education began again. Notable alumni include Friedrich Nietzsche, Karl Marx and Heinrich Heine, as well as seven Nobel Prize laureates. On this moment, just over 30,000 students study and live here. You can enter the central office and walk along the corridors of the university completely freely.

Godesburg Castle

In the outskirts of the city, at the address: Germany, Bonn, Auf dem Godesberg, 5, there is a perfectly preserved ancient fortification built in the 13th century. These days, the castle enjoys increased attention among foreign tourists as well as local residents. The enterprising owners of the fortress can happily provide you with the entire territory of the castle for your wedding. Believe me - this service is in high demand and if you have a desire to conclude your union in an ancient romantic castle, then worry about it in advance. Inside the castle there is a magnificent wine cellar, where you can taste excellent wine made from Rhine vineyards for a small price, and then proceed to the huge knight’s hall and demand “the continuation of the banquet.”

Beethoven House Museum

Bonngasse 17, 53111 Bonn, Germany - at this address you can find the house where the great composer Beethoven was born. Here he and his entire family lived for a long period of their lives until they moved to Vienna. The museum houses about 150 unique exhibits telling about the life of a genius. This is the largest collection in the world. If you are a fan of the composer’s work, then you will probably be interested in seeing his personal belongings: Beethoven’s favorite piano, notes of famous works written in his own hand and the famous watch, which, according to a beautiful legend, stopped during the death of the musician. To see all this you will have to pay an entrance ticket for an adult of 5 euros. Children enter the premises free of charge. The museum is open seven days a week: from 10.00 to 18.00.

Art Museum / Kunstmuseum

If you are a fan of the expressionists and most of the Rhenish artists of the 20th century, then you should go to the address: Kunstmuseum Bonn, 53113 Bonn, Germany. Here, in this museum, in its spacious exhibition halls, more than 7,500 paintings by talented painters are exhibited: Katharina Grosse, Gerhard Richter and August Macke. Paid entrance. The entrance ticket price for an adult is 7 euros. Children under 6 years old are free, after 6 years old - 4 euros. Monday is a day off; on other days the museum is open from 11.00 to 18.00.

House Schumann

Anyone familiar with the work of the composer Schumann will certainly visit the museum dedicated to the musician, especially since this is not a house at all, but rather a “madhouse” (private psychiatric clinic), where he lived out his last years a talented composer who suffered from suicidal tendencies. The exhibits include some personal belongings, as well as some very strange musical sketches written in delirious delirium. This interesting museum is located at: Sebastianstr. 182 53115 Bonn. Entrance ticket for adults costs 10 euros, children over 12 years old pay 7 euros. Museum opening hours: from 11.00 to 18.00. Break: from 11.00 to 12.30 hours.

Botanical Garden Bonn / Botanische Garten der Universitat Bonn

Meckenheimer Allee 171, 53115 Bonn, Germany - the oldest botanical garden in Germany, founded in the 17th century, is located at this address. In 1720, a general reconstruction took place here, during which the garden took its final form, in the Baroque style. At the moment, on an area of 6.5 hectares, there are 11 greenhouses, in which more than 11,000 species of various plants feel very comfortable. The rose garden and Japanese garden are especially good. If you wish, you can buy seedlings or seeds of your favorite exotic plants here. The botanical garden itself is located in the park, called Reinaue. Its area is simply huge - 160 hectares. Exactly this favorite place recreation for city residents who come here with their entire families. There is something for everyone here.

Is the answer helpful?

Here are the museums and galleries you can visit in Bonn.

German Museum (Deutsches Museum Bonn)

Quite an interesting museum that tells about scientific and technical developments over the past decades - about 100 interesting exhibits. Here you can also see what great scientists received their Nobel Prizes for. There are also activities for small children here. Excursions, experiments, and simulations of time travel from 1950 to the present day are conducted especially for them, so that children can clearly evaluate scientific progress and learn about the past.

Address: Ahrstrasse 45

Working hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 - 18:00

Entrance: 5 € for adults, children from 6 to 15 years old - 3.50 €

Beethoven-Haus Museum

This museum is perhaps a must-see. The great composer was born in Bonn, so where else if not in this city should this museum be built. In the museum you can see the master's manuscripts, musical instruments, memorable gifts, furniture of those times, sheet music, letters and photographs and much more. This museum houses the largest collection in the world dedicated to Beethoven.

Address: Bonngasse 24-26

Working hours: April 1 - October 31 - daily 10:00 - 18:00; November 1 - March 31 Mon-Sat-10:00 - 17:00 and Sun + holidays - 11:00 - 17:00

Entrance: adults 6€, schoolchildren and students 4.50€, in a group of 15 people - 5€, family ticket (2 adults + 1 child) - 12€.

Rhine Local History Museum (Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn)

One of the oldest museums in Germany, and also a fairly large museum in the region. Here you can see exhibits that date from the first centuries to the present day, from the Paleolithic and Neanderthals to the 21st century. Very informative and interesting! There are permanent and temporary exhibitions. You can take audio guides; there are special applications for children. The museum hosts programs, concerts, children's matinees, lectures and seminars for children and adults.

Address: Colmantstr. 14-16.

Working hours: Tue-Fri, Sun 11.00 - 18.00, Sat 13.00 - 18.00

Entrance: adults 8€, children under 18 years old – free

Museum of Contemporary Art (Kunstmuseum Bonn)

It occupies a place of honor among all museums of contemporary art in the country. The museum building itself definitely deserves attention - very original! The museum exhibits more than 7,500 works by the Rhenish Expressionists. In addition to permanent exhibitions, the museum’s temporary thematic and monographic exhibition projects are also of interest. The museum has a fairly large library (on Thursdays 13.30 - 16.00)

Address: Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 2

Working hours: Tue to Sun 11.00 - 18.00, Wed 11.00 - 21.00

Entrance:€ 7 – adults, € 3.50 – children (12-18 years old), € 5.60 – in a group of 10 people, € 14.00 – family ticket, children under 12 years old admission is free

House of German History (Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland)

The museum is dedicated to the history of Germany, from 1945 to today. There are also similar museums in Leipzig and Berlin. The museum has collected numerous exhibits, documents, photographs and films that clearly illustrate historical and political themes. In total there are more than 800 thousand museum exhibits! In the House of History you can visit the permanent exhibition, as well as interesting temporary exhibitions.

Address: Willy-Brandt-Allee 14

Working hours: Tue - Fri -9:00-19:00, Sat - 10:00-18:00

Entrance: free

Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig)

It is one of the most important natural history museums in Germany, which fully reveals the problem of studying the Earth's biodiversity. Permanent exhibition - "Blue Planet - Life in the System": explains how everything on earth is interconnected. The excursion-journey begins in the African savannah and passes through tropical forests and polar ice, then back to Central Europe. In the foyer of the museum there is a skeleton of an Indian elephant (and not a dinosaur skeleton, as many people think). In general, an interesting museum for children and adults!

Address: Adenauerallee 160

Working hours: Mon-Sat 10:00 to 18:00 (Wednesday -10:00-21:00)

Entrance: 3 €

Academic Art Museum (Akademisches Kunstmuseum)

The oldest museum in the city. Keeps a collection of incredible ancient objects of Greco-Roman art. One of the largest collections in Germany contains plaster products, about 300 statues and sculptures, and more than 2,000 original works in marble, terracotta and bronze. In general, interesting! Every year on the second Sunday of January, April, July and October at 11:00 there are excursions for children and teenagers, different in theme.

Address: Am Hofgarten 21.

Working hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 15:00-17:00, Sunday 11:00-18:00, closed on holidays.

Entrance: 1.50€ for adults, free entry for children

Egyptian Museum (Aegyptisches Museum)

The Egyptian Museum on the basis of the University of Bonn was opened in March 2001. The museum is located in a beautiful hall with an area of about 300 square meters in Baroque style and houses more than 3,000 objects from Ancient Egypt.

The museum presents its collections in three different halls. The cultural and historical panorama presents objects of pharaonic culture: ceramics, tools, household items, jewelry, writings, figurines and more. Incredible archaeological finds! This museum will be very interesting for children. The museum has an excellent souvenir shop.

Address: Regina-Pacis-Weg 7

Working hours: Tuesday-Friday 13:00-17:00, Saturday and Sunday 13:00-18:00

Entrance: adults - € 2.50, children - € 2, family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) - € 7, group ticket (from 10 people) - € 2

August Macke House Museum

The museum is the artist’s house, where he lived with his family at the beginning of the 20th century. The most famous paintings of August Macke were created here. In addition to the artist’s works, in the museum you can see what surrounded Macke during his life, furniture, documents, books, etc. Oh yes, for reference, August Macke is a German expressionist artist. His most popular paintings are “Indians”, “Fashion Showcase”, “Lady in a Green Jacket”. I think the museum is worth a visit.

Address: Bornheimer Straße 96

Working hours: Tuesday - Friday 14.30 - 18.00, Saturday, Sunday and holidays - 11.00 - 17.00

Entrance: 5 € for adults, 4 € for children under 18 years of age and students, 10 € for a family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children under 18 years of age).

This, of course, is not the entire list, but these museums are a must!

The small ancient town of Bonn has a long history and is located in western Germany on the Rhine River. This cozy medieval city is known as the birthplace of Beethoven and the former capital of Germany. But they deserve special attention temples, cathedrals and mosques in Bonn, the construction of which was carried out during different periods of the 2000-year history of the city. Some of the churches are built on sites that have long been considered sacred.

Temples and cathedrals in Bonn

For Bonn, as for any German city, during the Middle Ages, churches were an integral, important part of life. Today they have also become the main attractions and architectural monuments.

The ancient monastery-basilica of St. Martin

The famous monastery-basilica of St. Martin is located on Münsterplatz. It is assumed that more than 2000 years ago, an older Roman shrine existed on the site of the temple (in 1910, a walled stone was found in the altar of the temple, dedicated to the goddess Diana).

The basilica was erected on the burial site of two executed (around 235) Roman legionnaires, Christian martyrs Cassius and Florence - patrons of the city, revered as saints.

As one of the most ancient basilicas in Germany, it was rebuilt several times: in the 6th-7th centuries the memorial hall was expanded, in 1050 it was completely destroyed and only in the 13th century it found its modern look. During the same period, it became a symbol of the city and is depicted on the coat of arms of Bonn.

Until 2009, the Basilica of St. Martin acted as a religious center for the believing population, and later the building was transferred to the Benedictines and the temple again became a monastery.

Connoisseurs of medieval architecture will be interested in the unusual style of the basilica building with elements of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque. The building itself has five towers of different heights and shapes.

The three-level apse with a high pediment and a small gallery, framed by two slender towers, later became a model of church construction throughout the Rhineland.

In the cathedral you can see a bronze statue of the founder of the temple, St. Helena, dating back to the 17th century. Bonn Basilica is also known for the fact that the coronations of many kings took place there, including King Charles IV of Germany (1346).

Today, the Cathedral of Saints Cassian and Florencius houses such valuable artifacts as an ancient altar, unusual stained glass windows, beautiful sculptural compositions and wooden decorations, and an excellent organ. It is worth paying attention to the unique cross made of transparent material placed above the altar. It shimmers with the colors of the ancient mosaic located behind it.

Despite the fact that the panorama of Bonn has changed over the centuries, the monastery-basilica of St. Martin has retained its original and ancient appearance.

The first Orthodox church in Bonn - Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Beginning in 1964, the Russian-speaking Orthodox community in Bonn rented a small room from the Church of the Evangelists. Now, several decades later, the philanthropist bought the Church of St. Helena from the evangelists and transferred it to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

On October 21, 2017, a significant event took place in the religious world of Bonn and throughout Western Germany as a whole - the first in the history of this city opened Orthodox church Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this day, the consecration of the temple took place in honor of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Queen Helen.

Several hundred people attended the ceremony. It was announced that services in churches would be held in two languages - Russian and German.

The Orthodox Church in Bonn has its own shrines: part of the relics of the Holy Queen Helen Equal to the Apostles and part of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

The old and unusual church called Doppelkirche Schwarzrheindorf or “double church”, which you can visit while walking along the Rhine embankment, was built in 1151 by the Carolingian dynasty. The temple is located in the oldest district of Bonn - Schwanzendorf.

The church consists of two buildings connected crosswise. In the middle there is a tall tower with a pointed dome. The church got its name Doppel, which means “double,” because of its two levels. One is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and the second to Pope Clement I.

There are also two altars here: only the nobility and the best people city, and already came to the lower level with prayer simple people Bonna.

An interesting feature of the temple is a gallery with columns, which is not very typical for a church. On the interior walls you can see authentic medieval frescoes and interesting paintings on gospel themes. The Doppelkirche Schwarzrheindorf preserves the most complete collection of Romanesque frescoes in all of Germany.

And although the “double church” went through many restorations, it managed to preserve its unique medieval appearance.

Church named after Jesus

A small but beautiful temple, located in a busy area near the Beethoven House Museum. The church was built in 1686-1717 for the Jesuit Order by order of the Elector of Cologne and Archbishop Maximilian Heinrich of Bavaria.

The temple building was built in the architectural style of the so-called Jesuit Baroque. This movement is characterized by an unexpected combination of Baroque forms with Romanesque and Gothic elements.

The church has two towers with double Romanesque windows, and the main building is decorated with pointed Gothic windows. The shape of the tower's domes is more typical of French Baroque architecture.

As for the interior decoration of the Church named after Jesus, most of it was destroyed during the French occupation (1794-1800), and the temple itself was a soldier's barracks and stable.

Only the choir and pulpit (1698), crowned with the figure of the Archangel Michael defeating the dragon, have survived to this day. The white and gold altar (1755) is decorated with an 18th-century Baroque painting of the Holy Family.

In 1774, after the Jesuits left, the church was empty. From 1877 to 1934 it was the parish church of the Old Catholic community of Bonn. Since 1934 it served as the Catholic University Church.

Today the temple is owned by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and belongs to the Roman Catholic church community.

The Cathedral (Bonner Münster), made in Romanesque and Gothic styles, is a historical monument of architecture. In 1956, Bonn Cathedral received the honorary title of Pontifical Minor Basilica.

This impressive medieval Catholic church is built on land that has been considered holy for 2,000 years: it was originally a Roman temple, then a Catholic one, and then Christian church.

As legend has it, the cathedral was founded on the spot martyrdom Roman legionnaires - Cassius and Florence. They were subjects of the Roman Emperor Maximian Herculius, but did not obey his order to execute Christians, but remained faithful to Christianity.

In the 4th century, Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, built a memorial tomb over the burial site of Christian martyrs.

And after 300 years, this room was expanded, and in 1050 the construction of the current cathedral began. The construction of the temple lasted about three centuries. And although the cathedral was heavily damaged during the Second World War, it has retained its medieval beauty to this day.

The building is decorated with five towers, each of which is topped with a spire. If you look to the southwest corner of the church, you will see a door that leads to a hidden gallery built in the 12th century. Horses, lions and dragons are depicted under its arches, and in the very center there is an amazing fountain.

The interior decoration of the temple amazes with its splendor and richness. Here you can see the following creations of medieval masters:

a 12th-century font depicting Noah's Ark;
13th-century sculptures of an angel and devil on the east wing;
a 15th-century fresco depicting the Three Magi;
11th century altar above the chapel.

Bonn Cathedral is truly a masterpiece of late Romanesque art from the time of the Hohenstaufen dynasty (1138-1254).

Outside, near Bonn Cathedral, lie huge stone heads of Cassius and Florence, made by sculptor Iskander Yediler in 2002.

There is also an underground room in which there is a grave of martyrs. It is possible to get there only once a year - October 10, the day of honoring the saints.
Every year, concerts and excursions are held on the territory of the cathedral. German, the so-called Bonn summer.

Ancient historical value - Chapel of St. Helena

The Chapel of St. Helena on Am Hof in the center of the Old Town attracts the attention of tourists: this historical value is unique in its kind, as it is the only Romanesque domestic chapel in the Rhineland that has survived to this day.

The chapel was founded by the pastor of the monastery of St. Cassius, Gerhard von Are, in 1160. And the name St. Helena was given to the church as a sign of respect for Queen Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine.

The chapel building is a square church with a cross vault and a semicircular apse. Light penetrates inside through three semi-circular windows.

The floor is paved with stone slabs from the 12th century. The temple vaults are decorated with amazing frescoes of the 13th-15th centuries, which were restored during the restoration of the chapel in the 1960s.

After secularization (removal from church jurisdiction and transfer to civil jurisdiction) of the chapel in 1803, the church building became private property. Since 1905, the church has belonged to the city.

St. Mary's Church

St. Mary's Church (St. Mariakirche) is located in the northern part of Bonn. You can see its spire with three bronze bells from the city center.

Construction of the temple began in 1887. Today, the exterior of the building is an excellent example of the neo-Gothic architectural style.

The length of the church is only 80 meters, the width is 20 meters, and the entire building is made of light brick.

The beautiful folding altar, as well as the side altars, the font and the pulpit, date back to the period when the construction of the church began.

In 1892, a large organ was installed above the entrance to the church, which was called “The Queen”. Since 2010, a small organ called “Princess” has been installed on the right side of the church.

Church of the Holy Staircase Kreuzberg

The “Holy Staircase” of the Kreuzberg Church (Kreuzberg Bonn, Heilige Stiege auf dem Bonner Kreuzberg) was modeled after the staircase of the palace of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. According to the biblical interpretation, Jesus climbed these stairs to appear before the court of Pontius Pilate.

Construction of the church began in 1627-1628 by order of Archbishop and Elector Ferdinand. In 1689 the church was looted.

And in 1746, during the restoration of the temple, Elector Clement Augustus had the idea of creating the Holy Staircase (Heilige Stiege) there.

But it was built by Balthasar Neumann closer to 1751. At that time, such sacred stairs were very common, especially in Bavaria.

The impressive Holy Staircase is today renowned as one of the most elegant Baroque creations in the entire Rhineland.

The temple belonged to the Servites (a monastic order of servants of the Virgin Mary of the Catholic Church) until the era of Napoleonic persecution of monasteries, and after 1802 the building was turned into a pub. In 1855, the church was appropriated by the Jesuits, and in 1889 by the Franciscans.
It is worth paying attention to the sculptural group above the entrance: the famous biblical scene is depicted when Pontius Pilate shows the scourged Jesus to the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the balcony of his palace, exclaiming: Ecce Homo (“Behold the Man!”).
The Church of the Holy Staircase Kreuzberg still remains a place of pilgrimage, where every year Good Friday and Holy Saturday, believers on their knees climb the stairs (28 steps) to the cross with a crucifix in the chapel. Small brass crosses on the second, eleventh and twelfth steps symbolize drops of the blood of Christ.

St. Elisabeth's Church in Bonn

The current parish Roman Catholic church Katholische Pfarrkirche St. Elisabeth is named after Elizabeth of Hungary. This church is relatively young, as it was built in 1908 for 2,200 parishioners according to the design of the architect Ludwig Becker.

The temple is attractive both with its external view and with its excellent classical interior decoration: stained glass windows, bas-reliefs, vaulted painted ceiling, chandeliers.

Local artists were involved in the interior design, as well as Georg Busch (German sculptor) and Matthias Schiestl (German artist and graphic artist, in 1905 he made a study trip to the Holy Land and Egypt) together with his brother Heinrich ( Heinrich Schiestl).

The church has an organ that was built between 1910 and 1913 by Johannes Klais in the German Romantic style.

In 1990, the organ was restored, and in 2002 it was re-equipped using an electro-pneumatic system. For connoisseurs of musical art, the Church of St. Elizabeth hosts concerts of classical, organ and church music.
What is interesting: this temple is not indicated on tourist maps and is located inside a quiet quarter at Bernard-Custodis-Strasse, 1. It is protected as an architectural monument.

Church of Saint Kikilia

Another interesting ancient parish church in the Oberkassel district of Bonn, about 6 km southeast of the historical center of Bonn, is the Church of St. Kikilia.

The first mention of this church dates back to 1144. The temple was built in the Romanesque style. Its oldest and most famous part is the four-story Romanesque bell tower, made of rubble stone in 1200. Now there are 5 bells hanging in the bell tower, and two of them are considered the oldest in Bonn (15th century).

In 1863-1865, a new central nave was built to the east of the tower. The old church, which was located on the western side, was destroyed. And in 1910, a side nave was added to the church. In 1955 a large sacristy was erected.

It is worth paying attention to the stained glass windows of the choir, created in 1884-1886. artist Josef Mahhausen. One of them depicts Saint Kikilia.

Mosques in Germany

A significant religious Muslim group in Germany emerged in the 1960s due to labor migration and a wave of political refugees. Therefore, the need arose to build mosques. The first Muslim communities and Islamic associations began to form, and religious centers began to open. According to approximate data, about four million 300 thousand Muslims live in Germany, which is 5 percent of the country’s total population.

Today in Germany there are about 240 classical mosques with a dome and minarets, and there are more than 2,500 thousand houses of worship. In the fall of 2008, the largest mosque in Europe opened in Duisburg. At the same time, the construction of German mosques remains a subject of heated debate.

Al-Muhajirin Moschee – mosque in Bonn

For representatives of the Muslim faith, it is very important to conduct prayers in the mosque, since prayer there has great power. In Bonn, at Bruehler Str. 28, 53119, Al-Muhajirin Mosque is located. Official site .

Construction Bonn mosque, started in 2011, has now been completed. The most important place in the mosque is the prayer room, which is carpeted and you will not see any chairs or benches. Muslims pray only on their knees. But for elderly or sick people there are a few chairs at the edge of the prayer room.

Al-Muhajireen Mosque together with the Catholic parish of St. Thomas More, the Protestant Eastern Church and volunteers are participating in the Dining Oasis charity project. Weekly shelter and meals are provided for needy people from the northwestern region of Bonn for a small fee.

The project is financed exclusively through donations from churches and through private sponsorship.

Conclusion

If you want to take a break from the fast and noisy pace of life, then quiet and cozy Bonn is just for you. And many beautiful temples, churches and mosques, which attract with their architecture, valuable relics, magical music of organs and bells, will help you plunge into the world of religious mystery.

Bonn 21 10 17 Kirche: Video

Bonn, pl. Münsterplatz, no. 5.

Bonn Cathedral, a tall, perfectly proportioned basilica, built in the Romanesque style, is located in Bonn, the former capital of West Germany. The place where the cathedral stands has been considered sacred for 2000 years: first there was a Catholic church here, then a Christian church and the tomb of the holy martyrs Cassius and Florence.

The city of Bonn was founded by the Romans as the fortress of Castra Bonnensia back in the 1st century AD. e. It survived the collapse of the Roman Empire, becoming a civilian settlement, and became the Frankish city of Bonnburg in the 9th century.

Around 235, two Roman legionaries, Cassius and Florence, arrived in Castra Bonnencia and were martyred for their Christian faith. According to legend, in the 4th century St. Helena, mother of Constantine I the Great, built a small memorial tomb over their graves. There is no evidence of this construction, however, archaeological excavations have shown that the basilica stands on the site of a Roman temple and necropolis.

In the 6th and 7th centuries, the memorial hall was expanded and many people were buried next to the martyrs, both inside and outside the building. The next expansion took place in the 8th century.

Around 1050, the church was completely destroyed and construction began on the modern Romanesque building, which dates from the 11th to 13th centuries. By the end of construction, Bonn had already acquired great importance and became the capital of the Archbishopric of Cologne. The new basilica appeared on the city's coat of arms. In 1643, Cassius and Florence were officially declared patron saints of the city of Bonn.

The church suffered severe damage in 1583–1589, 1689 and during the Second World War, but was completely restored each time.

In 1956, Bonn Cathedral received the honorary title of Pontifical Minor Basilica.

The cathedral is located in the very center of the city on Martinsplatz and Münsterplatz squares, near the railway station. The temple has five towers: two square towers on the east side, a round central tower 96 meters high and two thin towers on the west. All are topped with spiers. The nondescript western part of the cathedral is one of the oldest parts of the basilica, dating back to the 11th century.

On the open area in the eastern part of the basilica lie the large heads of the Roman martyrs Cassius and Florence, the patron saints of Bonn. They were created in 2002 by sculptor Iskander Yediler, whose hand also belongs to the sculptures of St. Benno in Munich and St. Gereon in Cologne.

The nave of the basilica dates from 1220 and is a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic elements. It is illuminated through identical modern stained glass windows with a colored center and a black and white pattern around the edges.

At the back of the nave (to the west) stands a huge statue of St. Helena, donated by Cardinal Franz Wilhelm von Wartenberg, rector of the Collegiate Church (1629–1661).

Most of the interior decoration is in Baroque or earlier styles. The font dates back to the 12th century. In 1966, a small image of Noah's Ark appeared on it. Near the font in the northwestern corner there is an image of St. Helena, St. Cassia, St. Florence and panoramas of the city of Bonn (1704).

In the front (eastern) part of the nave are two large Romanesque sculptures (c. 1200), an angel and a devil. A staircase under the altar leads to an underground chapel where prayer services are usually held. Here, on a stone pedestal between the eastern pillars, a reliquary with the relics of Cassius and Florence is kept. Behind a closed door is the grave of the martyrs; the door is opened only on the day of celebration of these saints, October 10.