The square tower
A tower with four small turrets at its corners — the shape that marks out Cologne's river view.
-wuppertaler — CC BY 4.0 · Yair-haklai — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Qwertzu111111 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gillfoto — CC BY-SA 4.0
Great St. Martin is a Romanesque church in Cologne's old town, its square tower with four small turrets appearing in every photograph of the riverfront. It was built in the twelfth century on old Roman foundations, and is one of twelve Romanesque churches that together form the city's most important architecture after the cathedral. It was heavily destroyed in the Second World War and its restoration was only completed in 1985. Entry is free, and the interior is plain and quiet against the noise of the old town outside. In the crypt are exposed remains of Roman buildings that stood on the same ground.
A tower with four small turrets at its corners — the shape that marks out Cologne's river view.
Exposed Roman foundations beneath the church, a reminder that Cologne began as a Roman city.
Bare stone and quiet arches with little decoration — a relief after the busy street.
An Groß St. Martin 9, 50667 Köln
FischmarktThe Fischmarkt is a small triangular square on the Rhine bank behind Great St. M1 minute walk4.3
The Animal FountainA bronze fountain near the church of Gross St Martin in Cologne's old town, by t1 minute walk4.3
Alter MarktThe Alter Markt is Cologne's oldest square and was the city's trading centre fro2 minutes walk4.4
Cologne Historic City HallCologne's Rathaus is Germany's oldest working city hall: documented since 1135, 2 minutes walk4.3
Cologne River GaugeThe Pegel is a small structure on the Rhine bank in Cologne whose job is to meas2 minutes walk4.6The cathedral is Gothic, enormous and always crowded; this is older in style, Romanesque, far smaller and much quieter. They are five minutes apart. See the cathedral first, then come here for the calm.
Both. The walls and tower are twelfth-century at their core, but wartime bombing destroyed large parts and the restoration was only finished in 1985. What you see is a mix of original stone and careful rebuilding.
You are in the old town: the cathedral to the north with the Hohenzollern Bridge behind it, and the Chocolate Museum ten minutes south along the Rhine. All walkable in half a day.