Ariadne's Thread: Guide ~ Germany ~ Bonn ~ St. Martin's Church, Bonn Cathedral. What is worth seeing in Bonn? St. Mary's Church

Bonn, pl. Münsterplatz, no. 5.

Bonn Cathedral, a tall basilica with ideal proportions, built in the Romanesque style and located in Bonn, former capital 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. Helen, mother of Constantine I the Great, built a small memorial tomb over their graves. There is no evidence of this design, however, archaeological excavations showed 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 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 with east side, a round central tower 96 meters high and two thin turrets to 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 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 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.

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 (c. 1300). The main altar was made in 1865; here you can see sculptures of Saints Cassius, Florence, Martin and Helena.

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.

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.

In the center of the gallery there is a garden with a fountain; dragons, horses, lions and leaves are carved on the vaults in the Romanesque style. The north side of the gallery was demolished in the 13th century to widen the south aisle of the cathedral.

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 (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 disobeyed the emperor's orders and 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 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 at the beginning of the 19th 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 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 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 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 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.

Small old town Bonn has a long history and is located in western Germany on the Rhine River. This cozy medieval city 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 anyone German city, during the Middle Ages, temples 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 dedicated to the goddess Diana was found in the temple altar).

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 acquired its modern appearance. 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 stores such valuable artifacts as an ancient altar, unusual stained glass windows, beautiful sculptural compositions and wood decorations, a superb 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 Orthodox Church of the Intercession in the history of this city opened Holy Mother of God. 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 is high 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 on the lower level the ordinary people of Bonn came to pray.

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.

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, and then a Christian church.

As legend has it, the cathedral was founded on the site of the martyrdom of 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 about Bonn Cathedral lie huge stone heads Cassia 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 Stairs of Kreuzberg still remains a place of pilgrimage, where every year on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, believers climb the stairs (28 steps) on their knees 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's interesting: this temple is not marked 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 autumn of 2008, the most great mosque in Europe. 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 .

The construction of the Bonn Mosque, which began 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 Cathedral, a tall, perfectly proportioned basilica, built in the Romanesque style, is located in Bonn, the former capital of West Germany. The place on which the cathedral stands has been considered sacred for 2000 years: first there was a pagan temple 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. Helen, 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-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 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 survived severe damage in 1583-1589, 1689 and during the Second World War, but each time it was completely restored.
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.

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 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 fresco from 1400 depicting 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 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.

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 (c. 1300). The main altar was made in 1865; here you can see sculptures of Saints Cassius, Florence, Martin and Helena.
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 back to 1951-1952.

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. Helen, 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 a 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 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 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.

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 (c. 1300). The main altar was made in 1865; here you can see sculptures of Saints Cassius, Florence, Martin and Helena.

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.

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.

In the center of the gallery there is a garden with a fountain; dragons, horses, lions and leaves are carved on the vaults in the Romanesque style. The north side of the gallery was demolished in the 13th century to widen the south aisle of the cathedral.