Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: stained glass window

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". The legend tells, that Saint Kunibert, who was bishop of Cologne and advisor to King Dagobert I, founded a monastery here. In its center existed a church, dedicated to Saint Clemens, where St. Kunibert was buried. Around 1210 the construction of a new church began. The choir was completed in 1226. St. Kunibert was consecrated in 1247, just a year before he Gothic cathedral was begun. So this is the "youngest" of the Romanesque churches in Cologne. As a result of the secalurization the monastery ceased to exist in 1802. The church remained in use by the local parish. In 1830 the the western tower collapsed during a storm. It got rebuilt until 1860 but got ruined in 1944, when the church fell into ruins due to the air raids. Reconstruction of choir and nave were finished 1955, however rebuilding of transept and western tower were only started in the late 1970s, after a long controversial dispute. Reconstruction work was finally finished in 1993. Some windows of the choir date back to 1220/1230. Here the "Tree of Jesse" is depicted. The nativity scene is a detail of that window.

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". The legend tells, that Saint Kunibert, who was bishop of Cologne and advisor to King Dagobert I, founded a monastery here. In its center existed a church, dedicated to Saint Clemens, where St. Kunibert was buried. Around 1210 the construction of a new church began. The choir was completed in 1226. St. Kunibert was consecrated in 1247, just a year before he Gothic cathedral was begun. So this is the "youngest" of the Romanesque churches in Cologne. As a result of the secalurization the monastery ceased to exist in 1802. The church remained in use by the local parish. In 1830 the the western tower collapsed during a storm. It got rebuilt until 1860 but got ruined in 1944, when the church fell into ruins due to the air raids. Reconstruction of choir and nave were finished 1955, however rebuilding of transept and western tower were only started in the late 1970s, after a long controversial dispute. Reconstruction work was finally finished in 1993. Some windows of the choir date back to 1220/1230. Here the "Tree of Jesse" is depicted.

The construction of the cathedral began as early as 1248 in the then very new, gothic style. The black, vulcanic stones used from the beginning give the cathedral its dark colour. As these black stones are very strong it was possible for the architects to create very elegant pillars - and all around the large choir space for these fantastic stained glass windows. Louis IX´s son (the future Philip III) married Isabella of Aragon in this choir in May 1262. At this occasion the king may have financed a part of the stained glass windows that seem to be from the same workshop as those in Sainte-Chapelle on the Île de la Cité in Paris.

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou. The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170 The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade was finished about 100 years later. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir. Here is a detail from the "nativity window". The "Dream of the Magi" and the Magi on their way home. For many pilgrims on their way to Santiago, the Magi were ideals, as they took a long way as well. So it is no surprise, that the Magi can be found frequently along the "chemin".

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou. The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170 The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade was finished about 100 years later. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir. Here is a detail from the "nativity window" (previous upload). The Magi on their way, following the star. Their visit at the palace of Herod (holding a sword). Above is the "Adoration of the Magi".

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou. The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170 The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade was finished about 100 years later. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir.

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou. The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170 The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade was finished about 100 years later. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir. Not surprising Sant Martin (aka "Martin of Tours") can be found. Here Saint Martin cuts his cloak in half to share with the beggar. Here Saint Martin cuts his cloak in half to share with the beggar. The cloak became a famous relic preserved at the Marmoutier Abbey near Tours. The miraculous cloak, ("cappa Sancti Martini") was carried by the kings and used as a holy relic during royal ceremonies. It is attested in the royal treasury in 679. The priests who cared for the cloak in its reliquary were called "cappellani". The word developed - French "chapelains", English "chaplain", German "Kaplan". The small temporary churches built for the relic were called "capella", the word for a little cloak. This word developed as well. French "chapelle", English "chapel", German "Kapelle".

The first church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built here on order of Lidoire, bishop of Tours from 337 to 371 (preceding Saint Martin). This church burnt down 561, it was restored by Gregory of Tours in 590. This church then got replaced by a Romanesque structure, that again burnt in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, who as well was Count of Anjou. The erection of the present cathedral started around 1170 The chancel was built 1236 to 1279, but the nave took longer to build. It was completed end of the 14th century, before the Gothic facade was finished about 100 years later. In 1562 Huguenot iconoclasts created great damages here, but they did not destroy the 13th century stained glass windows of the choir. Here is one of them, themed around Saint Martin.