The Church of St Panteleon is located near Cologne Cathedral and is one of the largest basilicas in the city, which is managed by a special foundation for Romanesque churches. Historians claim that the first written mention of this basilica dates back to 866, and in 995 a Benedictine monastery was founded here thanks to the efforts of Archbishop Bruno.
The Church of St Panteleon is one of the oldest spiritual buildings in the city, the first relics housed inside were brought in during the Carolingian dynasty. Some fragments of statues and sculptures that were created in the 10th century have survived to this day. The entire western part of the temple, together with the vestibule, has survived to this day in its original appearance.
This temple was originally a one-nave hall church, but in 1160 it was rebuilt into a three-nave basilica. After its significant expansion and the construction of the fortifications of Cologne, the church was within the city limits. From the first half of the XVII century in the architectural style of the structure brought elements of Baroque, of such details to the present day has survived the decoration of the choir, as well as the organ backdrop.
In 1757, the church of St Panteleon came into disrepair, for this reason it was decided to demolish its towers on the sides and build another, but smaller in size and height. The basilica was subsequently used as a stable and garrison church. During the war period of the 20th century, the church was significantly damaged by shelling and bombardment, but restoration and renovation works managed to restore its original Romanesque appearance, albeit with some Baroque elements.
