St. Aposteln Cologne

Colourful frescoes in the old town

Justine from Cologne

​About me ​I am a Belgian woman living in Cologne since 2018. I studied ecology in Belgium and Norway and, after graduating, I moved to Germany. I first lived in Gießen, then in Wiesbaden, and eventually moved to Cologne. I am currently working as a Data Steward in an infrastructure and research center in the context of a project in microbiota research. Besides my job, I enjoy cooking tradit...
"What struck me the most were the frescoes in the three apse ceilings by Hermann Gottfried. These powerful frescoes bring colors and dynamism to the church."

I am not usually very fond of churches as I find them cold, but what struck me about St. Aposteln were the frescoes in the three apse ceilings by Hermann Gottfried. These powerful frescoes bring colour and dynamism to the church. St. Aposteln - whose full name in English is the Basilica of the Holy Apostles - is a large Romanesque church dedicated to the 12 Apostles and has 3 organs (concerts are sometimes organised).

Hermann Gottfried was a (glass) painter whose work can be admired in other churches in Cologne: to see some of his paintings, you can visit St. Hubertus or St. Norbert; to see some of his stained glass, you can visit the Great Church of St. Martin, St. Maria Magdalena and Lazarus in the Melaten Cemetery, or St. Ursula.

Nearby is the Peter Heinrichs pipe shop, where Gandalf's pipe was sold the last time I was there. Peter Heinrichs also organises seminars and tastings (e.g. rum and cigar tastings).

002-building
Art & culture

This week 25% off

with the code fall25

*on our yearly membership

Cologne Spotter Justine

​About me ​I am a Belgian woman living in Cologne since 2018. I studied ecology in Belgium and Norway and, after graduating, I moved to Germany. I first lived in Gießen, then in Wiesbaden, and eventually moved to Cologne. I am currently working as a Data Steward in an infrastructure and research center in the context of a project in microbiota research. Besides my job, I enjoy cooking traditional Belgian dishes, reading classics, hiking in the forest, and, of course, exploring Cologne. Why ​Cologne? ​What I love about Cologne is that, in my Belgian opinion, it is a lar...

About this spot

Neumarkt 30

free

22129240560

Nov 9, 2025

Our Cologne City Guide

Find your way with 139 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our Cologne guide.

Loved it? Join us!

Loved this Spot?Join your international community. Share your favs and become part of our international community!

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in Cologne

Delicato

Italian grocery & bar in Ehrenfeld

Delicato is a wholesale grocer with high-quality Italian products such as cold cuts, bronze-cut pasta & oil. But not only that: it is also a kitchen bar!

028-beach-bar-1
Bars
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

by

Justine

Vandendorpe

Nov 15, 2025

The Good Food

Love at second sight

Next to saving some money, the most important is: You are saving food that would have been otherwise thrown away because of either the best-to-date or how it looks.

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

by

Lea

Renner

Nov 15, 2025
KölnTriangle Cologne

KölnTriangle

Top of the block!

"KölnTriangle" provides what in my opinion is the best view of Cologne, at least in my opinion. You can see the Dome and so much more!

002-building
Art & culture
017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Stephan

Wehrle

Nov 13, 2025
Die Mehlwerkstatt Cologne

Die Mehlwerkstatt

The hipster bakery

"Die Mehlwerkstatt" in Cologne is unlike other bakeries: here they still make the dough themselves. Everything is freshly made, warm and delicious...

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Lea

Renner

Nov 11, 2025
Lichtspiele Kalk Cologne

Lichtspiele Kalk

Enjoy classic movies!

Lichtspiele Kalk is an independent cinema with an 87-seat screening room and it shows not only contemporary movies but also children’s and classic movies.

008-ticket
Cinema

by

Justine

Vandendorpe

Nov 9, 2025

Dellbrücker Heide

A small nature reserve

To maintain this habitat open and thus preserve the associated species - there is a shepherd with goats and sheep. There are also free tours you can join!

017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Justine

Vandendorpe

Nov 9, 2025

Knippschild Werk 2

Gastropub in Köln Dellbrück

Knippschild Werk 2 is a rather small family-run restaurant with 30 seats inside and 18 seats in the biergarten, and multiple kinds of Schnitzel!

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Justine

Vandendorpe

Nov 9, 2025

Rail museum Thielenbruch

Historic tramways

In this museum, you can see more than 20 tramways, a model railway, historical props of the Cologne tramway, and technical objects.

002-building
Art & culture

by

Justine

Vandendorpe

Nov 9, 2025
La Vincaillerie Cologne

La Vincaillerie

Natural Wines in Ehrenfeld

La Vincaillerie offers natural wines from all over Europe, including Austria, France, Georgia, and Germany. And you can rent the store for private events!

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

by

Justine

Vandendorpe

Nov 9, 2025
Kunstbruder Cologne

Kunstbruder

The restaurant in an art gallery

"Kunstbruder" in Cologne is a restaurant inside a street art gallery! I love their varied, international menu -- I always get something different...

002-building
Art & culture
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Lea

Renner

Nov 9, 2025

My Shoemaker in Riehl

Support local craftsmen

Moving within your city means you can explore new neighborhoods. My new shoemaker in Cologne did a very good job fixing an old leather bag...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Julia

Krakau

Nov 6, 2025
Perlenfischer Cologne

Perlenfischer

Beautiful gifts and stamps

Perlenfischer is a beautiful corner store has specialized in rubber stamps: flowers and leaves, fruits, animals, graphic shapes, or whole letterings.

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

by

Julia

Krakau

Nov 4, 2025

Heading to Cologne?

139 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

Cologne app Home
Cologne app Home
Cologne app Map
Cologne app Home

0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

139 Insider Tips

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

City guides by those who know the city in and out!

Our Locals' Favorite Art & culture

Our team loves Cologne

Get to know our other Spotters from Cologne

As featured on:

New-York-Times
the-guardian
mashable
the-sunday-times
[paywall_activator]
false
0
false
7303
Made with the 💚 of 496 Spotters.
Filters