St. Maria Lyskirchen, Cologne, Germany

St. Maria Lyskirchen is the smallest of the twelve Romanesque churches in Cologne. It was founded in 948, and the present building dates from 1210-1220, with some later additions in the Gothic style. The upper parts of the west front were rebuilt in the 19th century. The church is in the form of a three-aisled basilica, with a chancel flanked by two towers, only one of which was constructed to its full height, and an eastern apse. The building received only minor damage during the wars.

The church has a sculptured Romanesque portal, and a cycle of 13th century ceiling paintings. Rediscovered in the 19th century, they are unique in Cologne and show stories from the Old and New Testaments. The church contains the 'Schiffermadonna' (Seaman's Madonna), a wooden statue of 1420. A triptych by Joos van Cleve, with a central panel of the Lamentation, was sold in 1812; a few years later it was replaced with a copy by Benedikt Beckenkamp, which remains in the church.

References:

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User Reviews

Eugen Safin (10 months ago)
Quiet and peaceful church. Great experience!

Morteza Mohammadi (14 months ago)
Ok

Bibi Bibubobo (2 years ago)
St. Mary in Lyskirchen is the smallest of the twelve large Romanesque basilicas in the old town of Cologne. The Roman Catholic parish church belongs to the archbishopric of Cologne and is located in the old town south. It was built in its present form as a three-aisled basilica between 1198/1200 and 1225. St. Mary in Lyskirchen is characterized by historical vault frescoes from the 13th century. The name Lyskirchen is probably derived from a Mr. Lisolvus or Lysolfus, who built the original building as a church of its own. The church as well as the attached sexton house and the sacristy are listed buildings.

mike elliott (2 years ago)
A very little quaint church. If you weren't looking for it you would miss it. Very beautiful. When I went there wasnt alot of people there. So I would suggest going there to get away from the crowds. It was very peaceful inside. Very beautiful on the inside and out.

Don Miller (2 years ago)
Wonderful gothic church with an excellent organ - fortunate to hear organist practicing a recital!

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Angelokastro

Angelokastro is a Byzantine castle on the island of Corfu. It is located at the top of the highest peak of the island"s shoreline in the northwest coast near Palaiokastritsa and built on particularly precipitous and rocky terrain. It stands 305 m on a steep cliff above the sea and surveys the City of Corfu and the mountains of mainland Greece to the southeast and a wide area of Corfu toward the northeast and northwest.

Angelokastro is one of the most important fortified complexes of Corfu. It was an acropolis which surveyed the region all the way to the southern Adriatic and presented a formidable strategic vantage point to the occupant of the castle.

Angelokastro formed a defensive triangle with the castles of Gardiki and Kassiopi, which covered Corfu"s defences to the south, northwest and northeast.

The castle never fell, despite frequent sieges and attempts at conquering it through the centuries, and played a decisive role in defending the island against pirate incursions and during three sieges of Corfu by the Ottomans, significantly contributing to their defeat.

During invasions it helped shelter the local peasant population. The villagers also fought against the invaders playing an active role in the defence of the castle.

The exact period of the building of the castle is not known, but it has often been attributed to the reigns of Michael I Komnenos and his son Michael II Komnenos. The first documentary evidence for the fortress dates to 1272, when Giordano di San Felice took possession of it for Charles of Anjou, who had seized Corfu from Manfred, King of Sicily in 1267.

From 1387 to the end of the 16th century, Angelokastro was the official capital of Corfu and the seat of the Provveditore Generale del Levante, governor of the Ionian islands and commander of the Venetian fleet, which was stationed in Corfu.

The governor of the castle (the castellan) was normally appointed by the City council of Corfu and was chosen amongst the noblemen of the island.

Angelokastro is considered one of the most imposing architectural remains in the Ionian Islands.

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