Rumor has it that beneath Alt-St. Martin lies a secret. This Roman temple may predate the church itself. We are standing before Alt-St. Martin a Roman Catholic church in Bonn. More precisely it is located in Muffendorf. This church is not just any building. It is a testament to centuries of faith and history.
Alt-St. Martin’s story began in 913. That’s the first time it appeared in historical records. It was likely a royal church. Close by stood the Siegburg court. It belonged to the Michaelsberg Abbey.
In 1910, workers found something amazing. They discovered a stone. This stone was dedicated to the goddess Diana. This suggests a Roman temple once stood here. Perhaps this very spot was sacred long before the church.
Around 1100, the original church was built. It was a simple hall with a flat ceiling and no tower. Later around 1200, the church was expanded. A cross-ribbed vault was added to the choir. An apse and a west tower were also constructed. The tower has a pyramid roof. A side aisle with a small apse was added to the north. It featured a round-arched entrance. In the 17th century, a sacristy was added. It sat between the choir and the north aisle. Restorations in 1910 and 1911 reversed baroque changes.
Alt-St. Martin lost its role as a parish church in 1895. A new larger church was built called New St. Martin. It was built in the Gothic style. The old church faded from memory. But people eventually remembered it. They initiated extensive repairs.
During these repairs, they found the ancient altar. It dated back to the 2nd century. It confirmed that a Roman temple existed here. Alt-St. Martin is built from volcanic rock. This stone was abundant in the region. In the early 13th century, changes occurred. The church got its 13-meter-high west tower. It had a seven-meter-high pyramid roof. The tower looks massive. It was built on the existing structure. Strong walls support the church.
The kesselförmige Taufstein is a baptismal font. It dates to around 1210. It features a palmette-shaped frieze. The sacristy door dates to the 17th century. Its iron fittings suggest it was once an exterior door.
In the 19th century, a new church was built nearby. Alt-St. Martin was nearly abandoned. Yet it was never forgotten. Renovations took place in 1910, 1911, 1934, 1935, and the 1960s. These updates modernized the church with stained glass and sculptures.
Alt-St. Martin was mainly used for concerts. However a fire damaged the church in 2017. It is currently not accessible. Restoration is now in progress.
Standing here before Alt-St. Martin, one can almost hear the echoes of the past. From Roman worshippers to medieval Christians, this place has been a sanctuary for centuries. Alt-St. Martin remains a symbol of faith. It also stands as a testament to the enduring power of history.