Ways to discover the collection

Reliquaries

The reliquaries in the Museum Schnütgen’s collection are often made of the finest materials; however, for believers, the most treasured possession was what was originally stored within: the relics, i.e. the mortal remains of saints, remnants of their clothing or the instruments of their martyrdom. It was believed that the saints themselves were present in the relics and their presence enabled the relics to perform miracles. The relic containers were made in a wide variety of different shapes: as “speaking” or “expressive” reliquaries they mimicked the shape of the body part they contained, while others allowed viewers to behold their contents. Cologne is known for the St. Ursula busts, which are said to contain the skull bones of St. Ursula, the patron saint of the city, and her attendants.