Kolumba

Kolumba is an art museum in Cologne, Germany, owned and operated by the Archdiocese of Cologne. Officially known as Kolumba, Kunstmuseum des Erzbistums Köln, it houses a collection that spans late antiquity to contemporary art with an emphasis on religious and devotional objects. The museum's holdings include archaeology, medieval and Baroque works, modern religious art, and rotating temporary exhibitions.

The museum occupies the site of the former St. Columba church (St. Kolumba) and was rebuilt between 2003 and 2007. The new building was designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor and is noted for its sensitive integration of the archaeological ruins and Gothic remnants of the earlier church into a subdued, contemplative gallery environment. The design employs a restrained material palette and carefully controlled natural light to create intimate viewing spaces and a seamless relationship between old and new fabric.

Kolumba is recognized both for the quality of its collection and for its architectural significance. Its programming includes thematic displays drawn from the permanent holdings, contemporary commissions, scholarly research, conservation, and public education. The museum is located in Cologne’s city center near other cultural institutions and is considered an important site for the study of religious art and modern museum design.