#86 In the Heart of the City: Women's Convents in 13th Century Cologne

In the 13th century, they were far more than just places of prayer: The convents of St Ursula, St Cäcilien and St Mary in the Capitol played a decisive role in shaping the spiritual, economic and cultural life of medieval Cologne. In this episode, we take a look at the lives of the aristocratic canonesses, their influence on education, land ownership and urban development - and why these women's convents can be seen as centres of female power in a male-dominated world.