Aachen Cathedral — Attraction in Aachen

It is Emperor Charlemagne´s own Palatine Chapel, which constitutes the nucleus of the Cathedral of Aachen, located in western Germany. The construction of the chapel between 793 and 813 symbolises the unification of the West and its spiritual and political revival under the aegis of Charlemagne. Originally inspired by the churches of the eastern part of the Holy Roman Empire, the octagonal core was splendidly enlarged in the Middle Ages. In 814, Charlemagne was buried here. Charlemagne made the Frankish royal estate of Aachen, which had been serving a spa ever since the first century, his favourite abode. The main buildings of the Imperial Palace area were the Coronation Hall (aula regia – located in today´s Town Hall) and the Palace Chapel – now Aachen Cathedral. The Palatine Chapel is based on an octagonal ground plan, which is surrounded by an aisle and by tribunes above, and roofed with a dome. Facing the altar, the Emperor sat on the gallery; the Carolingian stone throne was the coronation seat of the kings of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation from the Middle Ages until 1531. The chapel itself is easily recognizable from later additions by its distinctive structure. An atrium on the western side and a portico led to the imperial apartments. The Gothic choir and a series of chapels that were added throughout the Middle Ages created the composite array of features that characterised the cathedral. The interior is punctuated on the lower storey by round arches set upon eight ample pillars, and on the upper storey by a gallery with eight Carolingian bronze gates. The high dome gathers light from eight open-arched windows above the drum; it was originally entirely covered with a large mosaic depicting Christ Enthroned, in purple robes and surrounded by the Elders of the Apocalypse. The present-day mosaic dates back to 1880/1881. The interior of the chapel is embellished by antique columns that Charlemagne probably ordered to be brought from Rome and Ravenna. Despite the subsequent additions, the Palatine Chapel constitutes a homogeneous nucleus. The Cathedral Treasury in Aachen is regarded as one of the most important ecclesiastical treasuries in northern Europe; the most prominent inventory items are the cross of Lothar (about 1000 AD), made from gold and inlaid with precious stones, the dark-blue velvet chasuble with embroidered pearls, a reliquary-bust of Charlemagne made from silver and gold, and a marble sarcophagus decorated with a relief of the Abduction of Proserpine, which once contained the body of...

Aachen Cathedral is a medieval church steeped in a thousand years of history and a classic example of Carolingian architecture. It was once one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Christians during the Middle Ages and served as the final resting place of Charlemagne, as well as the coronation site for Holy Roman Emperors. These factors contributed to its recognition as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany.

The cathedral is also renowned for housing four sacred relics from Jerusalem. During the Middle Ages, it became the fourth major Christian pilgrimage site after Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela. The four relics include the robe of the Virgin Mary from the birth of Jesus, the swaddling clothes of Jesus, the belt worn by Jesus during the crucifixion, and the garments of John the Baptist at the time of his beheading. Since 1349, every seven years, the cathedral has hosted a major pilgrimage event where these relics, stored in the Marienschrein (Mary's Shrine), are taken out and displayed for pilgrims from around the world.

Aachen Cathedral stands out among other famous cathedrals with its unique grandeur. Upon entering the town, it’s impossible not to be drawn to this monumental structure. Despite the small town's simplicity, the cathedral seems overwhelmingly large in comparison. Additionally, due to multiple expansions and renovations over the centuries, it blends various architectural styles, making its overall appearance particularly unique—almost like a structure pieced together from building blocks. What makes Aachen Cathedral even more special is that it is the oldest cathedral I’ve visited. While the exterior shows signs of renovation, the interior, particularly the Palatine Chapel, truly showcases ancient splendor. Its structure, use of color, mosaics, and golden dome present a style that is rare to see in other...

The cathedral interior looks like a miniature Haiga Sophia, with a central dome and arched galleries below, all covered in imitation Byzantine mosaic iconography. We had a quick overview of the history of the cathedral - Charlemagne's original was completed in 805 AD and used 24 columns looted from Rome. This was damaged in the 1656 fire and replaced with a baroque design which was then heavily looted during the Napoleonic occupation between 1801 and 1815 . The late 19th and early 20th century saw the building being returned to the imagined style of the earlier church with its heavy Byzantine influence. The huge chandelier was gifted by Fredrick Barbarossa in the 12th century and an ornate pulpit with pagan Roman and Hellenic items surrounded by Christian iconography is from around 1012.

The throne of Charlemagne is on the first floor and is rather a sorry sight now. It is just a few slabs of marble in a roughly chair shape, having lost any ornate embellishments over the last 1200 years. The marble apparently comes from the original Holy Sepulchre church in Jerusalem and there was also a section below the throne to hold relics, used during the coronations of all the German emperors until the 16th century.

The ground floor held a chapel, all the glass of which was lost in WW2 so now has a mix of medieval styles and abstract. There were two beautiful gold relics in the chapel - one sacred to Mary and one that now holds most of the remains of Charlemagne. It was an interesting visit and the interior of the cathedral was certainly worth seeing, a wonderful sight and a credit to both Carolingian vision and modern craftsmanship. The tour cost us 7.50 and lasted about an hour and tickets can only be booked 24...