Aachen, Germany. Home to Emperor Charlemagne

Aachen is a German spa city on the border of Belgium and Denmark. We stopped off here for a couple of days and found a Stellplatz (motorhome stopover) called Wohnmobil-Stellplatz Bad Aachen, which was within walking distance of the city centre (or a short bus ride).

It’s most famous for its cathedral, founded by the first Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne in the 9th century, it is here where for over 600 years more than 30 German kings were crowned. The actual throne isn’t available for viewing any more.

Charlemain (748 – 814) was regarded during the Medieval period as the type of king all kings should aspire to become. He expanded his kingdom into Saxony, Italy, northern Spain and Bohemia. He went to the aid of Pop Leo III and as a result was given the title of Holy Roman Emperor.

It was also because of the administrative reforms he introduced, like holding a general assembly of representatives from each region each year, standardising weights and measures and legal reforms throughout Europe as well as consolidating Christianity across his vast empire which made him so venerated.

So of course we took ourselves off to see the Cathedral. By European standards it’s quite small.

It’s based on an octoganal shape, with its surrounding hexadecagon, built around 800. In the middle hangs a magnificent chandelier with 8 lanterns and 48 candles holders, which are still used today for special occasions (but not when we were there though!). It was donated by Emperor Frederick I in 1180.

The cathedral has been added to and updated over the centuries, with the Gothic choir hall added in 1414 and two chapels built onto the sides in the 15th century, a new dome was erected in 1663 and a spire added in 1884. Between 1880 and 1913 neo-Byzantine decorations of mosaics and marble cladding and flooring were added. It has left if feeling very sumptuous and is so very different from any cathedrals I’ve seen in France or Spain.

Really beautiful and intricate mosaics cover every wall and ceiling

The Ambo (raised lectern used for delivering scriptures) of Emperor Henry II is the largest surviving goldsmith work from Ottonian period (before 1014). It is adorned with bowls, ivory carvings, chess figures and reliefs depicting the Evangelist.

The Charlemagne Shrine contains his mortal remains since 1215.(Apart from his scull and brain which is in the Treasury).

According to the guide books Aachen Cathedral Treasury has the most extensive collection north of the Alps. Around 120 works or art are displayed on 3 floors. I’m only going to share a few of the things we saw or we’d be here for ever!!

Charlemagne’ s scull and brain are kept in this model, the top of the gold head opens up to reveal the scull still intact

and look at the detail of the figures on the base.

This crown belonged to Margaret of York circa 1461

There are other things to see in the centre of Aarchen, it’s not just all about Charlemagne. There’s the Rathaus (Town Hall) built at the beginning of the 14th century. The banquets of the Royal coronation were held here and today you can get married in the hall(which means we weren’t able to take any photos inside 😕). It was a production line, with the ‘before’ couples having to wait outside the front, and the ‘after’ couple only being allowed out via the back door.

The next wedding party waiting in a crowd on the right

There are also Roman ruins and a smattering of quirky museums. One of which was dedicated to showing how furniture and furnishing had changed through the ages, it also had a display of perfume bottles in each room, good job as they were they only interesting things in there!!!

There also seemed to be quite a few water features / fountains all around.

The arms and legs of all these marionettes can all be moved into different positions.