Ancient Aachen - 7
The great Charlemagne chose Aachen as his imperial residence at the start of the 9th century. As the first Holy Roman Emperor his dream was to the turn the city into a new Rome. For the next 600 years or so, every Holy Roman Emperor was crowned in the city. And today, five hundred years after the last coronation Aachen still glows with the regalia of those ceremonies.
There are brilliant golden shrines in the Cathedral, like the reliquary holding Charlemagne’s bones, while the cathedral treasury is a breathtaking trove of Medieval riches. Today Aachen’s tourist board has set out a “Route Charlemagne” to show you around the sights relating to its former ruler, like the City Hall, site of his palace and where the Imperial coronation feast was held.
Ancient Aachen - 7
The great Charlemagne chose Aachen as his imperial residence at the start of the 9th century. As the first Holy Roman Emperor his dream was to the turn the city into a new Rome. For the next 600 years or so, every Holy Roman Emperor was crowned in the city. And today, five hundred years after the last coronation Aachen still glows with the regalia of those ceremonies.
There are brilliant golden shrines in the Cathedral, like the reliquary holding Charlemagne’s bones, while the cathedral treasury is a breathtaking trove of Medieval riches. Today Aachen’s tourist board has set out a “Route Charlemagne” to show you around the sights relating to its former ruler, like the City Hall, site of his palace and where the Imperial coronation feast was held.