The Resting Place of a Legendary Hero - Aachen Cathedral

Aachen Cathedral, a medieval church with a thousand-year history, is a classic example of Carolingian architecture. It was once a significant pilgrimage site for Christians in the Middle Ages and the resting place of Charlemagne, as well as the coronation site for Holy Roman Emperors. These factors made it the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Germany. Originally, Aachen was just an inconspicuous forest village. However, as Charlemagne expanded his empire, the Frankish Kingdom became the largest political entity in Western Europe after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as the first 'Emperor of the Romans' since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Aachen, located at the geographical center of this vast empire, was chosen by Charlemagne to establish the political center and palace of the empire. With the legitimacy granted by the Pope's coronation, Charlemagne built a church within the palace, which is now known as Aachen Cathedral. Initially, it only consisted of the Palatine Chapel, an octagonal chapel with a sixteen-sided exterior and a high dome, completed in 805 AD. For the next two centuries, it remained the tallest building north of the Alps. Naturally, Charlemagne was buried in Aachen Cathedral after his death. With the fall of the great empire due to internal strife among his descendants, the empire eventually split into three kingdoms. Otto I, the king of East Francia, was crowned in Aachen Cathedral in 936 and later crowned as 'Emperor of the Romans' by Pope John XII in 962, marking the official birth of the Holy Roman Empire. Due to the reverence for Charlemagne, Aachen Cathedral served as the coronation site for Holy Roman Emperors for 600 years, witnessing the coronation of 30 emperors. In addition, Aachen Cathedral is renowned for housing four relics from Jerusalem, making it the fourth major pilgrimage site for Christians in the Middle Ages, after Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela. The four relics are the cloak of the Virgin Mary at Jesus' birth, Jesus' swaddling clothes, the loincloth worn by Jesus on the cross, and the cloth worn by John the Baptist at his beheading. Since 1349, the cathedral has held a major pilgrimage event every seven years, displaying these relics from the Marienschrein (Shrine of St. Mary) to pilgrims from around the world. Aachen Cathedral stands out among other famous cathedrals. Upon entering this small town, one cannot help but be drawn to this colossal structure. Compared to the relatively simple town, Aachen Cathedral is astonishingly large. Due to multiple expansions and renovations, it incorporates various architectural styles, making its overall appearance unique, like a patchwork. Aachen Cathedral is the oldest cathedral I have visited so far. Although the exterior has been renovated and does not show its age, the Palatine Chapel inside truly showcases its ancient splendor. The structure, colors, mosaics, and golden dome are styles rarely seen in other European cathedrals. 📜Interesting Legend: When Aachen Cathedral was being built, there was insufficient funding to complete it. The local residents made a deal with the devil, promising him the soul of the first person to enter the cathedral in exchange for his help in completing it. When the devil eagerly awaited the first person to enter the cathedral after its completion, the residents sent in a wolf. The devil, unaware, took the wolf's soul. Realizing the trick, the enraged devil stormed out of the cathedral, accidentally breaking a thumb on the lion's door handle. To this day, you can see a statue of the wolf at the entrance and feel the presence of the devil's thumb on the lion's door handle. 📜Additional Info 1: Behind the Palatine Chapel extends a large Gothic choir hall, known as the 'Glass House of Aachen' due to its large stained glass windows, among the largest in Europe. It houses two golden boxes: the Marienschrein, containing the four major relics, and the Karlsschrein, containing the authenticated remains of Charlemagne. 📜Additional Info 2: Charlemagne is often depicted with the German eagle and the French fleur-de-lis, as he is considered the founder of both Germany and France. Additionally, Charlemagne is the model for the King of Hearts in playing cards. 🚗Transportation: You can take a train to Aachen train station and walk to the cathedral, or take a bus from Maastricht in the Netherlands to Aachen city center (Maastricht has an airport).