Aachen is a town of a quarter million located in a corner of western Germany that abuts Belgium and The Netherlands (in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, to be more precise). History lovers and architecture fans will probably know of this German town. Its importance over centuries past was huge.
Why is Aachen important?
The spot has been inhabited for sure since Roman times. But, probably, Aachen’s importance gained territory when Charlemagne became a fan. Charlemagne should sound familiar from world history class though you can be forgiven if you don’t remember the why… He unified parts of Europe a few centuries after Rome fell and became what was called the first Holy Roman Emperor (maybe so-called because he was crowned in the precursor to today’s St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome?). Many came after him though later it stopped being a hereditary role – it was elected by important members of nobility of certain houses of Central and Western Europe (if I remember correctly).
Building Aachen’s Cathedral
Charlemagne had spent time in Aachen years before he became Holy Roman Emperor and had a chapel (and palace) built there. This chapel (which only was declared a Cathedral in 1930) became where these emperors were crowned for centuries (from the 10th to the 16th). The Aachen Cathedral is where Charlemagne was buried (and claimed to be to this day).
The golden box in the altar (known as Karlsschrein) is supposedly where his remains were placed after being removed from another location within the church,
The Cathedral structure began to be built in the ninth century but was added to or expanded in later centuries. The Cathedral’s façade betrays its construction over several centuries (architectural preferences). Its cupola and steeple were also added later.
Its interior was also enhanced by adding the marbled walls and the mosaics, for example.
The columns and arches supporting the cupola remind me of the Mezquita de Cordoba (Spain; the Cordoba Mosque; see photo below). Another addition was the 4-meter diameter chandelier donated by Barbarossa who was emperor in the 12th century.
The mosaics in the ceiling and on the high part of the main level columns are pure beauty.
Christmas market in Aachen
My mother and I made a short stop in Aachen on our way from Brussels, Belgium to Cologne, Germany to embark on our Rhine River cruise. After visiting the Cathedral’s interior, we walked around its exterior where we ran into our first Christmas market experience – and our first cup of glühwein (of many throughout our cruise!).
Glühwein is mulled wine: diluted wine (red or wine) mixed with spices and heated up to keep Christmas market visitors warm in the cold day or night of French or German towns in December! Sometimes they add a shot of rum or another hard liquor to strengthen it but I just enjoyed the diluted wine version as I was just looking for warmth in my hands and tummy!
The Cathedral remains one of the oldest cathedrals in Europe. It suffered great damage during World War II but the main structure remained. We are fortunate today to have this jewel still present to link us to history, faith and architecture over the centuries.
