ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Aachen the birthplace of Charlemagne : The history of Aachen started with the takeover of the government by Charlemagne in 768 AD. The imperial palace by the hot water sources soon became Charlemagne's permanent residence and so developed into a spiritual and cultural reservoir. As the economic development of Aachen proceeded, the town became more and more prosperous, and this has persisted to the present day. Charlemagne was buried in the cathedral of Aachen in 824. Two hundred years later he was canonized, which resulted in a flow of pilgrims wishing to visit and see Charlemagne's tomb and the relics he gathered during his life. The relics are exhibited to the public every seven years (the next time in the year 2000). In the meantime they are stored in the Charlemagne Shrine, wrapped in silk cloths. 

The town's ties with Charlemagne are reflected in numerous architectural heirlooms and memorials in the townscape. To be mentioned here in particular are the Cathedral and the City Hall, the oldest part of which, the Granus Tower, is said to date from the days of Charlemagne.

Charlemagne made the city a centre of Carolingian culture and had his palace and cathedral erected in Aachen (where he was buried, in 824). The Holy Roman emperors were crowned in the city from 813 to 1531. During the French Revolution the city was occupied by the French and in 1801 was formally ceded to France. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, Aachen was acquired by Prussia. The city was badly damaged in World War II.

Aachen is known for its abundance of Medieval architecture, paintings and sculptures. The Suermond-Ludwig Museum features 17th-century paintings, and the Ludwig Forum of International Art features exhibitions of various forms of contemporary art. Museums that cater to special interests are the Newspaper Museum, the Urban History Museum of Burg Frankenberg, the Customs History Collection, and the Computer Museum. Other noteworthy structures include the town hall, built in 1353 on the ruins of Charlemagne's palace

Back to Europe

© Copyright 2000 - 2003  Eurotravelling.net  POWERED BY wORLDTRAVELGATE.NET