Updated on January 21, 2026 by Angelika Klein

Aachen Cathedral is one of the few buildings in Europe that has retained its political and spiritual significance for more than a millennium. When you enter the cathedral, you experience a place where power, faith, and European history converge. That is why it was the first German building the first German building to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. Its significance is revealed in the interplay of architecture, religious function, and political symbolism.

History and Architecture of Aachen Cathedral

The core of Aachen Cathedral is the Palatinate Chapel, built around 795 under Charlemagne.. Aachen was Charlemagne's preferred residence. After his death in 814, he was buried there. The central building is clearly based on late antique and Byzantine models, in particular San Vitale in Ravenna, which Karl presumably knew himself.

In the Middle Ages, Aachen developed into one of the most important political centers of the empire. Between 936 and 1531 , 30 Roman-German kings were crowned here, underlining the outstanding position of the city and its cathedral.

Today's cathedral is the result of many construction phases over more than 1,200 years: Gothic extensions, Baroque furnishings, and historicist additions surround the Carolingian palace chapel, making Aachen Cathedral a unique architectural ensemble.

Selected Highlights in the Cathedral

1. The Octagon (Palatine Chapel)

The central room of the cathedral is designed as an octagon, and is surrounded by a sixteen-sided gallery. This spatial concept, which is unusual for the Carolingian period north of the Alps, testifies to a high level of architectural and engineering expertise. The complex draws on late antique and Byzantine models such as San Vitale in Ravenna , but translates them into a clearly structured, monumental form. The architecture illustrates Charlemagne's claim to stand in the tradition of the Roman emperors, and at the same time, to establish a new order for the Christian West.

2. The Dome Mosaic

The current dome mosaic dates from the 19th century and replaces older versions. It shows Christ as the ruler of the world, surrounded by the apocalyptic beings and the 24 elders of Revelation. Although it is not part of the original Carolingian decoration, the imagery consistently follows the medieval concept of divinely legitimized rule. The dome thus reinforces the sacred and political message of the central room.

3. The Barbarossa Chandelier

The Barbarossa Chandelier, made of gilded copper, was donated around 1165 by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in honor of the Virgin Mary and Charlemagne. With a diameter of around 4 meters and a weight of around 300 kilograms, it is one of the largest surviving wheel chandeliers of the Middle Ages. Its wreath with twelve towers and twelve gates symbolizes the Heavenly Jerusalem of the Book of Revelation. The chandelier hangs from a 27-meter-long, hand-forged chain under the dome of the Carolingian octagon. The 48 candles are only lit on high holidays, as the chandelier must be thoroughly cleaned after each use.

4. The Shrine of Mary

The golden Shrine of Mary from the 13th century houses four central textile relics: Mary's dress, Jesus' swaddling clothes, John the Baptist's execution cloth, and Christ's loincloth. These relics made Aachen one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Europe in the Middle Ages. To this day, they shape the religious significance of the cathedral and its role as a spiritual center.

5 The Shrine of Charlemagne

The Shrine of Charlemagne, built between 1215 and 1230, contains the mortal remains of Charlemagne. Its design combines Romanesque forms with early Gothic elements. The pictorial programs and figures depict Charlemagne as a Christian ruler and exemplary king. The shrine illustrates the close connection between historical memory and religious veneration in the Middle Ages.

6. The Throne of Charlemagne

The simple marble throne on the west gallery is one of the most important symbols of power from the Middle Ages. It was probably made from ancient spolia on the orders of Charlemagne and served for centuries as the coronation throne of the Roman-German kings. Charlemagne himself was not crowned on this throne, but became king in Noyon in 768 and emperor in Rome in 800. It can be assumed that he sat on this throne during the masses held in the Palatine Chapel.

7. The Westwork

The westwork of Aachen Cathedral dates back to the Carolingian period and was part of the original Palatine Chapel complex. It was once preceded by an atrium, which formed the transition from the secular royal hall to the sacred space of the cathedral. Access to the church was spatially and symbolically graded. It combined secular power with religious authority.

8. The Wolf Door and the Aachen Cathedral Legend

The Wolf Door is one of the oldest bronze doors north of the Alps and is one of the original entrances to the Palatine Chapel. It is associated with the Aachen Cathedral Legend, which is still part of the city's cultural memory today. According to tradition, when the city council ran out of money during the construction of the cathedral, they made a pact with the devil, who was to receive the first soul to enter the cathedral as payment. To deceive him, they let a wolf into the church. When the devil realized he had been tricked, he stormed out of the cathedral in a rage and lost his thumb in the right lion's head door handle. The thickening in the door handle is actually a bronze pin.

9. The Gothic Extensions

From the 14th century onwards, Gothic chapels were added to the cathedral, most notably the choir hall. It contrasts with the Carolingian core structure and was built to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims. These additions did not fundamentally change the building, but rather complemented it in terms of functionality and interior design. The choir hall has a glass surface area of more than 1,000 square meters and is up to 25 meters high. Because of these huge windows, it is also called the “Glass House of Aachen.” Among other things, you will find the Shrine of Charlemagne there, but it can only be visited as part of a guided tour.

10. The Cathedral Treasure

The Aachen Cathedral Treasure is one of the most important church treasures in Europe. It includes liturgical objects, reliquaries and textiles from over a thousand years and documents the continuous use of the cathedral as a spiritual center. A central object is the gilded bust of Charlemagne (around 1350), which contains a skull relic. Its idealized representation has had a decisive influence on the image of Charlemagne as a ruler for centuries. Among the most famous exhibits are the Lothar cross from the 10th century, which is decorated with hundreds of precious stones and was carried at coronations in the cathedral, and the proserpina sarcophagus, in which Charlemagne was originally buried.

Conclusion: World Cultural Heritage between Power and Faith

A visit to Aachen Cathedral gains considerable depth when you know what you are looking at. Many parts of the cathedral are not self-evident: Charlemagne's throne on the west gallery is not accessible without a guided tour, and Charlemagne's shrine in the nave can only be seen from a distance. A guided tour brings you up close to these central elements of the cathedral. It also opens up perspectives that are difficult to perceive on your own and places what you see in its historical context.

In this way, you consciously perceive what others only see fleetingly. You are moving in a space that has been used, changed, and interpreted for centuries.

Aachen Cathedral is the first in a series of articles about UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany. This series is for travelers who don't just want to tick off sights along the way, but also want to understand the background.