Aachen Cathedral

Aachen is a beautiful city with a rich history and cultural diversity. Its main attraction, Aachen Cathedral, is breathtaking with its architecture and historical significance. The city has a charming atmosphere, with lively squares, excellent restaurants, and thermal springs. It’s perfect for walking around, exploring museums, and enjoying local specialties. I highly recommend a visit!

Aachen Cathedral is beautiful . We went in the early afternoon on a weekday. There weren’t many people around. It was easy to explore the area and the cathedral. It’s free to enter. Donations are welcomed. We parked in the paid parking lot a block away

A lovely gem! The original design, ordered by Charlemagne, is a copy of a Byzantine church in Ravenna Italy (Basilica San Vitale) that he admired, the octagonal form is replicated in the original core. It was his Royal chapel, much expanded later. He was entombed in 814 on an upper level, now only accessible by a paid tour. Some of the ornate decorations are of a later generation. By the way, Byzantine is just a name used for the eastern Roman Empire used as a convenient term for a period. The interior is lavishly decorated and truly beautiful. Try to have a euro or two to donate!

I recently visited the Aachen Cathedral, and I must say, it's a breathtakingly beautiful place! The architecture is truly mesmerizing, with intricate details that will leave you in awe. Stepping inside the cathedral is like entering a treasure trove of art and history. The stunning glass paintings and mosaic tiles are a feast for the eyes. Every corner, every nook, and every cranny is a masterpiece. What made my visit even more special was the Christmas market surrounding the cathedral. The festive atmosphere, the twinkling lights, and the aroma of mulled wine and gingerbread made it a truly magical experience. If you're planning to visit Aachen, I highly recommend adding the Aachen Cathedral to your itinerary, especially during Christmas. It's a must-see attraction that will leave you spellbound and inspired.

"Aachen Cathedral is a remarkable historical site and one of the oldest cathedrals in Europe. Built by Charlemagne in the 8th century, it served as the coronation site for German kings for over 600 years. The Palatine Chapel’s octagonal design and intricate mosaics are impressive, and the treasury contains important medieval artifacts. It’s a compact but fascinating place to visit, offering insights into European history and architecture.

Aachen Cathedral is a medieval church steeped in a thousand years of history and a classic example of Carolingian architecture. It was once one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Christians during the Middle Ages and served as the final resting place of Charlemagne, as well as the coronation site for Holy Roman Emperors. These factors contributed to its recognition as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany. The cathedral is also renowned for housing four sacred relics from Jerusalem. During the Middle Ages, it became the fourth major Christian pilgrimage site after Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela. The four relics include the robe of the Virgin Mary from the birth of Jesus, the swaddling clothes of Jesus, the belt worn by Jesus during the crucifixion, and the garments of John the Baptist at the time of his beheading. Since 1349, every seven years, the cathedral has hosted a major pilgrimage event where these relics, stored in the Marienschrein (Mary's Shrine), are taken out and displayed for pilgrims from around the world. Aachen Cathedral stands out among other famous cathedrals with its unique grandeur. Upon entering the town, it’s impossible not to be drawn to this monumental structure. Despite the small town's simplicity, the cathedral seems overwhelmingly large in comparison. Additionally, due to multiple expansions and renovations over the centuries, it blends various architectural styles, making its overall appearance particularly unique—almost like a structure pieced together from building blocks. What makes Aachen Cathedral even more special is that it is the oldest cathedral I’ve visited. While the exterior shows signs of renovation, the interior, particularly the Palatine Chapel, truly showcases ancient splendor. Its structure, use of color, mosaics, and golden dome present a style that is rare to see in other European churches.

Beautiful and impressive cathedral worth visiting. A must-see in Aachen. High-level guided tour in English and with humor. It was very interesting to listen to her. Unfortunately, I don't remember her name.

It is a great cathedral with a wonderful history. I've visited three times in the last five years, but only once I could join the only English tour, which is at 2 PM daily. I feel that they missed on tourists by having only one tour in English, which is full up quickly. You need to get the tickets as early as possible (they open at 10 AM.). You can't book online, only in person. Although there are three persons at the ticket office who speak English fluently, apparently, there is only one guide who can do the tour in English. However, you can still visit the cathedral, which is free of charge as well as the treasury (fee applied and worth it for a better understanding of the place history).

Beautiful Cathedral. Definitely a must see spot. The square is filled with lovely views and interesting locals.

Stopped here as part of our tour of Aachen and definitely not disappointed! This was actually our first stop because I had read some of the history behind the Dom and was absolutely fascinated. We had also read some of the myths surrounding the Dom and new we had to go. The interior was amazing! The ceilings are absolutely beautiful and incorporate so many different styles. The artifacts on display humble the observer due to their antiquity and history. Since we had read up on the Dom before we went, we didn't do the tour, but I wish we had since the tour takes you to parts of the Dom that simply aren't open. I could go into the long history of this place, but others have covered that. I recommend taking the tour and reading about the Dom before you go and take time to simply appreciate the beauty of the building and artifacts!

Excellent experience went you visit this place!! They said you can't take pictures but if you doit without flash you can doit

A jewel of Aachen, the central structure of the cathedral is from the ninth century; it was at the center of Charlemagne's domain. The architecture is beautiful and as cosy as Aachen itself.

As the most crucial building in Aachen, every tourist needs to visit the Aachen Cathedral, even if you just stay for 5 minutes, it is worth every second. This impressive monument is the oldest Cathedral in northern europe and in 1978 it was added to UNESCO's world heritage sites. For 600 years (936 1531) it witnessed the coronation of 30 german kings and 12 queens and therefore is the most historical building in the city of Aachen.

Possibly the most beautiful cathedral in Germany if not Europe. So much history attached. A must see if you're in the area.