This "Imperial Cathedral" was known as the "Royal Church of St. Mary at Aachen" during the Middle Ages. From 936 to 1531, the Aachen chapel was the church of coronation for 30 German kings and 12 queens.

In 792 Charlemagne began the construction of a palace here and part of the whole structure was this "Palatine Chapel". Pope Leo III consecrated the chappel in 805.

The carolingian octogon, having a baroque roof now, was planned by the Odo of Metz, who obviously had seen Byzantine churches. For sure he had had seen the Basilica of San Vitale of Ravenna, as San Vitale seems to be a model of this chapel.

The Palatine Chapel was a model for many buildings constructed later. One of these can be found in a small alsatian village of Ottmarsheim, about 500 kilometers southeast.

Having already uploaded many photos from previous visits, I will only add a few more of the interior.


The Marienschrein (Shrine of Mary) is a reliquary commissioned around 1220 by the chapter of the Aachen Marienstift and completed in 1239. This work of art, which dates back to the transitional period from Romanesque to Gothic, is one of the most important goldsmith works of the 13th century. The shrine serves as the container of the four contact relics: the swaddling clothes and loincloth of Jesus, the dress of Mary and the decapitation cloth of John the Baptist.

The shrine takes the form of a single-naved basilica. More than a thousand gemstones were used.

According to an old tradition, the Marienschrein is sealed with a skilfully manufactured lock, which is then filled with lead. The key is sawn up by master goldsmiths. The head of the key is held by the Cathedral chapter, while the end is taken by the city leaders. At the beginning of each pilgrimage period, however, the lock is broken with a hammer, in order to open the shrine once more.