Aachender Dom, Aachen, NRW, Germany
Posted by: 
argus1972
N 50° 46.481 E 006° 05.045
32U E 294419 N 5628822
Aachen Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Aachen and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Waymark Code: WMYFF3
Location: Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Date Posted: 06/10/2018
Views: 10
Aachen Cathedral was the first German cultural monument to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. The cathedral is of great importance for the history of architecture and art and is considered one of the best preserved monuments of the Carolingian period.
The foundation stone of the cathedral was laid around 790 A. D. by Charlemagne with his Palatinate chapel; the towers still date from this period. Charles the Great was buried in Aachen Cathedral after his death in 814 and his bones were transferred to the shrine in 1215, which can still be admired in the cathedral today. The emperor's coffin is part of the cathedral treasure, which is one of the most important church treasures in Europe.
Aachen Cathedral was not only the emperor's burial church, but also the coronation church for many German rulers. It all began with 936 Otto I. , followed by more than 30 more coronations by 1531. Many works of art brought to Aachen on the occasion of the celebrations are also part of the lavish church treasure today. In the cathedral itself, visitors can admire the coronation chair from the Carolingian period during guided tours. The Gothic choir hall, which can also be visited during guided tours, has the largest Gothic windows: they are about 27 metres high.
Today's cathedral consists of several partial buildings whose respective times of origin cover the period from the early Middle Ages to modern times. The Carolingian octagon, formerly the Palatine chapel of the royal palace of Aachen, is the most important architectural example of the Carolingian Renaissance.
Charlemagne had the central building and the west works built towards the end of the eighth century as the core of his palace complex: The Carolingian palatine church is surrounded by several later additions, including the Gothic choir hall to the east and the multifaceted chapel wreath.
The ground plan and design of Aachen Cathedral bear witness to the changing importance and use of this church building over the centuries. The Carolingian building, a domed octagon, is largely intact. The apex of the dome, an octagonal monastery vault, is 31.40m high with a span of 14.45m.
The mosaic of the 8-part octagonal vault with the image of the apocalyptic vision of heavenly Jerusalem is a free reconstruction of the Carolingian original of 1881.
In 1978, the Aachen Cathedral was one of the first 12 items to be listed on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.
(Source: Wikipedia, "NRW-Tourismus", „Aachener Dom (UNESCO Welterbestätte)”. In: KuLaDig, Kultur.Landschaft.Digital")
City, State or City, Country: Aachen, Germany
Year Built: 792
Architect: unknown
Webpage from GreatBuildings.com or other approved listing: [Web Link]
Other website with more information about building: [Web Link]
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