Top Historic Sights in Aachen, Germany
Explore the historic highlights of Aachen
Centre Charlemagne
Centre Charlemagne is the new museum of Aachen local history. It occupies the site on the Katschhof, the former palace courtyard. It focuses on a history of Aachen from the Neolithic to the present day. The key periods are the ancient Roman age (until 4th century AD), Charlemagne"s Aachen (the capital of Frankish Empire), the medieval period and Baroque period. The whole house is barrier-free.
Founded: 2014 |
Location:
Aachen, Germany
Aachen City Hall
Aachen"s Gothic Rathaus looms over the Markt opposite to the Aachen Cathedral. In the first half of the 14th century, Aachen’s citizenry built the city hall as a sign of their civic freedom. Yet, they had to promise to establish a space in the new town hall that could host the traditional coronation feast that was part of the coronation ceremony of the Holy Roman Empire. Construction began in 1330 on top ...
Founded: 1330 |
Location:
Aachen, Germany
Aachen Cathedral
The Cathedral of Aachen is one of the most famous examples of occidental architecture. It is the coronation church of more than 30 German kings, burial site of Charlemagne, major pilgrimage church and cathedral church of the Aachen diocese since 1930. In 1978 it was the first German building to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. When the Emperor Charlemagne built his representative “Pfalz”, the Palace, be ...
Founded: 793-813 AD |
Location:
Aachen, Germany
St. Michael's Church
St. Michael"s church in Aachen was built for the Jesuit Collegium in 1617-1628 and is now a church of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Germany. With the dissolution of the Jesuit Order in September 1773 the church was closed and converted into a granary during the French period, later it was used as a parish church. In 1987 the Greek Orthodox community of St. Dimitrios which was found in 1963 purchased the buildi ...
Founded: 1617-1628 |
Location:
Aachen, Germany
Ponttor Gate
The Ponttor is one of the two remaining gates of the original city wall of Aachen. It was built in the 14th century and manned by soldiers and militia throughout the Free Imperial City of Aachen era. Today, the Ponttor is used by German Youth and Scout groups. The Ponttor was constructed as a right-angled three-stock tower castle. In the main entrance, there is a Portcullis as well as a machicolation, through ...
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Aachen, Germany
Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings
Photo from Flickr, copyright Bochum1805
Historic Site of the week
Frösö Runestone
Frösöstenen is the northern-most raised runestone in the world and Jämtland's only runestone. It originally stood at the tip of ferry terminal on the sound between the island of Frösön and Östersund. The stone dates to between 1030 and 1050. It has now been relocated to the lawn in front of the local county seat due to the construction of a new bridge, between 1969 and 1971, on the original site.
Frösö runestone inscription means: Austmaðr, Guðfastr's son, had this stone raised and this bridge built and Christianized Jämtland. Ásbjörn built the bridge. Trjónn and Steinn carved these runes.