Centre Charlemagne, Aachen, Germany

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.

Museums in Germany

User Reviews

Andre Theron (2 years ago)
Very interactive and child friendly. Enough information for the adult and enough to keep the smaller museum goes busy.

Carlo Sebellin (2 years ago)
Awesome place if you are interested in the history of Aachen. You can learn what happened from all the way back to the first settlements, or you can inmerse yourself in the recent history of the city! Definitely worth visiting, check the "six for six" ticket to visit other good museums in Aachen!

Carlos Spiritrunner (2 years ago)
Great history and charm in an amazing place...

jeroen brons (3 years ago)
Excellent museum with original depiction of Aachens rich 1200 year history

Aurel Ghioca (3 years ago)
Small exhibit about the history of Aachen. The audioguide is really comprehensive.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Martin M. Miles

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Abbey of Saint-Étienne

The Abbey of Saint-Etienne, also known as Abbaye aux Hommes ('Men"s Abbey'), is a former monastery dedicated to Saint Stephen (Saint Étienne). It is considered, along with the neighbouring Abbaye aux Dames ('Ladies" Abbey'), to be one of the most notable Romanesque buildings in Normandy. Like all the major abbeys in Normandy, it was Benedictine.

Lanfranc, before being an Archbishop of Canterbury, was abbot of Saint-Etienne. Built in Caen stone during the 11th century, the two semi-completed churches stood for many decades in competition. An important feature added to both churches in about 1120 was the ribbed vault, used for the first time in France. The two abbey churches are considered forerunners of the Gothic architecture. The original Romanesque apse was replaced in 1166 by an early Gothic chevet, complete with rosette windows and flying buttresses. Nine towers and spires were added in the 13th century. The interior vaulting shows a similar progression, beginning with early sexpartite vaulting (using circular ribs) in the nave and progressing to quadipartite vaults (using pointed ribs) in the sanctuary.

The two monasteries were finally donated by William the Conqueror and his wife, Matilda of Flanders, as penalty for their marriage against the Pope"s ruling. William was buried here; Matilda was buried in the Abbaye aux Dames. Unfortunately William"s original tombstone of black marble, the same kind as Matilda"s in the Abbaye aux Dames, was destroyed by the Calvinist iconoclasts in the 16th century and his bones scattered.

As a consequence of the Wars of Religion, the high lantern tower in the middle of the church collapsed and was never rebuilt. The Benedictine abbey was suppressed during the French Revolution and the abbey church became a parish church. From 1804 to 1961, the abbey buildings accommodated a prestigious high school, the Lycée Malherbe. During the Normandy Landings in 1944, inhabitants of Caen found refuge in the church; on the rooftop there was a red cross, made with blood on a sheet, to show that it was a hospital (to avoid bombings).

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