Aachen — Charlemagne's Secrets

Your quest begins at the Aachener Dom, founded in 786 by Charlemagne himself as a palatine chapel. A UNESCO site since 1978, this edifice hosted 30 imperial coronations between 936 and 1531. Step into its central octagon, 14.46 m in diameter, topped by a 31 m high dome. It was here, in 814, that Charlemagne was buried, and in the year 1000, Otto III had his tomb opened, revealing an intact body, seated on a throne. The Cathedral Treasury, with its more than 30 reliquaries, including Mary's cloaks and Christ's swaddling clothes, will give you the first clues to begin this exploration of the UNESCO World Heritage.

The Rathaus Aachen, built between 1337 and 1349 on the foundations of Charlemagne's Aula regia, is your next stop. The south facade fresco, dating from 1525, depicts 73 emperors crowned in Aachen, illustrating the city's role as a Carolingian capital. The Gothic hall houses Charlemagne's bust and 16th-century tapestries, witnesses to the 30 imperial coronations that took place there between 936 and 1531. Look for hidden symbols in the architecture, for every stone of this North Rhine-Westphalian city hall has seen history being written.

Between the cathedral and the Town Hall lies the Katschhof, a medieval square that was once a cemetery and execution site until the 18th century. This site, the center of the Carolingian quarter, hosted medieval markets and imperial gatherings under Charlemagne in the 8th and 9th centuries. The fountain dedicated to Charlemagne and the 16th-century well offer you landmarks to decipher messages from the past. Clues are hidden here, connecting the daily life of the era to the imperial grandeur of this city of imperial coronations.

The Elisenbrunnen, built between 1822 and 1827 by Joseph Jägers and dedicated to Queen Elisabeth of Prussia, embodies Aachen's thermal tradition. This fountain, Europe's largest, delivers 12,000 liters/hour of water at 53°C, perpetuating the exploitation of thermal springs since Roman times (Aquae Granni). Although more recent, the Elisenbrunnen testifies to the importance of water for the city's prosperity and health throughout the centuries. Charlemagne's codes might well be hidden there, blending ancient history with the benefits of the waters.

Your journey then leads you to the Ponttor, a fortified city gate from the 14th century (1330-1340). 20 m high, with a barbican and portcullis, it is the only survivor of the 12 gates of the medieval ramparts, defending the city until their demolition in 1860. It incorporates Carolingian elements from Charlemagne's fortifications, demonstrating the continuity of defensive genius in Aachen. The Markt Aachen, the central market square since the Middle Ages and site of imperial fairs under Charlemagne, concludes your exploration. Charlemagne's Fountain (Dreiländereck-Brunnen, 1963) and the weekly market since 843 remind you of the continuous dynamism of this city in North Rhine-Westphalia. You will have uncovered Charlemagne's secrets, collecting fragments of his legacy through time.