Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Aachen Cathedral

Liège is the center of the largest Walloon agglomeration, and the cultural center of the Walloon region of Belgium. The city, with a population of about 200.000, is located at the confluence of the Ourthe and Meuse rivers. Around 705, Saint Lambert of Maastricht is credited with completing the Christianization of the region, but conversion may still not have been quite universal, since Lambert was murdered in Liège. To enshrine his relics, the successor, Hubertus (later St. Hubert), built a basilica which became the nucleus of the city. In 1468, following an uprising of the inhabitants against Burgundian rule, xof Burgundy had the city plundered and systematically destroyed. The few survivors who had fled into the forests—Charles the Bold allegedly had more than 5,000 inhabitants murdered—were only able to return to the city for reconstruction after seven years. In 1789, partly in connection with the French Revolution, the Liège Revolution occurred. It was directed against the absolutist rule of the Prince-Bishop and was crushed in early 1791 by troops commissioned by the Holy Roman Empire. In 1795, Liège was occupied by French troops and became part of the First French Republic. The Congress of Vienna annexed it to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which in 1830 became the Kingdom of Belgium, to which Liège has belonged ever since. The Collegiate Church of St. John the Evangelist was founded as a collegiate church by Notker of Liège around 980, and consecrated in 987. The church was a kind of replica of Charlemagne's Aachen Cathedral. It was suppressed in 1797 during the French Revolution, the building being confiscated and sold in 1798. The center, originally an octagonal building in Mosan Romanesque style, incorporating elements of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the church was completely rebuilt in a late Baroque style in 1754–1784. It has been in use as a parish church since 1809. The church is currently being restored.

Liège is the center of the largest Walloon agglomeration, and the cultural center of the Walloon region of Belgium. The city, with a population of about 200.000, is located at the confluence of the Ourthe and Meuse rivers. Around 705, Saint Lambert of Maastricht is credited with completing the Christianization of the region, but conversion may still not have been quite universal, since Lambert was murdered in Liège. To enshrine his relics, the successor, Hubertus (later St. Hubert), built a basilica which became the nucleus of the city. In 1468, following an uprising of the inhabitants against Burgundian rule, xof Burgundy had the city plundered and systematically destroyed. The few survivors who had fled into the forests—Charles the Bold allegedly had more than 5,000 inhabitants murdered—were only able to return to the city for reconstruction after seven years. In 1789, partly in connection with the French Revolution, the Liège Revolution occurred. It was directed against the absolutist rule of the Prince-Bishop and was crushed in early 1791 by troops commissioned by the Holy Roman Empire. In 1795, Liège was occupied by French troops and became part of the First French Republic. The Congress of Vienna annexed it to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which in 1830 became the Kingdom of Belgium, to which Liège has belonged ever since. The Collegiate Church of St. John the Evangelist was founded as a collegiate church by Notker of Liège around 980, and consecrated in 987. The church was a kind of replica of Charlemagne's Aachen Cathedral. It was suppressed in 1797 during the French Revolution, the building being confiscated and sold in 1798. The center, originally an octagonal building in Mosan Romanesque style, incorporating elements of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the church was completely rebuilt in a late Baroque style in 1754–1784. It has been in use as a parish church since 1809. The church is currently being restored.

Liège is the center of the largest Walloon agglomeration, and the cultural center of the Walloon region of Belgium. The city, with a population of about 200.000, is located at the confluence of the Ourthe and Meuse rivers. Around 705, Saint Lambert of Maastricht is credited with completing the Christianization of the region, but conversion may still not have been quite universal, since Lambert was murdered in Liège. To enshrine his relics, the successor, Hubertus (later St. Hubert), built a basilica which became the nucleus of the city. In 1468, following an uprising of the inhabitants against Burgundian rule, xof Burgundy had the city plundered and systematically destroyed. The few survivors who had fled into the forests—Charles the Bold allegedly had more than 5,000 inhabitants murdered—were only able to return to the city for reconstruction after seven years. In 1789, partly in connection with the French Revolution, the Liège Revolution occurred. It was directed against the absolutist rule of the Prince-Bishop and was crushed in early 1791 by troops commissioned by the Holy Roman Empire. In 1795, Liège was occupied by French troops and became part of the First French Republic. The Congress of Vienna annexed it to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which in 1830 became the Kingdom of Belgium, to which Liège has belonged ever since. The Collegiate Church of St. John the Evangelist was founded as a collegiate church by Notker of Liège around 980, and consecrated in 987. The church was a kind of replica of Charlemagne's Aachen Cathedral. It was suppressed in 1797 during the French Revolution, the building being confiscated and sold in 1798. The center, originally an octagonal building in Mosan Romanesque style, incorporating elements of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the church was completely rebuilt in a late Baroque style in 1754–1784. It has been in use as a parish church since 1809. The church is currently being restored. Virgin and Child Sedes Sapientia Mosan School / ca 1230

Liège is the center of the largest Walloon agglomeration, and the cultural center of the Walloon region of Belgium. The city, with a population of about 200.000, is located at the confluence of the Ourthe and Meuse rivers. Around 705, Saint Lambert of Maastricht is credited with completing the Christianization of the region, but conversion may still not have been quite universal, since Lambert was murdered in Liège. To enshrine his relics, the successor, Hubertus (later St. Hubert), built a basilica which became the nucleus of the city. In 1468, following an uprising of the inhabitants against Burgundian rule, xof Burgundy had the city plundered and systematically destroyed. The few survivors who had fled into the forests—Charles the Bold allegedly had more than 5,000 inhabitants murdered—were only able to return to the city for reconstruction after seven years. In 1789, partly in connection with the French Revolution, the Liège Revolution occurred. It was directed against the absolutist rule of the Prince-Bishop and was crushed in early 1791 by troops commissioned by the Holy Roman Empire. In 1795, Liège was occupied by French troops and became part of the First French Republic. The Congress of Vienna annexed it to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which in 1830 became the Kingdom of Belgium, to which Liège has belonged ever since. The Collegiate Church of St. John the Evangelist was founded as a collegiate church by Notker of Liège around 980, and consecrated in 987. The church was a kind of replica of Charlemagne's Aachen Cathedral. It was suppressed in 1797 during the French Revolution, the building being confiscated and sold in 1798. The center, originally an octagonal building in Mosan Romanesque style, incorporating elements of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the church was completely rebuilt in a late Baroque style in 1754–1784. It has been in use as a parish church since 1809. The church is currently being restored.

Liège is the center of the largest Walloon agglomeration, and the cultural center of the Walloon region of Belgium. The city, with a population of about 200.000, is located at the confluence of the Ourthe and Meuse rivers. Around 705, Saint Lambert of Maastricht is credited with completing the Christianization of the region, but conversion may still not have been quite universal, since Lambert was murdered in Liège. To enshrine his relics, the successor, Hubertus (later St. Hubert), built a basilica which became the nucleus of the city. In 1468, following an uprising of the inhabitants against Burgundian rule, xof Burgundy had the city plundered and systematically destroyed. The few survivors who had fled into the forests—Charles the Bold allegedly had more than 5,000 inhabitants murdered—were only able to return to the city for reconstruction after seven years. In 1789, partly in connection with the French Revolution, the Liège Revolution occurred. It was directed against the absolutist rule of the Prince-Bishop and was crushed in early 1791 by troops commissioned by the Holy Roman Empire. In 1795, Liège was occupied by French troops and became part of the First French Republic. The Congress of Vienna annexed it to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which in 1830 became the Kingdom of Belgium, to which Liège has belonged ever since. The Collegiate Church of St. John the Evangelist was founded as a collegiate church by Notker of Liège around 980, and consecrated in 987. The church was a kind of replica of Charlemagne's Aachen Cathedral. It was suppressed in 1797 during the French Revolution, the building being confiscated and sold in 1798. The center, originally an octagonal building in Mosan Romanesque style, incorporating elements of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the church was completely rebuilt in a late Baroque style in 1754–1784. It has been in use as a parish church since 1809. The church is currently being restored.

Liège is the center of the largest Walloon agglomeration, and the cultural center of the Walloon region of Belgium. The city, with a population of about 200.000, is located at the confluence of the Ourthe and Meuse rivers. Around 705, Saint Lambert of Maastricht is credited with completing the Christianization of the region, but conversion may still not have been quite universal, since Lambert was murdered in Liège. To enshrine his relics, the successor, Hubertus (later St. Hubert), built a basilica which became the nucleus of the city. In 1468, following an uprising of the inhabitants against Burgundian rule, xof Burgundy had the city plundered and systematically destroyed. The few survivors who had fled into the forests—Charles the Bold allegedly had more than 5,000 inhabitants murdered—were only able to return to the city for reconstruction after seven years. In 1789, partly in connection with the French Revolution, the Liège Revolution occurred. It was directed against the absolutist rule of the Prince-Bishop and was crushed in early 1791 by troops commissioned by the Holy Roman Empire. In 1795, Liège was occupied by French troops and became part of the First French Republic. The Congress of Vienna annexed it to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which in 1830 became the Kingdom of Belgium, to which Liège has belonged ever since. The Collegiate Church of St. John the Evangelist was founded as a collegiate church by Notker of Liège around 980, and consecrated in 987. The church was a kind of replica of Charlemagne's Aachen Cathedral. It was suppressed in 1797 during the French Revolution, the building being confiscated and sold in 1798. The center, originally an octagonal building in Mosan Romanesque style, incorporating elements of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the church was completely rebuilt in a late Baroque style in 1754–1784. It has been in use as a parish church since 1809. The church is currently being restored.

Liège is the center of the largest Walloon agglomeration, and the cultural center of the Walloon region of Belgium. The city, with a population of about 200.000, is located at the confluence of the Ourthe and Meuse rivers. Around 705, Saint Lambert of Maastricht is credited with completing the Christianization of the region, but conversion may still not have been quite universal, since Lambert was murdered in Liège. To enshrine his relics, the successor, Hubertus (later St. Hubert), built a basilica which became the nucleus of the city. In 1468, following an uprising of the inhabitants against Burgundian rule, xof Burgundy had the city plundered and systematically destroyed. The few survivors who had fled into the forests—Charles the Bold allegedly had more than 5,000 inhabitants murdered—were only able to return to the city for reconstruction after seven years. In 1789, partly in connection with the French Revolution, the Liège Revolution occurred. It was directed against the absolutist rule of the Prince-Bishop and was crushed in early 1791 by troops commissioned by the Holy Roman Empire. In 1795, Liège was occupied by French troops and became part of the First French Republic. The Congress of Vienna annexed it to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which in 1830 became the Kingdom of Belgium, to which Liège has belonged ever since. The Collegiate Church of St. John the Evangelist was founded as a collegiate church by Notker of Liège around 980, and consecrated in 987. The church was a kind of replica of Charlemagne's Aachen Cathedral. It was suppressed in 1797 during the French Revolution, the building being confiscated and sold in 1798. The center, originally an octagonal building in Mosan Romanesque style, incorporating elements of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the church was completely rebuilt in a late Baroque style in 1754–1784. It has been in use as a parish church since 1809. The church is currently being restored.

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.

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. Between 1002 and his death in 1024, Emperor Henry II had an ambo constructed in the shape of a pulpit. The ambo is 146 cm high and 115 cm wide and is considered one of the most important works of art of the Ottonian period.

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 Strahlenkranzmadonna is a double sculpture of the Virgin and Child. It was created in 1524 by the woodcarver Jan van Steffeswert (c. 1465–1531) and placed in the choir of Aachen Cathedral, which was consecrated in 1414. These Madonna sculptures have long adorned the Gothic choir of the cathedral. The front of the Madonna (also called the Crescent Moon Madonna), decorated with angels, was oriented toward the octagon, while the Madonna on the back formerly faced the altar in the apse of the choir. The dimensions of the ensemble are given as 286 × 223 cm, with the size of the Madonnas being given as a height of 172 cm.

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.

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 dome with its neo Byzantine mosaic. Installed under the cupola is the Barbarossa Chandelier, made on the order of Emperor Frederick I, nicknamed Barbarossa, and his wife Beatrice sometime between 1165 and 1170 . It has a diameter of 4.20 metres and is mounted on a roughly 27 metre long chain under the middle of the roof of the Palatine chapel Part of the Latin inscription reads as follows: "The Catholic Emperor, Frederick, King of the Romans, himself God-fearing, vowed and donated to the God-fearing Mary the royal gift of this octagonal [light] crown, instructing the clergy to note both its shape and number: his gift takes its form from the model of the house of God."

From 936 to 1531, the Aachen chapel was the church of coronation for 30 German kings and 12 queens. In 792 Charlemagne (aka "Charles the Great", "Karl der Grosse") began the construction of a palace here and part of the whole structure was the "Palatine Chapel". Pope Leo III consecrated the chappel in 805. Here were the corridors of power around 800. The carolingian octogon is the middle part of the building. A gothic choir on the left was added later and so it beacem the "Aachen Cathedral". Parts of the westwork date back to the carolingian structure. The carolingian octogon was planned by the Odo of Metz, who obviously had seen Byzantine churches. After the erection of the Aachen Cathedral, the nobility and the canons celebrated their services in this place of worship, while the ordinary citizen had to use other churches. For this reason, a church dedicated to St. Foillan, an early Iro-Scottish missionary (brother of Saints Ultan and Fursa), was built around 1180. After the cathedral was enlarged by an extension of the aisle in 1414, the citizens also strove for a new building of their church, which had become too small meanwhile. A three-nave Gothic building was erected and consecrated in 1482. The expansion of the cathedral brought the two buildings close together and they remained separated only by a narrow alley. Of that church only remains of the choir, parts of the facade and a few other areas have been preserved. The remaining parts of the facade and the tower date from 1888 or are more recent. Most damages were caused by a bombing raid in 1944 when the church was almost completely destroyed. The church got rebuilt between 1956 and 1958. This triumphal cross found its place behind bars on the outside facade.

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 (aka "Charles the Great", "Karl der Grosse") 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. Here were the corridors of power around 800. The Carolingian octagon is the middle part of the building. A gothic choir on the left was added later. Parts of the westwork date back to the carolingian structure. The Carolingian octagon, having a baroque roof now, was planned by the Odo of Metz, who obviously had seen Byzantine churches. For sure he had seen the Basilica of San Vitale of Ravenna, as San Vitale seems to be a model of this chapel. I have uploaded already many photos taken during previous visits of the "Imperial Cathedral", so this time, this door-knocker is the only one.

The "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 ("Charles the Great", "Karl der Grosse") began the construction of a palace here and part of the whole structure was this "Palatine Chapel". The center (and the oldest part) of the cathedral of today is this carolingian octogon, planned are realized by Odo of Metz, one of the first known architects, north of the Alps. Odo had seen obviously seen Byzantine churches. For sure he knew details of the Basilica of San Vitale of Ravenna, as San Vitale, that seems to be a model of this chapel. Pope Leo III consecrated the chappel in 805. Inside the octogon now, facing south. The architecture is a real hefty "power demonstration". In 805 this construction was probably near to a heavenly miracle. Some of the pillars seen here are "reused" roman pillars, that came from Cologne, other roman spolia were transported over the Alps from Rome. During the french occupation after the French Revolution the roman pillars ware taken out - and added to the collection of the Louvre, but about half of them returned in 1815, the rest got replaced by copies. Charlemagne was buried here in 814. In 1000 Emperor Otto III had Charlemagne's grave opened. Otto of Lomello, one of the courtiers, wrote, that Charlemagne was sitting in his grave and that the body showed no decay. Only the tip of Charlemagne´s nose was - gone. Otto replaced this tip with gold. 65 years later Frederick I Barbarossa opened the grave, to place the remains now in a sarcophagus, said to be the one in which Augustus Caesar was buried. The bones lay in this until 1215, when Frederick II had them put in a casket of gold and silver. And there they still are. I remember, that many years ago, visitors could walk the upper floor as well and see Charlemagne´s throne, made by marble from the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Though it was not allowed, parents placed their kids on the throne - and took a photo. That it not possible any more. The cathedral has a very nice website - in German: www.aachendom.de/ Wikipedia has one in English: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aachen_Cathedral and French: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_d%27Aix-la-Chapelle

The "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 ("Charles the Great", "Karl der Grosse") began the construction of a palace here and part of the whole structure was the "Palatine Chapel". It is known, that the buildings were planned by the architect Odo of Metz. Pope Leo III consecrated the chappel in 805. The center of the chapel is the octogon, that had a romanesque choir or apse to the east. When more and more pilgrims headed to Aachen, this building was demolished and the gothic choir was built. It was completed 1414. The choir is 25 meters long, 13 meters wide - and 32 meters high. It has about 1000 m² in stained windows and was influenced by the "Sainte-Chapelle" in Paris. The cathedral in Aachen hold relics since Charlemagne´s time, and so pilgrims walked to to Aachen. Since the canonization of Charlemagne in 1165 Aachen got more attractive and pilgrimage grew, when the content of a shrine, that was in the cathedral since hundreds of years, got known in 1239. There was a nappy of Jesus, a waistcloth of Jesus, a gown of St. Mary and the cloth in which the head of John Baptist had been wrapped in. These relics started a pilgrimage, named "Aachener Heiligtumsfahrt" - and to "manage" the masses, this choir had to be built, a shrine by itself. The "Aachener Heiligtumsfahrt" took place in a rythm of seven years - and it still does. The last took place 2007, the next will take place 2014. Here is the website about the pilgrimage in German, there are photos of the relics as well. www.heiligtumsfahrt2007.de/index47-0.aspx The cathedral has a very nice website - in German: www.aachendom.de/ Wikipedia has one in English: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aachen_Cathedral and French: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_d%27Aix-la-Chapelle

The "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 ("Charles the Great", "Karl der Grosse") began the construction of a palace here and part of the whole structure was this "Palatine Chapel". The center (and the oldest part) of the cathedral of today is this carolingian octogon, planned are realized by Odo of Metz, one of the first known architects, north of the Alps. Odo had seen obviously seen Byzantine churches. For sure he knew details of the Basilica of San Vitale of Ravenna, as San Vitale, that seems to be a model of this chapel. Pope Leo III consecrated the chappel in 805. The architecture of the octogon a real hefty "power demonstration". In 805 this construction was probably near to a heavenly miracle. Standing in the center - looking up. It is known, that under the dome was a mosaic or fresco showing a scene from the "Apocalypse of John". The 24 oldest kings give their crowns to Christ, who is surrounded by the symbols of the evangelists. The version we see today was done 1880/81. Yes, 1/8 of the octogon is uner renovation and hidden ander a plastic cover - and there is something hanging down. Click on the next photo to see, what it is. The cathedral has a very nice website - in German: www.aachendom.de/ Wikipedia has one in English: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aachen_Cathedral and French: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_d%27Aix-la-Chapelle

The "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 ("Charles the Great", "Karl der Grosse") began the construction of a palace here and part of the whole structure was this "Palatine Chapel". The center (and the oldest part) of the cathedral of today is this carolingian octogon, planned are realized by Odo of Metz, one of the first known architects, north of the Alps. Odo had seen obviously seen Byzantine churches. For sure he knew details of the Basilica of San Vitale of Ravenna, as San Vitale, that seems to be a model of this chapel. Pope Leo III consecrated the chappel in 805. Having entered the cathedral - and looking into the ground floor of the octogon through the arcades around. The cathedral has a very nice website - in German: www.aachendom.de/ Wikipedia has one in English: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aachen_Cathedral and French: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_d%27Aix-la-Chapelle