The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Aachen, Germany

Aachen Cathedral houses four great relics and hosts the Heiligtumsfahrt pilgrimage every seven years since 1349, attracting faithful to venerate treasures collected by Charlemagne.

In 799, when Pope Leo III consecrated a new chapel in the heart of Charlemagne's imperial palace, he established what would become medieval Europe's most prestigious pilgrimage destination. The octagonal Palatine Chapel—modeled on the Byzantine churches of Ravenna—rose thirty-one meters into the sky, a feat of engineering that would not be surpassed north of the Alps for centuries. Within its walls, Charlemagne gathered treasures from the Holy Land: cloth relics believed to have touched the Savior and His Blessed Mother, gifts that would draw millions of pilgrims across the following twelve centuries. Charlemagne died on January 28, 814, and was buried the same day in his beloved chapel, seated upright on a marble throne in the manner of a living emperor. From 936 to 1531, thirty-one German kings and twelve queens would ascend to that same throne after their coronation at the High Altar—the only place where a German monarch could legitimately claim his crown. Together with Rome, Jerusalem, and Santiago de Compostela, Aachen ranked among the four great pilgrimage destinations of Christendom. Today, more than 1.3 million visitors annually enter Germany's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, walking the same flagstones where emperors were crowned and saints have prayed for over a thousand years. The great relics—Mary's cloak, the swaddling clothes of the Infant Jesus, Christ's loincloth from the Cross, and the cloth that received the head of John the Baptist—remain sealed within the golden Marienschrein in the cathedral choir. Every seven years, during the Heiligtumsfahrt pilgrimage, they emerge to the veneration of the faithful, a tradition unbroken since 1349. The next pilgrimage will take place in June 2028.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

Charlemagne chose the warm springs of Aachen for his permanent residence around 768, establishing what would become the capital of his vast Carolingian Empire. Construction of the Palatine Chapel began in 796 under the architect Odo of Metz, who drew inspiration from the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna and the great churches of Constantinople. The chapel's distinctive octagonal form—eight being the number of resurrection and new creation—was crowned by a dome decorated with golden mosaics depicting Christ triumphant, surrounded by the twenty-four elders of the Apocalypse offering their crowns. Pope Leo III consecrated the completed chapel in 805, the same pontiff who would later crown Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor in Rome. According to tradition, the Emperor himself journeyed to Jerusalem to acquire the precious cloth relics that would make his chapel a destination for pilgrims. When Charlemagne died in 814, he was buried in the Roman marble sarcophagus now displayed in the Cathedral Treasury—a third-century work depicting the myth of Proserpina that had been reused for the first Christian emperor of the West. The cathedral became the coronation church of the German kings following the crowning of Otto I in 936. For nearly six hundred years, every legitimate German ruler sat upon the Throne of Charlemagne after receiving the sacred unction. The influx of royal visitors brought immense wealth to the cathedral, expressed in magnificent gifts like the Barbarossa Chandelier—a monumental bronze wheel four meters in diameter, donated by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1165. In 1165, Charlemagne was canonized (by Antipope Paschal III), and his relics were translated to the elaborate gilded shrine that still rests in the Gothic choir. This Karlsschrein, completed in 1215, depicts scenes from the Emperor's life alongside figures of his successors. The Marienschrein, housing the four great cloth relics, was completed in 1239, its golden surfaces adorned with Christ, Mary, the Twelve Apostles, Charlemagne, and Pope Leo III. The Heiligtumsfahrt began formally in 1349, when the Black Death ravaged Europe and the faithful sought the intercession of heaven through veneration of the holy relics. The seven-year interval was established, and the tradition has continued—interrupted only by war and plague—to the present day. During the pilgrimage of June 2023, some 115,000 pilgrims came to venerate the relics under the motto "Discover Me."

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Aachen

The cathedral complex stands at the heart of Aachen's compact old town, dominated by the contrast between the dark stone octagon of Charlemagne's original chapel and the soaring glass walls of the Gothic choir, nicknamed the "Glashaus" for its immense windows. The Katschhof square—once the courtyard of the imperial palace—connects the cathedral to the fourteenth-century town hall, itself built upon the ruins of Charlemagne's great hall.

Aachen Cathedral

Local Name: Aachener Dom (Kaiserdom) Address: Domhof 1, 52062 Aachen, Germany GPS Coordinates: 50.7747198, 6.0839201 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: aachenerdom.de Dedication: Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary's Church / Marienkirche) Historical Note: The Carolingian octagon, completed around 805, represents the finest surviving example of Carolingian architecture in the world. The original bronze doors—cast in Aachen's foundries—still hang in the western entrance, while the marble columns of the interior arcade were transported from Rome and Ravenna by Charlemagne himself. The Gothic choir hall was added between 1355 and 1414 to accommodate the growing flood of pilgrims, its construction coinciding with the 600th anniversary of Charlemagne's death. The cathedral received UNESCO World Heritage status in 1978, becoming the first German site so honored. Spiritual Importance: The Marienschrein in the Gothic choir contains the four great Aachen relics, displayed every seven years during the Heiligtumsfahrt. In the center of the octagon hangs the magnificent Barbarossa Chandelier, its forty-eight candles lit only for the greatest feasts of the Church. The golden Pala d'Oro altarpiece, dating from the early eleventh century, once graced the High Altar where kings received their crowns. Pilgrims may freely visit the ground floor of the cathedral, while the Throne of Charlemagne in the upper gallery and the Gothic choir with its golden shrines are accessible only through guided tours.

Cathedral Treasury

The Aachener Domschatzkammer holds one of the most important collections of medieval ecclesiastical art in Europe, sharing the cathedral's UNESCO World Heritage designation. Among its treasures is the golden Bust of Charlemagne, a fourteenth-century reliquary containing the Emperor's skull, commissioned by Charles IV. The Cross of Lothair—a masterpiece of Ottonian goldsmithy studded with antique gems and cameos—is still carried in procession on major feasts. Pilgrims can view the Persephone Sarcophagus in which Charlemagne was originally buried, along with the Hunting Knife of Charlemagne, the illuminated Carolingian Treasury Gospels, and the Talisman of Charlemagne (a replica; the original is now in Reims). The treasury's modern exhibition space guides visitors through five thematic areas: Charlemagne's church, the coronation tradition, the Church of Saint Mary, liturgical practice, and the pilgrimage.

The Imperial Throne

In the upper gallery of the octagon, six plain marble slabs from Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre form the Throne of Charlemagne—outwardly modest, yet the seat upon which kings became rulers of the Holy Roman Empire. Though tradition holds that Charlemagne himself sat here, the throne may have been constructed for Otto I's coronation in 936. Accessible only by guided tour, the throne offers visitors a direct encounter with the sacred geography of medieval power.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

January 28 – Feast of Blessed Charlemagne Aachen Cathedral. Though never universally recognized as a saint by the Church, Charlemagne is venerated locally as "Blessed" and commemorated on the anniversary of his death with a solemn Mass and veneration at the Karlsschrein. Every Seven Years (next: June 2028) – Heiligtumsfahrt Aachen Cathedral and city center. The ten-day pilgrimage draws over 100,000 faithful to venerate the four great relics, displayed from the cathedral gallery and carried in procession. Outdoor Masses fill the Katschhof, and pilgrims participate in services, lectures, and cultural events throughout the city.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Aquis Grana City Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: Büchel 32 / Buchkremerstraße, 52062 Aachen 🌐 Website: hotel-aquis-grana.de 🔗 Booking: Reserve this hotel Just 200 meters from the cathedral, this modern four-star hotel offers spacious rooms with contemporary design, daily breakfast buffet, underground parking, and a 24-hour bar. The ideal base for pilgrims seeking both comfort and proximity to Aachen's sacred sites. Hotel 3 Könige 📍 Address: Büchel 5, 52062 Aachen 🔗 Booking: Reserve this hotel A family-run guesthouse directly on the Marktplatz, steps from the cathedral and town hall. Simple, comfortable rooms in a historic building with the charm of old Aachen hospitality.

🚗 Getting There

By Air: The nearest major airport is Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN), approximately 90 kilometers east, with direct train connections to Aachen Hauptbahnhof. Düsseldorf Airport (DUS), 90 kilometers northeast, offers similar connections. Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) in the Netherlands lies just 30 kilometers northwest but has limited commercial service. By Train: Aachen Hauptbahnhof is a major stop on the high-speed rail corridor connecting Paris, Brussels, Cologne, and Frankfurt. Thalys and ICE trains provide frequent service from Brussels (1 hour), Cologne (35 minutes), and Paris (2.5 hours). From the station, the cathedral is a pleasant fifteen-minute walk through the pedestrianized old town. By Car: Aachen lies at the junction of the A4 (from Cologne) and A44 (from Düsseldorf). Exit at A544 toward Aachen-Europaplatz and follow signs to the city center. The Aquis Grana City Hotel offers underground parking; additional public parking is available at Büchel and Katschhof garages. Local Transport: The compact old town is best explored on foot. The Elisenbrunnen bus stop, 300 meters from the cathedral, connects to the main station and outlying areas.

📚 Further Reading

Books:

  • Aachen and Its Cathedral – Concise illustrated guide to the cathedral's history and treasures, available at the Treasury gift shop.

Articles & Online Resources:

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🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

Kornelimünster (8 km south) – The Benedictine abbey church houses important relics including cloths said to have covered Christ's head and body in the tomb. During the Heiligtumsfahrt, pilgrims traditionally visit Kornelimünster on the same journey. Cologne (75 km east) – The magnificent Gothic cathedral holds the Shrine of the Three Magi, making it one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in northern Europe. Kevelaer (85 km north) – Germany's most-visited Marian pilgrimage site, home to the miraculous image of Our Lady, Consoler of the Afflicted. Maastricht (35 km northwest) – The Basilica of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwebasiliek) contains the venerated statue of Star of the Sea, a medieval pilgrimage destination in the Netherlands. Trier (150 km south) – The Cathedral of St. Peter holds the Holy Robe, traditionally believed to be Christ's seamless garment, displayed during its own pilgrimage every generation.

🪶 Closing Reflection

"Jerusalem gave Charlemagne four cloth relics that recall in a tangible and deeply reverential way important events in salvation history and, at the same time, can be considered as pilgrim's garb for the People of God."

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— Pope St. John Paul II, Message to the Bishop of Aachen (January 31, 2000)