Location: Aachen, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany
The nucleus of the cathedral is the octagonal Palatine Chapel with its cupola. Originally, it was the private chapel of Charlemagne's palace, inspired by the Byzantine rulers.
Construction began around 793 CE, under the direction of Odo of Metz. The chapel was consecrated in 805 by Pope Leo III.
Overall, the Palatine Chapel presents a homogeneous Carolingian architectonic style.
The chapel consists of an octagonal inner room, surrounded by a 16-sided wall. There's a gallery in the upper store with eight bronze gates from the Carolingian period.
The dome is surrounded by eight open arched windows. It remained the tallest structure north of the Alps for 200 years.
The chapel was the coronation place for German kings until 1531, starting with Charlemagne's son Louis the Pious. The stone slabs of the Carolingian throne are said to have come from the church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
It also became a pilgrimage site after the canonization of Charlemagne in 1165. Every 7 years, occurs the Great Pilgrimage, during which are displayed the main relics held in the cathedral.
The Gothic Choir and the ambulatory chapels were added in the Middle Ages.
The Westwork or Western façade is of Carolingian origin, but was modified over the centuries. The porch dates from the 18th century. The bronze doors guard the main entrance to the cathedral and were cast around the year 800. The gothic window frame replaced the smaller Carolingian original.
The Cathedral Treasury is one of the most important ecclesiastical treasures in Northern Europe. Its treasures includes the Cross of Lothar, a reliquary bust of Charlemagne and the marble sarcophagus of Charlemagne.
Criteria
(i) to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius:
Because the Palatine Chapel has been considered an exceptional artistic creation since it was build. It was also the first vaulted building north of the Alps since Antiquity.
(ii) to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design:
Because the Chapel inspired religious architecture both during the Carolingian Renaissance and the Middle Ages.
(iv) to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history:
Because the Palatine Chapel is an excellent example of an aulian chapel.
(vi) to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance:
Because the construction of the chapel at Aachen by Charlemagne symbolized the reunification of the West and its political and spiritual revival under the new Emperor. It was also the burial place of Charlemagne and the where German kings were crowned until 1531.
