AACHEN CATHEDRAL

AACHEN IS LOCATED IN THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF GERMANY, JUST NEXT TO THE BORDER OF BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS.  THE AACHEN CATHEDRAL IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE.   THE MAIN ENTRANCE DOORS ARE MADE OF BRONZE. 

SO MUCH GOLD WAS USED IN THE BUILDING OF THIS CATHEDRAL THAT MY CAMERA HAD A HARD TIME FOCUSING!   WHEN YOU ENTER THE CHURCH THERE IS A SIGN ASKING THAT YOU PAY ONE EURO SO YOU CAN TAKE PICTURES WITH YOUR OWN CAMERA.  BIT OF A SCAM...BUT I COUGHED UP A EURO....A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE!    THIS CHURCH IS THE FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR CHARLEMAGNE WHEN HE DIED IN 814.  HIS REMAINS ARE KEPT IN THE SHRINE OF CHARLEMAGNE AT THE FAR END OF THE CHOIR.  BETWEEN 936 - 1531 THERE WERE 30 KINGS AND 12 QUEENS ANOINTED  CROWNED AND ENTHRONED HERE.

SINCE THE MIDDLE AGES THE CHURCH HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT PLACE OF PILGRIMAGE, ON PAR WITH JERUSALEM & ROME.  IT HAS TAKEN PLACE EVERY 7 YEARS SINCE 1349.  THE NEXT PILGRIMAGE WILL BE IN 2014.

OUR DEAR LADY OF AACHEN from THE 14th CENTURY.  DRESSED IN NEARLY 40 GARMENTS

THE PULPIT OF EMPEROR HENRY II - MADE BEFORE 1014;  IT IS DECORATED WITH ANTIQUE BOWLS, IVORY CARVINGS, CHESS FIGURES AND RELIEFS OF THE EVANGELISTS.  ORIGINALLY PLACED IN THE OCTAGON IT WAS MOVED IN 1414 WHEN THE GOTHIC CHOIR HAD BEEN FINISHED.

THIS OCTAGON BUILDING, c. 800;  IT IS ONE OF THE FIRST CUPULAS TO BE CONSTRUCTED NORTH OF THE ALPS.  THE "BARBAROSSA CHANDELIER WAS BUILT IN 1165 AND IT WAS A GIFT FROM EMPEROR FREDERICK I. 

THE SHRINE OF ST. MARY (1220-1239) CONTAINS THE 4 GREAT AACHEN RELICS.  EVERY 7 YEARS THEY ARE TAKEN OUT AND PUT ON DISPLAY.  THE RELICS ARE THE APPAREL OF THE VIRGIN MARY, THE SO-CALLED SWADDLING CLOTHES AND THE LOINCLOTH OF CHRIST AND THE DECAPITATION CLOTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.  SINCE 1239 THEY ARE KEPT INSIDE THIS PRECIOUS SHRINE.

RADIANT MADONNA, A CARVING MADE IN 1524.  THE TWO-SIDED MADONNA WITH CHILD IS SURROUNDED BY RAYS OF LIGHT. 

THE ORIGINAL GOTHIC STAINED GLASS WINDOWS WERE DESTROYED DURING
WORLD WAR II.  THESE WINDOWS WERE INSTALLED IN 1951.