Aachen - These little brass markers are on sidewalks in Aachen (as well as flags and signs). The symbol is the monogram of Charlemagne (Karolus).
Aachen - Cathedral - Imperial chapel. Orients east; Original octagonal chapel (covered by round dome) ca. 800; Byzantine 16-sided extension added later; Romanesque with gothic choir added later. View of north side.
Aachen - Cathedral -View of north side.
Aachen - Cathedral -.External view of the gothic choir (Glass Chapel)
Aachen - Cathedral - External view of the chapel of St Matthew
Aachen - Cathedral - Crooked spire.
Aachen - Cathedral - Dome over the octagonal nave.
Aachen - Cathedral - External view of the Chapel of St Hubert (which was closed off while they were excavating in the crypt!!!! That was way cool)
Aachen - Chapel - West portal (entrance)
Aachen - Cathedral - West portal bronze doors. Supposedly the first medieval bronze doors to be cast in Europe in a single piece. They are fashioned after Roman examples. Two lion's heads are from later. The left lion's head contains the "Devil's thumb".
Aachen - Cathedral - Interior ceiling of the octagonal chapel.
Aachen - Cathedral - Interior ceiling of the octagonal chapel taken from the second-story gallery
Aachen - Cathedral - Interior ceiling of the second story gallery
Aachen - Cathedral - Archway detail separating the 16-sided gallery and the gothic choir.
Aachen - Cathedral - The view Emperors would have had from the throne
Aachen - Cathedral - beautiful shot of the third story taken from the 2nd.
Aachen - Cathedral - Archways.
Aachen - Cathedral - 2nd level near the Throne of Charlemagne
Aachen - Cathedral - chandelier donated by Frederich Barbarossa
Aachen - Cathedral - 12C chandelier donated by Frederick Barbarossa.
Aachen - Cathedral - Ceiling of the gothic choir.
Aachen - Cathedral - Chandelier on the second level.
Aachen - Cathedral - Windows in the gothic choir (glass chapel)
Aachen - Cathedral - Altar looking into the gothic choir.
Aachen - Cathedral - Altar closeup.
Aachen - Cathedral - Ambo (pulpit) that was a gift from Henry II!
Aachen - Cathedral - Gothic choir (Glass Chapel). The gold box holds the remains of Charlemagne and the tomb in front is Otto III.
Aachen - Cathedral - Gothic choir (Glass Chapel). EHEHE the tomb of Otto III
Aachen - Cathedral - Gothic choir (Glass Chapel). SQUEE!! The tomb of Otto III.
Aachen - Cathedral - Gothic choir (Glass Chapel). The tomb of Otto III.
Aachen - Cathedral - Gothic choir (Glass Chapel). Shrine of Charlemagne.
Aachen - Cathedral - Gothic choir (Glass Chapel). Shrine of Charlemagne
Aachen - Cathedral - View towards the octagonal "nave" from behind the altar.
Aachen - Cathedral - The throne of Charlemagne. Made of white Parian marble (from the Greek island of Paros) bounded by bronze strips. Legend has that the slabs were removed from the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and this accounts for the fact the throne is not decorated. It's modeled after the throne of Solomon. Charlemagne was never crowned on this throne, but his successors were. He crowned his son Louis the Pious directly opposite this throne (on the other side of the gallery).
Aachen - Cathedral - Stairs leading to the throne of Charlemagne. While never crowned on this throne his sucessors were. White marble from Jersusalem. Bounded by bronze strips.
Aachen - Cathedral - Altar that sits behind the throne. It dates from 1308 and is in honor of St Remigus..
Aachen - Cathedral - Throne of Charlemagne. Made of white Parian marble (from the Greek island of Paros) bounded by bronze strips. Legend has that the slabs were removed from the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and this accounts for the fact the throne is not decorated. It's modeled after the throne of Solomon. Charlemagne was never crowned on this throne, but his successors were. He crowned his son Louis the Pious directly opposite this throne (on the other side of the gallery).
Aachen - Cathedral -Dom treasury - Obligatory illicit picture of statue of St Peter with a chain for later comparison.
Aachen - Cathedral - Plaza near the treasury.
Aachen - Cathedral - Sam in the Plaza near the treasury.
Aachen - Cathedral - An interesting little sign I spotted above the entryway to a building labeled the baptistry.
Aachen - Who is that handsome man? Could that be Charlemagne? Surely the orb, septre and crown don't give it away! This is from the market in front of the Rathaus.
Aachen - Market in front of the Rathaus.
Aachen - Rathaus - Exterior
Aachen - Rathaus - Exterior.
Aachen - Rathaus - Steps leading up to...
Aachen - Rathaus - Exterior. Only original part of Charlemagne's palace.
Aachen - Rathaus - Charlemagne as painted by Albrecht Dürer. The original is in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg.
Aachen - Rathaus - Sigismund as painted by Albrecht Dürer. The original is in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg.
Aachen - Rathaus - Monogram of Charlemagne (Karolus) that hangs over the entrance to the banquet room.
Aachen - Rathaus - Heraldic shields in the banquet room.
Aachen - Rathaus - Banquet room ceiling (gothic, ribbed vaulting)
Aachen - Rathaus - Banquet room, bricked in doors.
Aachen - Rathaus - Outside the banquet room, fancy doors.
Aachen - Rathaus - Banquet room, a sign that commemorates Otto III opening up Charlemagne's tomb in 1000 to find him on his throne in his regalia.
Aachen - Rathaus - A copy of the royal regalia. Here we see the Holy lance, a saber and a purse?
Aachen - Rathaus - A copy of the royal regalia. Here we see the crown and septres.
Aachen - Rathaus - A copy of the royal regalia. Here we see the swords.
Aachen - Rathaus - A copy of the royal regalia. Here we see the crown.
Aachen - Rathaus - A copy of the royal regalia. Here we see a cross.
Aachen - Rathaus - A copy of the royal regalia. Here we see a book (presumably the gospels) and the orb.
Aachen- a picture of a bee for Max. :)
Aachen - Sam in front flowers!
Aachen - Sam amongst the flowers.
