Aachen

Over the last weeks we have seen several fantastic places in Germany. Today we will finish our trip in yet another UNESCO World Heritage site - Aachen. Its cathedral was built in eighth century and due to its uniqueness was inscribed on the UNESCO list back in 1978, during the very first session.

The city of Aachen was founded by Charlemagne or Charles the Great who has ruled half of the Europe and was crowned as emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Since Charlemagne was French, in his time the city was known as Aix-la-Chapelle, with reference to thermal baths that were located there and that provided healing and relief to the king.

The baths are still working today.

Just have a look at this impressive list of guests. And it is only one of many tables like that in the bath building.

Do you want to try yourself - here it comes, the world famous healing water from Aix-la-Chapelle.

Do you feel refreshed? Then let's move to see more of the famous city. I propose we follow the carolingian path.

Of course it is not the only path that crosses Aachen. I am sure that you will not be surprised to find out that Aachen lies on the path to Santiago.

This street looks interesting. And I think that I see the "Karolus" sign further down the road. Let's turn left.

Finally, we arrive in the proximity of the cathedral. As you may see, its main part has an unusual shape of an octagon. It is a former chapel built by Charlemagne next to the Aachen Palace.

Actually it is not so easy to spot it from the outside. In fact, it is not easy at all to see the real shape of the cathedral since it is surrounded by buildings and trees.

Here you can see the whole construction from a better perspective.

Do you want to go inside? Of course, let's go! Have you noticed those strange rectangular shapes with grass in it? This is not grass, these are healing and kitchen herbs described by Charlemagne himself, which we have already seen in Marksburg last week. They grow here happily in the shadow of the Aachen cathedral.

But now it is time to admire the cathedral from the inside.  Let's take the main entrance.

First, we need to pass by the long, rectangular atrium sided with huge stained glass windows.

But the heart of the cathedral is the hexagonal Palatinate Chapel, where numerous emperors and German kings were crowned.

From the dome, hangs the Barbarosssa chandelier, donated by Emperor Frederick I and his wife in the middle of the eleventh century.

The upper part of the dome is ornamented with golden paintings.

Have you noticed that I told you that the Aachen cathedral was born as a palace chapel? I am sure you would love to visit Charlemagne's palace. Unfortunately it did not survive to our days. But on its side, one of its main halls where the emperor used to hold his (probably long and fascinating) speeches, was converted into Aachen's Town Hall.

Impressive, isn't it? Over the centuries, the building has burnt and suffered severe damages during the war. It was reconstructed and remains the seat of the mayor of Aachen.

And if the mayor decides to look through his window, he can spot the one who is surely his (or her) role model. The one and only. Charlemagne himself.

Marksburg

Marksburg is an very old castle on the shores of river Rhine. It was built in the twelfth century and since then it was always inhabited. Together with other castles, historic towns and vineyards stretching over sixty-five kilometers, it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site called Upper Middle Rhine Valley.

Today, the castle is a museum but it is also the house of the president of the German Association of Castles, who manages the Marksburg castle. Let's walk inside.

 Just next to the main entry you can admire the coats of arms of the previous (and current) owners.

The walls of the castle are high and thick.

The castle is also equipped with heavy cannons.

But the best protection of the Marksburg castle is its location on a high hill next to the river Rhine.

Inside the castle we can get a feeling of what life looked like in the Middle Ages. Here comes the bedroom ...

... and the living room. On the table you have surely spotted a game of chess.

Of course the life in a castle would not be smooth without an army of hard working people, located in the kitchen ...

... and in the workshops.

In the cellars of the castle you will find lots of good wine.

But instead of tasting it, I propose that we climb up the tower.

On the terrace we can discover a very special garden. It is filled with herbs and medical plants that were planted according to a herbary book written by Charlemagne himself.

They do not look impressive to be honest but think they are a reflection of a wisdom lasting for twelve hundred years.

But the most important reason why I have taken you to the terrace of the tower is the view. This view. I can easily imagine that the lords of the Marksburg castle must have felt as the kings of the world sometimes.

I hope that you have enjoyed this visit to the Marksburg castle. It would not be complete if I could not show you the castle in its full splendour, that is from bird's eye view. It is not easy to achieve without a helicopter. Or a postcard.

Speyer

Speyer is another German city founded by the Roman Empire over the river Rhine. Its biggest treasure is hidden just behind these trees.

It is the thousand-years old UNESCO World Heritage Imperial Cathedral of Speyer.

Let's step inside.

Before we enter, you can already notice sculptures representing German kings and emperors of the Holy German Empire.

Ready to enter inside? Let's take the amazing bronze porch.

The uniqueness of the Speyer cathedral comes from the fact that it is the largest Romanesque cathedral in Europe (and since nowhere else people built churches at that time - also in the entire world) which has influenced many of such buildings across the continent.

On top of the high vaults you will surely noticed many pictures representing scenes from the Bible.

Besides the main nave, the cathedral has of course two side naves, almost as tall as the main one.

The main altar is dark and modest, especially if you would compare it to Baroque churches.

And in the back, you will notice a sail-like organ. This one is of course not a thousand years old.

In most cathedrals, this would be the end of our visit. But we still need to go down. And up. First, let's head towards the crypt. It is the biggest Romanesque crypt in the world. It is the oldest part of the cathedral, where its construction has begun.

A total of eight German kings are buried beneath the Speyer cathedral. Four of them were also emperors (only those who were lucky to be in good relations with the pope who would then agree to crown them emperors).

Besides them, the crypt includes seven altars, so that all the priests affiliated with the cathedral can celebrate a mass. In the Middle Ages, the cathedral could have up to seventy priests at the same time.

Now time to go up. After we return to the ground level, we need to take ninety steps to reach the Emperor's Hall just above the main gate. From here, you can see the interior of the cathedral.

You can also admire some of the frescoes by Johann Baptist Schraudolph which were removed from the cathedral for restoration and are currently exhibited in the Hall.

Now, we need take another two hundred and fourteen steps to reach the observation deck on one of the towers. Luckily the stairs are newly (re)built, with concrete and then steel, so they are really comfortable to climb (though not Romanesque at all).

From the observation deck you can see a breath-taking panorama of the city of Speyer.

And the river Rhine as well.

But what impressed me the most is the view of the cathedral itself. From the tower you can fully acknowledge its size.

I hope that you have enjoyed this visit to the Speyer cathedral. Surely an amazing place.