| Aachen Cathedral | |
|---|---|
Aachener Dom | |
 The cathedral in 2014 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic |
| Province | Diocese of Aachen |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | active |
| Year consecrated | 805 |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Location | |
| Location | Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
| Geographic coordinates | 50°46′29.1″N 6°5′2.12″E / 50.774750°N 6.0839222°E |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Ottonian Carolingian-Romanesque Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 796 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 73 m (239 ft 6 in) |
| Width | 56 m (183 ft 9 in) |
| Spire(s) | 1 |
| Spire height | 72 m (236 ft 3 in) |
| Criteria | Cultural: i, ii, iv, vi |
| Reference | 3 |
| Inscription | 1978 (2nd Session) |
| Area | 0.2 ha (0.49 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 67 ha (170 acres) |
Aachen Cathedral (German: Aachener Dom) is a Catholic church in Aachen, Germany and the cathedral of the Diocese of Aachen.
One of the oldest cathedral buildings in Europe, it was constructed as the royal chapel of the Palace of Aachen of Emperor Charlemagne, who was buried there in 814. From 936 to 1531, the original Palatine Chapel saw the coronation of thirty-one German kings and twelve queens. Later, much expanded, it was a minster and collegiate church, becoming a cathedral briefly from 1803 to 1825, and again in 1930 when the Diocese of Aachen was revived.[1] In 1978, Aachen Cathedral was one of the first 12 sites to be listed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, because of its exceptional artistry, architecture, and central importance in the history of the Holy Roman Empire.[2]
The cathedral mostly uses two distinct architectural styles. First, the core of the cathedral is the Carolingian-Romanesque Palatine Chapel, which was modeled after the Basilica of San Vitale at Ravenna and is notably small in comparison to the later additions. Secondly, the choir was constructed in the Gothic style.[3][4] There are portions that show Ottonian style, such as the area around the throne,[4] and some areas were not completed until the 19th century, in revivalist styles.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
DofA2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Aachen Cathedral". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ Hoiberg 2010, pp. 1–2
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
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