Aachen Cathedral – The coronation site for 12 Queens

Last week I went on a day trip to Aachen in Germany. It was about a three hour journey by train but time went quickly and before I knew it I was standing in front of the Cathedral, which looks tiny from the front!

Karlsschrein (contains the bones of Charlemagne)

Marienschrein (contains the four great Aachen relics: St. Mary’s cloak, Christ’s swaddling clothes, St. John the Baptist’s beheading cloth and Christ’s loincloth)

The Aachen Cathedral was used a coronation church for German Kings and Queens. 30 Kings were crowned here and around 12 Queens. No list existed of the Queens and I had to do a little digging. I hope the list is correct.

1. Possibly Edith of England (910 – 946)
2. Margaret of Austria (1204 – 1266)
3. Anne of Bavaria (1329 – 1353)
4. Anna von Schweidnitz (1339 – 1362)
5. Sanchia of Provence (1228 – 1261)
6. Waldrada (mistress/wife of Lothair II, King of Lotharingia)
7. Barbara of Cilli (1392 – 1451)
8. Irene Angelina (1181 – 1208)
9. Gertrude of Hohenberg (1225 – 1281)
10. Imagina of Isenburg- Limburg (1255 – 1313)
11. Margaret of Brabant (1276 – 1311)
12. Beatrice of Silesia (1290 – 1322)

The church itself is quite beautiful but a lot of it can only be accessed with a guided tour. I accidentally walked into an area I wasn’t allowed in and was quickly shooed back. I believe Charlemagne’s throne is also in one of the restricted areas. It’s a shame as it was not immediately clear where to go to get access.

Entrance is free but it costs 1 euro to take pictures (yes, really) and I assume the guided tours cost money.