Aachen Cathedral

Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom) was the first German UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally built by Emperor Charlemagne around 800 AD as his imperial chapel. The cathedral's distinctive octagonal Palatine Chapel blends Carolingian, Byzantine, and Gothic styles, and served as the coronation church for over 30 German kings across six centuries. It remains a symbol of European unity and the legacy of the Carolingian Empire.