Rathaus (Town Hall), Aachen (must see)

Built in the early 14th century, the Aachen Town Hall has long been used for local government. In the Middle Ages, it was closely linked to imperial ceremonies. After being crowned in the nearby cathedral, rulers came here for official banquets. Between 936 and 1531, 31 Holy Roman Emperors were crowned. The Coronation Hall is still one of the most important rooms, and visitors can see replicas of imperial objects such as the crown, sword, and gospel book.

The building stands on the remains of Charlemagne’s palace from the late 8th century. When the medieval town hall was built, parts of this earlier complex were reused. Some of this early stonework is still visible today, especially on the south wall, where older masonry survived later rebuilding. These remains link the building to both medieval rule and Charlemagne’s earlier imperial center.

Over the centuries, fires and changing tastes altered the town hall’s appearance. After a large fire in 1656, the roof and towers were rebuilt in baroque style. During the 18th century, many Gothic details were removed. In the 19th century, a neo-Gothic restoration brought back medieval elements and added wall paintings showing scenes from Charlemagne’s life, along with statues on the façade. The towers were badly damaged during the Second World War and rebuilt by the late 1960s.

Today, the town hall is also known for hosting the Charlemagne Prize ceremony, which honors efforts toward European cooperation. Past recipients include Pope John Paul II, Bill Clinton, and Angela Merkel, showing that the building still plays a role in international political life.