St. Nicholas Church, Aachen

The first records of a church on this site go back to 1005. It was dedicated to Nicholas of Myra.

Around 1222, brothers of the Franciscan order took over the chapel and built a new monastery. The brothers rebuilt the existing structure to suit their needs, building a gothic-style church. Unfortunately, the building was damaged by a fire in 1333, but the order was popular and expanded rapidly during the 14th century. They used the building until it came to be in disrepair in the early 17th century.

The foundation stones for the new building--the one you see today--were laid in 1630. Over the centuries, however, numerous fires and war damage have resulted in constant reconstructions. The last major construction was in 1951, repairing World War II damage.

Monasteries were dissolved during the secularization movement of the early 19th century. The French removed the altarpieces and sent them to the Louvre in Paris, and they used the building for wounded soldiers and horse stables. The other monastery buildings were turned into a prison. It was only because St. Nicholas had been declared a parish church that it did not get completely destroyed.

Today, St. Nicholas is the city church of Aachen. A Protestant and Catholic association was founded in 2001 to oversee the church's operation. Many cultural events are held in the building. The Aachen Symphony Orchestra and several choirs have performed and recorded here.