# Aachen Palatine Chapel (796)

URL: https://germany-history.com/timeline/796-aachen-palatine-chapel
Location: Aachen
Categories: main-event

From around 796 Charlemagne built a palace complex at Aachen, including the octagonal Palatine Chapel inspired by Byzantine models. The chapel became his burial place and the coronation church of German kings for six centuries. Aachen Cathedral was among the first sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1978.

## Why it matters
Aachen became the symbolic centre of German kingship.

Ruler at the time: [Charlemagne](https://germany-history.com/rulers/charlemagne)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia – Palatine Chapel, Aachen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palatine_Chapel,_Aachen)
- [Wikipedia – Aachen Cathedral](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aachen_Cathedral)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica – Palatine Chapel, Aachen](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Palatine-Chapel-Aachen-Germany)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica – Aachen Cathedral](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Aachen-Cathedral)