The Aachen Cathedral Treasury collection is considered one of the richest in Europe. Holy Roman emperors have been crowned in Aachen cathedral for almost 600 years. After the coronation, they presented the cathedral with rich gifts. Many of them are now kept in the Treasury.
The most valuable exhibits of the Aachen Cathedral Treasury are connected with the life and exploits of Charlemagne. Under his reign, the empire of the Franks reached its maximum size. Charles paid great attention to the development of art and culture. This period is called the "Carolingian Renaissance".
The main exhibit of the Aachen Cathedral Treasury is a bust-reliquary of Charlemagne. It was made of silver and gold in 1349. Inside this bust is the skull of Charlemagne. He wears the crown of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor of the Premyslids dynasty. He lived in Prague. The famous Charles Bridge was built under him.
In the main room of the Aachen Cathedral Treasury there are also two golden reliquaries, made in the form of chapels with three spires. They contain the shrines of the Christians: a piece of the pin and crown of thorns of Jesus Christ, the hair of John the Baptist, the relics of the Apostle John, the relics of St. Helena, the relics of St. Nicholas.
Nearby is a golden reliquary in the form of a hand, made in 1481. It contains part of the hand of Charlemagne. Next to it lays the Horn of Oliphant. This was the name of the horn of the knight Roland. The prototype of this knight existed in reality, but so many legends were later created about him that now the knight Roland is a more epic figure.
In the Ronselwald Gorge, he covered the withdrawal of the main forces of Charlemagne. Due to the treachery of another knight of Ganelon, he was left with only a small force when the Basques attacked. Roland died in an unequal battle, but was able to blow his horn Oliphant. Karl heard him and returned to the battle field, but Roland was already dead. Charlemagne avenged him.
At the entrance to the Aachen Cathedral Treasury, you can see the antique marble sarcophagus in which Charlemagne was buried in Aachen Cathedral. It is made of Carrara marble. The bas-relief on the sarcophagus depicts a scene from ancient myths, when the Hades god kidnapped the daughter of Zeus Persephone to become his wife. The sarcophagus looks very beautiful. Perhaps this can explain the reason why the Christian king was buried in a roman sarcophagus.
Other important exhibits include the Cross of King Lothair, grandson of King Charlemagne. It was made in 980 from oak and covered with gold and silver plates. The cross is decorated with 102 precious stones and 35 pearls. In the center there is the gemstone with engraved image of the Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus. This is quite atypical for a Christian cross.
Here is the crown of Margaret of York, who in 1486 married Duke Charles of Burgundy. In 1474, Margaret visited Aachen Cathedral and presented her crown as a gift. This is the only English royal crown that has survived to this day without reworks.
In the Aachen Cathedral Treasury are kept the Hunting knife of Charlemagne and thousands of other precious items, mainly intended for church services. The Aachen Cathedral Treasury also houses a large number of paintings created in Western Europe during the Middle Ages, including the large Aachen Altar (1481). There are also icons painted according to the Byzantine canons in the Middle Ages.
