The Charlemagne Center is the largest historical museum in Aachen. For a long time, the museum was located in the cramped halls of Frankenberg Castle. In 2014, the museum was opened in a new building. This allowed the collection to be placed in spacious halls. Many expositions have become interactive.
The Charlemagne Museum is located near Aachen Cathedral. It became part of the Charlemagne route, which combines the cathedral itself, the Treasury of Aachen and other attractions related to Charlemagne.
The museum describes in detail the history of the town since ancient times. In the 5th century BC, Celtic tribes lived in these places, and they already used mineral springs. It was easy to find them, as steam rose from the ground. Then Gaul was conquered by the Romans, they also appreciated the healing properties of mineral springs. Here was built the baths where Roman legionaries come for rest and treatment.
Most of the exhibition belongs to the age of Charlemagne, which is quite logical. At this time, Aachen was the capital of the vast Kingdom of the Franks, which occupied the territory of modern France, Germany and Italy. After the death of Charlemagne, Aachen lost its capital status, but for 595 years, from 936 to 1531, the coronation ceremony of the Holy Roman emperors was held in Aachen Cathedral. In 1531 the coronation site was moved to Frankfurt am Main.
Aachen became a balneological resort again only in the 18th century. Thermal complexes were created here and dozens of European monarchs and hundreds of famous people came here for balneological procedures. Aachen has become a fashionable destination for high society in Europe. Today, the main balneological complex of Aachen is the Carolus Thermen.
Part of the exposition of the Charlemagne Center is dedicated to the events of the 20th century, the rise to power of the Nazis. The photos show the destruction that occurred during the storming of Aachen by American army, as well as the subsequent restoration of the town.
