North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Historic Sites & Landmarks in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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Aachen Cathedral
Aachen, Germany
790
Commissioned by Charlemagne in 786, this is the oldest cathedral in Northern Europe. A graceful Gothic choir was added to the Carolingian core in the 15th century. Inside are several major relics and early medieval artworks.
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Cologne Cathedral
Cologne, Germany
Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the greatest Gothic cathedral in Germany and has been Cologne's most famous landmark for centuries. Once the tallest building in the world, it still has the largest facade anywhere.
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Aachen Cathedral Treasury
Aachen, Germany
Located a block from the cathedral, the Aachen Treasury is a must-see. It contains numerous golden medieval reliquaries and other important religious artworks.
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Externsteine
Horn-Bad Meinberg, Germany
A mysterious and magical place, Externsteine is a rock formation in a German forest. It was a pagan sacred site until Charlemagne outlawed paganism in 782, after which it was occupied by Christian hermits.