North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Historic Sites & Landmarks in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.