It were the thermal water sources that brought Charlemagne / Carolus Magnus to Aachen / Aix-la-Chapelle. For a long time he led his great empire, which covered large parts of the European continent as a traveling king, because he had no fixed seat, but traveled with his retinue from palt to paltson. But even then, especially in winter he always found his way to Aachen / Aix-la-Chapelle, where he found warmth and relaxation in the thermal water sources; heated by the Eifel volcanoes. He was of great significance to Aachen and Europe.
Charlemagne's preference not only made Aachen the most important center of power in Europe, but also experienced its cultural flourishing evidence of which can still be found today. For example, the octagonal and sixteen-sided central building of the Maria church, which the catholic King had built at his palace is now part of the world-famous Aachen Cathedral.
In 1978 the imposing building, one of the best preserved monuments from the Carolingian period, together with the impressive cathedral treasures was the first German monument to be included on the Unesco World Heritage List.
And during Christmas 800, Charlemagne was crowned emperor in Rome.
Charlemagne is the mythical predecessor of Europe and paterfamilias of two nations: France and Germany.
In january 28, 814 the Maria church also became the tomb of Charlemagne.

In 1572: Aachen / Aix-la-Chapelle; the imperial city has grown considerably. The city’s basic outline is defined by two circular city walls, they are still be recognised on maps of Aachen today.
Between 900 and 1500, 30 kings and 12 queens were crowned at St Mary’s church in Aachen / Aix-la-Chapelle and as part of the coronation the kings and queens were to sit on Carolus Magnus / Charlemagne's throne.
The main reason why coronations were held at Aachen / Aix-la-Chapelle is the memory of Charlemagne, whose tomb and throne can be found at St Mary’s Church.

The great fire in 1656 was one of the biggest disasters in the history of the city. Nine tenth of all buildings were gone through the fire and medieval Aachen was completly destroyed. At the same time, the fire marked the beginning of the baroque spa city of Aachen.
During the 17th century, spa physician François Blondel from Liège / Lüttich began to practice in Aachen / Aix-la-Chapelle, marking the beginning of a golden age of spa culture. From all over Europe illustrious people came to Aachen / Aix-la-Chapelle seeking for relief of their ailments. The thermal water was used for showering and steam treatments, but patients would also drink the curative thermal water from a fountain.

In 1794, the Rhineland became French territory and in 1804 Napoleon paid a visit to Aachen and presented himself as Charlemagne’s successor in front of the throne at St Mary’s Church. “Je suis Charlemagne – I am Charlemagne”, said Napoleon.
During Napoleon occupied the Rhineland he demanded that detailed maps were to be made of his newly acquired possessions. The man chosen for the job was Jean Joseph Tranchot, a French army officer who was a distinguished cartographer.
To commemorate Jean Joseph Tranchot’s an obelisk was erected on the Lousberg hill in Aachen / Aix-la-Chapelle in 1807. After Napoleon’s abdication and subsequent exile to Elba in 1814, the French withdrew from the Rhineland.
On 2 April 1814, after French had withdrawn from the Rhineland, the obelisk was looted by Prussian soldiers from the valuables hidden in the foundation of the obelisk. Following this act, Major-general von Müffling immediately ordered to reconstruct faithfully the obelisk with the texts that had been inscribed. But the text about the greatness and tyranny of Napoleon was changed.
Today the monument stands as a memory for the cartographers and of their remarkable accomplishments.

Since 1950, the Charlemagne Prize for achievments to Europe has been awarded every year in the "Coronation Hall" of the Aachen / Aix-la-Chapelle town hall. It has transformed post-war Aachen / Aix-la-Chapelle into a European city of long-standing history.