Marienstift

Charlemagne's palace chapel was built at the end of the 8th century and dedicated to the Mother of God, Mary, with Corona and Leopardus as co-patrons. After his canonization in 1165, Charlemagne himself also became a patron. Charlemagne endowed the collegiate church with extensive landholdings and numerous relics, which made the Church of St. Mary a popular pilgrimage site. In the 12th century, 87 relics were recorded, with later lists mentioning even higher numbers. Louis of Hungary donated further relics to the collegiate church in 1367. The collegiate church was responsible for Charlemagne's religious services and the representation of his rule. Charlemagne's throne was located here, which thirty of his successors ascended during their coronations until 1531. Charlemagne and his later successor Otto III, who founded the Coronation Collegiate Church in 1000, were buried in the church. In 1172, Frederick I referred to the collegiate church as the “seat and head of the empire.” Until 1794, the Aachen Imperial Regalia were kept here. From the 14th century onwards, the Church of St. Mary became a widely known pilgrimage church throughout Europe due to its numerous relics. Between 1355 and 1414, the collegiate church was expanded with a Gothic choir hall. The Collegiate Church of St. Mary maintained a hospital, a Latin school, and a Sunday school. It was also a center for instrumental and choral music. In addition to its function as a coronation church, the collegiate church also served as the parish church for the imperial city of Aachen, retaining the baptismal monopoly until 1802.

The former Collegiate Church of St. Mary was located in the Aachen city region in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

The former collegiate church now forms the core of Aachen Cathedral and is a central component of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its historical significance as a coronation and pilgrimage church is still palpable today.

• Aachen Cathedral (sacred building, approx. 91 m away)
• Aachen City Fortification - Marienturm (city fortification, approx. 781 m away)
• Aachen City Fortification - Ponttor (city fortification, approx. 794 m away)
• Aachen City Fortification - Marschiertor (city fortification, approx. 836 m away)