Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Barberousse

The "Imperial Cathedral" was known as the "Royal Church of St. Mary at Aachen" during the Middle Ages. From 936 to 1531, the Aachen chapel was the church of coronation for 30 German kings and 12 queens. In 792 Charlemagne ("Charles the Great", "Karl der Grosse") began the construction of a palace here and part of the whole structure was this "Palatine Chapel". The center (and the oldest part) of the cathedral of today is this carolingian octogon, planned are realized by Odo of Metz, one of the first known architects, north of the Alps. Odo had seen obviously seen Byzantine churches. For sure he knew details of the Basilica of San Vitale of Ravenna, as San Vitale, that seems to be a model of this chapel. Pope Leo III consecrated the chappel in 805. The architecture of the octogon is a real hefty "power demonstration". In 805 this construction was probably near to a heavenly miracle. Standing west facing east. In the middle - the huge Barbarossa chandelier. Built 1165/1170 on order of Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, (aka "Barbarossa") and his wife Beatrix. in honor of Charlemagne and dedicated to St. Mary. The chandelier is 4,20 meters in diameters and 48 candles could be placed. It depicts the "New Jerusalem", but as it is octogonal, this Jerusalem has 16 towers nd gates instead of the more traditional 12. Even the chain, that holds it - is still the original one. The cathedral has a very nice website - in German: www.aachendom.de/ Wikipedia has one in English: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aachen_Cathedral and French: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath%C3%A9drale_d%27Aix-la-Chapelle

The town of Goslar on the northern slopes of the Harz mountains once was a center of political power in Europe. In 1009 the first imperial synod was held here under Henry II. In 1024 Conrad II celebrated Christmas in Goslar and in 1025 he ordered the construction of a new imperial palace ("Kaiserpfalz"). For Henry III Goslar was the centre of his empire, during 17 years he hold court in Goslar 18 times (and often for months). Henry IV was born in Goslar 1050. Henry V held six imperial diets here and for Frederick I (Barbarossa), Goslar was a preferred "Kaiserpfalz". So Goslar was in the center of european politics for about 250 years. So this is, what is left of the former cathedral in Goslar, the oldest and most important church in Goslar. Behind this building - is a parking lot. Here once was the Collegiate Church of "St. Simon and St. Jude", built between 1040 and 1050, in the district of the palace. Actually the parking lot has about the same dimensions "St. Simon and St. Jude" had. The already ruined church was demolished in 1819–1822, so only this porch of the north portal remains. When the church was consecrated in 1051 by Archbishop Hermann of Cologne, this was the largest Romanesque church east of the Rhine. The porch seen here was added to the church about 100 years later. The figures in the niches date back to 1230/1240. The trumeau of the porch has a delicately carved capital. It depicts winged dragons protruding out of the mouths of men. The sensation is a little higher. The sentence there reads "HARTMANNUS STATUAM FECIT BASIS /QUE FIGURAM/". It is a signature! "Hartmannus built this pillar and it´s base". So what Gislebertus means for Autun - Hartmannus means for Goslar.

The town of Goslar on the northern slopes of the Harz mountains once was a center of political power in Europe. In 1009 the first imperial synod was held here under Henry II. In 1024 Conrad II celebrated Christmas in Goslar and in 1025 he ordered the construction of a new imperial palace ("Kaiserpfalz"). For Henry III Goslar was the centre of his empire, during 17 years he hold court in Goslar 18 times (and often for months). Henry IV was born in Goslar 1050. Henry V held six imperial diets here and for Frederick I (Barbarossa), Goslar was a preferred "Kaiserpfalz". So Goslar was in the center of european politics for about 250 years. Goslar, being wealthy through mining, had 7 churches in the 12th century and the imperial palace, so some historians call it the "Rome of the North" - for that time. Mining on the nearby Rammelsberg was first mentioned in 968 by Widukind of Corvey and after more than 1000 years, the mines were closed in 1988. Meanwhile the mines in Rammelsberg are a world heritage site. The first mining boom took place around 1200 and at that time St. Cosmas and Damian was the church of the patrician families, connected to that industry. They financed the enlargement of the church and donated altars dedicated to the saints, connected to mining. The right arm of the transept houses the baroque baptismal font. Traces of old frescos can still be seen on the walls. They were out of fashion, when somebody had the idea, to create that three windows, that are not even centered. Maybe a fourth window was planned. Here is the website of the parish: www.marktkirche-goslar.de/

The town of Goslar on the northern slopes of the Harz mountains once was a center of political power in Europe. In 1009 the first imperial synod was held here under Henry II. In 1024 Conrad II celebrated Christmas in Goslar and in 1025 he ordered the construction of a new imperial palace ("Kaiserpfalz"). For Henry III Goslar was the centre of his empire, during 17 years he hold court in Goslar 18 times (and often for months). Henry IV was born in Goslar 1050. Henry V held six imperial diets here and for Frederick I (Barbarossa), Goslar was a preferred "Kaiserpfalz". So Goslar was in the center of european politics for about 250 years. Goslar, being wealthy through mining, had 7 churches in the 12th century and the imperial palace, so some historians call it the "Rome of the North" - for that time. Mining on the nearby Rammelsberg was first mentioned in 968 by Widukind of Corvey and after more than 1000 years, the mines were closed in 1988. Meanwhile the mines in Rammelsberg are a world heritage site. The first mining boom took place around 1200 and at that time St. Cosmas and Damian was the church of the patrician families, connected to that industry. They financed the enlargement of the church and donated altars dedicated to the saints, connected to mining. Standing in the romanesque nave, facing east to the gothic choir. Yes, next to the altar in the choir are - two christmans trees. Here is the website of the parish: www.marktkirche-goslar.de/

The town of Goslar on the northern slopes of the Harz mountains once was a center of political power in Europe. In 1009 the first imperial synod was held here under Henry II. In 1024 Conrad II celebrated Christmas in Goslar and in 1025 he ordered the construction of a new imperial palace ("Kaiserpfalz"). For Henry III Goslar was the centre of his empire, during 17 years he hold court in Goslar 18 times (and often for months). Henry IV was born in Goslar 1050. Henry V held six imperial diets here and for Frederick I (Barbarossa), Goslar was a preferred "Kaiserpfalz". So Goslar was in the center of european politics for about 250 years. Goslar, being wealthy through mining, had 7 churches in the 12th century and the imperial palace, so some historians call it the "Rome of the North" - for that time. Mining on the nearby Rammelsberg was first mentioned in 968 by Widukind of Corvey and after more than 1000 years, the mines were closed in 1988. Meanwhile the mines in Rammelsberg are a world heritage site. The first mining boom took place around 1200 and at that time St. Cosmas and Damian was the church of the patrician families, connected to that industry. They financed the enlargement of the church and donated altars dedicated to the saints, connected to mining. Here the impressing westwork of St. Cosmas and Damian. The northern (left) tower housed a little flat of the nightwatchman since the 16th century. This tower was used as a reference point during the early days of geodesy, The tower is exactly 718kms east of Greewich and 5253kms north of the equator.