In Aachen Charlemagne is celebrated with a Pontifical High Mass and a medieval market
Every year at the anniversary of the death of Charlemagne the city of Aachen hosts a “Karlsfest”. The festivities this year begin with the celebration of a Pontifical High Mass in the Cathedral of Aachen, the former chapel in the palace of Charlemagne. This is followed by a short reception as well as the general assembly of the “Karlsschützen-Gilde”. This will take place in the Coronation Hall in the Aachen City Hall.
At 11.30 the more popular part, the festival opens with a “colourful medieval” hustle and bustle organized by local medieval enactors like the Limburgher Ritterschaft. Another treat will be the traditional “Karlswurst” (aka a traditional German Sausage) served with spelt bread and a stew of herbs inspired by the Capitulare de Villis. This document dates to the end of the eighth century and survives in a manuscript of near contemporary date. It describes the management of royal estates, probably in Aquitaine in Western France. In it, nothing is said about “sausages”. glossaries. However, stuffing intestines with all sorts of chopped meat, offal and herbs is definitely a very old practice. It is also likely that Charlemagne did eat sausages occasionally, since the work of chopping meat by hand is labour-intensive. As such it was – at least later on in the middle ages – considered a delicatessen
During the day, the Aachen City Hall is opened between 10 – 17 and presents the opportunity to see a number of rooms, generally cut off from the public. The Aachen City Hall was built on the ruins of the palace of Charlemagne in in the early 14th century. This Gothic hall was later turned into a baroque building and finally decorated by neo-medievalists in the 19th century. In the Coronation Hall is kept a collection of copies of the Holy Roman Imperial Crown Jewels.
A grand opening of the new Charlemagne Centre, an exhibition centre focusing on Charlemagne in the past, present and future, was planned. However, the opening of this tourist venue, has been postponed until summer when the real treat of the festivities in Aachen will be served for medievalists – the grand exhibition, Charlemagne 814.
Karlsfest 2014
Aachen
26.01.2014
FEATURED IMAGE:
The emperor, Charles the Great, shares a Karlswurst with a traditional Biedemeier market-vendor and the leader of the association for butchers in Aachen at Karlsfest 2013.