AACHEN

n.

French Aix-la-Chapelle

City (pop., 1995 est.: 247,000), western Germany, southwest of Cologne.

It was inhabited by Romans in the 1st century AD. A center of Carolingian culture, and the second city of Charlemagne 's empire, it was the site of his great palace. The cathedral built by Charlemagne 0441; 800 saw the coronation of most German kings of the 10th–16th century; his chapel, with his tomb, remains as part of the larger Gothic cathedral today. Aachen was part of France 1801–15. It is famous for its many spas.