Aachener Heiligtumsfahrt

A brief history

● The relics date back to the time of Charlemagne, in the years 799/800 the patriarch of Jerusalem brings relics from the "place of resurrection".

● First pilgrimage to the cloth relics in 1239.

● The oldest report of the Aachen pilgrimage dates back to 1312.

● In 1349 the seven-year-rhythm is constituted.

● During the middle ages the pilgrimage gets as important as those to Rome, Jerusalem or Santiago de Compostela.

● At the end of the 15th century, the city had 10.000 inhabitants, 142.000 pilgrims were counted at the city gates during one day.

● In times of political crisis the Aachen pilgrimage has always been of great importance. Outstanding is the pilgrimage of 1937 with nearly 1 Mio. pilgrims. She became history as the pilgrimage of "silent protest".