Barbarossa chandelier, Medieval wheel chandelier in Aachen Cathedral, Germany
The gilt copper chandelier measures four meters in diameter and hangs from an octagonal cupola through a 27-meter chain above the ground.
Emperor Frederick I and his wife Beatrice commissioned this illumination piece between 1165 and 1170 as a tribute to Charlemagne and the Virgin Mary.
The chandelier incorporates sixteen towers and forty-eight candle holders, with base panels depicting scenes from the Life of Jesus and the Beatitudes.
Modern visitors can observe the chandelier during regular cathedral opening hours, with special illumination occurring during religious ceremonies and celebrations.
This chandelier represents one of only four remaining Romanesque wheel chandeliers in Germany, featuring an unusual eight-segment design matching the chapel structure.
Location: Aachen
Inception: 1170
GPS coordinates: 50.77475,6.08391
Latest update: March 5, 2025 11:24
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