Pipe organs of Aachen Cathedral

The pipe organs of Aachen Cathedral are a collection of several instruments throughout the church space, including the Great Organ by Johannes Klais with thousands of pipes in varying sizes and materials. Each instrument has its own design and specific sound qualities used for different liturgical functions and musical performances.

The first documented organ in Aachen was installed in 812 under Emperor Charlemagne and established an unbroken musical tradition. Since then the instruments have been renewed and expanded multiple times, with each era leaving its own architectural and sound characteristics.

The organs play during religious services and ceremonies in the cathedral, filling the space with music and accompanying communal singing and prayer. Visitors hear these sounds as part of the living spiritual life that continues to take place within these walls.

Visiting allows you to see the instruments from different vantage points in the church space and understand their varying sizes and placement. For the best experience, visit during a service or concert when the organs are actually played.

The organs use the church space's particular acoustic properties intentionally and are positioned at different locations to project their sound optimally. This careful placement is the result of centuries of experience working with the building's spatial characteristics.