Being the oldest cathedral in Northern Europe, Aachen Cathedral has developed several architectural layers over the centuries, The view of the cathedral from the Katschhof public square highlights the contrast between the central Carolingian dome, originally built as Charlemagne's Palatine Chapel around 796 AD, and the soaring High Gothic choir hall on the left, completed in 1414. For centuries, this monument served as the coronation site for 31 German kings and queens.