Not far from the German/Belgian border lies the most western town in Germany and a site of historical importance which is an easy day trip from Frankfurt. During the Middle Ages, Charlemagne had a cathedral built here, modeled after the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. Aachen would become the seat of his political empire and the court. The town would later gain importance as for the next 500 years, all future kings of Germany would be crowned here before preceding to reign over the Holy Roman Empire.