Aachen - previously called Aix-la-Chapelle - is the first German city to be presented by Braun and Hogenberg. Already in their time it was the subject of "a considerable quantity of high-quality maps and views". Aachen played a central role in the Holy Roman Empire. For this reason Braun places emphasis on the "Heiltumsfahrt" (pilgrimage to the sacred relics), the construction of the palace and the palatine chapel (ca. 800) and the sulphurous thermal springs, already appreciated by the Romans. The Old High German word Ahha (Acha) means water; the Romans called the site Aquae Grani, then Aquisgranum, after Grannus, the god of healing. Thirty-two kings were crowned in Aachen, the last of which was Ferdinand I in 1531. The illustration of Aachen offers a bird's eye view looking diagonally south. The artist manipulated the position of many buildings to show us their public facades, and the city hall and cathedral were rotated 90 degrees each. (Taschen)