Palatine chapel red

Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne's landmark cathedral [sic; see note below] in Aachen was originally covered in bright red stucco plasterwork to make it look more Byzantine, architectural historians said Monday.

Traces of plaster mixed with brick dust were found by work crews restoring the 1200-year-old cathedral.

Read the rest here. Note that the article is a bit fuzzy on terminology; Charlemagne's Palatine chapel at Aachen is an octagonal structure, not a basilica, that has been incorporated into the later cathedral.

Posted by David on October 29, 2003 10:47 AM