Imperial Palace Ingelheim (Kaiserpfalz Ingelheim)

The entire Palatinate complex is embedded in a residential area, so that there are interesting views at many corners, but they are not always easy to recognize or find. It is best to start the tour at the market square, there is an audio guide in the visitor center.

"The Ingelheimer Kaiserpfalz was built at the end of the 8th century by Charlemagne as a palace complex. It served him and a total of 21 other medieval rulers as a place of government. In the Middle Ages, the empire was not ruled from a capital or permanent residence, but the rulers traveled permanently through the country.The Falzes were not only accommodation for them, but above all representative places in which to exercise their power.
The Ingelheim Palatinate took a special position. Karl's biographer Einhard described it as “the most splendid Palatinate next to Aachen and Nijmegen”. Its architecture, in which Charlemagne was inspired by ancient Roman villas and palaces, was unique. He thereby underlined that he saw himself in the tradition of the great Roman rulers.
The imperial palace Ingelheim was the scene of numerous imperial assemblies and synods with high secular and ecclesiastical representatives. There were trials, festive coronations, baptisms, weddings and abdications.
Under the Ottonians in the 10th and early 11th centuries, the Palatinate experienced its climax as a preferred place of residence and gathering. Never before or after did rulers reside here so often. During this time, the hall church was built in the course of extensive renovations, in which magnificent church festivals were celebrated.
In the 12th century, the appearance of the Palatinate changed considerably: The Staufers transformed the representative, open-plan building complex into a fortified castle-like complex. A defensive wall, defense towers and a moat filled with water were supposed to protect the Palatinate from attacks and thus secure the Hohenstaufen territorial policy. "(Source: kaiserpfalz-ingelheim.de/ueberblick_kaiserpfalz_im_mittelalter.php). The well-restored remains are worth seeing.

goes back to Charlemagne, served in the 9th to the 11th century as a place of government of the emperors and kings