Gregor von Kalabrien

As the first abbot of the Imperial Abbey of Burtscheid, Gregory of Calabria shaped the development of what would later become a spa town from 997 onwards. His origins in southern Italy brought knowledge of healing springs and monastic life to Aachen. In front of St. Michael's Church, a bronze statue commemorates the man who laid the foundation for Burtscheid's spiritual and cultural significance. Standing in front of the statue, you can sense something of the early connection between Mediterranean monastic tradition and Aachen's history, which still lends this place a special tranquillity today.