As the first abbot of the Imperial Abbey of Burtscheid, Gregory of Calabria shaped the development of what would later become a spa town, beginning in 997. 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 before the statue, you can sense something of the early connection between Mediterranean monastic tradition and Aachen’s history, which continues to lend this place a special sense of tranquility to this day.