Summary
Aachen was selected by Charlemagne as his imperial residence at the onset of the 9th century. As the inaugural Holy Roman Emperor, his vision was to transform the city into a new Rome. For approximately 600 years, every Holy Roman Emperor was crowned in this city. Today, five centuries after the last coronation, Aachen still shines with the vestiges of those ceremonies.
The Cathedral houses magnificent golden shrines, including the reliquary containing Charlemagne’s remains, and the cathedral treasury is a breathtaking repository of Medieval treasures. Currently, Aachen’s tourist board has established a “Route Charlemagne” to guide visitors through key sites associated with its former ruler, such as the City Hall, the location of his palace, and the venue for the Imperial coronation feast.
Let us delve into the top attractions to explore in Aachen:
1. Aachen Cathedral
Commissioned by Charlemagne as a Palatine chapel at the end of the 8th century, this landmark served as his burial site in 805. From 936 to 1531, the cathedral hosted the coronation of numerous Holy Roman kings.
Charlemagne’s throne, a modest staircase leading to a plain seat, dates back to 796 and was utilized for every coronation held at the cathedral.
Nearby stands the Karlschrein, a golden reliquary crafted in 1215 that contains Charlemagne’s exhumed bones.
This is merely one illustration of medieval goldsmithing, alongside the Marienschrein, the Barbarossa chandelier, the Ambon of Henry II (pulpit), and the radiant altarpiece Pala d’Oro, which dates to 1020. The cathedral was the first site in Germany to receive UNESCO World Heritage status, recognized for both its architectural grandeur and significant historical events spanning centuries.
2. Cathedral Treasury
As a component of the UNESCO site, the treasury preserves one of Europe’s most esteemed collections of Medieval liturgical art.
Located within a building adjoining the cathedral cloisters, the artifacts range from Late Antiquity to the Gothic period, spanning nearly a millennium.
It is astonishing that this collection of reliquaries, crosses, holy water vessels, codices, and a golden bust of Charlemagne has endured for so long.
Included is an olifant (an ivory hunting horn) once believed to belong to Charlemagne, though it actually dates to the 1000s, along with his hunting knife, dated to the 700s.
This collection captivated the Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer upon his visit 500 years ago.
In the basement resides the textile collection, featuring the ceremonial coronation cloak.
3. Rathaus
It is humbling to consider that by visiting Aachen’s city hall, one follows in the footsteps of Charlemagne, whose imperial palace once stood at this location.
More remains than one might expect, as the Granus Tower survived the palace’s demolition in the 13th century, with its lower four stories intact.
The city hall was completed in 1350 and stands as one of the great secular edifices from the Gothic era.
A part of Charlemagne’s palace legacy, Aachen was mandated to include a coronation hall for the Holy Roman Empire kings where the ceremonial feast was celebrated.
A total of 31 coronations were conducted in this building, and an exhibition displays replicas of the Imperial Regalia produced in 1915.
4. Markt
At the summit of the city, all thoroughfares leading to the square in front of Aachen’s City Hall navigate a steep incline.
During favorable weather, Markt is bustling with visitors enjoying the Karlsbrunnen fountain or seated at café terraces.
Market days occur on Tuesday and Thursday, featuring stalls that showcase produce and freshly prepared delicacies between 07:00 and 14:00. Although the City Hall attracts significant attention, several noteworthy listed buildings adorn the square.
At Marktplatz 43, one can find Haus Brüssel, designed by Aachen’s renowned 18th-century architect Jakob Couven.
Looming at 41 is the Gothic Haus Löwenstein, dating back to 1344 and notable as one of the few structures to survive the Aachen fire of 1656.
5. Centre Charlemagne
The museum for Aachen reopened in a contemporary glass structure in 2014, detailing various periods in the city’s history.
Visitors begin with the earliest Celtic settlements before learning about Aachen’s establishment as a spa destination under Roman influence.
A significant focus is placed on the Carolingian era and the pivotal role played by Charlemagne in making Aachen the site of Imperial coronations.
These events are recounted in depth, leading to discussions on the religious turmoil during the Reformation in the 16th century, which marked the decline of Imperial prominence.
Subsequently, the itinerary covers the city’s resurgence as an 18th-century spa hotspot and its transformation into an industrial hub in the 19th century.
Regular temporary exhibitions cover a wide range of topics, from automobile manufacturing to discoveries from the city’s numerous archaeological digs.
6. Three-Country Point
Located just southwest of Aachen is the junction of the borders between Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
The borders converge at the peak of Vaalserberg, a 320-meter hill, which also represents the highest point on mainland Netherlands.
This location is marked by a simple waist-high obelisk, allowing visitors to engage in the playful tradition of linking hands across the borders.
On the Belgian side, the Tour Badouin rises to 50 meters, equipped with a transparent lift providing access to a viewing platform.
Another monument, the Wilhelmina Tower, is located on the Dutch side, featuring a “skywalk” with reinforced glass beneath visitors’ feet.
This area also includes a small amusement park, several snack bars, and a hedge maze that takes approximately 45 minutes to navigate.
7. Couven Museum
Situated within an elegant 17th-century townhouse, the museum showcases 34 rooms that reflect bourgeois life in the 1700s and 1800s.
This attraction is named after Rococo architect Johann Joseph Couven and his son Jakob, who designed numerous Burgher houses throughout Aachen.
The townhouse’s interior exhibits the various furnishing styles that rose to prominence during this 200-year span, including Louis XVI, Napoleonic Empire Style, and the exquisite wood carving characteristic of the Aachen-Lütticher style. The house hosted a pharmacy from 1663 to 1878, now displayed in Room Five along with albarello and majolica vessels from the 1600s to 1800s in 18th-century wooden displays.
8. Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum
The Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum was established from the art collection donated by banker and art aficionado Barthold Suermondt in the 1880s.
Since its inception, the museum’s collection of paintings and sculptures, spanning from the 12th century to the 20th century, has consistently expanded.
Among its notable older works are pieces by Renaissance sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider, complemented by paintings from that era by artists such as Lucas Cranach the Elder, Aelbrecht Bouts, and Joos van Cleve.
Later works feature creations by Francisco de Zurbarán, Jacob Jordaens, Anthony van Dyck, and Frans Hals.
The contemporary section showcases works from modern artists like August Macke, Otto Dix, and Alexej von Jawlensky.
Additionally, the museum boasts a distinguished print room featuring extraordinary pieces from prominent artists including Goya, Rembrandt, and Albrecht Dürer.
9. Elisenbrunnen
Aachen’s revival as a spa destination is epitomized by this Classicist pavilion and colonnade built in 1827. The monument is named in honor of Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria, the future spouse of Frederick William IV of Prussia.
A bust of her can be viewed within the rotunda of Elisenbrunnen.
The thermal water emanating from two fountains inside, known as Kaiserquelle, reaches a temperature of 52°C and emits a distinct scent of hydrogen sulfide before you arrive near it.
This has not deterred distinguished visitors, with names such as George Frideric Handel and Giacomo Casanova recorded on marble plaques.
10. Ponttor
Constructed in 1320, Ponttor is one of the last remaining relics of Aachen’s city walls, and one of only two gates still standing.
The fortifications were dismantled during Napoleon’s occupation at the dawn of the 19th century.
This structure comprises an outer barbican, a gatehouse featuring a portcullis, and a bridge passage over the moat fortified by crenellations. It faced threats of demolition in the late 1800s but was ultimately preserved and restored.
For those intrigued by Medieval architecture, exploring this sandstone gate will reveal intricate details such as the ogival arch and the shrine of Mary positioned just behind the portcullis.
11. Karlsbrunnen
Another prominent feature in Markt is the fountain topped by a statue of Charlemagne.
This sculpture, cast in the Belgian city of Dinant in 1620, was confiscated by French forces when they occupied Aachen in the 1890s but was returned to the city after negotiations led by its mayor.
The current statue is a replica, while the original resides in the Coronation Hall of City Hall.
The fountain received ornamental enhancements in the 1730s, when Johann Joseph Couven designed its limestone basin and added two bronze fish.
12. Aachener Tierpark Euregiozoo
Situated southeast of the city center is Aachen’s zoo, which hosts approximately 1000 animals from 200 different species.
While the zoo may not be extensive, it is well-organized, offering ample space for its residents and maintaining an economical admission fee of €6 for adults and €3 for children.
The park primarily focuses on native German species, yet it also features exotic animals such as cheetahs, ankole-watusi cattle, Asian camels, zebras, antelopes, various monkey species, and African ostriches.
A notice at the entrance details the various feeding times throughout the day, and special guided tours are available in the mornings if planned in advance.
13. Grashaus
The final destination along the Route Charlemagne is located at Fischmarkt, just moments from the cathedral.
Featuring a solemn Gothic facade, Grashaus (built in 1267) stands as one of the oldest secular buildings in the city, initially constructed as Aachen’s first City Hall.
This development emerged following demands from Aachen’s affluent citizens for greater representation in the city’s administration.
The Carolingian connection is evident in the structure’s lower walls, which are believed to date back to the 8th or 9th century.
After being succeeded by the City Hall in the 14th century, Grashaus transformed into a dungeon and a courthouse for severe offenses.
Today, Grashaus operates as an extracurricular learning center for young people, with guided tours available.
14. Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst
Located on the eastern outskirts of Aachen is a contemporary art museum housed within a former umbrella factory.
The building itself is a significant attraction, showcasing a Bauhaus design from 1928. The museum’s collection spans from the 1960s to the present, including works by Roy Lichtenstein, Nam June Paik, Wolf Vostell, Joseph Beuys, Duane Hanson, and Jörg Immendorff.
With a total of 3,000 pieces, the collection also features Soviet and Chinese artworks by Ilya Kabakov and Ai Weiwei.
Additionally, the museum frequently hosts temporary exhibitions; recent themes have included the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and American artist Nancy Graves, with a focused show on Cuban art extending until 2018.
15. Elisabethhalle
A lesser-known gem for many tourists is this captivating urban swimming pool, one of Germany’s remaining Art Nouveau bathhouses.
Elisabethhalle first opened its doors in 1911 and continues to operate as a public pool today.
Visitors can enjoy a blend of culture and exercise, easily distracted by the marble panels, cast-iron railings, and high ceilings.
There are two pools; initially, the larger pool catered to men and features a magnificent Neptune fountain, while the smaller pool depicts Roman bathers, both crafted by local sculptor Carl Burger.
This historical building maintains original fittings, including the wooden furniture found in the ticket office.
