"Aachen/Aken/Aix-la-Chapelle/Aquisgrán/Aquisgrana" Aachen by TinyTuck

Aachen Travel Guide: 502 reviews and 1,205 photos

(That´s what my city is called in German/English - Dutch - French - Spanish -Italian)

I´ve been spending a total of 4 years of my life here now, studying at the RWTH (University of Technology). I like it here, but I feel that it's about time for me to move on...

Aachen - in the heart of Europe

About Aachen
Aachen is a medieval city of 250,000 inhabitants. It has got a rich history for being the city of Charlemagne and he, as well as several other German kings, was crowned emperor here. On the other hand, being situated right at the border to Holland and Belgium in the heart of Europe it is a very "European" city.
The annual "Karlspreis" (price of Charlemagne) is a European price for outstanding achievements concerning Eurpean peace. In 2000 it was given to Bill Clinton (I shook his hand, yeah!), this year to the Euro (?).
Every year there is the world´s biggest horseriding tournament, called CHIO.
And last but not leat Aachen has got the biggest clinical center of Europe, that´s where I study!

Market square

History of Aachen
The city´s origin lies in 200 A.D. when the Celts were the frist ones to mentionably settle around the hot springs (Aachen hosts the hottest springs north of the Alps) in the valley. This settlement was called "Aquas Grani" (=waters of Granus, Granus being the Celtic God of water and health).
Later the Romans came and constructed a huge military bath to cure their soldiers.
The next ones to settle here were the Franks. Charlemagne (742-814), King of the Francs, made Aachen his residence and center of his empire, building a palace, cathedrale, a kings´ bath, an abbey, and a surrounding Frank village. He was crowned in 800 in his cathedrale, and also burried there.
Then Aachen was the place for all German kings to be crowned for the next 600 years.
In 972 Barbarossa gave "Ahhe" (as it was then called) town charter and had a city wall build.
In the Middle Age Aachen became an important place of pilgramage (due to Charlemagne´s canonization) and a rising cloth industry and other artisans and commerce brought great wealth to the city.
In 1656 a big fire destroyed 80% of the houses, but the city was quickly reconstructed and then became a gem of baroque style.
Peace congresses were held to announce peace between France and Spain in 1668, and again in 1748 to end the Austrian wars.
In the 18th and 19th century Aachen with its hot springs again became an elegant bath of the kings and city of the high society.
In the French Revolution Aachen got occupied by Napoleon´s troups in 1794, became French and diocesan town.
In 1815 Aachen became part of Prussia, Germany, gained again importance as a spa and industrial center.
Then Aachen suffered set-backs in WW I and WW II.
Bombs destroyed 60% of the city. In 1944 Aachen was the first city to be occupied by the Allies (Americans). After 1945 Aachen was rebuild and the important cultural monuments were reconstructed.
Now Aachen is an important spa, industrial and university city.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Lively city with young people and many bars, international flair
Cons:Too much rain, empty streets during semester break, and at the moment I consider it way too small!
In a nutshell:Nice little historical students' city in the heart of Europe!

Intro Updated Jan 22, 2003
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Reviews (35)

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Comments (93)

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Maurizioago Dec 31, 2009 at 2:25 AM

Nice page. Ciao!
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MacedonianUK Nov 4, 2008 at 8:05 AM

HI,Stephanie, few of us are getting together on the 6th December, for drinks in Aachen,join us if you have time. Check the VT meeting pages. Valentina
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rmdw Jun 9, 2008 at 9:26 PM

I almost ended up studying in Aachen (I'm a mining engineer originally) but never did. Looks like a nice place though!
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BillNJ Mar 18, 2008 at 4:11 AM

Great page! Thanks for sharing so many great tips. They will be very useful when I visit Aachen later this year.
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PALLINA Nov 2, 2007 at 4:49 AM

Very nice page about Aachen, one of my fauvorite German towns...Where are you planning to move? Aachen ist wunderschoen...vielleicht ein wenig zu ruhig. Du hast Recht! Bis bald!
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umashanker May 19, 2007 at 2:24 AM

Very intersting details & pics of Aachen.Thanks for sharing..
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sihi Mar 16, 2007 at 8:20 AM

Beautiful page about Aachen!! I liked tips and pictures. City looks interesting. Greetz
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globetrekker_airen Oct 29, 2006 at 5:47 AM

hi :) just want to ask if u can give us details on how to go to this 3-border site and to eifel also.we'll be coming from belgium and planning to go to aachen next wk ;) tnx so much :)
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aufgrausener Dec 21, 2005 at 12:48 AM

Tnx for picstures Stefanie. Is the Goldener Schwan still there? And the Postwagen Stube. I was in Aachen for a year in 1977, the year you were born. I enjoyed your picture tour.
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Mikebond Jun 5, 2005 at 3:24 AM

Hallo Stefanie! Aachen ist wirklich sehr schön! Es hat mich sehr gefreut, dass du auch den italienischen Namen Aquisgrana geschrieben hast! Liebe Grüße aus Italia!