Aachen Things to Do Tips by sswagner

Puppenbrunnen

This the the famous "puppet" fountain of Aachen. There are figures all about this strange sculpture/fountain that have moveable parts. This is a lot of fun for kids and interesting to look at. Where else will anyone find a fountain quite like this?

Elisenbrunnen

Aachen has a history of being an important spa. There are thermal springs in this area, and it is possible today to sample the source. There are two fountains housed within this structure that contain the hot water. Although it is possible to give the water a taste, be warned that it does have the smell and taste of sulfur. Spa treatments are available in Aachen even to this day.

Rathaus

This impressive building makes up the heart of town and is found close to the Aachener Dom. It is set on the location of Charlemagne's former palace. A statue of the emporer marks the square. We came the day after Christmas, therefore the stalls from the Christmas market were still in place. The town hall (rathaus) is set in a very nice town square. All around this area are many historic and handsome buildings. There is very nice detail on the rathouse and the towers give it a nice touch.

Aachener Dom

If there is a "must see" in Aachen, it must be this. The cathedral is located in the heart of the old city. As the cathedral comes into view, you immediately have the feeling that this must be a place of significant importance. The ancient building seems to have changed over time as sections were added on to it. What one will see today is grand. I stared at the church for quite some time before going in. There is a dome in the center, and this is flanked by a tower on one side and a very large stained glass section on the other. When looking at this place, I figured that the Aachener Dom by itself would have been worth the visit here. This is the final resting place of Charlemagne. The interior of the church is equally fascinating with the windows, ceilings, crosses, shrines, caskets, and chapels. There was no admission charge, although some of the church was roped off. However, it was possible to see a good portion of the interior. The stain glass windows were amazing, and the fact that the thinning clouds were allowing more sunlight through helped out quite a bit. I did not visit the nearby cathedral treasury, but have heard that it is worth a look. It is also noteworthy that Aachener Dom is the first place in Germany to be listed in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites. This is an important and amazing cathedral.