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Aachen – lovable, liveable and worth experiencing Your contact: tourist service e.v. Christina Crolla Aachen is the most beautiful city in the world. International flair, winding Krefelder Straße 123 52070 Aachen alleys and beautiful squares belong to the reasons why guests are again Tel.: +49 241 18029-41 and again enchanted. Approximately 250,000 people, among them more Fax: +49 241 18029-30 [email protected] than 50,000 students from all over the world, are living in the most west- ern metropolis of in the border triangle Germany-- .

Aachen once got famous for its water, which is heated to 74°C by volcanoes and which is the hottest water onshore north of the Alps. Al- ready the Celts and Romans used the mineral-thermal springs to cure their sufferings and settled in “AquaeGrani“, which was named after a Celtic god of healing.

Eventually it was Charlemagne who made Aachen his residence be- cause of its beneficial springs and who had his imperial palace built in the city. The heart of the imperial palace, Charlemagne’s St. Mary’s church (today’s cathedral) in our time belongs to the most important sights in Germany. In 1978 Aachen Cathedral was entered in the list of the UNESCO-World Heritage as the first German building. Besides the four Aachen sanctuaries, which during the Aachen Pilgrimage are shown to pilgrims from all over the world every seven years, the cathedral treasury accommodates the most precious treasure north of the Alps.

A further element of the Carolingian imperial palace was Kings’s Hall on the foundation of which today’s town hall has been built. On the occasion of the coronations of 30 Roman-German kings (936 – 1531) opulent banquets were held in this place. Until today significant events, like the award of the International Charlemagne Prize, give the coronation hall of the Aachen town hall European importance.

Bubbling fountains and numerous monuments provide for a vivid image in the more than 2,000 years old city centre. The probably most famous

building is the Elisa Fountain (Elisenbrunnen) from the 19th century with its drinking fountains, from which the sulphurous mineral-thermal water of the spring “Kaiserquelle” is still flowing today.

Your contact: aachen tourist service e.v. In front of the historic setting of the old town shopping is a special enjoy- Christina Crolla Krefelder Straße 123 ment. “Everything is in here” is the motto of the new campaign. From 52070 Aachen small, individual shops around cathedral and town hall over branches of Tel.: +49 241 18029-41 Fax: +49 241 18029-30 famous sales chains in the pedestrian zone to the gigantic shopping cen- [email protected] tre Aquis Plaza, which opened in October 2015, Aachen makes the hearts of all shopping fans beat faster.

An absolute must for all guests of the imperial city is a visit in some of the many cafés and bakeries in the city. All over the year the Aachen special- ity, the Printe (kind of spicy gingerbread), is offered in many variations – from the original herbs Printe to Printen covered with nuts or almonds or coated with chocolate or sugar icing.

Also from the cultural point of view the imperial city has a lot to offer. In one of the oldest residential houses of Aachen, today’s International Newspaper Museum, the worldwide unique collection of historic first, anniversary and closedown editions of international press are accommo- dated. On the Katschhof the Centre Charlemagne, Aachen’s New City Museum, brings the history of Charlemagne and the development of the city to life. In the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum those interested in select- ed ancient art are in the right place, whereas the Ludwig Forum for Inter- national Art exhibits modern art. A former pharmacy from the 18th centu- ry, today’s Couven-Museum, gives insights into bourgeois living culture after the city fire of 1656. The Theatre Aachen, the “Grenzlandtheater” as well as several other small playhouses provide for an ambitious cultural life.

Whether at large sports events e.g. the World Equestrian Festival (CHIO), open-air festivals e.g. the Kurpark Classix, the traditional Christ- mas Market or for no special reason: the most beautiful city in the world is always worth a visit!

You are looking for relevant pictures of Aachen? Via the following www.medien.aachen.de you will find our Media Database where you can choose between 900 pictures and download them directly. Please consider the terms of use.

Your contact: aachen tourist service e.v. Christina Crolla Krefelder Straße 123 52070 Aachen

Tel.: +49 241 18029-41 Fax: +49 241 18029-30 [email protected]