Aachen

Eurostar trains between Ebbsfleet International and Aachen have average journey times of 4 hours, 21 minutes, with an indirect route via Lille, Brussels and Liege which gives travellers the chance to take in the scenery and landsapes of three different countries en route. The best time to book tickets is at Christmas time, as the city comes alive with traditional German Christmas markets and sights, making it very popular with both German and international visitors.

Aachen is in west Germany, in the Nordrhein-Westfalen region and close to the Belgo-German frontier (originally known as Aix-la-Chapelle). It has a variable climate, with icy winters and wet summers, and a population of over 260000. Aachen is important for many reasons: as a centre of industry (steel, iron, textiles, electronics, confectionery, glass, machinery, rubber and metal goods, furniture), as well as being a central point for rail and road transfers. It is also famous for its spas and hot mineral baths which have been used to treat ailments since the first century.

There is a technical university and other educational and cultural institutions. Aachen is largely a student/college town, but is full of historical importance, being occupied by the Romans in the 1st century AD, the capital of Charlemagne's empire and the first German city captured and held by Allied troops in World War II. The city was taken by the American First Army and was part of a system of defensive works called the West Wall. The German kings between the 9th and 16th centuries were all coroneted in the city cathedral.

The city centre is called the Kaiserplatz and is a pedestrian zone.

Points of Interest

Attractions

Switzerland Alps

Alpes Vaudoises Alpes Vaudoises is a beautiful tourist attraction with 74 lifts and 220km of downhill pistes, it has a 6 seater chair lift and takes 2000 people each hour.... Alpes Vaudoises, Switzerland Andermatt Andermatt has two mountains the highest being 2344m with a 4 seater chair lift and the other with a height of 1842m with a 2 seater chair lift. Andermatt has an excellent selection of accommodation with a total of 19 hotels, many of the hotels have fitness facility''s, with ice skating, curling and hiking.... Andermatt, Switzerland Arosa Arosa has skiing covering 70km of marked pistes served by 16 lifts. There is a Swiss Snow Walking Event in January designed as a keep fit regime.... Arosa, Switzerland Crans-Montana Crans-Montana is a sophisticated resort, located above the Rhone Valley. There are 160km of pistes and 50 runs covering the mountain slopes.... Crans-Montana, Switzerland Davos Davos has 307km of skiing with 62 lifts including 2 mountain railways, 10 cable cars, 8 chair lifts and 31 drag lifts.... Davos, Switzerland Engelberg Engelberg has a 12km long run, it is dominated by Mount Titlis at 3200m yet has been largely un-discovered by British enthusiasts.... Engelberg, Switzerland Fiesch (Aletsch) Fiesch has a cable car and chair lifts up towards Eisenlucke at 2722m. The Aletsch ski region with 100km of downhill slopes and served by 33 lifts.... Fiesch, Switzerland Flims-Laax Flims-Laax Flaera ski resort has 220km of well kept slopes to suit every skier, 70 percent of the slopes are freshly prepared each day. There are 91 restaurants and 3 clubs.... Flims-Laax, Switzerland Grindelwald Grindelwald has 44 lifts with links to Oberjoch and Mannlichen and ample snow throughout the season.... Grindelwald, Switzerland Gstaad Gstaad has 250km of ski runs in the region, the longest being 17km and snowboarders are catered for with big quarter-pipe, big table jump, freeriding... Gstaad, Switzerland 1 2 3 Next