Aachen has four stations- Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) is the largest, and operates international connections, including the Thalys and ICE-Trains high-speed train services that links Eurostar travellers with Brussels and Paris. Other services include: Regional Express, Regional Bahn and Inter City Express. Trains between Ebbsfleet and Aachen run around 10 times a week.
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
The Ludwig Art Forum
Cultural institution exhibiting collections of works by modern artists.
Aachen Cathedral
Built by Charlemagne originally as the palace church, finished in 1414. Highlights include the Cathedral Treasury, Charlemagne's marble throne, the Cross of Lorraine and the Bust of Charlemagne. Guided tours are available for a fee (standard admissions are free). Visitors are prohibited during services.
Couven Museum
The historical museum shows Aachen domestic interiors from 1740 to 1840 in an old burgher's house.
The Fishmarket
The Fischmarkt has is a shopping area with a fountain and old burghers’ houses.
Altes Kurhaus
The Old Kurhaus now houses mainly 20th century art exhibitions including the New Gallery and Ludwig Collection.
The Old Town Hall
This is Aachen’s earliest town hall with surviving medieval architecture which now houses the municipal archives, also called the "Grashaus" (1267).
Roman Baths
Used to cure (for example) skin complaints and rheumatism since the first century, the remains of the baths and temples are now at the site a Roman portico.
Suermondt Museum
The museum is near the Kaiserplatz showing German and Flemish paintings and sculpture from the 12th and 16th centuries.
Kurbezirk
The spa district of Aachen also has a municipal park and a conference and congress centre (Eurogress housed in the New Kurhaus).
Kornelimünster>
The Kornelimünster is in the suburbs of Aachen. It has an old monastery and the Stefanskirche, or St Stephen’s Church that dates from Carolingian times.
St Adalbert's Church
The Christian site is at the east end of the Kaiserplatz.
Attractions
Aachen Zoo in the Drimborner Wäldchen landscape reserve
The International Newspaper Museum in Aachen containing around 100,000 titles
Town Gate at the end of the Ludwigsalle
The Belvedere revolving tower restaurant
The Municipal Theater (Stadttheater)
Town centre
Pontstraße Student Quarter
Aachen Nightlife Restaurants, cafés and bars: Muckefuck, Domkeller, The Guinness House, Café Madrid, Last Exit, Besitos, Brauerei Goldener Swann, Sausalitos, Molkerei, Café Extrablatt, the Kaktus, Egmont, Kosters. Cinemas and theatres: 2,99 Kino (now the Apollo), The Theater. Casinos and nightclubs: Casino Aachen, Lennet Kahn, Raumfrisch, Himmel und Holle, MusikBunker, B-9.
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