Aachen - a walk through the old town

Aachen Sightseeing Tour

Are you planning a trip to Aachen? Then you should definitely plan a walking tour of the old town during your Aachen sightseeing! The Aachen old town is a true treasure that will inspire you with its history and charm. A tour of the Aachen sights is a perfect way to discover the highlights of this lively city. We experienced this on several visits to Aachen, the local tourism authority invited us to.

A walking tour of Aachen offers the opportunity to experience the city and its history up close. We recommend strolling through the old town and admiring the well-preserved architecture. There are many interesting details to discover along the way that give an insight into the past. Such a walking tour is ideal for exploring Aachen's charm and cultural diversity. The route takes you through historic streets and squares that bring Aachen's history to life.

 

 

For example, during the tour you will come across unique architecture that will take you back in time. The narrow streets as well as the picturesque squares give you the feeling of walking through a historical painting. Here you can feel the pulsating rhythm of the city. But it's not just about beautiful buildings and narrow streets. In Aachen Altstadt you will also find a wealth of cozy cafés, traditional restaurants and inviting shops. Here you can take a break in between, strengthen yourself and enjoy the local flair. A special highlight is the Aachen Cathedral, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its imposing architecture as well as its important history make it a must for every visitor.

City map for a city tour through Aachen

 

A walk through the old town of Aachen

Discover the old town while sightseeing in Aachen. Aachen is a city in Nordrhein-Westfalen, which invites you to take a tour of the Aachen sights in the old town. No matter whether you start your city stroll at the Elisenbrunnen or at the town hall, the center is always the cathedral. With its high tower, this can be seen from many locations and can serve well as a guide, because the city center is not very big.

 

 

How to best plan your Aachen old town tour

There are various guided tours that will bring you closer to the treasures of the Aachen old town. You can join a guided tour or explore on your own. No matter which option you choose, you will definitely be impressed.

Sights on a tour through the city center of Aachen

Aachen's old town is rich in sights that will take you back to the Middle Ages. The Aachen Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, is an absolute highlight. Here you can admire the impressive Coronation Church, where German kings were once crowned. Another highlight is the historic town hall, which impresses with its Renaissance-style facade. During your tour of the old town you will repeatedly come across traces of the kings. The town hall stands on the site of the former imperial palace and is a reminder of the time when Aachen was Charlemagne's favorite place. History was made here.

Also, don't miss the opportunity to stroll in the cozy streets of the old town and enjoy the historical atmosphere. Small cafés and shops invite you to linger and offer you the opportunity to experience Aachen's unique charm. A tour of Aachen's old town is definitely an experience that you shouldn't miss!

 

 

City tour of Aachen Old Town on your own

Our self-guided city tour of Aachen's old town offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the old town at your own pace. We recommend starting at the Elisenbrunnen fountain and letting yourself drift through the historic alleys from there. Along the way, you will discover interesting architecture and historic places that reflect Aachen's rich history. Such a tour allows you to experience the city and its atmosphere intensively on your own while exploring the hidden corners and well-known highlights.

We start our old town sightseeing at Elisenbrunnen

We begin our tour of Aachen at the Elisenbrunnen. This is located on the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz and is easily recognizable by the colonnades that surround it. Hot water, smelling of sulfur, flows from the mouth of golden lion heads and splashes into the pool below. It tastes slightly like salt, but is not very appetizing, especially because of the penetrating smell of sulfur. Apparently, the water owes it the glory of having healing powers. What is healthy usually does not taste good.

 

 

We look at the blackboard on the edge of the fountain area in the old town of Aachen. On the list are some of the illustrious guests who have already taken advantage of the healing powers of the thermal water of Aachen. Among them is none other than Empress Josephine, the wife of Napoleon, who hoped to be able to do something against her childlessness with the help of Aachen thermal water. Apparently she liked it, followed by a whole series of queens, princesses, field marshals, archdukes and princes, who also sought healing for their complaints here.

 

 

Aachen old town sightseeing from Elisengarten to the cathedral

We begin our tour through the old town of Aachen. For this we leave the Elisenbrunnen through a passageway in the rear wall of the Kollonaden and stand in the middle of the Elisengarten, a park in which the people of Aachen feel good. Young people can not be stopped by the spring temperatures and look for a sunny spot on the lawn. The older visitors make themselves comfortable on the benches and watch the hustle and bustle in front of them. On our way towards the cathedral, we catch a glimpse into the past of Aachen. Most of the excavated wall remains date back to Roman times, when there was a Roman inn here.

A stone proves that the old town of Aachen was already inhabited more than 6000 years ago. However, the period between the end of the Roman period and the beginning of the Carolingian era in Aachen is more puzzling. There is no evidence of human settlement in the urban region. "Our city archaeologist is already turning grey because he cannot find any evidence of what happened in Aachen during this time," laughs Sabine Mathieu, the city guide who shows us her city.

 

 

A fountain in which money plays a role in Aachen's old town

We pass a fountain with an interesting ensemble of various statues: a well-built woman clutches a money bag with her arm and fends off a man who greedily reaches for it. Behind it another person standing behind him is already waiting for the money, while on the other side of the fountain someone is desperately begging for a few coins. “The Sparkasse commissioned the fountain with the note that money transactions should be shown here,” explains Mathieu.

The artist was probably not particularly friendly to the banks, if you look at his greedy figures. “Only the other two statues show that money is not everything,” says Mathieu. “It is a father who is handing pocket money to his daughter. However, the girl ignores the money and prefers to look at her father. ”The clients of the Sparkasse in Aachen's old town take it with humor. A model of it is even on the boardroom table in the executive office. Passers-by obviously like it too, because whenever we walk past it, we find many of them at this fountain.

Past the inviting sausage kitchen of Hanswurst, which we introduce you to in a separate post, we reach the cathedral.

The cathedral - Aachen old town with art and history

The Aachen Cathedral is absolutely breathtaking. It is part of the palace of Charlemagne, who chose Aachen as the capital of his empire in 800 AD. In 1978, the Aachen Cathedral was the first German building to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The oldest part has been preserved to this day, with the exception of a few parts. Over the centuries, new chapels have been added around it. We are standing under the golden chandelier in the middle of the cathedral, where Charlemagne once stood. Wonderful mosaics decorate the arches of the side aisles that lead around the center of the cathedral. We are also impressed by the modern stained glass windows in the newest part of the cathedral, in the choir, which are the highest of their kind in Europe, as Ms. Mathieu explains. But see for yourself: our photos probably best show the beauty of the Aachen Cathedral in the center of Aachen's old town.

 

 

If you ask yourself what the wolf in the cathedral entrance means, there is a story from the time of construction of the church. Supposedly, the builder of the cathedral promised the devil the soul of the first visitor of the cathedral. But smart as he was, he first sent a wolf through the door, whose soul had to satisfy the devil. Visitors can still visit the cathedral unmolested by Beelzebub.

Through the Domhof we leave the cathedral region in the old town of Aachen and follow the John Paul II Street to the right, from which we turn into the Ritter-Chorus-Straße to the Katschhof.

 

 

The Aachen Charlemagne - the Palatinate and the city hall

At the Katschhof in the old town of Aachen, a large square opens up, from where we look again at the cathedral. Opposite is an equally impressive Gothic building, which today houses the town hall of Aachen. The current building was built in the 14th century, on the foundations of the palace of Charlemagne. From the 10th until the 16th century, the royal crowning ceremonies in Aachen were celebrated with lavish feasts at this place. The great coronation hall in the town hall still reminds of this time. It is said to extend over the entire length of the building.

 

 

We then follow Krämerstrasse towards the cathedral, but turn off towards Hof at the Puppet Fountain, which depicts characters from the story world around Aachen. This is where the culinary center of the old town of Aachen is located.

 

 

Open-air cafes

If you want to take a break from sightseeing in Aachen, you can stop off at one of the cafés and bars that are grouped around the square in Aachen's old town. In the Domkeller, it is even expressly stated that you are welcome to get a piece of cake from their neighbor and eat it with their house coffee. An interesting business concept. The guests certainly seem to like it, because even though it is still quite cool on this Monday in May, almost all the tables are occupied. There is definitely a nice atmosphere here.

However, we continue our sightseeing through Aachen's Old Town through the Rommelsgasse past other restaurants and cafes in the direction of the town hall and market.

 

 

The marketplace

At the corner of the town hall, I immediately notice a beautiful extension. It is the Restaurant Postwagen, where we have dinner later in the day. Regional cuisine is on the menu here. Petar chooses an “Öchener Schlachtplatte” with sausage, meatloaf, other sausages and sauerkraut. I try a Rhenish Sauerbraten with potato dumplings. The sauce is dressed with gingerbread spice. Hearty dishes that are very filling. Therefore, we skip a starter or dessert this evening.

 

 

That would have become too much after our afternoon coffee break to conclude our city tour through Aachen's Old Town in the Café Middelberg in Rethelstraße. There we enjoy a cherry hazelnut cake for coffee. However, it would have been more typical to taste the Kirsch rice cakes, which are an example of Belgian cuisine. Well, maybe we'll try it next time?

 

 

 

 

 

Frequently asked questions about a tour of Aachen's old town

How long does a tour of Aachen's old town take?

A typical tour of Aachen's old town usually takes around 1,5 to 2 hours. However, it depends on your individual pace and the places you want to visit.

Which sights should I visit on a tour of Aachen's old town?

On a tour of Aachen's old town, you should definitely visit the Aachen Cathedral, the town hall with the famous coronation hall and the historic buildings along the Katschhof. The market with its charming cafés and the Elisenbrunnen are also worth a visit.

Are there guided city tours through Aachen's old town?

Yes, there are opportunities to take part in guided city tours through Aachen's old town. The Aachen tourist office regularly offers guided tours where you can get interesting information about the history and architecture of the old town. Alternatively, you can explore the old town on your own and download an audio guide.

What is the best way to plan a tour of Aachen's old town?

In order to optimally plan your tour of Aachen's old town, I recommend that you get a map of the old town and pick out the most important sights you want to visit in advance. Also pay attention to the opening times of the individual attractions and plan enough time for breaks in cozy cafés or for shopping.

Are there any special highlights during a city tour of Aachen?

During a city tour of Aachen there are some special highlights that you should not miss. This includes, for example, watching the Aachen Printen production, where you can experience traditional Aachen gingerbread live. You can also visit the cathedral treasure, where valuable relics are kept.

Learn more:

• Aachen Tourist Service
• UNESCO
• German Museums Association
• Foundation for Monument Protection
• Charlemagne

Travel Arrangements:

Parking at the airport

Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.

How to reach us

Compare and book flights here*. (Advertisement) The nearest airport is definitely Maastricht-Aachen (approx. 40 km away). You can also rent a car there. From there you can then take the train or bus to Aachen. If you are arriving by car, you can also park your car in one of the parking garages near the old town of Aachen. Information about Public transport services here.

Car Rentals:

Cheap rental cars – book here!

Camper Rentals:

Compare motorhome prices here. Or do you prefer to travel with a Rooftentor Tent?

Accommodation in Mainz:

Hotels, apartments and other accommodation in Aachen *You can also book at this link. 

For example, we stayed at the

Art Hotel Aachen Superior *
At Branderhof 101
52066 Aachen

If you book via a link marked *, we receive a commission, which we use to run this blog.

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Other Slow Travel Tipsis also available here.

 

 

Do you know this?

• What can you do in Aachen?
• Gifts for travelers
• The Rhenish Imperial Dome
• Finance Holiday - Travel Blogger Tips
• Aachen Hotel Guide

 

Source: several research trips on site. We would like to thank NRW tourismand Aachen Tourist eVfor the invitation to this pleasure trip. However, our opinion remains, as always, our own.

Text Aachen Sightseeing: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos Aachen Sightseeing: © Copyright Monika Fuchs as well as TravelWorldOnline and Unsplash
Video Aachen Sightseeing: © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline

Updated on 22.11.2024