Aachen

Aachen is the 27th-largest city in Germany, with around 261,000 people living there. It is located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, right near the borders of Belgium and the Netherlands. Because it is the westernmost major city in Germany, it is close to many other places, such as Cologne and Bonn.

The city has a very old history. It began as a small Celtic settlement and later became an important place for the Romans, who built warm baths there because of the natural Aachen thermal springs. Aachen became a major city under Charlemagne, who ruled the Frankish Empire. Many important leaders were crowned there over the years.

Today, Aachen is known for its university, the RWTH Aachen University, which is one of the best technology schools in Germany. The city also has many factories and businesses focused on science and engineering. One special food from Aachen is Aachener Printen, a type of spicy gingerbread that people enjoy eating.

Etymology

The name Aachen comes from old words that mean "water" or "stream". People lived in this area thousands of years ago because of its warm mineral springs. In Roman times, the city was called Aquae granni, which means "waters of Grannus", a Celtic god of healing. Over time, the name changed in different languages. After Charlemagne built his palatine chapel there, the city became known as Aix-la-Chapelle to distinguish it from another place called Aix-en-Provence.

History

Further information: Timeline of Aachen

See also: Free Imperial City of Aachen

Early history

Flint quarries on the Lousberg, Schneeberg, and Königshügel, first used during Neolithic times (3000–2500 BC), show that people lived in Aachen a long time ago. Bronze Age (around 1600 BC) settlements are shown by burial mounds found on the Klausberg. During the Iron Age, the area was settled by Celtic peoples who were drawn to the marshy Aachen basin’s hot sulphur springs where they worshipped Grannus, a god of light and healing.

The Romans built a spa town called Aquae Granni around 124 AD, using the hot springs. They added baths, water pipelines, and a temple. Remnants of Roman buildings can still be seen today.

Middle Ages

Pepin the Short built a castle in Aachen, and Charlemagne spent many winters there. Aachen became an important center for his empire. Charlemagne was buried there after he died in 814.

Aachen was an important city during the Middle Ages. Many German kings were crowned there. The city also had a Jewish community and was a place where important church meetings happened.

16th–18th centuries

In the 16th century, Aachen started to lose its power. The city’s rulers changed many times, and there were wars nearby. Aachen became known for its hot springs and spas.

Important treaties were signed in Aachen, ending some wars. The city’s Jewish community faced difficult times, including being expelled and later allowed to return.

19th century

In 1801, Aachen became part of France, and later it joined the Kingdom of Prussia. The city began to grow with new railways and industries. Many people moved in, and the city expanded beyond its old walls.

20th century

Prewar Period

Aachen grew by including nearby areas in 1906.

World War I, Interwar Period, World War II

Aachen was involved in both World Wars. After World War I, it was occupied by Allied forces. During World War II, the city was heavily damaged by bombings and battles. It was the first German city captured by Allied forces in 1944.

Expulsion of Aachen Jews

The Jewish community in Aachen faced tough times. A synagogue was destroyed, and many Jews left or were arrested. By the end of the war, only a small number remained.

Postwar period

After World War II, Aachen became part of the new state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The city merged with several nearby areas in the 1970s.

21st century

Today, Aachen is known for its technology and education, especially because of the RWTH Aachen university. The city continues to grow and develop.

Geography

Aachen is found in the middle of the Meuse–Rhine Euroregion, close to where Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium meet. Nearby towns include Vaals in the Netherlands, just 6 km away, and Heerlen and Eupen about 20 km away. The city sits near the valley of the Wurm river and close to the High Fens and the Eifel uplands.

Aachen has a mild climate with lots of rain, thanks to its position near the sea and the surrounding hills. Winters are gentle, and summers are warm. The city sometimes faces smog because of the hills around it, but special areas help keep the air fresh.

Geology

The geology of Aachen is very varied. The oldest rocks around the city come from a very long time ago, during the Devonian period. These rocks include different types like sandstone, greywacke, claystone, and limestone. Later, during a time called the Pennsylvanian subperiod, these rocks were folded and narrowed.

During the Cretaceous period, the ocean reached up to the area near Aachen, leaving behind clay, sand, and chalk. This clay was important for making pottery in nearby Raeren. The hills around Aachen, like the Aachen Forest and the Lousberg, were formed from sand and chalk left by the ocean. More recent sediments were created by rivers and wind during later times.

Demographics

Aachen had 245,885 inhabitants as of December 31, 2015. Of these, 118,272 were female and 127,613 were male.

At the end of 2009, foreign-born residents made up 13.6 percent of the city's population. Many of these residents were students at the RWTH Aachen University.

Dialect

Aachen is located at the western end of the Benrath line, which separates High German to the south from the West Germanic languages to the north. The local dialect spoken there is called Öcher Platt and is part of the Ripuarian language group.

Boroughs

Aachen is divided into seven parts, called boroughs. Each borough has its own local leaders and groups of people who help make decisions. These boroughs are also split into smaller areas for counting and planning.

The boroughs of Aachen and their smaller areas are:

• Aachen-Mitte: 10 Markt, 13 Theater, 14 Lindenplatz, 15 St. Jakob, 16 Westpark, 17 Hanbruch, 18 Hörn, 21 Ponttor, 22 Hansemannplatz, 23 Soers, 24 Jülicher Straße, 25 Kalkofen, 31 Kaiserplatz, 32 Adalbertsteinweg, 33 Panneschopp, 34 Rothe Erde, 35 Trierer Straße, 36 Frankenberg, 37 Forst, 41 Beverau, 42 Burtscheid Kurgarten, 43 Burtscheid Abbey, 46 Burtscheid Steinebrück, 47 Marschiertor, 48 Hangeweiher
• Brand: 51 Brand
• Eilendorf: 52 Eilendorf
• Haaren: 53 Haaren (including Verlautenheide)
• Kornelimünster/Walheim: 61 Kornelimünster, 62 Oberforstbach, 63 Walheim
• Laurensberg: 64 Vaalserquartier, 65 Laurensberg
• Richterich: 88 Richterich

Aachen has many smaller neighbourhoods. Here they are, grouped by their borough:

• Aachen-Mitte: Beverau, Bildchen, Burtscheid, Forst, Frankenberg, Grüne Eiche, Hörn, Lintert, Pontviertel, Preuswald, Ronheide, Rosviertel, Rothe Erde, Stadtmitte, Steinebrück, West
• Brand: Brand, Eich, Freund, Hitfeld, Niederforstbach
• Eilendorf: Eilendorf, Nirm
• Haaren: Haaren, Hüls, Verlautenheide
• Kornelimünster/Walheim: Friesenrath, Hahn, Kitzenhaus, Kornelimünster, Krauthausen, Lichtenbusch, Nütheim, Oberforstbach, Sief, Schleckheim, Schmithof, Walheim
• Laurensberg: Gut Kullen, Kronenberg, Laurensberg, Lemiers, Melaten, Orsbach, Seffent, Soers, Steppenberg, Vaalserquartier, Vetschau
• Richterich: Horbach, Huf, Richterich

Aachen borders several nearby places. Going clockwise from the northwest, these are: Herzogenrath, Würselen, Eschweiler, Stolberg and Roetgen (all in the district of Aachen); Raeren, Kelmis and Plombières (in Liège Province in Belgium); and Vaals, Gulpen-Wittem, Simpelveld, Heerlen and Kerkrade (all in Limburg Province in the Netherlands).

Politics

The current mayor of Aachen is Michael Ziemons of the CDU, who was elected in 2025. The most recent mayoral election took place on 14 September 2025, with a second round of voting on 28 September.

The city council works together with the mayor to help make decisions for the city. The last city council election was also held on 14 September 2025.

Main sights

Cathedral

Aachen Cathedral was built by a famous leader named Charlemagne around the year 796. It was one of the biggest cathedrals north of the Alps at the time. The cathedral has many different styles because it was changed and added to over many years. Inside, you can see Charlemagne's throne and even his tomb. For a long time, many important German kings and queens were crowned here. Today, the cathedral is a special place protected by UNESCO.

Cathedral Treasury

The treasury near the cathedral holds special and valuable items used in church services. Some items might have been given by Charlemagne himself, while others came from faraway places like Jerusalem and Constantinople. Many important people added special gifts to the treasury over the years, like crosses, books, and pieces of cloth. Only a few of the oldest items are still in Aachen, but the treasury shows how people honored Charlemagne and the cathedral through the centuries.

Rathaus

Aachen's city hall was built in 1330 and lies between two main squares. On the first floor, you can find paintings showing stories from Charlemagne's life. The city hall also has copies of important royal crowns and jewels. Each year, a special prize named after Charlemagne is given out here. The city hall is also where the mayor works and where the city council meets.

Other sights

The Grashaus is one of the oldest buildings in Aachen and used to be the city hall. The Elisenbrunnen is a famous fountain with a beautiful hall built around it. Not far away stands a theater from the 1800s. Two old city gates, the Ponttor and Marschiertor, still remain, along with parts of the old city walls and some towers. St. Michael's Church shows a mix of styles and is now used for concerts. Aachen has many other interesting churches, old buildings, statues, and museums, including one with a nice collection of sculptures.

Economy

Aachen is an important place for making many different products. Factories there create electrical goods, special fabrics, tasty foods like chocolate, glass items, machines, rubber things, furniture, and metal products. They also make chemicals, plastics, beauty products, and tiny needles.

The city has been busy making electric cars and small vans. In 2010, two people started a small company to build electric vehicles. By 2014, this company, called StreetScooter, began selling electric vans to the city and a big delivery company. A few years later, another electric car company called e.GO Mobile began making passenger cars. These new ways of traveling show how Aachen keeps creating modern products.

Culture

Aachen has a rich history in making money and fun pastimes. In 1372, it became the first city in the world to put the year date on everyday coins. Later, in 1959, it opened Germany’s first music dance club called the Scotch Club.

The city is also known for a special sweet bread called Aachener Printen, which is different from gingerbread because it uses sugar syrup instead of honey. There is also a famous choir in Aachen called Kammerchor Carmina Mundi.

Education

Aachen is home to several important schools and universities. RWTH Aachen University, founded in 1870, is known for its strong programs in engineering, computer science, physics, and chemistry. It also has a very large hospital and a botanical garden.

Another school, FH Aachen, offers engineering education and welcomes students from around the world. There is also a special university for social work, nursing, and programs for mothers. Additionally, Cologne University of Music has a campus in Aachen, helping students learn performing arts.

Sports

Aachen is known for its exciting sports events. Every year, the city hosts the CHIO, a major equestrian competition that is very important in the horse world, similar to how Wimbledon is famous for tennis. Aachen also held the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games.

The city's football team, Alemannia Aachen, played in Germany's top league for a short time after moving up in 2006 but is now in a lower division. Their old stadium, Tivoli, opened in 1928 and had a special atmosphere. It was torn down in 2011, and the team now plays in a new stadium called New Tivoli.

Aachen's women's volleyball team, the Ladies in Black, has been competing in the top German league since 2008. In June 2022, the local basketball club BG Aachen e.V. moved up to the 1st regional league.

Transport

Aachen's main railway station, the Hauptbahnhof, opened in 1841 and was later moved closer to the city center. It connects to cities like Cologne, Mönchengladbach, and Liège, and also serves high-speed trains from Brussels and Paris. There are also smaller stations around the city for local trains.

The city has bus services that reach nearby towns in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In the past, Aachen had an extensive tram system, but it was replaced by buses in 1974. Today, buses cover a large network, helping people travel around the city and to neighboring countries. Aachen is also linked to the Autobahn network and has an airport, Maastricht Aachen Airport, which offers flights to some European destinations.

Charlemagne Prize

Main article: Charlemagne Prize

Each year, a group of people from Aachen gives a special prize called the Charlemagne Prize to someone who has done great work to bring European countries closer together. The prize is usually given on Ascension Day at the City Hall. In 2016, Pope Francis received this prize.

In 2000, the prize was given to US President Bill Clinton for his help in working with European countries, keeping peace, and supporting democracy. In 2004, Pope John Paul II was given a special one-time award for his efforts to unite Europe.

Literature

Aachen, known as Aix in old times, is the destination in Robert Browning's poem "How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix". This poem was published in Dramatic Romances and Lyrics in 1845. It tells a story from the point of view of one of three riders who rush through the night to bring important news that could help the city.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Aachen

Aachen has been home to many interesting and important people throughout history. Some of these individuals have made big contributions in areas like science, art, and politics. Learning about people from different places helps us understand how cities grow and change over time.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Aachen is twinned with several cities around the world, showing friendship and cooperation between them.

Former twin towns

• Kostroma, Russia (2005, suspended since March 2022)