Aachen’s historic Old Town recounts and brings together key chapters of the city’s history within a compact area. At its heart lies the trio of Aachen Cathedral, City Hall, and the Katschhof square in between. The cathedral, Germany’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, shapes the cityscape with its Carolingian octagon, Gothic choir hall, and rich interior decoration. Directly across from it stands the historic City Hall, built on the foundations of Charlemagne’s former royal hall; with its Granus Tower, Coronation Hall, and Gothic façade, it bears witness to the power that was once concentrated here. Between the two buildings lies the Katschhof, one of the Old Town’s most important squares. The City Museum Centre Charlemagne, also located right next door, recounts further chapters of history—from the early settlements and the Roman era, through Charlemagne and the Imperial Palace, to the Baroque spa town and today’s European city in the tri-border region of the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany.
Johannes Höhn, Tourismus NRW e.V., Aachen City Hall, with its striking towers and Gothic elements, surrounded by trees and people on the steps in front of it. Johannes Höhn, Tourismus NRW e.V. Johannes Höhn, Tourismus NRW e.V., A modern building with a glass facade next to an old stone building in Aachen's Old Town. Johannes Höhn, Tourismus NRW e.V., Historic buildings in Aachen's Old Town on a sunny day.
Important information at a glance
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