Aachen: Cathedral, Museums and Bathing Culture
Accommodation in Aachen
Aachen offers several distinct ways to experience the city, from cathedral history to museums and bathing culture. At Aachen Cathedral, the burial of Charlemagne and the history of medieval coronations come together; the museums range from everyday life in the Rococo and Biedermeier periods to international contemporary art. The Carolus Thermen add a different dimension with modern architecture and a bathing culture dating back centuries. When planning your trip and choosing a holiday apartment, it is therefore worth first considering which of these perspectives you would like to shape your stay.
Aachen Cathedral, one of the city's defining historic landmarks.
Photo: kaʁstn Disk / Cat via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Cathedral history and sacred art
Charlemagne was buried in Aachen Cathedral in 814. During the Middle Ages, the cathedral was the site of the coronation of German emperors until 1531. These two facts mark distinct historical points of reference: Charlemagne’s burial and the cathedral’s former role as a coronation site. The Cathedral Treasury adds another perspective, with more than twelve centuries of sacred art that has shaped Aachen Cathedral since the time of Charlemagne. The historic site and the art associated with its long history thus stand alongside one another as distinct focal points for a visit. If you would like to focus your time on just a few topics, you can decide whether you are more interested in the cathedral’s history or in sacred art. Those who plan to explore both will experience two different perspectives on the cathedral during their stay.
Everyday life, contemporary art and city history in the museum
The Couven Museum brings to life the everyday world of Aachen’s upper-middle-class society from the Rococo to the Biedermeier period. Its focus therefore differs from the history of the cathedral: it offers a perspective on everyday life across two named periods. The Ludwig Forum presents international contemporary art in a former umbrella factory. Here, a theme in contemporary art meets the building’s former use as an umbrella factory. The Centre Charlemagne is Aachen’s new city museum; its exhibition is divided into four periods. These three institutions therefore offer different approaches: everyday life at the Couven Museum, international contemporary art at the Ludwig Forum, and an exhibition arranged into four periods at the Centre Charlemagne. If a trip brings together a range of cultural interests, these clearly distinct themes can help you choose, without every museum having to share the same focus.
Bathing culture and getting your bearings in the Old Town
The Carolus Thermen combine modern architecture with Aachen’s bathing culture, which dates back centuries. Architecture and bathing traditions are both in focus here, adding another perspective on the city to its historical and museum-related themes. Aachen Cathedral stands in the heart of the Old Town; it is about a 15-minute walk from the main train station. Elisenbrunnen is also in the heart of the Old Town and is easily accessible on foot and by bus. These details provide practical points of reference when choosing where to stay: when looking for a holiday apartment, you can consider whether the Old Town is important to your travel plans and whether you would like to take the route from the main train station to the cathedral into account. Walking and taking the bus are both listed as options for reaching Elisenbrunnen.
Discover more places
Other destinations to discover include Brand, Kornelimünster and Vetschau.
For the broader travel overview: Aachen.
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