Aachen was an imperial residence long before nation states even existed. This history of more than 1,200 years is still tangible everywhere today – in museums, at RWTH Aachen University, in legends passed down from generation to generation, and in a cultural scene that reaches far beyond the past.
History & Culture in Aachen
In the Footsteps of History
The Route Charlemagne
Eight stations connect the Route Charlemagne across the old town – including the Centre Charlemagne, the Grashaus and the International Newspaper Museum. Each station has its own guiding theme, from power over Europe to the media.
Museums and Art
The Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum displays art from three millennia, while the Ludwig Forum presents international contemporary art in a former Bauhaus factory. At the Couven Museum, visitors can experience bourgeois life of the 18th and 19th centuries up close.
Aachen, City of Science
RWTH Aachen University shapes the city with over 44,000 students and international research. Its modern service centre, the Super C, is also a station on the Route Charlemagne dedicated to the theme of science.
Myths, Legends and Traditions
Aachen’s legends tell of the devil’s pact during the construction of the cathedral and the creation of the Lousberg. During the “fifth season” the city comes alive with Öcher Fastelovvend (Aachen Carnival) – and once a year the International Charlemagne Prize is awarded in the Town Hall, Europe’s most important distinction for European unification.
