Another look at Aachen

Paris Marathon Training: Week 16 of 18
Today’s target run: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Today’s completed run: 2 hours, 45 minutes

While the visitors from Texas were in town, we did take a second tour of Aachen, just a brief train ride away from Düsseldorf.. While the Budman and I had made the trip to Aachen before (for many reasons, which has included sightseeing, rug purchases of a local rug store that we found, and of course, for the printen (gingerbread)), we decided that it warranted another trip for our friends.

From an historical perspective, Aachen was once the ancient Imperial City of Aix-la-Chapelle, which connected the frontiers of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands and will be forever connected with Charlemagne. He selected this city as the center of his vast Frankish empire. Holy Roman Emperors were crowned here from 936 to 1531 AD, when Frankfurt then became the coronation city.

Aachen has enjoyed an even longer history as a spa town. The Romans established a military bath here in the 1st century AD, and by the end of the 17th centrury, Aachen was known as the spa of kings.

So, on this daytrip, we saw a bit of it all…..

Charlemagne’s chapel, the only part of his palace still left today…from a distance.



Joe and Jobeth outside the chapel entrance.



Other views of this amazing chapel.











Interior of Charlemagne's Chapel in Aachen. The chandelier was a gift from King Frederick Barbarosa upon his coronation.







Relics of the 3 Magi (yes, those Wise Men) that are housed in this reliquary in the Aachen church.



Aachen's Rathaus.



View of Aachen's Marktplatz from the terrace of the Rathaus.



The main hall inside Aachen's town hall where the Holy Roman Emperors were crowned for a period of time.



Several fountains in Aachen...its connection to the spa town exists even today.







Joe clowning a bit in one of the fountains.



Joe and JoBeth warm their hands in the mineral waters of Aachen.



Aachen's Atstadt and a view of the Rathaus.