Aachen, Cathedral city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Aachen is a city in western Germany that sits where the borders of three countries meet, spreading across low hills and valleys near the Eifel uplands. The old center wraps around the cathedral square, with newer neighborhoods climbing the slopes and green spaces separating residential areas from the forested edge.
Charlemagne made this settlement his main residence around 800, turning it into the political center of his empire and the coronation site for German kings until the 16th century. After the empire declined, the town reinvented itself as a spa, drawing visitors to thermal springs that Romans had already used centuries before.
Every seven years, the city hosts a pilgrimage tradition in which medieval relics are displayed to the public, drawing tens of thousands of visitors from across Europe. During this week, streets fill with processions and the cathedral becomes a focal point of religious life, preserving a custom that has continued for over six centuries.
The main train station sits on the southwestern edge of the old town and connects to several European cities through regular rail services. Most sights lie within walking distance of the center, while buses run to outlying neighborhoods and spa facilities throughout the day.
Local bakeries sell a type of gingerbread cookie called Printen throughout the year, not just at Christmas, often with a chocolate glaze. Each shop keeps its own spice blend, and some family recipes have been passed down for generations without being written down.
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