When travelling to Aachen for the Christmas markets, try not to arrive too late at night. We made it to the square at the front of the Rathaus at 9 o'clock when everything was closing down.
The history of this small city is no doubt impressive. Founded in Roman times around the thermal springs, Aachen first came to international prominence as the seat of the Carolingian Empire. From here, the Emperor Charlemagne controlled a vast empire stretching from the North Sea to central Italy. Even after the break up of this empire Aachen retained its importance as the place of coronation of German kings until 1531. The legacy of Charlemagne remains strong here, the Rathaus lies on the site of his palace and the octagon of the visually stunning cathedral (or dom) was 1200 years ago his personal chapel. Visitors can follow the 'Charlemagne Route' around sites of relevance using
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