Another of Aachen’s unique charms is the Elisenbrunnen, as Aachen was once a prosperous spa town.

Take a stroll through the striking pillared colonnade, that stands at the forefront of what would have been the grand Roman thermal baths.

Today you can still appreciate the warm flowing water of the hot spring from the fountains in the Elisenbrunnen.

Charlemagne (Charles the Great) visited Aachen on many occasions, and it subsequently became his residence.

Within Aachen, Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor had a palace built which was located near to the Roman baths.

Charlemagne also had St Mary’s Church constructed, which became the beautiful Aachen Cathedral.

So, the cathedral was a must for us to visit.

The original octagonal chapel that Charlemagne had constructed was built between 793 and 813. Charlemagne died in 814, and buried in the chapel.

In the 12th century his bones where exhumed and in 1215 his bones transferred to the Karlsschrein.

The shrine is incredibly ornate and detailed. On the front is a depiction of Charlemagne enthroned, with Pope Leo III by his side.

Aachen Cathedral was later extended in 1414 with the addition of the Gothic chancel, for the 600th anniversary of Charlemagne’s death.
 
It’s astounding as the Cathedral looks reasonably large from the outside; however, as you step through the 8th-century bronze Wolf's doors, it’s quite a surprise at how small and intimate it is.

The extent of the church soon disappeared from my mind, as I was truly taken aback, at how beautiful it was.

Charlemagne’s octagonal chapel is breath-taking,

I just couldn’t stop looking up at the stunning dome above our heads.

It just appeared to be floating above us, being entirely supported by the dome above.

The 48 candles encircling the chandelier are still lit during special services.

Heading up to the circular gallery and facing the choir is the throne of Charlemagne.

There is now some doubt that the stone throne from Jerusalem was actually used by Charlemagne. Researchers believe that it may be from the 12th century, although subsequent Kings have used it.

The Grashaus is one of the oldest buildings in Aachen and was built in 1260.

It was Aachen’s first town hall and later became a court and a dungeon.

The Cathedral Treasury houses many of Aachen’s precious possessions which have been gifted by Emperors and Kings over many years. Also, artefacts that have been collected by Charlemagne.

The Cathedral treasury can be visited by guided tour.

Aachen certainly has its fair share of fountains and statues. My favourite was the ‘Circle of Money’ located on the corner of Elisengarten.
 
Each character is depicting a tale of money, whether it’s a little girl receiving pocket money or a beggar pleading with a banker. All the while, the water is whirling in never-ending circles.

The Chicken Thief or ‘Hühnerdieb’ was another fountain that caught our eye.

Unfortunately, the original had to be melted down as a metal donation during WWII. Luckily the original plaster model was still able to be used, and another figure was cast in 1953.

Set in a peaceful location, the staff were accommodating and friendly. The hotel is slightly out of the city centre, which was ideal for us, as there were ample parking and only a 10 minutes bus journey into town.

There was a wide variety of food and drinks for breakfast, and all served in a very light and airy location.

The room was very comfortable, clean & peaceful.

The desk area was a reasonable size, allowing us to set-up our charging station, and work on the laptop without being too cramped.

In the Zum Goldenen Einhorn directly opposite the Rathaus, we tried the Aachen Sauerbraten, marinated pot roast. This version was served in a Prtinten sauce; we were maxing out on the gingerbread.

On one evening we headed to the oldest inn in Aachen “Am Knipp” , which dates from 1698.

Dining at the Am Knipp was a lovely experience, rich in tradition, everyone was so friendly, and we shared a table with a local family.

The food was delicious too, highly recommend dining here.

Aachen has left a delightful lasting memory with us, we have never visited Aachen Christmas markets; however, it is undoubtedly now on our Santa wish list.
 
I can just imagine the twinkling lights around the Rathaus, and the Aachen Dom would look magical.