Aachen Favorites

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Favorite thing: The historical city centre is too compact and its streets too narrow for tour buses. Of course it is perfectly walkable and the the local tourist office offers a variety of guided tours. If you don't fancy walking though there's this two-wheeled motorised tour available.

I don't have any info as to who runs it but I'm sure the tourist office can give you the gen - www.aachen.de

Favorite thing: The actual historical centre of Aachen is quite compact and is ideal for just wandering and everything is well signposted. To get out and about a little further, which is actually not particularly interesting for the general tourist, there's plenty of these easy-to-read street maps dotted around.

Here's the one from the forecourt of the railway station.

Favorite thing: The local Tourist Office can be found at:

Verkehrsverein Bad Aachen e.V.
Aachen tourist service
Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz 1
52062 Aachen
phone: +49-241-19433
fax: +49-241-18029-30
Tourism website

Favorite thing: Aachen lies within a moderate sea climate zone. Even in the summer months, it is a good idea to pack a jacket or sweater because temperatures could become unseasonably cool. Also, be sure to bring an umbrella because it rains a lot.

Favorite thing: I'm guessing these represent "Ladies who shop" as this statue was situated on busy shopping street of Mefferdatisstrasse ( I think). Anyway... they would certainly need their umbrellas on the day we visited!!

Favorite thing: I have no particular memory. Aachen is just a city I feel extremely cozy and comfortable in. People stop and talk to you and there are interesting historical things to see. One thing I am VERY impressed with however, is the cathedral. It is my favourite church building so far because of its non traditional almost byzantine interior. Don't miss it!

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Favorite thing: Aachen is a very nice German old city. However, it would not be as nice and interesting without the wonderful VT member M-Joy and her friend that took us around this city as tour guides in the most professional way and lots of information. Thanks you very much guys :-)

Favorite thing: There was a large crowd gathered round this statue listening to their tour guide... I missed the talk so I don't have any info about "Fat Baby with Fish". He must be historically relevant to the city of Aachen, so I shall research further!!

Ok... so now I know I shall pass this fascinating info on to you, dear reader!

The "FBWF" is situated in the Fischmarkt where for centuries fish from local rivers and ponds were sold. The statue stands opposite the Taufkapelle (Baptistry) where, up until Napoleonic times all Aachen children were baptised.
"Et Fisch -Pueddelche" is the name of this fountain designed by Lederer at the beginning of the 20th C. "Pueddelche" is a nickname for a small child in Aachen. At the time Lederer designed this fountain it would have been unthinkable for the prudish, puritanical towns people to have a statue of a naked man in their streets! So, instead, he erected a statue of a naked baby holding two fish to represent the fish market and no one was offended.

It seems that in the past this statue often disappeared and has at times even been guarded by policemen!!

Fondest memory: My fondest memory will always be the Kakao!

http://www.aachen-markt.de/