Skip to main content

Thesaurus

Choose Thesaurus
Term: Aachen

The city of Aachen is located on the German frontier with Belgium and The Netherlands in the northwestern state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It was the site of Roman baths from the1st century BCE. It probably was birthplace of Charlemagne, who adopted the city as the second capital of the Holy Roman Empire and made it a center of learning and culture. From medieval times to the Reformation it served as the main coronation place of emperors and German kings. Destroyed in 881, it was rebuilt and in the late 12 century was fortified and obtained civic rights. It became a free imperial city around 1250. It began a decline in the 16th century, ceased to be the seat of imperial coronations in 1560, and was almost entirely burned in a great conflagration in 1656. It was the site of the signing of treaties to end the wars of Devolution in 1688 and of Austrian Succession in 1748. Annexed by France in 1801, it fell to Prussia by the Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815. Belgium occupied it briefly after World War I, and in World War II it was the first large German city to be taken by the Allies, in October 1944. Despite the bombing, much of its historic architecture has survived, in at least restored or rebuilt condition. Aachen Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, includes the famous Palatine Chapel of the Carolingian era, built between 790 and 805. Its choir and side chapels are Gothic. Notable medieval churches include St. Foillan's, St. Nicholas's, and St. Paul's, all of which began reconstruction right after being damaged. The town hall of around 1530 on the ruins of Charlemagne's palace and containing the wonderful Hall of the Emperors has also been restored. Culturally Aachen is am important city, with the Suermondt Ludwig Museum of Art in the market square, the international Newspaper Museum with examples of newspapers dating back to the 16th century, and many educational institutions, including the first university ever founded in Prussia (1870). The warmest ho springs in Germany are located in the suburb of Burtscheid. Aachen is also a center of industry and commerce, with nearly every type of heavy industry represented there. Goods such as chemicals, textiles, plastics, machinery, glass, electronics, and cosmetics are produced there. The estimated population for 2004 was 249,200.