Little known city with thermal spa three hours from the UK by train
A beautiful cathedral city with one of the oldest churches in Europe and thermal springs is just three hours from the UK by train.
Aachen in western Germany is a city rich in history, culture, and architectural marvels, yet is often overlooked despite its many lovely features. By Eurostar Aachen is just three and a half hours away from London St Pancras, making it an easy destination to reach without having to hop on a significantly more polluting plane.
The city boasts a remarkable history, serving as the residence of Charlemagne, the great medieval emperor. Its most iconic landmark is the Aachen Cathedral, one of the first 12 sites to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in the 1970s. It is the oldest cathedral in Northern Europe and is the resting place of Charlemagne.
It is widely regarded as a masterpiece of medieval architecture. Visitors can marvel at its intricate mosaics, impressive domes, and Charlemagne's throne.
Aachen is three hours from the UK on the train (Getty Images)The city's other big tourist attraction are its thermal springs. Much like Bath in the UK, the Romans knew about the warm water which bubbles up through the ground and went to great lengths to soak in them, convinced as they were of the steamy liquid's healing properties.
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Today Carolus Thermen, a modern spa complex, allows visitors to relax in thermal pools and saunas not too dissimilar to ones the Romans would've enjoyed many hundreds of years ago.
Once you've had a good scrub and soak, then it is well worth wandering the streets of Aachen's Old Town, which is made up of narrow alleyways, medieval buildings, and lively market squares. There are plenty of traditional German restaurants and bars here more than happy to serve you a stein of wheaty beer and a wurst or two.
As pleasant as the city is, it may not be one for the Brexiteers. Aachen has played a key role in European history and integration, and is now home to the annual Charlemagne Prize - awarded to individuals promoting European unity.
It is also a place known for its nightlife, thanks to the fact 40,000 of its 250,000 residents are students at the university there.
Daniela Stoyanova moved to the city and quickly fell in love with it. She writes "The population of Aachen may be relatively small at around only 250.000 people, but it’s diverse: as of 2017 more than 18 percent of people living in Aachen had a migration background.
"This foreign population is fed by the city’s prestigious university, RWTH Aachen, as well as the number of large international companies that have their headquarters here. Aachen is a real melting pot of cultures, with around 160 different nationalities represented among its small population. Thanks to this, the city also has a rich and varied food scene.
"As well as having more than enough bars, clubs, restaurants, cafes and green spaces to go around, Aachen is a hub of events and activities the whole year through, giving expats plenty to keep them occupied. In February each year, Aachen hosts its own raucous carnival celebrations, while the Christmas market in the old town is one of the most famous in Germany."
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