Page 401 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

NOR TH RHINE-WESTPHALIA  399

the church without a tower. The In the 18th and 19th centuries, The house where Israel Berr
interior has Gothic works of art Aachen gained great Josaphat Reuter established the
and stunningly beautiful stained- importance as a spa. Many first-ever news agency in 1850
glass windows, the altar of the buildings from this era have (transferred to London a year
Coronation of the Blessed Virgin long since vanished. Further later) now houses the Inter­
Mary (late 15th century), a destruction was inflicted by nationales Zeitungs museum,
beautiful 14th-century World War II, yet some historic devoted to the history of
Annunciation and a sacrarium monuments have survived. the press, with over 200,000
(1490). After the dissolution of the The most important of news-papers from the
Order in 1803, the cathedral these is the Pfalz (see 16th century to today.
suffered a turbulent history. It pp400–401), a complex There has been
now serves as a church for both of buildings belonging an extensive
Catholics and Protestants. to Charle-magne’s renovation to house
Children enjoy Altenberg for its former palace. They a temporary exhibition
Märchenwald (fairy-tale wood), include a cathedral with space and lecture halls.
an enchanted forest, with a palace chapel and a It is also worth visiting
interactive scenes and statues hall which was rebuilt the Suermondt­
representing popular fairy tales. as the Rathaus. Ludwig­Museum, not
In the old town, near far beyond the town
the cathedral complex, centre, which has a
r Köln (Cologne) is the church of St great collection of art
Folian, where a Gothic from the Middle Ages
See pp402–9. Madonna dating from until the present
1411 has survived. A Statue of David day, including some
short distance south Hansemann sculptures and
t Aachen from here stands the paintings from the 17th
Elisenbrunnen (fountain of century. To the north-east of the
Road map A4. * 247,000. £ @
n Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz (0241- Elizabeth), an exceptionally old town is the spa district of
180 29 60). _ Frühjahrsbend (Apr), beautiful building where Aachen. Here, visitors can stroll
horse-riding competitions CHIO mineral water can be taken. through the park or spend an
(Jul), Europamarkt der Kunsthand- It was built in 1822–7 according evening at the casino. Lovers
werker (Sep). to designs by Johann Peter of modern art will enjoy
Cremer and Karl Friedrich the Ludwig-Forum für
Aachen owes its fame to its hot Schinkel. Internationale Kunst, which
springs, whose healing powers After admiring the attractive hosts interesting exhibitions.
were already highly rated by the houses around the central
Romans when they established market square visitors can enjoy E Internationales
baths here in the 1st–2nd the Couven­Museum. Based in Zeitungsmuseum
centuries AD. The name of the an historic middle-class town Pontstraße 13. Tel (0241) 432 49 10.
town, aquae grani or Aquisgrani, house, it has an interesting Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun. ∑ izm.de
also relates to the source. collection dedicated to the life E Suermondt­Ludwig­Museum
The settlement grew in the of the bourgeoisie in the 18th Wilhelmstraße 18. Tel (0241) 47 98 00.
8th century, when Charlemagne and 19th centuries. There is also Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun. & -
chose it as his principal resi- a collection of ceramic tiles 8 =
dence in 768. He built a huge from the 16th–19th centuries. E Couven­Museum
palace complex with Hühnermarkt 17. Tel (0241) 432 44 21.
chapel, cloistered court- Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun.
yard and hall for himself. Closed public hols. &
When Charlemagne
was crowned emperor Environs
in 800, Aachen became Kornelimünster, 6 km (4 miles)
the capital of the southeast of the centre, is a
Holy Roman Empire. beautifully preserved old town
Although the town with several churches. The most
soon lost this title, it important is the Propsteikirche
remained an important St Kornelius, a former
destination for pilgrims Benedictine monastery dating
because of the valuable from the early 9th century.
relics brought here by The surviving building is a
Charlemagne. From 14th-century Gothic basilica,
the 10th to the 16th extended by the early 16th
centuries, all German century to a five-nave structure.
kings were crowned in The Neo-Classical building which houses the casino in The chapel of St Kornelius
the palace chapel. Aachen’s spa park was added in the 18th century.

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