In the late eighth century, Charlemagne chose this spot above all others in his vast realm. The springs already had a reputation stretching back to Roman times, but the Frankish king saw something more: a central position from which to govern territories spanning modern France, Germany, and Italy. He built a palace complex and a chapel so magnificent that it would serve as the coronation site for German kings for the next six centuries. Thirty rulers were crowned here between 936 and 1531, sitting on Charlemagne's stone throne, still preserved in the upper gallery. The great emperor himself lies entombed beneath the cathedral floor, his golden shrine a pilgrimage destination that drew medieval Christians from across Europe.

Ten minutes from the city center, you can stand with one foot in Germany, one in Belgium, and a hand reaching into the Netherlands. The Dreilandereck is more than a tourist curiosity; it represents the fundamental character of Aachen as a place where cultures and languages have always mingled. The Euregio Maas-Rhein economic region treats national borders as administrative conveniences rather than real barriers. Students at RWTH Aachen University come from across the continent. When German shops close on Sunday, locals simply cross into the Dutch town of Vaals, where commerce continues uninterrupted.

The hot springs that first attracted the Romans continue to bubble up through the earth, feeding historic bathhouses and lending the city its legal status as a spa. The Elisenbrunnen, an elegant nineteenth-century pavilion, dispenses mineral water to visitors much as similar structures did centuries before. Meanwhile, the medieval city walls have largely given way to modern development, though the Ponttor gate still stands, marking the entrance to the Pontstrasse, now the heart of student nightlife. The contrast captures Aachen perfectly: ancient thermal traditions meet forty thousand university students, imperial history meets cutting-edge engineering research.

Aachen Cathedral remains the city's spiritual and architectural anchor. The Carolingian Octagon at its core is the oldest part, commissioned by Charlemagne himself and decorated with columns he brought from Rome and Ravenna. The Treasury houses one of northern Europe's most significant collections of medieval religious art, including the Crown of Margaret of York and relics that made Aachen a major pilgrimage site. Every seven years, the Heiligtumsfahrt brings thousands of pilgrims to view sacred textiles traditionally associated with the Virgin Mary. The cathedral became Germany's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, recognition that this building shaped European civilization.

Aachen has always looked forward while honoring its past. The spiced gingerbread called Printen, sold from traditional bakeries throughout the city center, follows recipes developed over centuries. Yet RWTH Aachen has become one of Europe's premier technical universities, particularly renowned for mechanical engineering. The Super-C building on campus, shaped like an enormous letter C and illuminated at night, represents the architectural ambition of a city that has never stopped reinventing itself. Street cafes fill the squares beneath the medieval Rathaus, local wines flow in the Pontstrasse pubs, and the Karneval celebrations rival those of nearby Cologne, proving that Charlemagne's capital remains very much alive.