Aachen

General and History

Aachen is a mid-sized university city. It is the westernmost city of Germany, sharing borders with the Netherlands and Belgium. Due to its central location, Aachen is characterized by a powerful cultural mix and excellent connections to central European metropolises.

The city itself is over 2,000 years old and has been populated since Roman times. Aachen is famous for its thermal springs, which were already known to the Romans, who built the first public baths. The original Latin name of the town, Aquis grani (Aquisgrana), originates from these times. The city still has sulphur-rich springs and bathing possibilities, which might be tempting also for PEDG Conference visitors.

The old historical center of Aachen includes the main cathedral, the Aachener Dom, which has been proclaimed a UNESCO cultural heritage site. The cathedral is some 1,200 years old, and it dates from the times of Charles the Great (Emperor Charlemagne), who made the city one of his Imperial Capitals. Next to it is also the gothic town hall. For over 500 years, most kings of Germany, who were reigning over the Holy Roman Empire, were crowned King of the Germans in Aachen. The city has also seen a lot of more modern historical activity, and its cultural mix is proven by the fact that it has a name not only in German and Latin, but also in French (Aix la Chapelle) and in Dutch (Aken).

Sightseeing

Aachen offers many interesting sights. The classicistic Elisa Fountain from 1827 is a symbol of Aachen's historic status as spa town renowned for its thermal springs. The Cathedral of Aachen (Aachener Dom) has a rich history and a beautiful and unique architecture. While the octagonal Palace Chapel was already built before 800 under Emperor Charlemagne, the Gothic Choir Hall was added 1355-1414. Aachen's town hall is also worth a visit. Originally built in the 14th century as gothic architecture, the town hall was later converted into a baroque building. Its Granus Tower dates even back to the days of Charlemagne.

The PEDG 2015 Conference Social Dinner will be organized in the Coronation Hall of the kings at Aachen town hall. The organizing committee is also seeking the possibility to organize some other sightseeing opportunities for the participants.

Weather

Aachen has a typical Northern European oceanic climate, with warm summers and mild winters. Accordingly the typical daytime temperatures in June range from 11°C to 22°C (52-72°F). June is the first month of summer and provides an average of six sunshine hours per day. Therefore attendees of the conference should be prepared for a rather warm weather but still expect eventual rain showers, which are quite common in summer.

For further information on Aachen, its history and its interesting sights and places, visit Aachen's official site. To learn more about the unique lifestyle of Aachen, take a look at www.aachen-emotion.com.