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Aachen

Aachen is a city in western Germany, near the Belgian and Dutch borders. It is the place where 31 Holy Roman Emperors were crowned Kings of the Germans from 936 to 1531.

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All Content on this topic

Herman Van Rompuy bei der Verleihung des Karlspreises

Van Rompuy honored in Aachen

The president of the European Council has been awarded the 2014 Charlemagne Prize for his services to European integration. Three eastern European leaders spoke at Herman Van Rompuy's award ceremony in Aachen.
May 29, 2014
Black-and-white photo of the oil painting of the Aachen Cathedral (Photo: Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum Aachen)

Art and the Crimea crisis

The Crimea crisis has also been affecting the ongoing discussion about looted art.
April 6, 2014
Blick von der Tribüne in das Aachener Reitstadion (Foto: Jochen Lübke dpa/lnw)

The CHIO equestrian event in Aachen

The CHIO in Aachen is the biggest equestrian event worldwide
June 25, 20139 images
The lignite coal fired power plant Frimmersdorf Photo:Federico Gambarini +++(c) dpa - Report+++

All dug up

Lignite coal will remain a key part of Germany's energy mix, despite the environmental impact.
June 4, 2013
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite speaks with DW's Christian Trippe in Aachen

European unity

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite talks with DW about what European unity means today.
May 10, 2013
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite winkt Foto: Henning Kaiser/dpa

Charlemagne prize awarded

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite has been awarded the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen for her contribution to European integration. She dedicated the prize to the people of Lithuania.
May 9, 2013
President of Lithuania and Charlemagne Prize Laureate 2013: Dalia Grybauskayte (Photo: Šarūnas Mažeika / DW)

The Iron Lady of Lithuania

The Charlemagne Prize lauds the politics of Dalia Grybauskaite - but her style is controversial.
May 9, 2013
Sergei Filin (C), artistic director of Russia's Bolshoi Ballet, leaves a hospital accompanied by his wife Maria (L) in Moscow February 4, 2013. Filin was quoted on Sunday as saying he knew who was behind an attack on him in which a masked assailant splashed acid over his face threatening his eyesight. REUTERS/Vselovod Kutznestov (RUSSIA - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT CRIME LAW HEALTH)

Ballet chief heads to Germany

Russia's Bolshoi Ballet artistic director Sergei Filin is headed to Germany for further treatment after he suffered serious eye damage in an acid attack. Filin has linked the attack to his work at the theater.
February 4, 2013

Empty culture capital

Ghazni is the capital of Islamic culture in Asia in 2013 but there is very little access.
January 22, 2013
Christmas market in Aachen. Fotograf: Andreas Herrmann

Discover Aachen

Discover Aachen, Charlemange's city
December 17, 2012
A man walks across the empty concourse at Brussels South railway station in Brussels

Belgian rail workers strike

Belgian rail workers have walked off the job in a 24-hour strike, affecting domestic and international train services. The full impact of the walkout was expected to be felt during the morning and evening rush hours.
October 3, 2012
El Comite Cerezo Mexico on the March

Aachen peace prize

Two humanitarian groups share this year's Aaachen peace prize. The prize is supported by 50 religious, political, union and civil organisations and 350 individuals.
September 3, 2012
The police search in Dortmund reveals NPD advertising material with the camaraderies

Right-wing groups

Three down, 150 to go? German authorities clamp down on loosely organized right-wing groups.
August 25, 2012
Ein Mann trägt am Donnerstag (23.08.2012) in Dortmund Plakate der NDP aus einem Haus, das durchsucht wurde. Der nordrhein-westfälische Innenminister hat drei rechtsextremistische Kameradschaften verboten. Hunderte Polizisten rückten am Morgen zu einem Großeinsatz gegen die Neonazis aus und durchsuchten Räume im Ruhrgebiet und im Raum Aachen. Das Verbot richtet sich gegen die «Kameradschaft Aachener Land», den «Nationalen Widerstand Dortmund» und die «Kameradschaft Hamm». Foto: Caroline Seidel dpa/lnw pixel

Police raids on neo-Nazis

Germany's most populous state North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) has banned three far-right extremist groups after police searched 150 premises. Thursday's raids follow a trial opening in Koblenz against 26 neo-Nazis.
August 23, 2012
Symbol of Neonazi comdradeship displayed on member's t-shirt

More neo-Nazi groups banned

Germany's most populous state North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) has banned three far-right extremist groups while police searched 150 premises. The crackdown follows a trial opening in Koblenz against 26 neo-Nazis.
August 23, 2012
In the early 19th century, the Rhine became the top destination for Romantic yearning. You can sit back on a boat and enjoy the majestic sight of the river and its many fortresses, castles, and small wine-producing villages along the shores.

From Bingen to Essen

Our fourth route of World Heritage Sites takes us to the far west of Germany – to Aachen Cathedral. In 1978, it became the first cultural landmark in Germany to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
July 26, 2012
Japan's oldest Olympian, Hiroshi Hoketsu, holding his horse Whisper, a 15-year old mare, at the Rossheide Stables in Aachen, Germany,

Olympic events

Japanese dressage rider Hiroshi Hoketsu, at 71, is the oldest person to qualify for the Olympics.
July 10, 2012

World Heritage legacy

DW presents the 37 German World Heritage sites in a multimedia project.
July 8, 2012
Schäuble speaking at the Aachen award ceremony

Schäuble: elect EU presidents

German Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has said Europe should appoint a directly elected leader at the head of the European Commission, suggesting existing European Parliament elections could be the deciding factor.
May 17, 2012
Scorer Oliver Fink (pointing) celebrates his goal

Fortuna Düsseldorf make playoff

A scrappy 2-2 draw with Duisburg on the last day of German second division soccer was just enough to earn Fortuna Düsseldorf a chance at promotion. Düsseldorf will face Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin over two legs.
May 6, 2012
Sebastian Jung, left, and director of sport Bruno Hübner of Eintracht Frankfurt, celebrating

Eintracht Frankfurt promoted

German second-division side Eintracht Frankfurt have assured themselves of a place in the Bundesliga next season, with a 3-0 win over Alemannia Aachen. For the losing team, the prospects are not so good.
April 23, 2012
Nea Potidea beach

Greek disaster risk

German scientists say the northwestern coast of Greece is at risk of tsunamis and earthquakes.
April 20, 2012
A view of the city center in Aachen

Life in Aachen

The city's location and its elite university help create a vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere.
SocietyMarch 14, 2012
Rows of students sit in a lecture hall

Study in Aachen

RWTH is known for outstanding engineering programs, but it also offers a full range of courses
SocietyMarch 14, 2012
Aachen's cathedral against a cloudy sky

City of Aachen

Aachen's history dates back thousands of years, but the tech industry helps keep the city vital
SocietyMarch 7, 2012
Boere in court

Hidden cameras

Two Dutch journalists are to stand trial in Germany for secretly filming a former SS assassin.
January 19, 2012
Ludwig Forum in Aachen

Sound art

Turner Prize-winning sound artist Susan Philipsz has opened her largest installation ever in Aachen.
July 11, 2011
A female scientist in a holds something up to a green light

Quiet choppers

Scientists are looking into ways of removing the noise factor from helicopter flight.
April 11, 2011
Fire fighters in the Nikolaus Church

Irreparable damage

A fire that damaged a historic church altar in Aachen may have started from a New Year's firework.
January 2, 2011
Jean Claude Trichet

Top prize for banker

European bank chief Trichet wins Charlemagne Prize
December 5, 2010
Mainz player walks off pitch covered in team flag

German Cup

Underdogs Aachen and Offenbach shocked Mainz and Dortmund in a night of German Cup upsets.
October 28, 2010
Doves in flight

Peace prize

A Peruvian Catholic priest and a German anti-racist group receive the Aachen Peace Prize.
September 2, 2010
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Charlemagne Prize

Poland's prime minister says Europe can avoid economic meltdown while accepting a major award.
May 14, 2010
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk

Charlemagne prize

Polish Premier Donald Tusk has been awarded a German prize for his service to European unification.
January 16, 2010
Algae growing in tubes in a greenhouse near Aachen

Algae Videobox

January 4, 2010
Former Nazi SS member Heinrich Boere

Guilty of murder?

A former Nazi SS member has admitted to killing civilians during WWII but says it wasn't a crime.
December 8, 2009
Peter Paul Michalski

Jail break

German police have arrested the second of two criminals who escaped from prison last week.
December 1, 2009
Painting by Friedrich Kaulbach of the coronation of Charlemagne

Charlemagne is crowned emperor - December 25, 800

Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish king, Charlemagne, Emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day, 800 in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, making him the most powerful ruler of his time.
November 16, 2009
Heinrich Boere

Nazi trial

The trial of a former SS soldier accused of killing three civilians opens in Aachen.
October 30, 2009
A young man wearing rubber lab gloves holds up transparent plastic vials filled with a red liquid

Accelerating research

Both money and creativity are needed to ensure that Germany stays competitive in science.
October 12, 2009
The Berliner Compagnie

Peace prize

A Berlin theater group and a Bosnian activist have been awarded this year's Aachen peace prize.
September 1, 2009
Photo of Andrea Riccardi

Charlemagne Prize

An Italian historian has been awarded the 2009 Charlemagne Prize for his social activism.
May 21, 2009
Otmar Steinbicker, the chairman of the Aachen Peace Award at a press conference

Peace Prize

The 2009 Aachen Peace Award goes to a Berlin theater group and a Bosnian-Serb activist.
May 8, 2009
Painting of still life by Jan Davidsz de Heem

Looted Art

Works from a German World War II looted art collection have surfaced in a museum in Ukraine.
January 14, 2009
Plate with European flag motif and cutlery beside it

European Regions

Political scientist Winfried Boettcher argues Europe will only survive if it is built bottom-up.
July 31, 2008
Chancellor Merkel waving with Spanish King Juan Carlos and French President Sarkozy in the background

Merkel Praised

French President Sarkozy applauded Chancellor Merkel for her exemplary role in uniting Europe.
May 1, 2008
a gun collection

Collecting Craze

One collector's hobby got so out of control that his own stuff left him no place to live.
April 3, 2008

Victims commemorate one of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical scandals in the German city of Aachen

50 years ago a German pharmaceutical company launched a morning sickness drug. Also used as a sleeping pill, it was taken by thousands of pregnant women who therefore gave birth to thousands of deformed babies.
September 30, 2007
A policeman handcuffs a suspect in Germany

Case Cracked

German police arrested a serial killer more than 20 years after he murdered and raped five women.
August 21, 2007

Soccer Skirmish

Soccer is just clean fun, isn't it? Well, one group hoped to prove that, and failed miserably.
July 5, 2007