Aachen Town Hall

Aachen Town Hall stands on the market square in Germany's westernmost major city, built on the foundations of Charlemagne's royal hall. For six centuries the coronation banquets of German kings were held here after their crowning in the cathedral next door, and the Coronation Hall still hosts the annual International Charlemagne Prize for European unity. It is one of the top things to do in Aachen and a perfect partner to the UNESCO-listed cathedral.

Where it is and how to get there

Aachen sits on the borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, about 70 km west of Cologne. Fast trains from Cologne take well under an hour, and regional trains are covered by the Deutschlandticket. From Aachen Hauptbahnhof it is roughly a 15-minute walk to the old town; the town hall is on the Markt, a few steps from the cathedral. Drivers should use the parking garages around the pedestrianized center.

History in brief

Around 800, Charlemagne's Aula Regia stood here as the secular half of his palace complex. In the 14th century Aachen's citizens built a Gothic town hall on its walls, and between 936 and 1531 kings celebrated their coronation feasts in the great hall. The Granus Tower on the east side survives from Charlemagne's time. Fire in 1656 and bombing in World War II badly damaged the building, which was restored each time. Since 1950 the Charlemagne Prize has been awarded in the Coronation Hall.

What to see inside

• Coronation Hall: a vast Gothic hall with faithful replicas of the imperial regalia, including the crown, swords and Gospel book, whose originals are kept in Vienna.
• Rethel frescoes: monumental 19th-century murals of Charlemagne's life, begun by Alfred Rethel and completed in 1861.
• White Hall and Peace Hall: Baroque rooms with portraits of the envoys to the Peace of Aachen of 1748.
• Market facade: around 50 statues of rulers, with the Charlemagne Fountain in front.

Tickets and opening hours

The town hall is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is €10, reduced €6 (as of October 2026). Because it is still a working town hall, rooms or the whole building can close for council meetings and ceremonies, so check the event calendar on the official website before you go. Public tours are in German; group tours can be booked in English and several other languages through the Aachen tourist office, and a free app from the town hall association helps you explore on your own.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you are interested in Charlemagne, the Holy Roman Empire or the idea of Europe. Allow about an hour inside. Combined with the cathedral and treasury, it makes an excellent day trip from Cologne, and Aachen's Christmas market around the town hall is one of the best in the region.

Nearby

• Aachen Cathedral: Charlemagne's palace chapel and Germany's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Cathedral Treasury: one of the most important church treasuries north of the Alps.
• Centre Charlemagne: the city museum on Katschhof square.
• Elisenbrunnen: a Neoclassical pavilion over Aachen's sulfurous thermal springs.