Aachen

Aachen (French Aix-la-Chapelle, Dutch Aken, Latin Aquisgranum, Ripuarian Oche) is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, on the border with Belgium and the Netherlands, 65 km to the west of Cologne, and the westernmost city in Germany, at {{coor dm|50|46|N|6|6|E|}}. Population: 256,605 (2003).

Miscellaneous

Aachen is an industrial centre and a major railway junction, including the Thalys high-speed train network. A major industry of the past was the needle production, which led to the distinctive mark of the people from Aachen, the Klenkes. The small finger of the right hand is spread from the hand, which was originally the way women sorted the needles.

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Robert Browning's poem "How they brought the good news from Ghent to Aix" refers to Aachen, but not to any historical fact.

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The annual CHIO (short for the French Concours Hippique International Officiel) is the biggest equestrian meeting of Germany and among horsemen considered to be as prestigious for equitation as the tournament of Wimbledon for tennis. Aachen will also be host of the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

Related Topics:
Equestrian - Wimbledon - 2006 - World Equestrian Games

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The local football team Alemannia Aachen plays in Germany's second division. Their stadium is called Tivoli.

Related Topics:
Alemannia Aachen - Tivoli

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Since 1950 the city annually awards the Karlspreis (German for Charlemagne Award) to persons who did extraordinary service for the unification of Europe. In 2003 the medal was awarded to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. In 2004, Pope John Paul II's efforts to unite Europe were honored with an Extraordinary Charlemagne Medal, which was awarded for the first time ever.

Related Topics:
1950 - Karlspreis - 2003 - Valéry Giscard d'Estaing - 2004 - Pope - John Paul II

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The local speciality of Aachen are cookies called Printen, a local version of gingerbread. In contrast to Lebkuchen they are sweetened with sugar instead of honey.

Related Topics:
Gingerbread - Lebkuchen

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In 1372, Aachen became the first coin issuing city in the world to regularly place an Anno Domini date on a general circulation coin, a groschen. It is written MCCCLXXII. None with this date are known to be in existence any longer. The earliest date for which an Aachen coin is still extant is dated 1373.

Related Topics:
1372 - Anno Domini - Coin - Groschen - 1373

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See also: Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, Aachen (district)

Related Topics:
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle - Aachen (district)

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