Aachen: from Charlemagne to carnival – tradition and joie de vivre

Arrive in Aachen, and you've arrived in Europe. If there is one city that lives and breathes Europe then it's Aachen. Some even suspect the existence of a European gene possessed by the people in the region. This might not stand up to scientific scrutiny, but if you go in search of Europe, its intellectual roots and its values and ideals, you will find what you're looking for in Aachen.

A journey through the ages: The Charlemagne Route.

Throughout Aachen, visitors are greeted by a captivating contrast between the proud historical buildings from all major European periods and a lively buzz on the streets – courtesy of 40,000 students from all corners of the globe. The students give the city a laid-back vibe that everyone seems to be enjoying wherever you look. This provides further evidence of Aachen's cosmopolitan character and yet another reason – if one were needed – to wander around the city centre and take a stroll back through the centuries. The Charlemagne Route puts visitors on the trail on this powerful ruler and his ideas and visions. It features a selection of fascinating buildings, both historical and modern, and every stop along the route has a different theme, each relevant to both Charlemagne's time and our own. History, science, religion and power, Europe, business and the media all come under the spotlight.

From Gothic and baroque to the Computer Museum.

Aachen Town Hall was built on the site of the old imperial palace in the 14th century. Several hundred years later, during the city's prosperous heyday, it was converted into a grand baroque palace. Right beside the building is a restaurant that has centuries of tradition in welcoming visitors through its doors – Zum Postwagen. Other stops on the Charlemagne Route and fine attractions in their own right are the Grashaus, an early town hall and now the municipal archive, Haus Löwenstein, a former residence and inn, and the Büchelpalais, which until 1752 served as Aachen's corn exchange. The Great House of Aachen also features on the route and, intriguingly, presents the latest news from the past three centuries. At the International Newspaper Museum, the largest of its kind in the world, some 170,000 newspapers from all over the world and in almost every language demonstrate the transience of history and why today's headlines become tomorrow's chip papers. More objects with short lifespans can be seen in the Computer Museum at Aachen's University of Technology. Because in the world of computers, today's innovation is tomorrow's museum exhibit.

The International Charlemagne Prize: one prize, one Europe.

Since 1950, the International Charlemagne Prize has been awarded in Aachen Town Hall in recognition of outstanding contributions to the cause of European unity. Whatever one's opinion on the matter, closer Europe integration has turned an ancient dream into reality. The 'old continent' is now experiencing a period of peace that has lasted for decades. And if you don't happen to be a candidate for the Charlemagne Prize, Aachen Carnival presents the perfect opportunity to visit this fabulous city.