Aachener WeihnachtsMarkt 2010 (Aachen Christmas Market)
Munster? Aachen? It was a serious debate running in my mind, for days. Both German cities are about 2+hour drive from Utrecht, Netherlands and in fact Munster was quite appealing because it’s a bigger city with 5 Christmas Markets. However, there seems to be a new environmental program recently implemented in big cities in Germany like Munster—the ‘Umweltzone’. Meaning, no car can enter the city center without an ‘Umweltzone sticker’, and to get this sticker would be an admin and logistical nightmare of sending documents to Apeldoorn and then picking it up. In addition, Blondine and I are too lazy (primadonnas?) to park the car outside of the city center and take the bus. As you can see, we are not fans of public transportation.
And because Aachen is a smaller city compared to Munster, it is spared from this new environment publicity. Thus, Aachen it is!
The Christmas Market surrounds the Aachen Town Hall and Aachen Cathedral located right in the heart of the centrum. At first, we thought the market was small but after walking around, we realized that it is actually big, which is a very nice surprise for us. We really had fun in Aachen even if it showered a bit. We loved the goodies and wares the stalls were selling: locally-made products from the region such as various alcoholic beverages, specialty soaps, embroideries, gourmet chocolates, gingerbreads and many more. I think this is the first Christmas Market that I have been to that I truly like and appreciate the stuff being sold in the stalls.
Trivia: German monarchy got defunct in 1918 but did you know that Aachen was once the coronation place of the Kings of Germany? In fact, it is the favourite city of Charlemagne. This previous Roman City as well is historically a spa town, now home to fabulous wellness facilities. Hmm, this is enough good reason to come back.
The markets around the 14th century Aachen Rathaus (City/Town Hall).
Lovely stalls, and this one is selling candles.
This stall is selling bath wares such as soaps, perfume and salts. Busy market street at the back of Aachen City Hall.
Aachen City Hall tower. Blondine and Moi. A solemn street in Aachen.
This is my favorite foto of this Aachen Christmas Market set.
A close up of one of the puppets hanging from the bronze ‘Puppet Fountain’ (located on a side street near Aachen City Hall). I must say that the puppets looked very spooky.
Very catchy statue on the canopy door entrance. Mid foto is the Puppet Fountain, an interesting bronze sculpture of puppets hanging from a fountain. The bar where we had coffee, it has got to be a real Deutsche bar.
Scenes of Aachen city centre. Yup, it rained a bit when we were there last weekend.
And of course, we obviously came for the Deutsche fare!
The Germans have a totally different diet (fatter that is) than the Dutch and they prefer to eat warm meals as well compared to the Dutch who can survive with bread, milk and cheese. This is the reason why I continue to love Europe. Countries are nestled side by side with each other but each has its own distinct culture, language, architecture, food and way of life. Simply amazing.
Before leaving Aachen, we came to the conclusion that the Germans do best at Christmas Markets, after all it was in Germany (Dresden) where it all began. To see all my fotos go here: Aachen Christmas Markets, Aachen - Germany
So if you have not been to Germany for the Christmas Markets this year, you have until the 24th!
Give me some sauerkraut mit wurst (sausage) please!
Onions and mushrooms, typically German fare, and (wrapped in tin foil) boiled potatoes as well.
Home-made alcohol from Aachen and and some cappucino liquor. Moi and my Lady Gaga inspired alligator jacket.
Advent is a big thing in Germany, being still a largely religious country thus these star inspired cakes and cookies (Advents Stern Fruit Cake and Zimsterne Cookie) are popular for the season.
Apfelstrudel and Pfannkuchen. I bought 200 grams of these yummy Truffle Salami.
German sausages and roasted chestnuts (the latter is rarely seen/available in the Netherlands).
Travel Period: December 2010
Destination: Aachen (North Rhine Westphalia), Germany
And because Aachen is a smaller city compared to Munster, it is spared from this new environment publicity. Thus, Aachen it is!
The Christmas Market surrounds the Aachen Town Hall and Aachen Cathedral located right in the heart of the centrum. At first, we thought the market was small but after walking around, we realized that it is actually big, which is a very nice surprise for us. We really had fun in Aachen even if it showered a bit. We loved the goodies and wares the stalls were selling: locally-made products from the region such as various alcoholic beverages, specialty soaps, embroideries, gourmet chocolates, gingerbreads and many more. I think this is the first Christmas Market that I have been to that I truly like and appreciate the stuff being sold in the stalls.Trivia: German monarchy got defunct in 1918 but did you know that Aachen was once the coronation place of the Kings of Germany? In fact, it is the favourite city of Charlemagne. This previous Roman City as well is historically a spa town, now home to fabulous wellness facilities. Hmm, this is enough good reason to come back.
The markets around the 14th century Aachen Rathaus (City/Town Hall).
Lovely stalls, and this one is selling candles.
This stall is selling bath wares such as soaps, perfume and salts. Busy market street at the back of Aachen City Hall.
Aachen City Hall tower. Blondine and Moi. A solemn street in Aachen.
This is my favorite foto of this Aachen Christmas Market set.A close up of one of the puppets hanging from the bronze ‘Puppet Fountain’ (located on a side street near Aachen City Hall). I must say that the puppets looked very spooky.Very catchy statue on the canopy door entrance. Mid foto is the Puppet Fountain, an interesting bronze sculpture of puppets hanging from a fountain. The bar where we had coffee, it has got to be a real Deutsche bar.
Scenes of Aachen city centre. Yup, it rained a bit when we were there last weekend.
And of course, we obviously came for the Deutsche fare!
The Germans have a totally different diet (fatter that is) than the Dutch and they prefer to eat warm meals as well compared to the Dutch who can survive with bread, milk and cheese. This is the reason why I continue to love Europe. Countries are nestled side by side with each other but each has its own distinct culture, language, architecture, food and way of life. Simply amazing.
Before leaving Aachen, we came to the conclusion that the Germans do best at Christmas Markets, after all it was in Germany (Dresden) where it all began. To see all my fotos go here: Aachen Christmas Markets, Aachen - Germany
So if you have not been to Germany for the Christmas Markets this year, you have until the 24th!
Give me some sauerkraut mit wurst (sausage) please!Onions and mushrooms, typically German fare, and (wrapped in tin foil) boiled potatoes as well.
Home-made alcohol from Aachen and and some cappucino liquor. Moi and my Lady Gaga inspired alligator jacket.
Advent is a big thing in Germany, being still a largely religious country thus these star inspired cakes and cookies (Advents Stern Fruit Cake and Zimsterne Cookie) are popular for the season.
Apfelstrudel and Pfannkuchen. I bought 200 grams of these yummy Truffle Salami.
German sausages and roasted chestnuts (the latter is rarely seen/available in the Netherlands).
Travel Period: December 2010
Destination: Aachen (North Rhine Westphalia), Germany
