My Aachen with children
Smell, feel, taste, see and play!
‘Three things have remained to us from paradise: stars, flowers and children’ is a wonderful quote that I always let flow into my thoughts when I think about how children can be part of our daily routine. By this I mean how it is possible to consider all our desires and moods, to get them under one ‘hat’ - in everyday life and in our free time.
Is this question always on your mind? For example, when thinking about trips and holidays?
City trip with children
For me, a city trip with children is wonderful and exciting. It's so ‘educational’ for us adults when we get involved with the little ones, take in their point of view, enjoy their big eyes, their laughter, their senses. I want to take you with me, give you inspiration to conquer some beautiful corners of my Aachen with a child!
You can experience a true sensory experience - seeing, tasting, smelling, feeling - on my little route through the city centre.
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Can you taste a stinky smell? Aachen's sensory intoxication
We start in front of the Elisenbrunnen. Once and still today the symbol of Aachen's spa and bathing culture, the large hall looks like a proud monument for little feet to stomp through.
In the spring and summer months, little water babies can refresh their hands and feet, giggling loudly in water fountains in front of the Elisenbrunnen and enjoy the beautiful water. I advise you to have a towel and even a change of clothes to hand.
The Kaiserquelle spring in the Elisenbrunnen hall offers a less refreshing, even stronger-smelling sensory stimulus. The oh-so-stinky spring water can be tasted at a small drinking fountain. So take a cup with you and start the ultimate ‘stinky eggs’ odour drinking test. Who will win the test of courage? Not only tasting is a real sensory experience here; feeling the warm spring water and the smell also trigger a real sensory rush in the little ones. Yuck!
Conquering a historic fountain with feeling and movement
The next stop is the famous puppet fountain in Krämerstraße, where children and adults alike can move various limbs of Aachen figures to their heart's content. Small contest: Who can spot the professor, town musicians, equestrian sports, clown, fashion doll and professor?
History, culture, a good coffee and kids playing: Centre Charlemagne city museum
All in one? That's definitely possible. Because in the Centre Charlemagne, the modern city museum between the town hall and the cathedral, you can take a short trip through Aachen's history. Numerous interactive displays provide individual tidbits of knowledge, with the focus on Charlemagne. Quite exciting for young and old. ‘Karl's Café’, in the entrance area of the museum, is the perfect place to savour the taste buds. Whether coffee specialities, cakes, soups or paninis: everything is delicious and served with love. A small children's play corner sweetens the stay! A highlight for me and so important was always a spacious sanitary area with a changing table that you can reach with a pushchair. A big plus point!
When the weather is nice, lingering at the tables on the terrace is wonderful, as the children can run across the car-free Katschhof, climb up and down steps and perhaps also discover the large ventilation in Karl's herb garden at the back of the town hall. Simply stand on it and let their hair and jumpers be blown up. Loud squealing is guaranteed here.
On the trail of the Lousberg or perhaps even the devil?
If you want to enjoy yourself in the countryside and away from the shopping centres, the Lousberg is the place for you.
At over 260 metres above sea level, the Lousberg is a real gem of diversity in terms of flora and fauna. Families with children can discover so much. Hike the mountain, climb the old columns of the ‘Aachen Acropolis’, laze on hammocks, sniff the flowers, gaze into the distance, look for traces of the devil and so much more. For me, lingering on the middle level by the pillars and a pedal pool is the best place with children. ‘It's magical here, Mum,’ my daughter told me recently. If you like excitement, introduce the little ones to the legend of the devil and look for traces of feet and hooves. Pretty spooky!
Take a look at the stars, please!
My tip for families with older children and little explorers: a visit to the Aachen Observatory, which needs to be planned a little in advance, as guided tours are only available on certain dates!
Aachen with children is so colourful, exciting and eventful when we adults embark on a sensory journey and enjoy every moment. Why not go on a search for traces of the devil, taste some disgusting water, let your hair be blown up? So much is possible and makes you happy.
I love my Aachen!