Palace of Aachen Palace
Charlemagne's surviving palace complex and medieval imperial hall
Carolingian palace complex associated with Charlemagne in Aachen, adjoining the Palatine Chapel (Aachen Cathedral); tourists come for early medieval architecture and the cathedral treasury.
Palace of Aachen at a Glance#
Address: Katschhof 1, 52062 Aachen, Germany
Website: https://www.aachen.de/
How to Get to Palace of Aachen#
The Palace of Aachen (Aachener Dom and the adjoining historic palace area) is in Aachen city centre. From Aachen Hauptbahnhof it’s an easy walk of about 10-15 minutes (roughly 1 km) to the cathedral and palace area. By car Aachen is about 70 km west of Cologne via the A4 motorway; regional and long‑distance trains (DB ICE/RE) run frequently to Aachen from Cologne, Düsseldorf and other Rhine-Ruhr cities.
Tips for Visiting Palace of Aachen#
- Visit first thing in the morning when the cathedral and Palatine Chapel are least crowded, and check mass/tour times - the chapel interior (Charlemagne's Palatine Chapel) can be particularly busy around services.
- Buy a ticket to the Cathedral Treasury (Domschatzkammer) - the collection of reliquaries and medieval objects is separate and often overlooked by visitors focused only on the chapel.
- Combine a short guided tour or audio guide with your visit to better understand the Carolingian architecture and the palace's role in Charlemagne's court; self-guided visitors commonly miss key details in the chapel's decoration.
Best Time to Visit Palace of Aachen#
Visit Aachen in spring or early summer for mild weather and smaller crowds; summer is warmer but busier.
Weather & Climate near Palace of Aachen#
Palace of Aachen's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 0°C to 22°C. Moderate rainfall (874 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 0° - 5° | -1° | 73 mm | overcast | 91% | 4.3 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.4h |
| February | Poor | 0° - 6° | -1° | 67 mm | overcast | 88% | 4.0 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.9h |
| March | Acceptable | 3° - 10° | 3° | 74 mm | overcast | 83% | 4.0 m/s | 0.4 low | 11.7h |
| April | Good | 4° - 13° | 7° | 58 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 3.6 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 13.6h |
| May | Good | 9° - 18° | 13° | 71 mm | overcast | 76% | 3.3 m/s | 1.1 high | 15.3h |
| June | Good | 11° - 20° | 16° | 82 mm | overcast | 74% | 3.2 m/s | 1.4 high | 16.2h |
| July | Very Good | 13° - 23° | 18° | 82 mm | overcast | 71% | 3.2 m/s | 1.3 high | 15.7h |
| August | Very Good | 13° - 23° | 18° | 70 mm | overcast | 72% | 3.0 m/s | 1.1 high | 14.3h |
| September | Good | 11° - 19° | 15° | 73 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 3.2 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 12.5h |
| October | Acceptable | 7° - 14° | 11° | 68 mm | overcast | 83% | 3.5 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.6h |
| November | Poor | 4° - 9° | 3° | 73 mm | overcast | 90% | 3.8 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.8h |
| December | Poor | 2° - 6° | 0° | 83 mm | overcast | 92% | 4.1 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.9h |
