The Frankenberg quarter

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious"*, buzzes around in my head as I stroll through Aachen's beautiful Frankenberg district. I walk with my eyes open, looking for the special, the one, the exciting, the unique and simply come to one conclusion: the atmosphere of the Frankenberger Viertel, the sum of thousands of fascinating and yet simple particles is what makes the district what it is. Take a little time, grab your bike, a coffee to go, a blanket (to sit on or snuggle up warm on a bench), take a walk, linger, be inspired. I'll take you on my little journey and show you my personal favorite impressions.

*Albert Einstein

The district is located between the center of Burtscheid and Forst. According to the first development plan from 1873, the area was built around the core, Frankenberg Castlewas built around the core. Nowadays, the Steffensviertel and the Viktoriaviertel are among the most beautiful and lively districts in Aachen. From an urban history point of view, the main points of Frankenberg, apart from the castle, are the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ("Frankberg Cathedral") and the new market The main axes are Oppenhoffallee and Viktoriallee.

Let's just go for a walk. The eye for detail, the perfect "detail" - if I think in photographic language or social media worlds - can wander endlessly here, can search, can find. Facades, balconies, windows and especially staircases have always fascinated me. What I can discover here within just a few streets is amazing. Characteristic architectural styles from the Gründerzeit, neo-classicism, neo-renaissance, neo-baroque, neo-gothic, mixed forms and fantasy architecture through to art nouveau and a return to strict forms result in a multifaceted mixture of the most beautiful façades. You can discover ornamentation in stucco, scrolls, turrets, straight structures, lattices, a wide variety of window shapes, extensions and loggias. I recommend letting your gaze wander upwards, up the façade, along the windows and also to the side, next to the houses; perhaps even into a house to look at a special staircase.

In most cases, the building fabric is very well preserved and the houses are very well maintained. Here you can feel the special quality of life, which starts with the style of living and extends to the lifestyle.

As an outsider who doesn't live in Frankenberg, you can sense a special vibe that must be even more special - or so I keep hearing - if the neighborhood is also the "base". Liveable, cool, stylish, self-sufficient, with its own culture - that's how it should be. A small city in a big one. Everyday life can be fully organized here: Groceries, drugstore items, bookstores, flowers, gifts, bakeries, post office and much more are spread over several streets.

If you want to socialize and indulge in culinary delights, it often only takes a few steps, as there is a variety of restaurants, cafés, bars of different nationalities, price ranges and standards. My favorites are the Oecher Eistreff, Aachen's ice cream parlor, with unusual homemade ice cream flavors such as crumble bun ice cream, the Dumont with the only beer garden in the district, the Café Soleil with cake and coffee specialties as well as delicious savory snacks such as soups and sandwiches. Incidentally, it is also a great place to concentrate on work. I like to enjoy the pure authentic Italian atmosphere in the Trattoria Bar Centrale 46 with a glass of wine and homemade pasta.

The Frankenberger Viertel is special, interesting, colorful and varied at any time of year, in any weather. For me, the weekly market, which takes place on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Neumarkt, is a kind of "pars pro toto" for life in Frankenberger. Colorful, intense, multifaceted, individual. Like the market stalls, the special coffee from Baristinho - be sure to enjoy it - the flowers, the people and the hustle and bustle.

"Only on the road can you experience the feeling of fairytale enchantment"** ... Let the district enchant you.

I love my Aachen!

**Erich Kästner