Oh Aachen, what beautiful diversity you present to us every year - to be in the wording of the (pre-)Christmas season A Christmas market and a Christmas village at its best, intoxicatingly beautiful.
An intoxicating variety, intoxicating backdrops, intoxicating culinary delights. Once I've been there, the "Christmas ensemble" a feeling in me of warm, cozy childhood memories, the feeling of wanting to immerse myself, of wanting to go back. Imagine a feeling as a kind of powdered sugar cloud, decorated with shining stars, accompanied by the most beautiful music. Perhaps still wonderfully fragrant, carried by lightness.
Katja Esser
Cooking blogger, author of the Dreiländerschmeck cookbook, passionate cook and mom. She knows best what you can do in Aachen. Follow her tips and get to know Aachen from a completely new perspective.
I think now enough of the imaginative dream journey, because why travel far away - our dreams - when the good is so close. My personal highlights for you:
Culinary delights
Winter time is always chestnut time. A warm bag of deliciously fragrant, very simple chestnuts in my hand. Soothing. Pure nature. It stands out from all other delicacies prepared with hundreds of ingredients in thousands of variations. You will find various stands at Katschhof, Holzgraben, Münsterplatz and in the Christmas village.
If you are a lover of another classic market delicacy, I recommend the fine, well-known chocolate fruits from “Flaix” bananas, apples, berries, chocolate-coated , colorfully decorated at the “Flaix Almond Distillery” at the market.
It's salty and hearty at Hut 16 at Holzgraben . Gerrard's butcher shop on Hartmannstraße offers great home-cooked delicacies such as Aachen sauerbraten goulash, veal currywurst, kale with Mettwurst . Delicious. All I'm saying is addictive!
Prefer meatless? In the Christmas village freshly cooked cheese spaetzle awaits you alongside wonderful other delicacies . It's exciting to see how the fresh dough, rubbed over the board, becomes spaetzle in simmering water.
Honestly, what can many of us not miss when visiting a Christmas market? Exactly, the mulled wine . My – secret love – is the Oecher mulled wine meeting place at the Katschhof . Long-established family business with delicious mulled wine, cocoa, children's punch and other delicacies with and without alcohol . In addition, it is framed by the most beautiful backdrop between the town hall and the cathedral.
Culinary delights - packaged
I really like bringing something back from markets – especially our Aachen Christmas market . For myself or as a gift. As I strolled through the magical hut landscape, two things particularly caught my eye: homemade eggnogs from Liebelei , on the side of the cathedral between Münsterplatz and Katschhof, and jams, jellies and chutneys cooked with love from the Aachen Lions Club .
Through the eyes of a child
I just like two stands so much because they bring back my fondest childhood memories and memories of visiting the Christmas market with my daughter. Lovingly engraved wooden boards, spoons “Wood Fired Items” market this year This family stand has been around for 50 years and I would like to know how many children's eyes have been made to shine a breakfast board
“stone experience” is particularly individual . Choose a stone, have it cut in half by an expert on the grinding machine, accompanied by the most exciting stories from the “Stone Whisperer” , and then the wonderful revelation: you see your stone shining from the inside. An amazing experience. Every year again.
My Aachen to Go
A little piece of Aachen to take with you. I like. Maybe I can infect you. Oecher words like “Oecher Mäddche” or “Och herm” as prints on cups or on socks are great! That's what I call statement and identification at its best. Be sure to check out these pieces. History of Aachen for everyday life, as a gift.
Ecologically valuable, sustainable, social, these are the wooden puzzles from Sambamba at Katschhof. I like the intention behind it. Just go ahead, look at the motifs (there's even the Christmas market), grab the puzzle and understand the idea. Really great.
Being able to sink into the world of letters and drawings is also an exhilarating experience. And then immerse yourself in the history of Aachen. Class. I really like the Aachen comics – including those from “Charle the Little” Such a great souvenir for yourself, to give as a gift to young and old.
I am sure that a short pleasure trip following in the footsteps of another person will awaken wonderful impulses of your own . That's exactly what I want to achieve, because Aachen's Christmas magic has so many great facets. Enjoy these!
