At the end of November, I headed to Brussels, Belgium for a family reunion weekend. Whilst Brussels is certainly worth visiting, lured by the promise of Christmas cheer, Gluewein and festive aromas – we chose to spend a day in Aachen, Germany, home to the world-famous Aachen Christmas Market!

Considered to be one of the very best in Germany, the market is easily accessible by train from the Netherlands, Belgium and France making it ideal for a day trip in the run-up to Christmas. Fun fact – it’s also the closest German city to Britain.

Every year, for these four weeks before Christmas, the ancient, atmospheric squares and lanes around Aachen Cathedral and the town hall are transformed into the ultimate Christmas village and a focal point for Aacheners and visitors to the city.

Aachen took me by surprise. This city was barely on my radar prior to my family’s suggestion we go there, but by the end, I found myself wishing I could spend the evening and night there, curled up in a cosy traditional bar, nursing a steaming mug of something spiced. Aachen felt a very manageable size, welcoming to visitors and bursting with fascinating history.

We spent our morning gathering our bearings, meandering the pretty cobblestone streets, admiring the impressive architecture and diving into the festive stalls offering endless seductive smells, gifts and tasty treats.

The glittering interior of Aachen Cathedral, located in the heart of the old city was next in our sights. I had heard it was the first place to be granted UNESCO status in Germany, and with good reason. The interior was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. My eyes were immediately drawn to the dazzling, intricate motifs of gold and blue set against grand marble arches that speak to the status of the man buried within, a fitting final resting place of Charlemagne, the Holy Roman Emperor. Later, we learned not only of Charlemagne but also all of the history of Aachen up to the present day at the fascinating Centre Charlemagne Museum.

As the day turned to evening, we sought refuge from November chill in the dimly lit, unbelievably cosy, Dom Keller bar. Here we relaxed with delicious Belgian beers and German Gluewein by candlelight. The atmosphere was so warm and inviting I could have stayed there for hours longer.

Our final destination was Aachener Brauhaus for dinner, a charmingly traditional German restaurant with a frequent line of hungry Germans snaking out the door. Miraculously, without a reservation, we were squeezed into an equally snug booth table and treated to an evening of rich, hearty German food and fare.

As we headed back to the Aachen Hbf train station, passing the paradise of brightly coloured Christmas lights, a jolly brass band and the plethora of Christmas trees emitting wafts of pungent pine, I concluded a day in Aachen might just be the perfect way to kick off the festive season.

Here’s a quick look at our delightfully festive day in Aachen, Germany.

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