When travel writer Megan DeMatteo (@megdematteo) explored Aachen – one of Germany’s 17 Historic Highlights heritage cities with 700+ years of authentic history – she found herself wonderfully overwhelmed by a single August day that spanned two millennia.
Aachen truly made history feel immediate and alive
Megan DeMatteo
What DeMatteo’s Instagram Reveals: In a refreshingly honest take, this American traveler admits to being “swept away” by Aachen’s layers of history, all encountered in one sunny day. Her itinerary was reminiscent of time travel, as she visited Anne Frank’s grandmother’s former home, a century-old bakery, and a tavern that predates American independence by centuries. She spent an hour transfixed by the stained glass surrounding Charlemagne’s tomb (relatable), then hopped a bus to Aachen Thermen, where a statue of the emperor himself watches modern Germans engage in communal soaking – because some traditions transcend centuries. DeMatteo calls out the “sulfury hot spring water” while acknowledging this is precisely what makes the place authentic.
DeMatteo’s Aachen Highlights:
- History Overload – She walked from Roman springs to medieval emperors to WWII connections in a single day
- Charlemagne’s Continuing Presence – His tomb captivated her for an hour; his statue still presides over modern bathers
- The American Perspective – Her mind-blown moment eating in a tavern older than the United States itself
- Modern Meets Ancient – She witnessed contemporary Germans steaming and soaking where Romans once did
- The Historic Germany Connection – She credits @historicgermany for helping plan her Rhine heritage city route
@megdematteo’s Aachen Takeaway: “If you’re into cobblestones, cathedrals, and a side of sulfery hot spring water,” she writes, “this is your sign to add Aachen to your hidden gem travel list.” Her verdict? This Historic Highlights city “truly made history feel immediate and alive” – proving that sometimes the best travel discoveries happen when American brains meet two thousand years of German history in one perfectly overwhelming day.
[See Megan DeMatteo’s full Aachen adventure on Instagram @megdematteo]