On its circa 800 square metres, the permanent exhibition in the “Centre Charlemagne – Neues Stadtmuseum Aachen” offers a tour through the history of Aachen from the Neolithic to the present day. One of the main focuses is the history and the legend of Charlemagne. Without him, the city would never have attained its historical significance as the residence of the Carolingian ruler, as a medieval city of coronations, or, after 1945, as a place of European remembrance.

“Centre Charlemagne” – the name of the City Museum – pays homage to Charlemagne as the ancestor of Europe and the founding father of two nations: France and Germany. The name expresses the openness of the house to all citizens of and visitors to the city. This is reflected in the broad range of topics and in the versatile and multilingual communication of content. The interactive character of the museum is evident in more than 30 modern media stations. The whole house is barrier-free.

There is an auditorium for talks and lectures, and for film shows. A separate area for projects with school classes, special kids’ zones and a history lab at the centre of the permanent exhibition room are all key elements of the museum’s educational programme. The foyer houses a Museum Shop, and “Karls” Café for those seeking refreshment and relaxation.