Aachen
Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and later the place of coronation of the German kings, which is where it gained the reference as the "watering-place of kings." Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost city of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, 61 km (38 mi) west-southwest of Cologne. It is located within a former coal-mining region, and this fact was important in its economic history. RWTH Aachen University, one of Germany's Universities of Excellence, is located in the city. Aachen's predominant economic focus is on science, engineering, information technology and related sectors. In 2009, Aachen was ranked 8th among cities in Germany for innovation. Aachen became attractive as a spa by the middle of the 17th century, not so much because of the effects of the hot springs on the health of its visitors but because Aachen was then -and remained well into the 19th century- a place of high-level prostitution in Europe. Traces of this hidden agenda of the city's history is found in the 18th-century guidebooks to Aachen as well as to the other spas; the main indication for visiting patients, ironically, was syphilis; only by the end of the 19th century had rheumatism become the most important object of cures at Aachen and Burtscheid. Aachen was chosen as the site of several important congresses and peace treaties: the first congress of Aachen (often referred to as the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle in English) on May 2, 1668, leading to the First Treaty of Aachen in the same year which ended the War of Devolution. The second congress ended with the second treaty in 1748, ending the War of the Austrian Succession. In 1789, there was a constitutional crisis within the Aachen government, and in 1794 Aachen lost its status as a Free Imperial City.
Location
The workshop CoSeRA 2013 will be held at the RWTH Aachen, Building: Super C, Templergraben 57, 52062 Aachen, Germany.
Accommodation
Searching for an adequate hotel you can following this link: http://www.aachen-congress.de/hotels/cosera
How to reach Super C
Arrival by Car
If you take the A4, heading towards Cologne, head towards Heerlen/Antwerpen at the Aachen highway junction. Then take the second exit towards Aachen-Laurensberg. If you are on the A44 heading towards Düsseldorf, take the Aachen-Zentrum exit, which will take you directly to the A4. Take the second exit, Aachen-Laurensberg. Then turn right onto the motor highway Kohlscheider Straße towards the city center or Stadtzentrum. Follow L232 to the old city gate, Ponttor, and then turn right. After about 100 meters turn left at the first traffic light onto Wüllnerstraße. Turn right onto Templergraben at the first light. The RWTH Aachen International Office will be directly to your right in the SuperC. The International Office's Info-Service Center is on the third floor in room 329.
Arrival by Train to Aachen Westbahnhof (Aachen West Train Station), Continuing on Foot
Aachen West ist the first train station in Aachen you encounter when travelinng from the direction of Düsseldorf. Coming from the direction of Cologne, you will first arrive at Aachen Hauptbahnhof, the central railway station, from which you can take a train to Aachen West.
The main campus area of RWTH Aachen is within walking distance of Aachen West; it will take you about 10 minutes to get there by foot. Go down the steps at Aachen West and turn left. After the underpass turn right onto Geschwister-Scholl-Straße. Continue onto Schinkelstraße and you will arrive on Templergraben. The main university building will be to your left. Turn left, continue down Templergraben and you will arrive at the SuperC building, which hosts the International Office and the Info Service Center.
Arriving by Train to Aachen Hauptbahnhof (Aachen Central Station), Continuing by Bus
From the bus stop directly in front of the train station, you can take bus 13A, heading towards Eurogress/Ponttor. Alternatively, take bus line 13B from the other side of the road, heading towards Schanz/Ponttor. Both bus lines will take you to the bus stop "Technische Hochschule" on Templergraben, right in front of the main building of RWTH Aachen University. The SuperC building is next to the main building.
Arrival by Train to Aachen Hauptbahnhof (Aachen Central Station), Continuing on Foot
You will need about 30 minutes to walk from the train station to the university, during which you will be able to see part of the city center, including the cathedral and city hall. After exiting the central station, cross the street, and enter Bahnhofstraße. Continue on Bahnhofstraße until you turn left onto Theaterstraße. Continue on Theaterstraße, passing the theater. Then, turn right onto Kapuzinergraben. Take the first left onto Hartmannstraße, following it until you can turn left onto Münsterplatz. Here you should be able to get a glimpse of the cathedral. Go right onto Krämerstraße and follow the road until you arrive in the market square in front of City Hall. Go left past the Karlsbrunnen, a fountain with a statue of Charlemagne, and then turn right onto the Kockerellstraße. Follow this street up until it continues into the Eilfschornscheinstraße and continue straight ahead onto Templergraben. You will see the SuperC building to your left across the street.
Arrival by Train to Aachen Hauptbahnhof (Aachen Central Station), Continuing by Taxi
There is a reliable taxi service available at the Aachen Central Station, located directly in front of the main entrance. The cost depends on where you are headed.