Celebrating more than 78 Years of Friendship!

Weekend bus trip to Aachen April 24-26, 2026

*** We have a last minute opening for a double room (single or double use) ***

Dear Members and Guests,

We are excited to invite you to our weekend bus trip (April 24-26, 2026) to Aachen, the imperial capital city of Charlemagne – Karl dem Großen – who was crowned emperor in 800 AD in Rome by Pope Leo III.

Charlemagne is of utmost significance for European history – in fact he is often called the Father of Europe because of his influence on the Middle Ages and on the territory he ruled. He is seen as a founding figure by multiple European States (e.g. Germany and France). He is considered the forerunner to the line of Holy Roman Emperors, which persisted into the 19th century. As king and emperor, Charlemagne engaged in numerous reforms in administration, law, education, military organization, and religion, which shaped Europe for centuries. 

Charlemagne died in 814 in Aachen and was buried in the Palatine Chapel – an early medieval chapel and remaining component of Charlemagne’s Palace of Aachen, now the central part of the Aachen Cathedral. Together with the Cathedral Treasury, the Aachen Cathedral was the first monument on German soil to be entered in the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (Text in part excerpt engl. Wikipedia)

During our visit, we will have guided tours in the magnificent Cathedral, among other things we’ll see Charlemagne’s throne and his burial shrine, and learn more about the rich history of Charlemagne and the Aachen Cathedral. We will also visit the Cathedral Treasury (Domschatzkammer), that houses one of the most important collections of medieval church artworks in Europe. Please see below for a detailed schedule and comprehensive information >>.

Cost including accommodation (with breakfast) and the full program (bus, dome tours, treasury, city tours, all tips):
Members Single occupancy: 405 €
Members in a double room: 311 € per Person

Non-Members Single occupancy: 450 €
Non-Members in a double room: 356 € per Person
Expenses for lunches, dinners, snacks, drinks and purchases are not included. Seats are limited, first come first served.

We have a last minute opening for a double room (single or double use); if you’d like to come on this trip with us, please make your reservation asap with:

Christel Baumann: e-mail c.baumann@gac1948.de – or –
Ann Kathy Reed: e-mail: a.reed@gac1948.de
You will receive your payment information with the confirmation.

Best regards,

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Upcoming events

Saturday, May 23 Waldenbuch Old Town Tour
Saturday, June 20Playing Card Museum, Leinfelden-Echterdingen
Saturday, July 18Dornhaldenfriedhof, historic Seilbahn, Stuttgart-Degerloch
Saturday, August 8Blues in Town, Blues Band Concert, Blues Base ES-Wernau
Saturday, September 12Celtic Museum, Erkenbrechtsweiler
Saturday, September 26 Spring Fest, Canstatter Wasen
Saturday, October 10 tbd
Saturday, November 7/14Wine Tasting
Saturday, December 5 Christmas Dinner, Restaurant Alte Kanzlei, Stuttgart
Please note: Events and dates subject to change ! If you would like more information on any of these events, or would like to sign up in advance, please talk to any board member. They will put you in contact with the person planning the event.

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Schedule

Friday 24.4.– Day 1
07:30 – Gathering / bus upload at Navi address: Jahnstrasse 112, 70597 Stuttgart.
Big free parking space behind GAZI-Stadium (near the TV-Tower, not at the TV-Tower) and close to several public transport stops – please see sketch below >>. Look for a white bus that has printed either Lubina Bus or JM Reisen on it.
08:00 Bus leaves SHARP from Jahnstrasse 112, 70597 Stuttgart
We’ll make a 30 min break en route<
14:30 – Bus arrives at Hotel Motel One in Aachen – check-in / baggage-drop off
15:15 – Meet in Hotel Lobby and walk to Tourist Info Elisenbrunnen (2 mins),Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz, 52062 Aachen to meet our tour guides
15:30 – 17:00 Guided Tours of Aachen Old Town (1 E, 1 G) – will end near our Hotel
Free Time
18:00 – Dinner – Aachener Brauhaus, Kapuzinergraben 4 – only CASH PAYMENT !! -right next to the Hotel– you already chose your main meal !

Saturday 25.4. – Day 2
07:00 – 09:30 Breakfast – included
09:30 – 10:00 Walk to Cathedral Treasury (7 mins), Johannes-Paul-II-Str., 52062 Aachen, to receive tickets and audio guides
10:00 – 11:15 Cathedral Treasury – self-guided tour
11:15 – 11:30 Walk to our lunch restaurant (2 mins) “60 seconds to Napoli”, Markt 17, 52062 Aachen
11:30 – 13:30 Lunch – Italian cuisine à la carte
13:30 – 14:00 Walk to the Aachen Cathedral (3 mins), Domhof 1, 52062 Aachen,to meet our guides
14:00 – 15:00 Aachen Cathedral – two guided tours, 1English, 1German
Free Time
17:30 Meet in Hotel Lobby to walk to our dinner restaurant (9 minutes) “Zum Wehrhaften Schmied“, Jakobstraße 26, 52062 Aachen
18:00 Dinner – Greek Cuisine à la carte

Sunday 26.4. – Day 3
07:00 – 09:30 Breakfast – Checkout – please only pay your personal expenses (e.g. minibar); your accommodation (incl. breakfast and all taxes) is paid for
09:30 – 10:00 Bus upload
10:00 – 12:00  Bus departs SHARP – drive to Maria Laach
12:00 – 14:00 Lunch at Maria Laach Benedictine Abbey – Klostergaststätte – Maria Laach 0, 56653 Glees – you already chose your meal !
14:00 – 18:00 Leave Maria Laach and arrive back in Stuttgart, Jahnstrasse 112

Cost based on 20 Participants including program (bus, dome tours, treasury, city tours, all tips) and accommodation inkl. breakfast:

Members Single occupancy: 405 €
Members in a double room: 311 € per Person

Non-Members Single occupancy: 450 €
Non-Members in a double room: 356 € per Person
Personal expenses (lunches, dinners, snacks, drinks, purchases) are not included

Important Note:

We need your firm commitment and full payment according to your choice of accommodation until February 20; this is our due date to decide, if the trip is a go. If we have to cancel the trip because of lack of sign-ups, you’ll be fully refunded. If you drop out after the Club committed to and paid for the trip, we are not able to refund you. We recommend to buy a travel insurance, that covers your possible drop-out reasons (e.g. with ADAC or other insurance companies like Allianz).

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Directions to bus pick-up and parking:

By Public Transport: U15 to stop “Ruhbank”; U7 to either stop “Waldau” or stop “Ruhbank”; Bus 70 to stop “Ruhbank” or “Fernsehturm”; all stops are within easy walking distance to the bus pick-up.

By Car: Navigation address of parking and bus pick-up: Jahnstrasse 112, 70597 Stuttgart

Parking is free – red P: park your car and bus pick-up