As you walk from the Aachener Weiher up the Aachener Berg, there's a significant amount of history buried beneath you — specifically, at a depth of 10-30 centimeters. This is the building material that, after World War II, literally turned Cologne into debris and ashes. Like many other cities, Cologne faced the question: What to do with the masses of rubble? Cologne had a significantly large problem, with 30 million cubic meters of rubble to manage. For comparison, this equals 2 times the storage volume of the Ennepetalsperre or filling 15 Cheops (Great) Pyramids.
Rubble recycling didn't pay off, so those in charge of the project—including sculptor Ewald Mataré, architect Wilhelm Riphan, and art collector Josef Haubrich—created several rubble hills in the open spaces around Cologne and in the green belt, strategically planting them. The principle back then was as follows: Remove four bricks from the rubble hill, pour a bucket of soil in the gap, and plant a tree. Today, green elevations, woodland, and bushes thrive on the edge of the Aachener Weiher, flourishing on the limestone past.
The Aachener Weiher itself—named after the Aachener Straße that already existed in Roman times—was created as an artificial, nearly square lake in 1920.
Rubble recycling didn't pay off, so those in charge of the project—including sculptor Ewald Mataré, architect Wilhelm Riphan, and art collector Josef Haubrich—created several rubble hills in the open spaces around Cologne and in the green belt, strategically planting them. The principle back then was as follows: Remove four bricks from the rubble hill, pour a bucket of soil in the gap, and plant a tree. Today, green elevations, woodland, and bushes thrive on the edge of the Aachener Weiher, flourishing on the limestone past.
The Aachener Weiher itself—named after the Aachener Straße that already existed in Roman times—was created as an artificial, nearly square lake in 1920.
Relaxing, Grilling, and Sporting Around the Lake
The Aachener Weiher, along with its surrounding area and picnic areas, has developed over time into a popular and well-frequented meeting place for grilling, sunbathing, and sports, especially in the summer, due to its proximity to the city and the Belgian Quarter. The water depth is a maximum of 1.40 m, and in the pond itself, fish like eels, pike-perch, perch, carp, roach, and bream are native. Swimming is, of course, prohibited—as it is in all park ponds.Beer Garden at Aachener Weiher
At the edge of the pond towards the city, you'll find the Aachener Biergarten with 900 seats, offering small snacks and larger dishes alongside beer and refreshments. Despite its large capacity, it fills up quickly in the summer.On the Edge of the Aachener Weiher: The Museum of East Asian Art
If you're in the mood for tranquility, art, and culture, it's best to stroll to the other side of the pond towards Universitätsstraße to the significant Museum of East Asian Art. Built following the plans of Bauhaus student Kunio Maekawa, the museum building integrates the Aachener Weiher, placing an outdoor sculpture on an artificial island, which can be admired from the museum's outdoor terrace—including the view over the pond and Cologne's green history.Useful Information
Eligibility
for Groups
for families
for individual guests
Suitable for Pushchair
Payment methods
Entrance Free
Parking facilities
The walk from the stop Universitätsstraße (Tram: 1, 7) to the Aachener Weiher takes about 6 minutes.
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