Anyone waiting for the bus at the Elisenbrunnen fountain in Aachen's city center today may not necessarily know that the drinking fountain behind them is fed by what were at times the most famous springs in Europe: For the chemist Justus von Liebig (1803-1873), the Aachen-Burtscheid thermal springs had "...the first rank among all mineral springs in Europe...". The city of Aachen owes its existence to the hot springs. They have shaped Aachen's history for centuries. People from all over Europe have been drawn to them since Celtic times. The natural, pure power, great heat and special chemical composition of the springs were once considered not only healing but also sacred, and deities were worshipped in their place. The use of the hot, healing water led to the construction of buildings and the development of entire branches of industry (e.g. cloth industry, spas, mineral water production, tourism).
City of Aachen
In the minds of Aachen's population, however, the hot springs exist more as an abstract idea. Most of the spring outlets are built over and covered up, hidden in backyards or under manhole covers. The original power of the hot springs can hardly be felt. Although their water is visible in the thermal baths and some fountains, it is already heavily altered here and the connection to the source, the spring, is almost non-existent.
The Bürgerstiftung Lebensraum Aachen wants to raise awareness of the importance of Aachen's thermal springs. A "thermal water route" is to be created for Aachen: At various stations in Aachen's city center and in Burtscheid, the thermal springs - where possible - are to be marked, explained with descriptive information and brought back to life through various measures.
The Aachen Thermal Water Route was initiated and designed by a group of competent citizens working in engineering offices and the city administration. The concept is to be implemented and expanded step by step over the coming years. In addition to a map of the thermal water route with intersections to the "Route Charlemagne" (EuRegionale 2008), materials on the overall route and on individual stations are to be compiled and clearly presented. Stations along the thermal water route can be recognized by the project logo. Street names relating to the thermal springs are explained by additional signs. In this way, the "stations" at the thermal springs, former baths, current uses and the various experience and information points along the thermal water route are gradually being added to. Individual objects can be adopted by local people, schools, companies, offices or businesses in the form of a qualified sponsorship. Detailed planning, implementation and support are provided by the sponsors. The work to be carried out is of a non-profit nature.
The Aachen and Burtscheid thermal springs are the hottest springs in Central Europe, as their water finds its way to the surface from particularly deep underground (approx. 3,000 m). The water emerges from two limestone formations under Aachen's city center and under Burtscheid from fissures in the limestone rock, which has been folded up over millions of years and pushed to just below the earth's surface. On its way through the rock, the groundwater has dissolved all kinds of minerals from the soil and rock and heated up to 130°C. At the earth's surface it is still over 70°C in some places. The entire process from the infiltration of rainwater to the emergence of the springs takes many years. Because Aachen lies deeper than the area where the thermal water originates to the south of the city (Hohes Venn, Eifel), the hot groundwater emerges automatically (artesian springs) and does not have to be pumped out of the depths.
The Aachen-Burtscheid thermal water has a very high concentration of minerals compared to other thermal waters due to the long retention time underground and the high temperature - an explanation for its therapeutic effect. The main components are common salt, hydrogen carbonate, sulphate, potassium and calcium.
The rising bubbles in the water come from carbonic acid gas. Small amounts of hydrogen sulphide and sulphides give the water its characteristic smell ("rotten eggs"). The springs in Burtscheid are hotter than the springs in Aachen city center, so that hydrogen sulphide cannot form, which is why the Burtscheid springs lack the "smell of rotten eggs". The thermal springs in both Aachen and Burtscheid are strung together like a string of pearls ("Aachen and Burtscheid spring train"). There are fewer springs in the Aachen spring train.