On Tuesday, October 21, the time has come: Lord Mayor Sibylle Keupen and Gerhard Laux, Chairman of the association Via Democratia Europa e.V., will unveil the official plaque of the "European Route of Democracy" at 1.30 pm at the Centre Charlemagne at Katschhof. Aachen will thus officially become part of the 850-kilometer-long "VIA DEMOCRATIA EUROPA", a unique symbol of togetherness and the democratic values of Europe.

"With Germany's first permanent citizens' council, Aachen is already a beacon of democracy," says a delighted Keupen. "Especially in times when political debates are often heated, we need places that remind us of the quality of our democracy and make it tangible." Laux adds: "Aachen is symbolic of a united Europe - and that's exactly why it's great that the city will now be part of the European Route. The plaque will be a visible sign of our shared history and future."

To mark the occasion, the association has published a multilingual cultural travel guide: "VIA DEMOKRATIA EUROPA - Discover what connects". This travel guide is not only a practical companion for explorers, but also tells exciting stories about European democracy and its roots in the region. So if you want to not only discuss democracy, but also experience it on a very special journey, you are cordially invited to explore the VIA DEMOCRATIA EUROPA, now with Aachen as a new stop.

The European Route of Democracy connects the three central institutions of the EU, Strasbourg (legislative), Luxembourg (judicial) and Brussels (executive), and leads through breathtaking landscapes, cultural highlights and lively border regions. Aachen, as the border triangle between Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, is thus given a stage to showcase its special role as a vibrant place of democracy.