Aachen is a city of short distances. The area surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage Aachen Cathedral already offers a high quality of stay. It is possible to stroll, stroll and linger here. To further enhance the current quality, a new pedestrian zone is to be created around the Büchel. At its meeting on July 10, 2025, the Mobility Committee instructed the administration to launch a public consultation on the idea of a pedestrian zone around the Büchel.

The ongoing projects at Büchel, including a new park in the city center and several new buildings, as well as the Haus der Neugier, are enhancing the area around Büchel. In a connected pedestrian zone, Aachen residents and tourists will experience the old town in a completely new way. The needs of residents and businesses in the district will be taken into account in further planning.

The planned pedestrian zone will initially include the following streets: Ursulinerstraße (Peterstraße to Buchkremerstraße), Buchkremerstraße, Büchel, Nikolausstraße, Kleinkölnstraße and Minoritenstraße. Mefferdatisstraße, Komphausbadstraße and Bädersteig will be added in connection with the future Haus der Neugier.

Delivery and loading in the area of the new pedestrian zone will continue to be possible for businesses and residents. In the Büchel old town district, it is permitted on weekdays at the following times: from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. and from 6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Residents can continue to drive to their parking spaces in private underground garages and private parking spaces at walking pace for an unlimited period of time. The public parking garages remain accessible via the access roads outside the pedestrian zones. People with the European blue disabled badge can park in the pedestrian zone in signposted disabled parking spaces.

The participation process for the planned pedestrian zone around the Büchel starts during the European Mobility Week from September 16 to 22. On Tuesday, September 16, there will be an information event on the topic in the future Haus der Neugier (former Horten building), Komphausbadstraße 10, in Aachen. It starts at 6.30 pm.

From September 16 to October 13, residents of the city of Aachen can submit their ideas and comments on the planned pedestrian zone in the city of Aachen via the participation portal of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. At the same time, the plans will be made public in the foyer of the administration building at Marschiertor, Lagerhausstraße 20, in Aachen at the following times: Monday to Thursday from 8 am to 5.30 pm and Fridays from 8 am to 3 pm.

During the European Mobility Week, employees of the City of Aachen will also be providing information about the planned establishment of the pedestrian zone around the Büchel: on Tuesday, September 16, and on Thursday, September 18, between 3 and 5.30 p.m. on the Platz der Demokratie am Büchel.

The city has compiled all the information on the Büchel pedestrian zone on a website: www.aachen.de/verkehrskonzept_buechel. Interested parties can also send their suggestions, questions and comments by email to the following address: verkehrskonzept_buechel@mail.aachen.de. Or they can drop their messages in the letterbox in the foyer of the administration building at Marschiertor, Lagerhausstraße 20.

Internet:

Büchel pedestrian zone: www.aachen.de/verkehrskonzept_buechel

European Mobility Week 2025, all events: www.aachenbewegt.de/kalender