Westpark, Aachen Travel Guide

4.4 (1937)

A green escape in Aachen: Westpark offers recreation, sports, and a touch of history for locals and tourists alike.

Westpark in Aachen offers a serene escape with expansive lawns, vibrant flowerbeds, and winding paths. Once a zoological garden and a recuperation center for soldiers during WWI, it now serves as a recreational hub for locals and tourists alike, featuring sports facilities and designated barbecue areas.

A brief summary to Westpark

Vaalser Str. 112, Aachen, 52074, DE
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From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Westpark.

Visit during the spring to see the park's vibrant blooms.
Bring a picnic blanket to enjoy lunch on the expansive lawns.
Check local listings for events or festivals happening in the park.

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Other nearby places you may find interesting

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Elisenbrunnen

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Explore Westpark on the Map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots near Westpark, mapped for you.

Getting There

Public Transport

From Aachen Hauptbahnhof (main train station), take Tram Line 1 towards 'Alsenborn' and get off at the 'Vaalser Str.' stop (approximately 10 minutes). Walk along Vaalser Strasse for about 400 meters to find Westpark on your left at Vaalser Str. 112. A single fare for a short trip is approximately €1.80.
Walking

From Aachen's central market square, walk west towards the Elisenbrunnen (a historic spa house). From Elisenbrunnen, continue straight onto Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz and turn right onto Vaalser Strasse. Walk along Vaalser Strasse for approximately 1.5 kilometers. Westpark will be on your left at Vaalser Str. 112. This walk takes approximately 20-25 minutes.
Parking

Several parking garages are in Aachen. Consider using the Park + Ride system. Park at locations like P+R Westfriedhof on Vaalser Straße and take a bus to the city center. A Park+Ride ticket, costing €5, covers return bus travel for up to 5 people to destinations within Aachen's Alleenring. Parking garages in the city center charge hourly rates, typically around €2-3.

Discover more about Westpark

Westpark, nestled in the western part of Aachen, is a vibrant public park with a rich history. Bounded by Gartenstraße, Welkenrather Straße, and Vaalser Straße, the park offers a green retreat from the city's hustle.Originally, the area was acquired in 1882 by a committee led by Emil Lochner, a textile factory owner, leading to the creation of the Lochnergarten in 1885. That same year, the park opened as the Aachen zoological garden, showcasing around 50 giant snakes, bears, tigers, and numerous domestic animals. A glass palace, accommodating up to 3,000 visitors, was constructed near the park in 1882, adding to its allure.During World War I, the glass palace was repurposed into a hospital and recovery home for soldiers, but it was destroyed by fire in 1917. The park was revived and renamed Westpark in 1920. A smaller glass palace was rebuilt in 1922. Before and during World War II, between 1935 and 1944, it was known as "Tier- und Pflanzengarten Aachen" (animal and plant garden Aachen). A large portion of the animals died during a bomb attack in 1944, and the remaining animals were sold.Today, Westpark is a popular recreational spot, offering a football field, table tennis, a basketball court, and playgrounds. Visitors can also enjoy niche sports like slacklining and frisbee. Barbecuing is permitted in designated areas on Weststraße. The park's accessible paths cater to visitors with mobility challenges.