Media museum in an Aachen townhouse from 1495 with one of the world's largest newspaper collections – more than 200,000 issues from five centuries.
April 2, 2026 – November 22, 2026
Small exhibition in the library marking the Charlemagne Prize (Karlspreis) awarded to Mario Draghi: Italian newspapers from four centuries, including papers from South Tyrol, curiosities, and numerous "gazettes".
The foundation was laid by Oskar von Forckenbeck (1822–1898), a lawyer and former mayor of Rheine, who collected newspapers on his travels through many countries. He showed a first selection at Aachen's Suermondt-Museum in February 1886. After his death, his widow gave the roughly 80,000 newspapers and 1,500 books to the city of Aachen.
In 1931 the collection moved into the "Großes Haus von Aachen" (Great House of Aachen) at Pontstraße 13, also known as Haus Rupenstein. This unusually large stone building was created in 1495 when the alderman Heinrich Dollart had two older houses combined, and it has been owned by the city since 1660; among other things, it served as the town weighhouse, a customs station, a salt depot, and a police station. After World War II, the museum reopened on October 19, 1962, as part of a commemoration of the news pioneer Paul Julius Reuter, who had started his news service in Aachen using carrier pigeons.
After decades with a largely unchanged presentation and a debate in the meantime about closing it, the building was remodeled as a station of the Route Charlemagne and reopened in the early 2010s with a newly conceived media museum. It deals with how news is made, mass media, press freedom, and manipulation. Today the collection comprises more than 200,000 newspapers, including first, special, and final editions from around the world; a large part can be searched online.
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6Apprentices, university students aged 21 and over, volunteer service participants, holders of the Ehrenamtskarte (volunteer card), ALUMNI Card, or Kurkarte (spa visitor's card) |
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 6 · Children up to age 6 free. Visitors up to and including age 21 from the city and StädteRegion Aachen free, from elsewhere €4. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · People with severe disabilities and their companions get free admission. |
| Students & apprentices | €6University students aged 21 and over reduced; younger students are treated like visitors up to age 21. Students of Aachen universities free as part of courses. |
| Groups (8+ people) | €6 per personGroup tours plus admission: 60 min. €70 (weekdays) or €80 (Sundays/public holidays), 90 min. €105/€120; in other languages €80–135. School and kindergarten tours €45–55. |
| Families | €242 adults and 2 children aged 7 and over; each additional child €4. |
| Public guided tour (Sundays at 14:00) | €3plus museum admission |
| Museumscard "Six for Six" (six Aachen museums, six months) | €30reduced €18 |
| Museumscard "Four for Six" | €20reduced €12 |
| Museumscard "Two for Six" | €10reduced €6 |
Prices according to the fee schedule of the Aachen museums from March 1, 2026 (valid for permanent and temporary exhibitions; changes possible for major exhibitions). An info box on other pages of the museum website still lists older prices (€6/reduced €3, groups €3, temporary exhibitions €7–15). The café, museum shop, and library are free to enter.
According to the museum, the permanent exhibition, current temporary exhibition, and library are accessible; on the first floor there is also an accessible version of all museum content. Guide dogs allowed.
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 6 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €24 · 2 adults and 2 children aged 7 and over; each additional child €4. |
Museum service with tours and workshops for children's groups (ages 5–12) and teenagers (ages 12–16) by registration. Free admission up to and including age 21.
Kármán-Auditorium
Bus to "Kármán-Auditorium" (line 4) or "Elisenbrunnen" (almost all lines); from the center on foot through the pedestrian zone. ASEAG combination ticket with museum admission available.
Parking available
Parking garages Rathaus (Mostardstraße) and Seilgraben in the area.
Café "Good News" (about 30 seats inside plus outdoor seating, Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00) with newspapers from around the world. Cloakroom opposite the ticket desk and lockers.
Café (30 seats), outdoor seating area, and museum foyer for receptions, presentations, corporate events, and celebrations such as weddings, First Communions, and birthdays; rentals through the city of Aachen's Kulturbetrieb (locations-aachen.de).
Inquiries & details| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Public themed tours on Sundays at 14:00 (€3 plus admission; limited number of participants, no reservations, tickets at the ticket desk from 30 minutes beforehand). Group and school tours as well as workshops through the Museumsdienst (museum education service), tel. 0241 432-4998, museumsdienst@mail.aachen.de. Food and drinks not allowed in the exhibition rooms. |
All 9 museums in Aachen All museums in North Rhine-Westphalia
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