The beautiful spa town of Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) was capital of the empire of Charlemagne. It is not actually on the Rhine, standing 50km (30 miles) west of Cologne on the borders of three countries – Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands – and nearby is a point where a person can stand in all three at once. Attractions in Aachen include the Cathedral (Kaiserdom); Charlemagne’s marble throne; the Octagonal Chapel; the Town Hall built between 1333 and 1370 on the ruins of the imperial palace; Suermond Museum (paintings, sculptures); and the elegant fountains of sulphurous water, bearing witness to the spa statues of the city. Each July, Aachen hosts an international horse riding, jumping and driving tournament.