Übach-Palenberg is located just a few kilometres north of Aachen. The town owes its name to the Übach stream, which rises south of the district of the same name. It flows into the River Wurm, which runs through the town centre.
In Roman times, there was a shallow spot in the course of the Wurm river where Übach-Palenberg is located today – probably the decisive factor in the establishment of a settlement on the riverbank along the Roman road: the Via Belgica could easily cross the river here. The settlement (vicus) along the Roman road was inhabited from the first to the fourth century AD.
How the Romans bathed
About one and a half kilometres downstream – between Palenberg and Marienberg – archaeologists discovered the foundation walls of a Roman estate. Today, a Roman bathhouse can be visited here; parts of the thermal baths have since been reconstructed. Incidentally, the site of the estate is located in the Wurmtal recreational area – a breather in the countryside is guaranteed.
Monuments from other eras
In addition to Roman traces, there are other historical features to marvel at in Übach-Palenberg. For example, it is worth taking a detour to the historic water tower of the former "Carolus Magnus" mine: built in 1912, the structure consists of a hexagonal steel truss frame topped by a spherical tank that held 500 cubic metres of water – a remarkable architectural monument on the slag heap near Übach-Palenberg.
