Aachen

Aachen is a historic city in western Germany, near the borders of Belgium and the Netherlands. It is famous for its stunning Aachen Cathedral, where Charlemagne was buried, and which served as the coronation site for German kings for over 600 years. The city is also known for its hot springs, making it a popular spa destination since Roman times.

Aachen dialect

The local tongue of Aachen is Öcher Platt (or Aachener Platt), a dialect of the Ripuarian language group, which is part of the larger Central Franconian dialect continuum. Öcher Platt shares similarities with neighboring dialects spoken in Cologne (Kölsch) and parts of Belgium and the Netherlands. While it has declined in daily use among younger generations, it remains part of local identity and is still spoken by some older residents and celebrated in cultural events, music, and Carnival (Karneval) traditions.

Asterix in Öcher Platt

The Öcher Platt translations of Asterix were done by Markus Krings and Elmar Nothhelfer. “Asterix d’r Jallier” (2021) was published by Éditions Albert René in collaboration with local sponsors in Aachen. “Asterix een Botsched” (2023) was also translated by Krings and localized to Aachen’s Burtscheid district.