Equipark Aachen — A Deep Dive
Aachen in western Germany hosts the CHIO Aachen — the World Equestrian Festival — every July. It is the largest annual equestrian event in the world by attendance, attracting half a million spectators across 10 days. The Aachen showground is purpose-built for the event and quiet for much of the year.
History
CHIO Aachen dates to 1924. The event has expanded to include FEI competitions in jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, and vaulting — the only annual event combining all FEI disciplines at international level.
Main Stadium
The main jumping stadium holds 40,000 spectators. The Nations Cup of Aachen is one of the most prestigious in the world.
Dressage Stadium
Separate stadium for dressage. The Aachen Grand Prix Dressage is a major qualifier and showcase event.
Eventing
Cross-country course set in the Soers landscape. Eventing is the smallest discipline at CHIO but well-followed.
Driving
World-class driving competition (four-in-hand teams). Continental driving heartland.
Vaulting
International vaulting competition; Germany is the discipline's heartland.
CHIO Programme
The 10-day programme combines competitive sport with shows, exhibitions, and major social events. Tickets range from grounds-only to grandstand.
Soers Park
The wider Aachen Soers park hosts horse-related exhibitions and trade stands during CHIO.
Booking
CHIO tickets open in autumn for the following July. Best seats for the Grand Prix sell out by spring.
Combining
Aachen pairs with the Belgian and Dutch Maastricht/Liège riding trail circuits. The Maastricht-Aachen-Liège equine triangle is a sub-regional cluster.
Getting there
Aachen Hauptbahnhof has ICE and Thalys connections from Brussels, Cologne, Paris, and Amsterdam. International airports at Maastricht, Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Brussels all within 1-2 hours.
Best time
Early July for CHIO (10 days). Off-season visits possible to the showground and the Cavallo museum at Aachen.
Cultural extras
Aachen Cathedral (Charlemagne's chapel, UNESCO World Heritage) and the Marrakesch market complete a cultural city visit.
Explore on the map
All venues mentioned above are pinned on the interactive map. Use it to plan a visit, compare regions, and find centres near your travel route.