Maria Montessori Gesamtschule (comprehensive school) is located in Aachen, a city near Cologne, that is right on the border of the Netherlands and Belgium. Our city is surrounded by beautiful forests and mountains (the Eifel). Aachen has a population of 280,000. It is known for its long and illustrious history, beginning with the Romans and, most famously, for being home to Charlemagne. This history is best seen in the ancient cathedral, the oldest of its kind north of the Alps. Today, Aachen is also famous for its top-tier technical university (the RWTH). Our school has 1,300 students (aged 10-19) and 110 teachers. We integrate all children according to their different abilities and preferences, which is a basic principle based on Maria Montessori's theories. Our main teaching principles are: developing a global understanding, cultural, political and scientific knowldege, and assuming responsibility for one's own life, the society and future. When getting to know another school, we would love to visit each other, learn about each other's culture, talk, and laugh together.