▁mentioned ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 2 th ▁century . ▁The ▁town ▁itself ▁was ▁first ▁documented ▁in ▁ 1 2 1 9 , ▁naming ▁the ▁mayor ▁Wal ther us ▁de ▁A ken . ▁In ▁ 1 2 7 0 ▁A ken ▁received ▁its ▁town ▁char ter ▁as ▁C iv itas . ▁The ▁name ▁A ken ▁is ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁Latin ▁name ▁Aqu a ▁( location ▁at ▁or ▁near ▁the ▁water ). ▁Probably ▁this ▁was ▁a ▁foundation ▁from ▁lower ▁r hen ish ▁sett lers ▁from ▁A achen ▁which ▁is ▁sp elled ▁A ken ▁in ▁the ▁Dutch ▁language . ▁ ▁Town ▁tw in ning ▁ ▁Er w itte ▁( N orth ▁Rh ine - West phal ia ) ▁since ▁June ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁An or ▁( France ) ▁since ▁April ▁ 2 4 , ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁ ▁Culture ▁and ▁s ights ▁▁▁ ▁historical ▁town ▁hall ▁ ▁two ▁medieval ▁churches : ▁St . ▁Nicholas ▁and ▁St . ▁Mary ▁ ▁" St one ▁K emen ate " ▁( he ated ▁resident ial ▁building ) ▁from ▁the ▁ 1 3 th ▁century ▁with ▁arch es ▁ ▁town ▁wall ▁from ▁the ▁Middle ▁A ges ▁with ▁ 3 ▁remaining ▁to wers ▁ ▁passenger ▁navigation ▁on ▁the ▁river ▁El be ▁ ▁B ios phere ▁Reserve ▁Middle ▁El be ▁ ▁Notable ▁persons ▁ ▁Honor ary ▁citizens ▁▁▁ ▁Friedrich ▁Wilhelm ▁Stein bre cht , ▁lieutenant ▁in ▁L üt z ow ▁Free ▁Corps ▁▁ 2 0 0 1 : ▁Otto ▁B ene cke , ▁head ▁of