Germany Travel
Welcome to a country of startling contrasts and surprising similarities! Welcome to Germany! Your trip to this land is sure to be a wonderful experience. 2000 years of European cultural history has left an indelible mark on this territory. Offering the perfect blend of technology, culture and tradition, Germany unveils a range of Roman baths, medieval monasteries, Gothic cathedrals, fairytale castles, sparkling streams, picturesque villages, exotic mountains, rejuvenating spas, thrilling theme parks and adventurous zoos. Colourful and lively Germany shopping locales are sure to send you on a buying spree.Each German city is unique in itself for it possesses exquisite sites of natural as well as cultural curiosity. UNESCO World Heritage has placed 32 of these sites under the protection of international conventions, designating them as sites of "extraordinary universal interest".
Germany Tourism
Whether it is the beauty of river Rhine, or the pleasure of watching giraffes on the North sea coast, or the Dolphins in the South, a visitor equally savors all these visual delights. The Berlin Zoo is home to more than 13,000 rare animal species. Suitable Germany weather makes camping in germany an exciting affair.
Germany's museums cater to a variety of themes such as art, technology , cinema, history, everyday life, etc. One gets a chance to explore Germany enjoying the modern motorways and a network of comfortable roads. Variety of therapeutic and beauty treatments offered in resorts and hotels revive a traveller’s mind and soul.
In a nutshell, a tour of Germany promises to be one of the most adventurous and thrilling experience of one’s life. In this respect Maps of Germany will prove to be a complete travel guide for Germany. So get prepared for a holiday in Germany.
Cologne
The city of Cologne, founded by the Romans, is the oldest of all the major German cities. It has over one million inhabitants and is the fourth-largest city in Germany. Apart from the famous Cathedral, twelve Romanesque churches and museums are amongst the other cultural highlights of the city. Cologne Cathedral is a symbol of grandeur and magnificence. A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. It was constructed between 1248 and 1880. At the time of its completion in the 19th century, the cathedral was the tallest building in the world.
The place where the cathedral is situated today, has been since late Roman times the place where the first Christians assembled in Cologne. 14 large aerial bombs hit it during the Second World War but it survived and after years of reconstruction it has regained its architectural beauty.
The Elbe Valley in Dresden, a UNESCO World Heritage site since July 2004 is a curious mix of natural beauty and architectural delights, of town-planning and landscape, and of historical monuments and modern mansions.The cultural landscape of the Elbe Valley in Dresden was created in the 18th and 19th centuries and extends over around 18 kilometres from the castle of Übigau in the north-west down to the castle of Pillnitz and the Elbe Island in the south-east. The centrepiece is the city centre of Dresden with its many monuments and parks built between the 16th and 20th centuries. Renaissance fortifications and stately villas from the late 19th century can be found along the banks of Elbe. Dresden Zwinger, the Frauenkirche Church, Semper Opera House and Royal Palace as well as many other historical monuments and ensembles are a must on any traveller’s itinerary. The angels from Raphael's "The Sistine Madonna" are an exquisite example of Dresden's art collections. Dresden has a lot to charm you.
FrankfurtFrankfurt, Germany's financial and transport hub, is much more than just another German city for it has some superb shopping centres, marvelous museums, interesting historic sites, world-class opera and some charming neighborhoods like Nordend and Bockenheim. It is an industrial and financial metropolis. Home to Germany’s central bank, the Bundesbank and Europe's most important stock exchange, it is regarded as the economic powerhouse not only of Germany, but also of central Europe. Situated on River Main, its major sightseeing region is the Romerberg, where Charlemagne erected his fort in medieval times. Most of the original buildings were destroyed during World War II, but some have been reconstructed now. For shopping, the favourite location is Zeil, Germany’s equivalent to New York’s Fifth Avenue. Apart from its airport, it is also famous for the annual International Book Fair, attended by thousands of publishers.
BerlinIn Berlin one would find historical buildings in perfect harmony with modern architectural structures. This capital city of Germany is very famous for its museums and art galleries. It is located in north-eastern Germany and is the center of the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan area. The Fernsehturm (TV tower) at Alexanderplatz in Mitte, at 368 meters, is the second highest building in the European Union. The Jewish Museum and the Berlin wall Museum here, featuring dynamic exhibits on Jewish culture and the history surrounding the Berlin war, respectively, should definitely be visited. Another interesting historical monument is the Brandenburg gate, deeply related to the existence of the present structure of the country. The Reichstag building, traditional seat of German Parliament, renovated in the 1950s after World War II damages, is a symbol of Germany’s federal democratic setup.
The Munich OktoberfestThe Munich Oktoberfest, one of the biggest gathering of people in Germany, is held every year in September-October months. One can enjoy Bavarian culinary specialities along with the beer of the Munich breweries and also experience the thrill of a ride in high-tech roller coasters or historical giant wheels. The Oktoberfest, or Wiesn (meaning 'meadow') is a much awaited affair, not only in Germany but also around the world. The history of Oktoberfest dates back to 1810 when the first Oktoberfest was organised by Crown Prince Ludwig (who later became King Ludwig I) to celebrate the occasion of his marriage to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. All the countrymen of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the happy royal event. Since then the fields have been named Theresienwiese ("Theresa's fields") in honor of the Crown Princess. The locals have abbreviated the name to the "Wies'n". The wedding party turned out to be one of the biggest celebrations ever, adorned with horse races, contests, beer, etc. In 1811, the farmers of Bavaria staged a second Oktoberfest as an occasion to market the produce they had just harvested and since then the event has been continued every year as a celebration of the harvest. As the crowds continued to increase year after year, caterers began putting up stalls and huge tents for food, beer, etc. The Oktoberfest is famous for its 14 marquees, with seating for altogether 100,000 guests to have a party. There are over 150 fairground attractions, sideshows and entertainments inviting all generations to participate in this event.
Zoo and Theme Parks
Sprawling wildlife beside the Rhine, jumping gibbons, exotic birds and some of the rarest species of flora and fauna await to welcome the visitors in Germany. Berlin Zoo is another attraction of this region. It is set in the centre of the city of Berlin and has more than 13,000 animals living in a natural environment. Visitors get a chance to see rare animals such as the giant panda, gorillas and kiwis in naturalistic enclosures and animal houses with unusual patterns. The three-storey aquarium promises to take the visitors on an expedition from the Great Barrier Reef with its tropical reef sharks to the crocodiles of the Amazonian jungle.
German theme parks promise you the best roller coaster ride in the world. Breathtaking stunt shows packed with movie-style action will fill you with excitement and thrill. Bavaria Filmstadt near Munich, Belantis Theme Park Leipzig, Tripsdrill Amusement Park near Stuttgart, Babelsberg Film Park in Potsdam, Movie Park Germany, etc. are some of the best theme parks of Germany. For an amazing and adventurous day, plan a trip to any of these theme parks and take a ride on the Dragon Ride roller coaster or the giant swinging ship and simply enjoy yourself.
About 1200 breweries, spanning from the North Sea to the Alps, producing almost 5000 different kinds of beer, are sure to keep you busy and happy. As regarding the taste of German beer, as the Official Tourism Website of Germany puts it that even before a drop of wine moistens the tongue, the eye already delights in the pleasures of the festive table.
The same kind of versatility is also witnessed in the case of food. Whether it is the fresh fish from the traditional Hamburg fish market, or potatoes served as salted potatoes, stewed potatoes or as potato-cakes, the Germany restaurants cater to all palates and tastes. However, Germany food cannot be thought of without sausages, served with plenty of mustard or spices, etc. Each region has its own special sausage. 300 healthy kinds of bread and fine pastries, made by expert German bakers will make yoor mouth water. German meals and drinks satiate the stomach as well as the senses.
The castles and palaces of Germany will captivate your senses and take you through a journey in a completely new world of Kings and Princes. There are several hundreds of them, from different periods, each whispering its own unique history. Some of the castles adorning the north German landscape are the Gutshaus Ludorf, Granitz Hunting Castle, Goslar Imperial Palace, Gifhorn Castle and Schwerin Castle. The Gutshaus is among the oldest and most beautiful manor-houses in Mecklenburg. It was built in 1698 by the Danish royal chamberlain, Adam Levin von Knuth in the style of the Danish Clinker Renaissance. Mannheim Palace, Imperial Castle of Nuremberg, Ludwigsburg Castle, etc. are some of the most beautiful ones in southern part of Germany.
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