Wartburg - This castle has an extremely rich history; it inspired several notable people, such as Richar Wagner, whose opera Tännhauser uses the elements from the contest of the minstrels held at the castle in 1207, and Martin Luther, who took shelter here and translated the New Testament of the Bible into German in the 16th century
Festung Königstein - The Königstein Fortressis located atop a mountain overlooking the river Elbe, next to the town which bears the same name as the citadel; until the early 20th century it housed both a regular military garrison and a prison
Schloss Sanssouci - This marvelous palace at Potsdam once belonged to the renowned Prussian king, Frederick the Great, and today it's a major tourist attraction; the palace was built in Rococo style in 1747
Schloss Charlottenburg - This lovely baroque palace consists of Altes Schloss (Old Palace), the White Hall (an extension to the palace) and a lush palace garden; it normally takes a whole day to fully explore this huge complex
Burg Hohenzollern - This impressive castle was the home of the Hohenzollern family, rulers of Prussia and Brandenburg until early 20th century; a marvelous treasury is one of the castle's highlight, along with the Crown of Wilhelm II, the last Prussian Crown Prince, who is buried in the fortress; the belongings of Frederick the Great are an additional must-see here
Schloss Heidelberg - The remains of Schloss Heidelberg, located above Heidelberg's Old Quarter, are one of the most significant ruins of Renaissance castles in southwestern Germany; the construction of the castle began in the 13th century and was finished by 1650
Burg Rheinfels - This once powerful fort, built in 1245 by Count Diether V,and destroyed in 1796 by French revolutionary troops, is now a ruin for
the most part, although some structures have been turned into a luxury
wellness complex
Marksburg - Castle Marksburg, located above the town of Braubach among many lush gardens and vineyards, is a beautiful sight; it was constructed in 1117 and in spite of the numerous restorations and remodellings that it underwent under its subsequent owners, it still retains a genuine Middle Ages atmosphere
Burg Eltz - This picturesque Romanesque-Gothic fort, located in lush hills that stand above the river Moselle, consists of more than hundred rooms which are divided into three parts
Schloss Neuschwanstein - Speaking of fairytale castles, it can be said for Schloss Neuschwanstein that it actually is one - it was the model for Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty's castle representations in Disneyland; the sight is visited by 1.3 million people annually; the castle's surrounds offer excellent hiking opportunities
Schloss Linderhof - This 19th century castle is relatively small and represents one of three palaces built by King Ludwig II; Linderhof is a magical place, surrounded by amazing landscape, lovely gardens, beautiful sculptures and fountains.
Schloss Herrenchiemsee - This magnificent palace is the largest one built by Ludwig II; it shares common characteristics of all the projects undertaken by this eccentric Bavarian monarch: the palace was erected at a tremendous cost, but Ludwig spent there less than two
weeks
Würzburg Residenz - The Baroque Würzburg Residence, constructed in 1744, was designed by several distinguished French and Austrian architects, while the interior frescoes were made by Venetian artists; much of the palace was destroyed in 1945, during WWII, and it took over 30 years of reconstruction and a lot of funding to return it to the original state
The backside of the Cologne Dome
Churches
Kölner Dom (Cologne) - This amazing Gothic cathedral, officially named Hohe Domkirche St. Peter und Maria, is one of the largest churches in the world. Its construction began in 1248 and it was finished more than 6 centuries later - in 1880
Freiburg Münster (Freiburg) - Construction of this Gothic cathedral was carried out in three stages over two centuries (12th and 13th); one of the main highlights of the Freiburg Münster are its amazing
stained glass windows, adorned with emblems of the guilds which donated
them
Ulm Münster (Ulm) - Reaching the height of 162 metres, this impressive Gothic edifice is the highest church in the word; until 1901 it was the world's tallest habitable, self-supporting
structure; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is said to have played on the minster organ,
which was the largest instrument of that type at the time, and today
regular organ concerts are held on weekends and holidays
Berliner Dom (Berlin) - Built in 1905, this neo-Renaissance cathedral is quite a recent addition to the city; it suffered heavy damage from allied bombs during WWII, and its
reconstruction lasted from 1975 until 1993, when its doors opened once
again
Aachener Dom (Aachen) - The Kaiserdom (Imperial Cathedral), as it is often referred to, is the oldest cathedral in northern Europe; the cathedral was built in 805 and consencrated by Pope Leo II; its construction was ordered by Charlemagne, whose remains are buried in the shrine within the palace chapel; the extremely rich treasury of the cathedral holds many precious items,
including the Lothar's Cross and the former sarcophagus of Charlemagne
Mainzer Dom (Mainz) - The 10th century Roman Catholic Cathedral in Mainz, located in the Old
Town district, goes by several different names today - Mainzer
Dom, Der Hohe Dom zu Mainz and St Martin's Cathedral; the church housed numerous coronations including those of Rudolf von Rheinfeld, Philip of Swabia and Frederick II
Wormser Dom (Worms) - Consecrated in 1110, the Cathedral of St Peter and Paul in Worms is among the most exquisite churches in the region; the cathedral which was built using a characteristic red sandstone is known for its 4 towers and two domes; its bulky Romanesque exterior is in direct contrast with the aura of elegance and dignity which dominates the interior
Speyer Dom (Speyer) - This cathedral is a fine example of a Romanesque church; the building sports a
gallery surrounded by columns that stretch around the whole basilica; the four square towers, 71 meters high, are
symmetrically positioned at the corners of the cathedral; Historic Museum located near the cathedral houses
some of the artifacts found in the crypt of the church
Dom St Blasien (Baden-Würtemberg) - This neoclassical church features an enormous dome, 46 meters in
diameter and 63 meters tall, the third largest cupola in Europe; this
church is an amazing sight, contrasting the Black Forest of
Baden-Würtemberg with its gleaming whiteness
Asamkirche (Munich) - This chruch was built in Bavarian rococo style - both the facade and the interior are lavishly decorated; numerous sculptures, paintings and other works of art blend well with each other and the building itself
Wieskirche (Steingaden) - This is yet another example of a rococo church; it was constructed by
Dominikus Zimmermann in the middle 18th century, and became a UNESCO
protected site in 1983
Frauenkirche (Dresden) - The historical landmark was razed to the ground by allied bombing runs
in 1945, and was eventually reconstructed and consecrated again in 2005; Frauenkirche's gigantic dome, topped with a golden orb and a cross which
were cast by a master goldsmith using technology from the 18th century,
is particularly impressive
St Nikolaikirche (Kalkar) - This Catholic church, whose construction started in 1230, features as many as nine magnificent altars; the building suffered some damage in WWII, but the church was restored to its original beauty
The landscape on Sylt
Resorts
Baden-Baden - This town became a spa resort in the 19th century, following the
opening of its plush casino; it was in that era that most of the
opulent hotels, casinos and villas were built here; nowadays, Russian
millionaires and the striving West European upper middle classes have
displaced the queens, kings, composers, painters and the writers of the
past, but this spa town has lost none of its glamour in spite of it
Wiesbaden - Like Baden-Baden this town developed into a major gambling and bathing
resort in the 19th century; the casinos and the spas attracted rich and
famous Europeans and by 1900 Wiesbaden had more millionaires than any
other place in Germany; Famous Wiesbaden's bathers of the past included Goethe, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Richard Wagner, and Johannes Brahms to name but a few.
Sylt - Sylt is famous for its healthy climate which, together with its long
and sandy shoreline, lead to the development of tourist industry; Sylt,
especially Kampen and the area round it, are famous for the the
high-class tourism that developed there - many German celebrities own a
house in that area, and the island in general caters to better-off
tourists; the presence of Germany's moneyed classes maintains the
ever-rising prices of property on Sylt, making it one of the most
expensive parts of the country in terms of real estate prices
Rügen - In the past decade Rügen has become the most popular tourist destination
in the entire Baltic; this is Germany's biggest and
most visited island, having surpassed Sylt after the reunification; two
of Germany's favourite tourists resorts, Binz and Selliln, are found on
Rügen's east coast; the coast of the island is famous for its many
peninsulas, bays and inlets which make it particularly attractive
The Alpine resorts - The northern fringes of the Alps do not rise as high as the summits
of
the Austrian and Swiss Alps do, but they still offer plenty of
spectacular landscape and a lot of good skiing too; this southernmost
region of Upper Bavaria is replete with picturesque villages, ski
resorts and scenic hiking routes; the most popular skiing resorts in
this region are: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, Füssen, Obersdorf
and Brechtesgaden
Happenings
Berlin Film Festival - The first Berlinale took place in 1951. In terms of visitors it is the largest film festival in the world (more than 430,000 people attend) and together with Cannes and Venice it is the most important such event in Europe; approximately 400 films are shown during the ten-days-long festival, with the vast majority of those having their world or European premiere there; the event takes place in mid February and it's a must fol all those looking for film and glamour as it it regularly visited by major international film stars and directors. The central part of the festival takes place in the Berlinale Palast at Potsdamer Platz
Frankfurt Book Fair - Another seminal cultural event in Germany is the Book Fair in Frankfurt; It is considered world's most important book fair as it gathers the largest number of publishers worldwide; the Fair is
an ideal place for the launching of new titles and negotiating
international sale of rights and licences; approximately 290,000
visitors and more than 7,000 exhibitors from 100-odd countries take
part in the fair. Two of Germany's most prestigious literary prizes - the German Book Prize (German-language novelists only) and the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade (International) are announced at the Book Fair: the event is held annually in mid-October
Leipzig Book Fair - Between 1632 and 1945 this fair was the undisputed meeting place number one for German publishers; during the isolation of the GDR years the book fair remained an important meeting place, but it became impossible for the festival to compete with the buoyant West German publishing that fed the fair in Frankfur; since the reunification, however, the importance of the Leipzig Book Fair has been growing and today it's the second largest such fair in Germany and one of the largest in Europe; the festival takes place at the Leipziger Messe Fairgrounds and it's organized in March
National parks
Schleswig-Holstein National Park- This unique Wadden Sea area contains three national parks, one of them being the amazing Schleswig-Holstein National Park, the largest national park in central Europe. Untouched nature, perfect for hikers, attracts tourists from all over the world, with highlights such as the mudflats, beaches, seal watching, a whale exhibition and carriage rides. Visiting this delightful national park you're sure to enrich your knowledge of marine biology.
Hamburg National Park- Another one of the Wadden Sea national parks, the Hamburg National Park focuses around three islands - Scharhörn, Neuwerk and the man-made island of Nigehörn, all of which are located in the estuary of the Elbe river. Different kinds of aquatic birds are plentiful here, so bird watchers should definitely enjoy the site.
Lower Saxony National Park - This national park, which covers almost 290,000 hectares of land, was proclaimed a protected site in 1986.There are more highlights on the site, including the 'floating bog', a castle, two museums and a delightful old lighthouse, as well as numerous possible activities such as bathing in the sea and hiking on the salt flats and beaches.
Jasmund National Park - The rather small Jasmund National Park, established in 1990, is located on the island of Rügen, and covers an area of 30 square kilometers. Its most renowned feature are the huge chalk cliffs which stretch up to the height of 160 meters. According to visitors' preference, the staff at the park organize a wide variety of guided tours and activities, with themes like pirates (a pirate called Störtebecker allegedly buried his treasure in the area), Hertha, an ancient German goddess, as well as several others. Don't miss the Pirates' Gorge in Sassnitz, Cape Arkona and the Grümbke watchtower, as these are the most popular sights in this national park.
Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park - This large national park, the biggest in the Baltic Sea region with a surface area of 805 square kilometers, encompasses several islands and peninsulas, such as Ummanz and Hiddensee isles and the Darss peninsula. It is famous for its one-of-a-kind coastal animal life, as huge populations of cranes and geese live in the shallow waters, and there are several rare wild animal species like boars and deer.
Müritz National Park - The Müritz National Park covers an area of 318 square kilometers. The largest part of this surface is covered by forests and lakes, including an occasional plain and a few marshes. It is well equipped with paths for hikers, which are also suitable for cyclists. You could easily call this a 'park of hundred lakes', since it contains more than 130 of them, and over 12% of the surface area is aquatic. Do not miss the opportunity to visit the Heinrich Schliemann Museum in Ankershagen, dedicated to the famous archaeologist, and be sure to experience a few boat rides which will show you the true beauty of this amazing natural habitat.
Lower Oder Valley National Park - This Polish-German national park covers a total area of 165 square kilometers, with 105 square kilometers belonging to Germany. Many non-migratory birds spend the winter here, while migratory birds come to nest here during spring. The high concentration of bird species makes this park a favourite for bird watchers. Some of the rarer birds that can be seen in this national park include the black stork, the sea eagle and the acquatic warbler.
Harz National Park - Originally established in 1990, the Harz National Park expanded by merging with the national parks in Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, so the current protected area, covering 247 square kilometers, was established in 2006. The park is heavily forested (95%), and it's located in a hilly region between Bad Harzburg and Herzberg. The forests make a perfect escape from the urban chaos.
Saxon Switzerland National Park - The protected area of this national park, which covers 94 square kilometers in total, is predominantly rocky, with many canyons and fissures. The Elbe river is just a hundred meters away. Such landscape is unique in this part of Europe, featuring parts of the forest which are totally untouched by human activities. The soil is not particularly fertile, as could be expected, but it is adequate for different kinds of mosses, lichens, ferns and similar flora. As far as animal life is concerned, the rocky habitat is a home for birds of prey, such as the eagle owl, mouses, otters, hedgehogs and similar forest-dwelling creatures.
Bavarian Forest National Park - The Bavarian Forest National Park stretches along the border with the Czech Republic, covering an area of 243 square kilometers. It was the first German national park, established in 1970, and it's the biggest protected forest area if we count the adjacent Bohemian Forest located in the Czech Republic. Almost the entire region was left to develop according to the natural rhythm, offering a great opportunity to experience the untouched beauty of Bavarian forests.
Berchtesgaden National Park - Also located in Bavaria, the Berchtesgaden National Park offers some amazing views of the Alps. The gorgeous scenery is adorned with lush greenery, snowy mountain peaks and breathtaking cliffs. Some of the plants that can be found in the Berchtesgaden National Park include nettles, mountain roses and jasmines. There is also a cable car on site, used by skiers and other visitors. You should also visit the marvelous Marktschellenberg Ice Cave and the relaxing thermal baths if you get the chance.
Eifel National Park - The Eifel National Park, located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, is the most recently opened national park in Germany. Founded in 2004, it encompasses an area of approximately 110 square kilometers, covered mostly with forests and aquatic areas. Numerous plant and animal species live within the protected area, and many of them are endangered.
Hainich National Park - Once occupied by the army, the Hainich area has been turned into a national park. In addition to natural beauties, the Hainich National Park presents a cultural and historic treasure as well, since visitors can follow trade routes from medieval times, taking shortcuts through the Thuringian Forest, and the Wartburg castle is located nearby.
Kellerwald-Edersee National Park - This beautiful national park, although it is one of the smallest in Germany, has a total area of 57 square kilometers and contains one of the last contiguous forests of deciduous trees in this part of Europe, many mountains, meadows, fields, streams and an occasional lake. Ornithologists will find this national park particularly interesting, since almost all birds that live in Central Europe can be found within the boundaries of the park.
