|
From the high Alps in the South, the Bavarian plain, and the flowing hills
of central Germany to the coast of the North and Baltic Sea: it all looks
like a miniature train landscape packed with the nicest of old towns,
medieval houses, gothic churches and small villages.
Thanks to the different regional princedoms, earldoms, monarchies and
states Germany did not unite until the last centuries. Thus Germany has not
one but many major cities. And each city has its own unique character,
formed by its history and the surrounding region. Each is a whole new world
unto itself in which you will experience not only different architectural
styles and art treasures but also a very distinctive lifestyle.
Germany's cities have endless pleasant surprises in store for those who
enjoy good food and drink. In addition to top-quality international cooking
each region has its own local specialties, ranging from hearty country fare
at simple inns to modern light cuisine at star-rated restaurants.
Accompanied by our world-famous beers and wines, all this plenty is
guaranteed to make your tour of Germany's cities an unforgettable culinary
experience.
Discover the beautiful Southwest of Germany with cities like Freiburg,
Heidelberg and Tübingen. In the western part cities still have some French
influence, discover Bonn, Düsseldorf, Cologne- the heart of the Rhineland,
Trier, the oldest city of Germany and a former capital of the Roman Empire
or Aachen with its impressive cathedral and history back to Charlemagne.
Today Germany is also an industrial powerhouse. In the Ruhrgebiet (
Essen, Oberhausen, Duisburg and surroundings) there is heavy industry,
different car brands like Mercedes (near Stuttgart ), BMW and VW make
Germany one of the world's biggest car producers and Frankfurt is the
country's bank and finance centre, called also "Mainhattan". All this makes
the standard of living one of the highest in the world.
Where and When to go
There's enough variety within all but the smallest Länder to fill several
weeks of travel, and you may prefer to confine your trip to just one or two
regions. Among the scenic highlights are the Bavarian Alps, the Bodensee,
the Black Forest, the valleys of the Rhine and Mosel, the Baltic island of
Rügen, the Harz, and Saxon Switzerland. However, you may prefer one of the
many less spectacular areas of natural beauty, which can be found in every
province - these are the places the Germans themselves love the most, and
where they spend their holidays and weekends. Several of the cities have the
air of capitals, though Bonn has lost the role it "temporarily" carried for
fifty years. Nearby Cologne , on the other hand, is one of the most
character cities in the country, and the richest in historic monuments.
Bavaria's capital, Munich , is another obvious star and boasts of having the
best the country has to offer - whether in museums, beer, fashion or sport.
Nürnberg reflects on its bygone years of glory, while Frankfurt looks on
itself as the "real" capital of the country, and Stuttgart and Düsseldorf
compete for the title of champion of German postwar success. In the east,
Dresden is making a comeback as one of the world's great cultural centers,
while Leipzig is returning to its role as one of the continent's main
trading centers, while as all these cities have suffered to a considerable
extent from bomb damage and ugly postwar redevelopment, the smaller places
in many respects offer a more satisfying experience. Chief among these is
the university city of Heidelberg , star and guiding light of the Romantic
movement. Tier, Bamberg, Regensburg, Rothenburg and Marburg in the west, and
Potsdam, Meissen and Quedlinburg in the east, are some of the many towns
which deserve to be regarded among the most outstanding in Europe.
The best times to go are between of Britain or New England. Summers are
usually warm, but not overpoweringly so: good weather may come at an
unexpected time, while it's not uncommon to have several abrupt changes in
temperature within a single day. Rain occurs fairly regularly throughout the
year. Unless you're intending to go skiing, winter travel can't really be
recommended, other than for seeing the cities stripped of tourist hordes.
Otherwise, there's a chance of snow at any time from November onwards. In
the really popular areas, the claustrophobic effect of masses of organized
tour groups is a factor to be taken into account between mid-June and
mid-September: best avoid such places altogether then, and head for the many
less spoiled alternatives. All things considered, however, the ideal times
for visiting Germany are late spring and early autumn.
|
