GERMANY

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. Local traditions and mentalities are clearly reflected everywhere - in the arts, the nightlife, the shops, the pubs and restaurants and the way people work and live.

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 specialities, 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 Tόbingen. In the western part cities still have some french influence, discover Bonn, Dόsseldorf, 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" ("Main" is a river in Frankfurt). All this makes the standard of living one of the highest in the world.

Best of Germany

The Rhine

In Germany, The Rhine has a spectacular beauty and it is a popular holiday destination. There you can find impressive places to visit like castles, cathedrals, vineyards and hiking trails. Its magnificent scenery inspired a lot of painters and poets. In fact, Germany is full of castles, but the Rhine has an especially amount of important castles. Some are ruins and many of them have survived the past of the years.

The Rhine has a sunny, dry and warm climate. For that reason, the vineyard agriculture is famous there. In every village, there is at least one wine festival per year; the most famous series of festivals is the Rhine in Flames.

Its river is the best place from where you can observe the beauty of the area; every day tour boats set sail with many tourists. If you don’t like boating, you can also explore the Rhine by car. The best period to visit the Rhine is in summer, the weather is sunny and the festival season is in full movement.

Trier

Trier is located in Mosel River Valley, is known as Germany’s oldest city. The City was one of the seats of the old Roman Empire, a proof of that is the amazing ruins’ architecture. The most dominant structure is the mixture of two churches: The Dom St. Peter and the Liebfrauenkirche, both build upon ruins. The city is also home of the stunning Porta Nigra, the best preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps.

Currently, Trier is a gateway from Germany to Luxembourg. There are also a lot of wine producers. If you would like to you could even try to work for a week in the vineyards, it is a great experience! The city is also an active town; there you can find wine festivals, river trips, cycling, and an extraordinary cultural life.

Berchtesgaden

Berchtesgadem, with its beautiful scenery, is an attractive town to visit. The city is mostly visited in winter by its ski resorts on the edge of the Berchtesgaden National Park. There is also the “Eagle’s Nest”, the famous mountain that was refuge of Hitler in the World War II, from there you have an impressive view of the Berchtesgaden area.

In the city’s center you can find many historical attractions, like the Royal Palace and the famous church of Maria Gern. The art is not apart from de city, many houses around the market place are decorated by artistic painting with mountain motives and animals.

The main attraction is the Berchtesgadem National Park that with its stunning high mountains and the renowned Lake Kφnigssee is one of the oldest protected areas in the Alps. In the park, there are many fauna that reflects the bio-diversity of its landscape; and if you are lucky, you will see the rare golden eagle.

The citizens in the Berchtesgaden area complement with nature and preserve their culture and traditions, many people wear traditional clothes like leather trousers and they love Ooompah music. You will be fascinated with this place!

Wόrzburg

Near from Frankfurt, Wόzburg is a vibrant university town surrounded by vineyards and full of architectural splendors. Its cultural scene includes traditions and popular events like the Mozart Festival and the Africa Festival which attract many visitors every year.Wόzburg is also a wine-centre of the Franconian region, the wine in the typical bottle "Bocksbeutel" is served by many taverns.

In and around the city there are many cultural attractions like the famous Main Franconian Museum with sculptures by the famous artist Tilman Riemenschneider, the Fortress Marienberg, the Cathedral museum, and the Martin Wagner museum that is a splendid archiepiscopal residence and the famous masterpiece of Balthasar Neumann, an extraordinary baroque architect.

The city is also the main shopping town for the Franconian region been the most important chain stores Domstrasse and Schφnbornstrasse, Furthermore, there are many small shops located on Juliuspromenade where you can find unique souveneirs.

Bamberg

Bamberg is a city with an original character and a very special atmosphere. 1000 years of history are united in an Old Town that is a cultural and architectural site of European rank.

In the Middle Ages, Bamberg was a powerful ecclesiastical center. Initially, it was two towns divided by the river: One was the Ecclesiastical Town of the prince – bishopric, and the other was The Secular Town of the burghers. Nowadays, Bamberg is known as “a beer drinker’s Eden” because there 9 Breweries with lots of different kinds of beer, being the most famous the “smoked beer”. The average Bamberger drinks 190 liters of beer a year!

Bamberg is also famous for its architecture, with styles ranging from Romanesque to Gothic, Renaissance to baroque. There you can find narrow cobblestone streets, ornate mansions and palaces, and impressive churches. In Bamberg there is always party going on somewhere, the Franconian hospitality expresses itself when people get together, and the major occasions to celebrate are the frequent anniversaries of churches’ consecrations.

Potsdam

Potsdam, capital of Brandenburg state, is a suburb of Germany’s cosmopolitan capital: Berlin. This beautiful baroque city is home for the magnificent palace of Sanssouci that is comparable with other amazing European royal palaces like Versailles and Windsor Castle. Other impressing attractions include Nikolaikirche church, Cecilienhof, Hollδndisches Viertel, Franzφsische Kirche church and the historic Dutch quarter among others. Potsdam is also a green city surrounded by lakes, hills, and several “palace gardens”

During the 18th and 19th century the city was the residence of the Prussian kings, many of Potsdam’s sights date of this epoch. As many cities Potsdam was damaged by bombings in 1945, but a number of palaces in the Sanssouci park remained intact.

The film industry is important in Potsdam, particularly Babelsberg Film Studios that made many important German films. Also, in the city you can find many cafes, riverside villas and historic streets which you have to stroll before leaving. For those reasons and more, Potsdam is a very attractive place to live.