With spectacular architecture, leafy parks, and wide Italianate avenues, Munich is the perfect overture to all that is idiosyncratic about the mighty Kingdom of Bavaria.
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What to see in the Hanseatic City of Bremen?
If you read Grimms’ fairy tales, you might have heard about Bremen. This city in Northern Germany is known as the hometown of a highly peculiar musical band, comprising a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster. But there is much more to see in this Hanseatic city. Here, history, culture, and science are closely interwoven – and, the best part, they are a stone’s throw away from each other.
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Schwerin Castle: A Lakeside Fairy Tale
Seemingly floating over the water, Schwerin Castle in northern Germany looks like the creation of a powerful magician. With turrets, wings, and golden domes gleaming under the sun, it can surely enchant any visitor.
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Dresden: Florence on the Elbe River
Boasting a riverine location, pleasantly mild climate, a magnificent historic center, as well as numerous renowned museums and art collections, Dresden – the capital city of the Free State of Saxony – is often called Elbflorenz, or “Florence on the Elbe”, reflecting its role as a center of art and architecture in Germany.
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Hamburg: Reminisce about the City of Water
In my memory, Hamburg is the “City of Water”. From the Elbe River, and the Alster Lake to an extensive canal system, the maritime spirit infuses the entire port town, giving it a distinctively buzzy vibe.
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Rhineland-Palatinate: The Land of Root and Wine
Between the Rhine and the Moselle rivers in southwestern Germany, there is a region known as “the state of root and wine”. Dionysus – the Greek God of Wine – seems to cast a spell on this land, turning all the hills in the region into vineyards and covering towns and castles in grapevines.
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Hanover: What to see in the Capital of Lower Saxony?
Lacking the charm of neighboring Hansa cities, Hanover has never scored high on the list of most favorite destinations in Germany. Most people assume that this place is solely an industrial center with nothing else to see. Yet hidden beneath the “industrialized” façade is a city full of history and cultural heritage which are only visible to those with patience and a keen eye.
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Hohenzollern Castle: The Legacy of a Mighty Dynasty
Burg Hohenzollern is one of Germany’s most imposing castles. Each year, it welcomes over 300,000 visitors from around the world. With its many turrets and battlements rising dramatically above the town of Hechingen, it is an architectural masterpiece of the 19th century and a must-see when visiting the region.
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Sylt and Rügen: The Tale of Two Seas
Traveling to Germany for a beach vacation seems odd for foreign tourists. Against charming old towns and fairytale castles, it is easy to forget about the natural beauty of this country. Indeed, the popularity of Germany’s coast is hardly comparable to those in Spain, France, or Italy, but believe me, it is no less spectacular.
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Bergpark Wilhemshöhe: An Extraordinary Garden
Looking at its immense scale, it’s hard to believe that Bergpark Wilhemshöhe originated as a garden. You can easily spend an entire day in this area, exploring castles and grottoes, watching the water features, or simply wandering in the lush green forest.
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Cologne: In Search of the Legendary Scent
I guess most of us have seen the words Eau de Cologne at least once. But have you ever wondered where these words came from? Over time, the original meaning of the words has been slightly altered. But it is still used to describe a scent that has become a legend. And Cologne (Köln in German) is where that legend began.
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Sanssouci Palace: A Place Without Concern
A man-made wonderland filled with magical palaces and breathtaking gardens, Sanssouci is often considered Berlin’s answer to Versailles. The palace was a private refuge for Frederik the Great, King of Prussia, who desired a break from the stressful royal court.
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Marienburg Castle: In Search of The Sleeping Beauty
One hour’s driving from Hanover will bring you to Marienburg – the Neuschwanstein of the North. Together with Schwerin Castle, it is counted as one of the most well-preserved monuments and a fairytale castle in Northern Germany.
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