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Top Attractions in Germany |
Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria
Neuschwanstein Castle is Germany’s most famous castle and is
best known for being the model used by Walt Disney for the
Sleeping Beauty Castle. Initiated by King Ludwig in 1869, it took hundreds
of craftsmen from around the world almost 16 years to build and
only about a third of it was ever finished. Neuschwanstein looms over
the Hohenschwangau valley. From the outside it is a magnificent work
of mock- medievalism, a true piece of fairy-tale fantasy. The interior
style borrows from Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic styles and
features spectacular woodcarvings and murals. Take a tour of the
castle and then view it and its 45meter waterfall from nearby Mary’s
bridge to see it in its true splendor.
Website: Neuschwanstein Castle
Oktoberfest, Munich, Bavaria
The Munich Oktoberfest is now one of world's biggest public festivals.
It was originally begun at the royal wedding of Crown Prince
Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxony Hilbrughausen on October the
12th, 1810. The celebrations went on for five days. Today, the festival
goes on for over 16 days. Despite its name, the Oktoberfest
begins on the last few days of September and spills into the first
week of October. Prepare yourself for copious amounts of food and
drink! Have a go on the wide variety of fun fair rides if you can
manage it. The city is filled with hundreds of thousands of
committed beer drinkers swigging litres of Bavaria’s finest for days
on end. It is a lively and unforgettable festival.
Website: Oktoberfest
The Romantic Road
The Romantic Road is one of several ‘themed’ roads in Germany and
is one of Germany’s most famous vacation routes. It is a stunning
220-mile journey from the River Main to the Alps offering the
traveler one of the most beautiful and engaging combinations of
scenery, cuisine and ambience that Germany can offer. One surprising
highlight of the walk is to be found at the Noerdlingen’s Ries
Crater, where America's astronauts trained for their moonwalk!
Website: The Romantic Road
Dachau
A visit to Dachau or any other concentration camp is a deeply
upsetting experience, but is nevertheless an essential part of any
visit to Germany. Dachau was Germany's first concentration camp. It
was built in 1933 by Heinrich Himmler. It is distinctive because it
was here that SS personnel trained for work in newer camps such as
Auschwitz. Dachau ‘processed’ more than 200,000 prisoners and over
31,500 people were killed here. Outside the main exhibition hall is
a monument inscribed ‘Never Again’. The main exhibits show
photographs of the camp and depict the horrors carried out within
its walls. A guided tour of the camp is essential to fully
understand the true extent of what went on in Dachau during Hitler’s
reign.
Cologne and Cologne Cathedral
Cologne is located on the banks of the Rhine and is probably best
known for producing Eau de Cologne and for its impressive
Cathedral. The Cathedral is a magnificent 13th-century Gothic
structure with a twin-spired structure, supported by 56 pillars and
highlighted by splendid stained-glass windows. The Cologne museum
complex contains paintings from Dutch and German masters as well as
a great collection of modern art. Cologne is also famous for its
wild carnival celebrations. Starting each year on the Thursday
before Ash Wednesday, it is a definite must-see if you’re in the
area.
Website: Cologne Cathedral
The Black Forest
Countless fairy tales originated in the valleys and wooded
heights of Germany's Black Forest. Its name (Schwarzwald in German)
describes the dark firs and pines that cover this mountainous region.
Otherwise known as the Home of the German Soul, its landscape rises
to about 1,200m and drops off steeply into picturesque valleys. The
Black Forest area is very popular with hikers and cross-country
skiers. Areas of interest include Titisee, Triberg, Gutach and
Furtwangen. The region starts 130 km south of Frankfurt and runs to
the Swiss border.
The Frisian Islands
These
North Sea islands are reminiscent of the islands off Scotland. The sea is
rough, it’s often foggy and there is a distinct crispness in the
air. The islands are divided into two groups: the Eastern
Frisians and the Northern Frisians. Both groups have tall sand dunes
and long stretches of beach. The Eastern Frisians include the
busy islands of Borkum, Norderney and Wangerooge. Langeoog and Juist
are car-free. The Northern Frisians include Sylt, Fohr and Amrum. Sylt is
by far the most popular island especially with uppercrust Hamburgers. Amrum
has one of the widest beaches and, like most of the islands, is
open to nude sunbathing and swimming. Another popular activity is guided
walks on the wattenmeer (mud flats) once the tide has receded.
Website: The Frisian Islands
Heidelberg
Heidelberg is for many the city that reflects the true romantic
Germany. The River Neckar flows past its ancient towers and bridges
and the ruins of its red sandstone castle rise splendidly over the
roofs of the old town. The castle was built between the 14th and
17th centuries. You can walk from the city up to the castle in about
10 minutes or take the mountain railway. Heidelberg is also the home
to modern Germany's oldest University, which was founded in 1386.
The University is still very active today with tough standards and
an emphasis on Biology, Physics and Mathematical research. Take a
walk along the delightful Old Bridge (Alte Brücke) to get beautiful
views of Heidelberg. There are also breathtaking views from the
Philosophers Path (Philosophenweg) on the opposite bank of the
river.
Website: Heidelberg
Lake Constance (Bodensee)
Lake Constance is Germany’s largest lake and is shared with
Switzerland and Austria. The area is very unusual as it has one of
the warmest microclimates in Germany. It is an old-fashioned resort
and very popular with Germans in summer. There are numerous pretty
resort towns along the shores of the lake, most notably Meersburg
which is surrounded by vineyards, half-timbered houses and the
oldest structurally intact castle in Germany. A visit to the island
of Mainau at the northern end of the lake is worth visiting as is
the small picture-postcard town of Lindau at the southern end. There
is a ferry service across the lake from Friedrichshafen into
Switzerland, so make sure not to forget your passport on the trip.
Website: Lake Constance
BerlinCheck out our guide to the top ten attractions in
Berlin.
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