Germany consists of dozen of separate ‘lands’ which only in 1871 formed the present country.
Each land was once the independent kingdom, thus the present Germany features several big cities scattered around its territory, each one with centuries of tradition and small satellite towns and outposts around.
Three powerful European rivers flow through Germany : Maine, Danube and, Rhine. the rivers in the past speeded development of trade towns fluorishing along the river beds, and the hills surrounding the river valleys were the best places to build the defense castle to protect the ruling family from its not always friendly neighbours. Dozens of castles survived to the present time,
making the boat trips utmost attractive, especially the Rhine part between Koblenz and Bingen . The Valley of Rhine and its tributaries Necklar and Mosental gets enough sun to make local vineyards well known all over the world.
The largest number of tourist attraction is located in Southern part of Germany: Bavaria and Baden -Württemberg.
Bavaria with its capital Munich is popular both among the foreigners and Germans, who very often spend their holidays there;skiing in the German Alps ( with highest peak Zugspitze 2 962 m),
sailing in the local lakes, or enjoy visiting numerous royal residences scattered among the picturesque landscape, including the most famous 19th century Neuschwanstein.
Although the capital of Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart is more the industrial city with various congresses and meetings held all year round, it keeps the old, Medieval town atmosphere around Schillerplatz,top art galleries and features the beer festival Canstatter Volksfest , world second only to the Munich one.
Located near French border Schwarzwald ( Black forest ) covers almost all icons the tourist Germany are known of. There are the green hills, the valleys with small rivers driving the still working sawmills, waterfalls, old pine and lime forests giving the material to the famous cuckoo-clocks made here in some 30 localities. Thermal waters brought the development of various spa towns,
like the famous elite resort Baden-Baden. The border with Switzerland features several picturesque lakes, including the capital of water sports Bodensee.
The development of Eastern part of Germany suffers the former years of Communist regime, but still offers several beautiful travel spots in Saxony like Dresden royal palace Zwinger, Moritzburg castle,Weimar and museum of porcelain manufactory in Meissen.
The differences in life between Eastern and Western Germany is still visible in Berlin. The remains of the wall near the entry point Checkpoint Charlie are changed into the museum, and after 1989 the life goes back to the capital of reunited country, the empty buildings of the Russian zone today are covered with the spray paint, and the old rustic items bring somehow decadent feeling to the cafes and restaurants of ‘free Berlin’. In spite of the War damages Berlin still features top world museums and art galleries, name only one – Pergamonmuseum.
The Baltic sea is sweeter, cooler and more polluted than the Mediterranean, but still offers the possibility to successful summer holiday, with sun, sand and unspoiled nature in several national parks to see. Along Baltic and North Sea shore are located ports , once proud members of Hanseatic League, each with centuries of trade history -Hamburg, Bremen and Lübeck.
[Hohenzollern Castle - Stuttgart, photo courtesy of Trodel]