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Germany

Germany

Continent

Europe

Best States to Visit

  • Lower Saxony
  • Hamburg
  • Brandenburg
  • Bremen
  • Bavaria

Best Cities to Visit

  • Berlin
  • Frankfurt
  • Munich
  • Stuttgart
  • Hamburg

Size

357,022 KM2

Population

83,000,000

GDP

$16,760,000,000,000

Spending Budget

$34 - $130

Famous For

  • German Beer
  • Baking Bread
  • German Castle
  • German Cars
  • German Festival

Best Time to Visit

  • January
  • February
  • March
  • May
  • July
  • August
  • September

History

The area that is now Germany was inhabited by Germanic speaking tribes for many centuries. They first became part of the Frankish Empire under the rule of Charlemagne, who is considered the father of the German monarchy. Much of Germany also became part of the Holy Roman Empire. From 1700 to 1918 the Kingdom of Prussia was established in Germany. In 1914 World War I broke out. Germany was on the losing side of the war and is estimated to have lost 2 million soldiers. Reichstag Building In the wake of WWI, Germany tried to recover. There was revolution and the monarchy collapsed. Soon a young leader named Adolf Hitler rose to power. He created the Nazi party which believed in the superiority of the German race. Hitler became dictator and decided to expand the German empire. He started WWII and at first conquered much of Europe including France. However, the United States, Britain and the Allies managed to defeat Hitler. After the war, Germany was divided into two countries; East Germany and West Germany. East Germany was a communist state under control of the Soviet Union, while West Germany was a free market state. The Berlin Wall was built between the two countries to prevent people from escaping from East Germany to the West. It became a central point and focus of the Cold War. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union and communism, the wall was torn down in 1989. On October 3, 1990 East and West Germany were reunited into one country.

Present Day

Situated in the core of the old landmass, Germany is constrained by 16 states and is notable for being the biggest public economy in Europe and one of the greatest on the planet. With an intriguing and rich history described by the old-design and brilliant engineering, manors, castles, houses of God and landmarks themselves, its scenes, mountains and timberlands, tasty food and brew, Germany stays one of the top objections on the planet for explorers. Generally when one says Germany, among the primary things that strike a chord is Hitler, the Berlin Divider and lager. Nonetheless, Germany isn't about that. Voyagers who have visited the nation realize that Germany is a financially and politically incredible nation, yet it likewise has a rich culture, with a populace that has exceptional regard for custom, history and humankind. In this article, we have recorded a portion of the things that Germany is very notable for and given some intriguing realities on how they turned out to be so known, and what makes them so fascinating.

Future

On Sept. 26, Germany’s year of political change will culminate with the election of a new Chancellor, an event that will close the remarkable 16-year tenure of Angela Merkel. For Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the election year is off to a rough start. Early March saw the first two of six regional elections in 2021. CDU candidates won less than one-quarter of the vote in the wealthy southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg and less than one-third in neighboring Rhineland-Palatinate. The results were the worst since the end of World War II for the party in each state. That outcome might well upend the race for Germany’s next leader. Later this spring, 1,001 party delegates will vote on whether Armin Laschet, Merkel’s chosen successor, or Markus Söder, head of its smaller Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), will be the powerful coalition’s joint candidate for Chancellor. If delegates choose unwisely, they risk a September national vote that yields a new coalition government composed of the center-left SPD, the increasingly popular Green Party
Must Visit Places ------------

Heidelberg

Heidelberg: the city of Mark Twain Heidelberg in southwest Germany is considered to be one of the most magical destinations in Europe. A source of inspiration for some of the most famous poets, painters, philosophers and writers, Heidelberg was an important centre for German Romanticism in the 18th century. Walking around its cobblestoned roads is the best way to experience the idyllic atmosphere that inspired Mark Twain. The writer spent a big part of his life in the city, where he finished writing the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The internationally known University of Heidelberg was the first to be built in Germany and today is ranked among the top universities in the world. The historical Alte Brücke bridge connects the two sides of the river Neckar that runs through Heidelberg, and used to be the main entrance to the city. A 2km (1.3mi) path starts from Neuenheim, the old town, crosses Alte Brücke and ends on the other side of the river. Here you can enjoy a magnificent view of the city. This route is known as “the road of the philosophers”, a path said to have been walked, at least once, by every single philosopher and professor from the University of Heidelberg.

Freiburg

Freiburg: a sunlit porch in the south of Germany There’s a riddle spoken about Freiburg and it goes like this: “Are the citizens of Freiburg so content because the sun shines above their city more than in any other place in Germany; or have they been granted the gift of abundant sunlight because of their kindness?” Who knows? The sure thing is that Freiburg is one of the most wonderful places to visit in Germany, even on those rare occasions when the sun doesn’t shine. Freiburg is one the country’s oldest cities, too, and has a rich culture, filled with cafes, breweries and restaurants where you can enjoy the traditional cuisine. The vibrant, historical city centre manages to stand out thanks to the 116m (380ft) gothic tower of its cathedral. The cathedral’s square is also the largest in the city, and where the weekly market takes place. The farmers’ stands line the northern side while the merchants’ stalls line the southern side. Last but not least, the city offers a huge variety of festivals, which take place all year round, from January’s Internationalen Kulturbörse (the international culture exchange) to December’s extravagant Christmas market.

Hamburg

Hamburg: gateway to the world Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and the third biggest port in Europe. Its story begins with the Romans; luckily we can still admire a big part of its original architecture, as the city managed to preserve its history during the raids of World War II. Today, it is a rapidly developing hub that has attracted the greats of the naval and aerospace industry, as well as publishing and communication companies. The City Hall (Rathaus), is the only palace in the city, a neoclassical building whose internal decoration reflects the pride of the city’s 19th-century middle classes. Walking through the open-air market and the elegant alleyways around the City Hall, you will come to the Binnenalster, the huge lake in the middle of the city that connects the port with the sea. Hamburg’s miniature museum, Miniatur Wunderland, is one of the most interesting and original the city has to offer and it hosts the most impressive model figure exhibition in Europe. The last stop on a night out in Hamburg should be the renowned fish market at the port, which opens its doors in the early hours of Sunday. Indie bands entertain the public there, so you can finish your night with a freshly cooked breakfast and live music.

Potsdam

Potsdam: a kingdom of palaces and gardens Potsdam is the capital of the state of Brandenburg and is most famous as the historical seat of the Prussian government. The Prussian kings created a baroque dream, while their successors added neoclassical monuments. Since 1990, the cultural treasure of Potsdam, including the palaces of Sanssouci, Neuer Garten, Babelsberg, Glienicke and Pfaueninsel island, along with their palaces, have been recognized as Unesco World Heritage sites. You could begin your tour of central Potsdam at the Old Market, the main square of the city, where the church of St Nikolai, the Lustgarten and the City Hall form an aristocratic complex. The neighbouring Luisenplatz square connects the baroque Brandenburger Strasse to the tree-lined entrance of Sanssouci park and palace. Friedrich the Great designed his summer palace himself and it is today a perfect example of rococo architecture. He used to retreat to its premises to escape his worries, hence the palace’s name sans souci (without worry).

Cologne

Even if you are not a religious person, and no matter how many pictures of it you may have seen, the first time you lay eyes on the cathedral of Cologne, with its 157m (515ft) towers reaching for the clouds, you can’t help but stare up in awe. It’s part of what makes Cologne one of the most impressive cities to visit in Germany. It took more than 600 years for the church to be completed, and walking its perimeter can feel like it’s taking a similar period of time. The biggest gothic church in northern Europe, it survived 14 different bombings during World War II. And it is here where the bones of the three kings are kept – yes, those bearing the gifts for the newborn Jesus Christ. The old town spreads around the cathedral to the west shores of the river Rhine. It is perfect for endless strolls in the narrow, cobblestoned alleyways, the petite squares, the impressive, vividly coloured houses of the 19th century and the lively bars and restaurants that serve the fresh, local kölsch beer.

Kiel

Kiel: the capital of sailing Kiel is the capital of the Schleswig-Holstein state, and a key waterway linking Germany with the Baltic. Its strategic position on the Bay of Kiel allowed it to become the centre of shipbuilding and navigation during the 19th century. Today, the city is known as the Capital of Sailing and it is the proud host of the Kiel Regatta, the greatest sailing event in the world and the largest summer festival in northern Europe. The focus of the events is the Gorch Fock, the legendary training ship and one of Kiel’s main attractions. The Laboe Naval Memorial, standing between Kiel and the neighbouring town of Laboe is a magnificent dedication to sailors in the world wars. The view from the top is worthwhile, since the landscape of Kiel is relatively flat. Even though maritime tradition seems to dominate the stage, the city has much more to offer. This includes the historical Eggerstedtstrasse, which has undergone serious reconstruction since the war, the square of the Old Market, the posh “Danish” shopping street and the beautiful neighbourhood of Marinenviertel next to the port. There, you can try Kiel’s local specialty, kieler sprotte, smoked fish that is meant to be eaten whole, until the last bone.

Munich

Munich is the Bavarian capital built on the shores of Isar, the biggest tributary river of the Danube. The first inhabitants of the city were Benedictine monks, after whom the city is named. The Oktoberfest celebrations and the gigantic brezels may be what immediately springs to mind, but for some this is the least appealing side of the city, as the prices rocket and more than three million tourists swarm the streets looking for beer-tasting experiences. Munich is one of the best cities to visit in Germany and is generally quiet, with a history that goes back to the 12th century. Since then, it has managed to develop a multicultural personality and become a “village of the world”. It has wonderful parks and gardens, great museums and a big selection of cuisines and markets, varying from massive department stores to tiny flea markets. Unfortunately, the historical centre was badly damaged during the war, but it was reconstructed to be remarkably similar to the original. Characteristic examples are the Frauenkirche and the City Hall with the famous Glockenspiel, a clock with statues that come to life each hour.

Dresden: the treasure chest of Germany

The distribution of artistic treasures amongst Germany’s cities wasn’t particularly fair – Dresden seems to have gathered the majority of them. The capital of the free state of Saxony charms its visitors with a mixture of tradition and scenic landscapes. A walk through the dreamy city centre, which used to be the seat of the rulers and kings of Saxony, reveals the beauty of Dresden, often characterized as the Florence of the Elbe. The architectural styles vary from Renaissance to baroque and neoclassical. The Frauenkirche, a pink and white church, the Zwinger Palace, and the Semperoper opera along with the city of gardens, Hellerau, are only some of the sights that demand attention. Picnics on the grass with a view of the palace and the cathedral, historical steamboats with Dixieland jazz music, castles that look on to the city from above and open-air breweries help make Dresden one of the best places to visit in Germany. The river landscape creates the perfect setting for many open-air activities, such as movie nights on the river bank, the open-air Elbhangfest and concerts in the romantic parks of the river castles.