Germany - a wealth of attractions

Deep in the heart of Europe, Germany had an influential impact on Continental history. From Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire to Bismarck’s Reich, Nazism and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, no other Nation has cast Europe the way Germany has for better or for worse.

Germany boasts of riches, elegant big-city charm, small picturesque towns, pagan-inspired harvest festivals, a wealth of culture and art and the perennial pleasures of huge tracts of forest delightful castles and fine beer and wine are all there waiting to be savored. The Reunification in 1990 was yet another chapter in it’s complex history. The integration of the 2Germanys is proceeding slowly despite the cultural and social divide formed over 40years of separation.

Germany is a year round destination, but popular during the summer months from June to September when the skies are clear, allowing the lively outdoor habits. Beer gardens and cafés bustle at all hours, outdoor events and festivals enliven cities and villages, and hiking, cycling and swimming are popular pursuits.

Germans love to party and kick up their heels at everything from Black tie Opera to harvest romps. The Winter Carnival season occurs throughout Germany, with big cities like Munich, Cologne and Mainz erupting into commotion just before Ash Wednesday.

Germany’s musical heritage is showcased in a plethora of festivals. Some towns concentrate on particular composers i.e. The Thuringian Bach Festival in March or Richard Wagner Festival each July.

The Jazz festivals in Stuttgart (April) and Berlin (November) are extremely popular and lively. Autumn is a great time for harvest inspired mayhem especially in the Rhine where The Rhine in Flame frolics feature barges laden with fireworks. Oktoberfest is Munich’s annual lager frenzy but it is a very commercial event and might disappoint expectation. German families embrace Christmas fairs mainly held in Nuremberg, Lubeck, Munster, Heidelberg and Munich.

German forests studded with oak, beech, birch chestnut and ash trees are wonderful places to escape the madding crowds and relax. Berlin is the Nation’s capital and the focus of Reunification and barometer of Germany’s moods. Berlin is popular with art lovers, architecture and artfacts. Its numerous museums will keep the most dedicated culture addict happy.

Frankfurt is the most international town with over a quarter of the population being foreign. It boasts Germany’s most spectacular skyline, mirrored in the main River and Europe’s tallest office building. Lubeck is a glorious medieval town that earned its place in the UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Munich rivaled only by Berlin, as Germany’s most popular destination is a city that enjoys contradicting itself. Head down to the capital of Bavaria where folk traditions rub shoulders with BMW”S, haute cuisine and high minded sophisticates. Munich is a compact city, but you can easily spend several weeks exploring its architectural treasures, museums and idyllic surroundings