Germany is synonymous with a lot of things – beer, food, sausages, seriousness, engineering, hiking, castles, and parties. But that’s a fraction of the story. From half-timbered medieval towns to cosmopolitan cities, Germany offers a thoroughly engaging mix of tradition and modernity. There are so many places to see and so many things to do that you need a good size vacation for a thorough experience. We give you a teaser with 12 of the Most Surreal Places that you should definitely travel to in Germany.
1. Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein is known all over the world as a symbol of idealised romantic architecture and for the tragic story of its owner. After losing sovereignty in his own kingdom, Ludwig II withdrew into his own world of myths, legend and fairytales.
2. Brandenburg Gate
No other monument in Berlin is as famous around the world as Brandenburg Gate, built between 1789 and 1791 to plans by C. G. Langhans on Pariser Platz in the heart of the city. After the Berlin Wall was built in 1961, Brandenburg Gate became impassable for 28 years. As a signature attraction and symbol of German reunification, it now represents the past and present of the German capital in exemplary fashion.
3. Old town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Town square and city hall in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of the most photographed towns in Germany. You can’t help but ask yourself whether time has stood still, as you amble past the beautiful old houses, secluded squares and tucked-away corners of the old quarter, where towers, taverns and town gates alternate with fountains, fortifications and former storehouses.
4. Lake Constance and the surrounding beauty
The Lake Constance region, where Germany borders Austria and Switzerland, is a holiday paradise set around Europe’s third largest inland lake. The most popular excursion is to the Flower Island of Mainau, famous for its magnificent park and gardens surrounding the baroque family residence of Count Bernadotte. Discover an oasis of natural beauty, harmony and relaxation.
5. Mount Zugspitze and Partnach Gorge in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
The Zugspitze is one of the most famous mountain peaks in the Alps. Measuring 2,962m, it is not only Germany’s highest mountain, but also one of the most popular destinations for visitors from all over the world.
6. Reichstag
Mighty Reichstag parliament (1894), apartments and Bundeskanzleramt, the German chancellery illuminated at night and reflected in the river Spree, Berlin. You need to see the route along Wilhelmstrasse right through the old and new government quarter and embassy district heads towards Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag.
7. Berchtesgaden
Berchtesgaden National Park is one of the oldest nature reserves in the Alps. Located in southern Bavaria, this is a particularly beautiful part of the Berchtesgaden Alps, with majestic mountains, fantastic walking trails, scenic lakes and dense forests.
8. Maulbronn Monastery
Maulbronn Monastery is the best-preserved medieval Cistercian monastery complex in Europe, and in 1993 the monastery was made a UNESCO World Heritage site. The monastery was founded in 1147 under the auspices of the first Cistercian pope, Eugenius III. The main church, built in a style transitional from Romanesque to Gothic, was consecrated in 1178 by Arnold, Bishop of Speyer.
9. Würzburg Residenz Palace
The interiors include the grand staircase, the chapel, and the grand salon. The building was dubbed the “nicest parsonage in Europe” by Napoleon. It was heavily damaged during World War II, and restoration has been in progress since 1945 and continues to this day. It exemplifies a glittering era and is one of the most spectacular royal palaces in Europe.
10. Cologne Cathedral
There have been churches on the site of Cologne Cathedral since the 4th century. However, it was not until 1248 that this city on the Rhine became home to one of the foremost cathedrals in the Christian world – a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. When it was completed in 1880, it was the tallest building in the world.
11. The Berlin Wall
From 1961 to 1989 the Berlin Wall divided the city in two. Most of this concrete structure has since been torn down, but fragments do remain a feature of the city. The Berlin Wall Trail, a route for walkers and cyclists split into 14 sections, follows the path of the former wall. Information panels installed at 30 points tell the story of the Berlin Wall. The colourful and recently restored East Side Gallery in Friedrichshain is a piece of the hinterland wall that in 1990 was painted by artists from 21 countries.
12. Moselle Valley
The Moselle, Saar and Ruwer rivers twist and turn in narrow loops through countryside where the Celts and Romans first cultivated wine 2,000 years ago. As a wine region, the Moselle is the oldest in Germany and the largest with vines on steep slopes. Terraced hillsides and precipitous slopes, which face either south or south-west, create beneficial microclimates for wine grapes but also rare plants and animals. The sublime rieslings grown in these conditions in the Moselle, Saar and Ruwer vineyards rank among the finest white wines in the world with their wonderful mineral notes.
Sources: germany.travel | 500px.com