Travel Germany
Many parts of Europe still conserve all the old world charm of medieval times. Away from the hustle and bustle of major cities and hot-spot tourist destinations, there are tiny places tucked away in the interiors. Visiting these places is a delight for most tourists. Germany, saving a few of the bigger cities and major international centers, looks like a Lego land. Not surprising since Lego is a creation of Germany. Traveling in Germany is an experience that is not easily forgotten. The charm of the cities and countryside combined with good modern facilities, a remarkable and age-old history and major events such as the Oktoberfest make traveling in Germany an outstanding experience.
From the tall Alps in the South to the Black Forest, from the Bavarian plains to the coast of the Baltic Sea, Germany is not one but different lands packed into one. With a wide disparity in the history of the various regions due to the existence of small earldoms, princedoms, monarchies and states, Germany provides different experiences in different places. There are many things to see and experience in Germany. With its antique churches, charming villages, medieval houses, distinct architecture, delectable cuisine and excellent nightlife, this country is definitely worth a visit.
Since many of the attractions in Germany are historical it is as well to know a bit of the history before traveling to the country. In the Middle Ages, the Meroving kings of Gaul conquered many German tribes and tried to thrust their religion upon them. King Charlemagne of the Holy Roman Empire expanded his territory to include western part of Germany including Bavaria and Saxon. The Frankish Kingdom developed next because fights between the descendants of Charlemagne had divided the Empire. The Crusades gave rise to many religious buildings, some of which stand till today.
Coming to the 16th century, the church began to lose its hold over the people. The thirty years war led to the European War and Germany suffered plenty of loss of life and property. Germany passed into French rule under Napoleon when the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806. The Wars of Liberation soon set Germany free from French rule. In 1814, the German Confederation or Deutscher Bund, a union of 39 states, was found. This Confederation was under Austrian rule and lasted until 1867 when it was replaced by North German Confederation or German Norddeutscher Bund under Prussian rule. In 1871, Otto Von Bismarck founded the German Empire and was declared Chancellor.
The 1st world war in 1914 saw Germany allied on the side of Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire. Germany lost the war and some of its provinces were annexed. The peace agreement was both financially damaging and bitterly humiliating to Germany and this indirectly led to the 2nd world war. Hitler came into power in 1932 and the Nazi Revolution began. Germany lost this war too. Today, Germany is an economic and industrial powerhouse proving that the Germans are a hard working people capable of coming to terms with their chaotic history.
Such a varied history has left its mark on the culture of Germany. For a traveler, different parts of the country offer different experiences.
Following are a list of excellent places to visit:
• A visit to Germany is not complete without seeing the Rhine. Castles, cathedrals and vineyards provide a glorious background and make it a delightful place to travel. There are many hiking trails that allow you to visit the various places of interest by foot. It is most famous for the wine festivals held in autumn. Cologne is located in the heart of Rhineland.
• Apart from the Rhine valley, there are other interesting and quaint valleys in Germany including Moselle Valley, Ahr Valley, Weser Valley, Neckar Valley and Altmuhl Valley.
• The North Sea and the Baltic Sea lies to the North and provide a long and beautiful coastline.
• Traveling the Fairy Tale Road with beaches, resorts and ports is an interesting way to travel around Germany.
• The major cities in the northern part of the country are Berlin, the capital, Bremen and Hamburg.
• Frankfurt, one of the international cities of the world, is also a European center of finance, economy and business. Though Frankfurt has not retained old world charm, it is worth a visit for its dynamic lifestyle.
• Leipzig, Weimar, Schwerin and Dresden are other cities that offer a lot to visitors.
• The dazzling Alps are the perfect place if one wishes to travel in the mountains. They also provide plenty of skiing.
• Bonn, Dusseldorf and Aachen are cities to the west still bearing traces of French rule.
• Trier is the oldest city of Germany with an impressive history and must be visited. One of the seats of the old Roman Empire, traces of its past can still be seen in the ruins and churches of the period.
• The beautiful Black Forest of Germany is world famous and is the setting of the fairytale, Hansel and Gretel.
• The city of Heidelburg has the most famous castle ruins in Germany, and today it is a university town.
• Munich is a city located in Bavaria and is famous for its beer festival, Oktoberfest held in October every year.
• Other cities of interest in this region are Triberg, Lindau Wurzberg and Dinkelsbuhl.
• Berchtesgaden is a beautiful town boasting of ski resorts, the Berchtesgaden National Park and Eagle is Nest, which was the mountain refuge of Hitler in the last days of the 2nd world war.
• The palace of Sans souci is located in Potsdam near Berlin and is on par with major European palaces such as Windsor and Versailles.
The above is only a glimpse of the treats that Germany has to offer. The list can go on forever. With an idea of what to explore, it is useful to know how traveling in Germany is like.
Cars are the best way to explore the country and the roads are excellent. You can explore the small winding villages if you are driving yourself. If you do not wish to drive, then cycling through the country is a very good option. Like most countries in Europe, Germany also provides cycling lanes. The country has one of the most efficient train systems, which are also cheap, fast and comfortable. The bus service in Germany is also good but not on par with the trains. You can travel by boat in some parts of the country. With its numerous lakes and rivers, boats are often a welcome mode of travel in the country.
Situated in the heart of Europe, Germany with its rich and varied history has shaped the destiny of Europe and still contains traces of its past. Traveling in Germany is like traveling through different periods as well as different places.
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