
Michaelsberg Abbey © Thomas Depenbusch
Situated in the heart of Europe, and bordering nine other
countries, Germany is an established and rewarding destination on
any tour of the subcontinent. Its land is wide and varied, with
turreted castles nestled below snow-capped mountains, lush river
valleys, dark and mysterious forests, and bustling medieval
villages. This is the land of fairy tales, where farmland minstrels
headed to Bremen to become musicians, where Sleeping Beauty was
woken and Little Red Riding Hood ventured into the woods.
Despite the beauty and romantic associations of the German
countryside, most first-time visitors head straight for one of the
country's famous cities. Germany's big cities each have something
unique to offer the visitor. Each year millions of litres of beer
are consumed in Munich during the city's Oktoberfest, where locals
and visitors discover true German revelry and
gemutlichkeit (a word the locals use to describe a
comfortable, sociable environment). Berlin promises an abundance of
attractions for sightseeing, from the iconic Brandenburg Gate to
the path of the old Berlin Wall, and the capital's vibrant
nightlife is still evocative of its height in the 1920s and 30s, as
characterised by the songs of Marlene Dietrich, the theatre of
Brecht and the Film Cabaret. Frankfurt is Germany's financial
powerhouse, promising business opportunities and great shopping and
dining experiences. Hamburg offers a picturesque urban experience,
full of canals, parks and gardens.
Discover the country that gave us Beethoven and Bauhaus, Goethe
and Glühwein, Lager and Lederhosen - Germany seldom
disappoints!