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Travel To Germany: The Pulse Of
European History by Frank Johnson
Germany
has long been a mover and shaker of European history, creating waves in
time for the rest of the continent to ride out. From Charlemagne and Otto
von Bismarck to Nazism and the Cold War, Germany has become the epicenter
of cutting-edge culture and music, and centuries of tradition and fine
arts. The juxtaposition of medieval towns against ultra-modern
industrialism is a fascinating reality to experience.
Thriving
Urban Centers of Germany
The
capital city of Berlin is by far
the most dynamic and diverse metropolis for the German traveler. Despite
reunification projects since the Wall came down in 1989, the city is
still very much divided between the cosmopolitan chic of the West and the
tattered Communist remains of the East. The Stasi Museum, located in East
Berlin, is home to the former State Security Service. The intelligence
body spied on and badgered citizens throughout the Communist era from
this building. The Brandenburger Tor is a monumental building built in
1792 as one of the city's 14 gates. The history of this landmark is tied
directly with the enclosing of West Germany from the East as it was
essentially barricaded in by the Berlin Wall.
In
addition to the other popular urban destinations of Munich and Frankfurt, Aachen (also known as
Aix-la-Chapelle) should not be missed on a German visit. It is considered
the most international of cities in Germany, situated close to the
Belgian and Netherlands borders. Many citizens and travelers enjoy
regular access to both border nations. The main draw is the Aachen Dom
(Aachen Cathedral), which is the oldest landmark in Germany. Emperor
Charlemagne had the chapel constructed over 1200 years ago and Holy Roman
Emperors were coroneted here for nearly 600 years. The cathedral is also
alleged to possess Christ's loincloth as part of its collection.
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Fables and Fairytales
The
German landscape is still comparable to your favorite fairytale or
Robin Hood adventure. Castles in the sky preside over the rich green
forests where Hansel and Gretel ventured to meet their witch. The
Black Forest (Schwarzwald) is famous for its intense evergreen
canopy, vast outdoor activities and secluded get-aways. It also happens
to be where Nobel Prize winner Hermann Hesse spent much of his life
living and writing. The Maulbronn monastery, situated in the forest's
north end, is a UNESCO World Heritage sight that has been carefully
preserved. The entire wooded expanse is dotted with medieval and farm
towns and is fairly easy to navigate by train.
The
notorious 19th century Bavarian king, Ludwig II (Ludwig Friedrich
Wilhelm), left his personal legend all over the German countryside in
the form of extravagantly ornate castles. Schloss Neuschwanstein is
Ludwig's (and Germany's) most famous construction, particularly because
he contracted a stage designer rather than an architect to do the job.
Although the monstrosity was never actually finished, visitors may
enjoy concerts in the castle's centerpiece, Minstrel's Hall, every
September.
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Along
Germany's southwest border, The Rhine Valley stretches as a monument to
the country's timeless culture and love affair with art, wine, food and
beer. The Middle Rhine Valley (also a World Heritage sight) is the most
popular segment, studded with medieval and gothic towns and wineries that
hold their own festivals annually. Additionally, WWII has left its
distinct mark throughout the region despite the incredible restoration
efforts undertaken over the years.
Social
revolutions, wars and a fair share of domestic turmoil combined with the
legacy of the Holy Roman Empire and the split of the Protestant Church
all make Germany unmistakably unique and internationally modern. Travel
Germany and discover that it's not all about the Beer Gardens!
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About the Author - Discount Airfare to
Germany
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I Love German Wine and Food - A Mosel
Qualitaetswein by Levi Reiss
If you
are in the mood for some fine German wine and food, you should really
consider the Mosel region of central western Germany on the border of Luxembourg. You may even find a bargain, and I
hope that you'll have fun on this fact-filled wine education tour in
which we review a local white Qualitaetswein (read inexpensive) Riesling.
 The Mosel
Valley is felt to be one of the most beautiful river valleys in the
world. This region, previously called Mosel-Saar-Ruwer in honor of its
three rivers, is famous for its Riesling wine. Some of the greatest
Rieslings in Germany and in fact in the entire world come from the Mosel
Valley. Experts can often identify Mosel Rieslings because of the slate
in the local soil, which may impart a taste of flint. The slopes are
among the steepest in the wine-producing world, and sometimes attain 70
degrees. The soil is so precious that every spring local workers lug
pails of soil up these steep slopes, temporarily reversing the effect of
the rains that wash the soil down every winter.
Mosel
ranks number five among the thirteen German wine regions when it comes to
both vineyard acreage and total wine production. Slightly over three
quarters of the regional wine is classified as QbA and somewhat less than
one quarter is higher quality QmP wine. Only one percent is table wine.
Over half of Mosel wine is Riesling. The German hybrid white grape
variety Mueller-Thurgau represents about 20% of the wine production. In
third place is the historic Elbing that dates back to Roman times. Only
about 2% of Mosel wine is red.
 The Mosel
Valley pretty well stretches from Koblenz which isn't far from Germany's
former capital Bonn to the city of
Trier sitting very close to the border with Luxembourg.
These two fine cities are linked by the Mosel Weinstrasse (Mosel Wine
Road) which is approximately 140 miles (224 kilometers) long on the
eastern side of the river and somewhat less on the western side. Of
course, you could take the autobahn to travel between Koblenz and Trier
at breakneck speed. If you do, you'll miss the interesting little towns
and vineyards along the way.
Cochem
lies about one third of the way from Koblenz to Trier. It's a fine little
Mosel River Valley town. This medieval town is long and narrow. You
should take a boat trip as well as a walking tour. Outside the town gate
is the Kaiser Wilhelm railway tunnel, which at 2.5 miles (4 kilometers)
is the longest in all Germany. About fifteen minutes of walking get you
to the Reichsburg (Imperial Fortress), a thousand year old castle that
overlooks Cochem. The castle hosts a medieval banquet which features
period costumes and music on Fridays and Saturdays but you must reserve
in advance. North of the city is a larger castle, the Burg Eltz a few
miles inland from the Mosel.
Before
reviewing the Mosel wine and imported cheeses that we were lucky enough
to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here
are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring
this beautiful region. Start with Aalsuppe (Eel Soup). For your second
course enjoy Rolladen (Beef rolls with Bacon and Pickles). As a dessert
indulge yourself with Moselweintorte (Chocolate and Wine Cake).
OUR
WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased
at the full retail price.
Wine
Reviewed Moselland Bernkasteler Kurfurstlay 2005 9.5% alcohol about $8.50
Let's
start by quoting the marketing materials. Tasting Note: Pale straw yellow
colour; citrus, mineral and dried apricot aromas and flavours; balanced
with crisp acidity in the finish. Serving Suggestion: Serve chilled with
pork, turkey or appetizers. Spicy asian dishes.
 My first
pairing was with a homemade pizza with lots of tomato sauce, vegetables,
and cheese but no meat. This wine displayed refreshing acidity that
worked well with the pizza sauce. It had good fruit and was surprisingly
long.
The
next meal included a barbecued chicken marinated in a commercial
Mediterranean-style light sauce, red-skinned potatoes, and a somewhat
spicy Turkish salad. The wine's acidity cut the fat very well and yet
complemented the tomato's own acidity which largely defined the salad.
This little and lightly alcoholic wine (9.5% when 13% plus seems to be
the new norm) was quite assertive, especially with the potatoes. And yet
it was somewhat flat with dessert, some orange fruit-juice candy.
The
final meal was whole-wheat pasta in a sauce that started our as your
basic commercial pasta sauce and then livened up by a fried medley of
garlic, red onions, red and green peppers, topped with anchovies and
shredded (local) Asiago cheese. The wine was light and fruity and the
combination was quite tasty. I was happy that this Riesling was
low-alcohol (and inexpensive) so that I could drink quite a bit without
any negative effects, including to my pocketbook.
The
initial cheese pairing was with a mild Italian Pecorino Fruilano. The
wine was sweet but didn't impress me very much. Then I paired it with a
nutty Dutch Edam cheese. Once again the wine was sweet but it was round
and the combination went quite well.
Final
verdict. Great bargain. The wine really goes well with simple food. I
didn't get a chance to try it with gourmet specialties but wouldn't be
surprised if it did as well as many wines including Rieslings at twice
the price. If I weren't saddled with so many wines to taste (talk about
problems) I'd buy half a case and drink one every two months or so. Then
I'd try one from the next vintage and hope to repeat the process.
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About the Author - Once upon a
time Levi Reiss wrote ten computer and Internet books either alone or
with a co-author. And yet, he really prefers drinking fine Italian or
other wine, with the right food and friends. He knows about dieting but
now eats and drinks what he wants, in moderation. He teaches computers at
an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel
website http://www.travelitalytravel.com
which focuses on local wine and food.
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Interesting Facts About Germany by Milo
Jarvis
Germany
has always held a reputation of being a rich and progressive nation.
Contributing much in terms of human progress and industrial/financial
revolution. Germany has given birth to many people and ideologies that
have helped to shape the world as we know it.
The
official name of Germany is The Federal Republic of Germany. It is
located in West Europe. The Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Denmark surround
Germany on the north. It is flanked on the east by the Czech Republic and Poland.
Flanked on the west by France, Belgium, and Luxembourg and
Netherlands.
The southern borders are Austria and Switzerland.
Germany
is a member of the European Union (EU). Germany has Europe's largest
economy and is Europe's second largest populous nation. The total area of
Germany is 357,021 sq. km. The total land area is 349,223 sq. km. The
total covered by water being 7,798 sq. km. The capital of The Federal
Republic of Germany is Berlin.
Other major cities are Munich, Hanover, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Cologne, and Bremen. Germany is a federal
republic with a parliamentary democracy.
The
ethnicity of Germany's population is 91.5% German, 2.4% Turkish, 6.1%
others such as Greeks, Italians, Polish, Russians, Serb-Croatians,
Spanish. The main religions in Germany are Protestant (Evangelisch) 38%,
Roman Catholic (Katholisch) 34%, Muslim 1.7%, and others make up 26.3%.
Classical music has been dominated by German speaking composers. A few of
the famous ones born on German ground include Beethoven, Schumann, Bach,
Brahms, Handel, Mendelssohn, Wagner and R. Strauss. Some of the worlds
wisest philosophers were German: Nietzsche, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer,
and Heidegger.
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Germany boasts around 700
zoological gardens, aquariums, bird parks, wildlife parks, animal
reserves, or safari parks, not to mention 414 registered zoos. Berlin's
Zoologischer Garten is the world's largest zoo, number of species
(1,500) and animal population (14,000). The Fairy Grottoes
(Feengrotten) in Saalfeld, Thuringia,
are the world's most colorful caves, according to the Guinness Book of
Records.
Since
2003, Germany is the world's largest exporter of goods with $1.016
trillion exported in 2005. 10.1% of the world's exports come from
Germany. Germany is the worlds second largest producer of cars (after Japan) and motor vehicle in general(after the
United States). The German based company BASF (Badische Anilin- und
Soda- Fabrik) is the second largest chemical company in the world,
employing about 87,000 people in 160 subsidiaries and joint ventures in
41 countries.
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The
biggest train station in Europe is located in Berlin. The European Central Bank is
in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany.
Frankfurt International Airport claims the world record in the most
international destinations served. The Lufthansa, based in Frankfurt, is the worlds largest
airline in terms of international passengers carried, and Europe's
largest in terms of passenger-kilometers flown, freight tonne-kilometers
flown and fleet size. The largest department store in continental Europe
is the KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens) in Berlin, with over 60,000 square
meters covered.
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About the Author - To learn about
German Language Courses or for information about learning to speak
German, please visit my blog Learn to Speak German at http://learnspeakgerman.blogspot.com
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Top Ten Places To Visit In Germany by
Jonathan Williams
If
you're looking for a place that's rich with remnants of the recent past,
then Germany's the place for you. As you may well know, Germany was a key
player in the previous world wars. Thus, it filled Germany with monuments
to the stories of our grandfathers about times long past but never
forgotten.
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1.) Berlin Wall
There's
no other place in Germany that's more suffused with charged up emotions
than the Berlin Wall. You can
just imagine the tears and the blood shed over this very wall. This
remnant of the wars stands as one of the greatest monuments to
democracy known to man - a sign that freedom will always come out
victorious.
2.) The
Romantic Road
Driving
through the Romantic road would be one of the most pleasant drives
you'll experience in your whole life. This road is flanked by scenic
landscapes on both sides.
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Occasionally,
you'll pass through a picturesque town, a beautiful gothic church, and
sometimes, a quaint countryside inn.
3.) Augsburg
Passing
through the Romantic Road will lead you to Augsburg, a town founded by the
Roman Legions and named after the esteemed Roman emperor, Augustus. This
picturesque town contains such historical places as St. Anne's Church,
the place where Martin Luther took refuge, and Dom, a very unusual
Cathedral. You can also find here the Renaissance Golden Room, a sight
that will make you squint with its shine.
4.) Neuschwanstein
Castle
Did
you know that Walt Disney used a castle found in Germany as his
inspiration for the castle of Sleeping Beauty? It's true, those alabaster
walls and those high towers and wide parapets were all based on the
Neuschwanstein Castle. It is now hailed as one of the most popular
tourist spots in Germany.
5.) The
Castles of Fussen
Like
most of Europe, several castles are littered throughout Germany. It
contains the other two of Ludwig's castles, the first one being the
Neuschwanstein Castle. This is a must-see for all those families who are
traveling through Germany because the place literally looks like it's
been torn out of a storybook.
6.) Lake
Constance
Lake
Constance is both a tourist spot and an essential source of life for the
Germans. Several areas in the country rely on this very lake for their
drinking water, and this large lake is also a great place to swim and to
go bird watching. Indeed, if you're one for beautiful natural sceneries,
then Lake Constance is not to be ignored.
7.) The
Black Forest
The
name looks like it has been taken from one of the fairytales, doesn't it?
The
Black Forest - it sounds like a place where evil witches reside and cursed
trees grow, but don't let that deter you though.
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If anything, the Black
Forest can hardly be related to its name as it's a sunny forest with
tall and sturdy firs. It's a great place to go hiking and a great place
for picnics.
8.) Cologne
When
you hear the word, Cologne,
what comes into your mind? A beautiful fragrance, right? Well, meet the
town that's called Cologne for a reason, and indeed, the town of
Cologne has its own peculiar fragrance that's very pleasing to the
nose. Also, there you will find a beautiful view of the River Rhine and
the Cologne Cathedral.
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9.) Dachau
Take a
break from the fairytale castles and mystical forests and go to the place
called Dachau. Dachau is a concentration camp - a remnant of Germany's
dark past where you can just imagine the horrors that took place in this
very spot. However, you will also find there a statue bearing the
inscription, "Never Again", a solemn promise of the German
people that they will 'never again' commit such unspeakable acts -
another true victory for peace.
10.) Oktoberfest
The
Oktoberfest - technically, it's not a place, but it's just too good a festival
to leave out of any 'top ten list' that concerns tourism and Germany.
This fun-filled festival in the town of Bavaria is guaranteed to leave
you intoxicated and euphoric. You can spend days on end just drinking
authentic German Ale and just letting yourself loose.
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About the Author -
Jonathan Williams is the travel writer for Destination Guide TV - the
place to share travel videos. Visit http://www.destinationguide.tv/germany
to view or share Germany travel videos.
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