Germany

The Germany is a country in the middle of Europe. Germany is often known as das Land der Dichter und Denker (the land of poets and thinkers). German culture began long before the rise of Germany as a nation-state and spanned the entire German speaking world.

In the past, when people in Europe could not speak each other's languages, they used German. Many important people in history are thought of as "German", because they are at the heart of German culture, although they did not always live in Germany. Some of these people were Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Kafka, Stefan Zweig, and Copernicus

Today, the number of believers in all religions in Germany is smaller than it was in the past. Many people in Germany do not belong to a church. Traditionally the Presbyterian and Protestant churches are most influential in Germany, along with various independent Protestant churches. The Orthodox Christians are mainly guest workers and their descendants, the Greek Orthodox Church church having the greatest number of followers, making it the third largest religious organisation in Germany by number. The confessional lutheran Church is the Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Germany. This church is in full fellowship with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

Berlin: Berlin is a touristic hotspot with plenty of brilliant museums, great shopping and pulsating nightlife. The German capital is one of the great cities of the world and is home to lovely parks, monuments, shopping and historical sites. Currently going through a new cultural renaissance, innovative art abounds in trendy neighborhoods like Kreuzberg and Prenzlauerberg where there are countless art galleries, small clubs and theatres. Without a doubt, Berlin is a must for any urban traveler.

Neuschwanstein Castle: Neuschwanstein Castle is Germany’s most famous castle and is best known for being the model used by Walt Disney for the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Initiated by King Ludwig in 1869, it took hundreds of craftsmen from around the world almost 16 years to build and only about a third of it was ever finished. Neuschwanstein looms over the Hohenschwangau valley. From the outside it is a magnificent work of mock- medievalism, a true piece of fairy-tale fantasy. The interior style borrows from Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic styles and features spectacular woodcarvings and murals. Take a tour of the castle and then view it and its 45meter waterfall from nearby Mary’s bridge to see it in its true splendor.

Oktoberfest: The Munich Oktoberfest is now one of world's biggest public festivals. It was originally begun at the royal wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxony Hilbrughausen on October the 12th, 1810. The celebrations
went on for five days. Today, the festival goes on for over 16 days. Despite its name, the Oktoberfest begins on the last few days of September and spills into the first week of October. Prepare yourself for copious amounts of food and drink! Have a go on the wide variety of fun fair rides if you can manage it. The city is filled with hundreds of thousands of committed beer drinkers swigging litres of Bavaria’s finest for days on end. It is a lively and unforgettable festival.

The Romantic Road: The Romantic Road is one of several ‘themed’ roads in Germany and is one of Germany’s most famous vacation routes. It is a stunning 220-mile journey from the River Main to the Alps offering the traveler one of the most beautiful and engaging combinations of scenery, cuisine and ambience that Germany can offer. One surprising highlight of the walk is to be found at the Noerdlingen’s Ries Crater, where America's astronauts trained for their moonwalk!

Cologne and Cologne Cathedral: Cologne is located on the banks of the Rhine and is probably best known for producing Eau de Cologne and for its impressive Cathedral. The Cathedral is a magnificent 13th-century Gothic structure with a twin-spired structure, supported by 56 pillars and highlighted by splendid stained-glass windows. The Cologne museum complex contains paintings from Dutch and German masters as well as a great collection of modern art. Cologne is also famous for its wild carnival celebrations. Starting each year on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, it is a definite must-see if you’re in the area.

The Black Forest: Countless fairy tales originated in the valleys and wooded heights of Germany's Black Forest. Its name (Schwarzwald in German) describes the dark firs and pines that cover this mountainous region. Otherwise known as the Home of the German Soul, its landscape rises to about 1,200m and drops off steeply into picturesque valleys. The Black Forest area is very popular with hikers and cross-country skiers. Areas of interest include Titisee, Triberg, Gutach and Furtwangen. The region starts 130 km south of Frankfurt and runs to the Swiss border.

Lake Constance: Lake Constance is Germany’s largest lake and is shared with Switzerland and Austria. The area is very unusual as it has one of the warmest microclimates in Germany. It is an old-fashioned resort and very popular with Germans in summer. There are numerous pretty resort towns along the shores of the lake, most notably Meersburg which is surrounded by vineyards, half-timbered houses and the oldest structurally intact castle in Germany. A visit to the island of Mainau at the northern end of the lake is worth visiting as is the small picture-postcard town of Lindau at the southern end. There is a ferry service across the lake from Friedrichshafen into Switzerland, so make sure not to forget your passport on the trip.