Germany

General

Germany is a country of a great power by all means. Located in West-central Europe, it is the world’s third largest economy, largest exporter of goods and second largest importer of goods. It is a founding member of the EU and it has the largest population among the European Union’s member states. Germany is a parliamentary federal republic of sixteen states and sovereign state to the West of mainland Europe. As it is revealed, visiting Germany means actually visiting one of the world’s most dominant, beautiful and important countries. Moreover, some of the best hotels of Europe and especially the hotels in Berlin and the hotels in Munich are also located there, adorning your trip to this exceptional destination. 

History

Germany, as we know it today, is on of the few European territories that remained outside the Roman Empire. By 100 AD, Germanic tribes settled along the Rhine and the Danube occupying most of the area of modern Germany. The Medieval Empire that followed stemmed from a division of the Carolingian Empire and lasted from 843 to 1806. The state known as Germany was unified in 1871 when the German Empire added the Kingdom of Prussia in its territory. Germany’s power increased significantly during this period and its imperialistic orientation brought it in Africa, where it colonized a number of countries and territories. The end of this period found Germany scrambling for Africa’s territories against the other European powers, a fact that in combination with the assassination of Austria’s prince on 28 June 1914 triggered World War I. At the end of the war Germany suffered a great loss against allied powers and was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919. In 1939, after a long period of internal conflicts, economic depression and political reforms, Germany declared war to Poland, Britain and France, heralding the beginning of World War II. Germany under the command of Adolf Hitler gained direct or indirect control of nearly all Europe. The war ended on 8 May 1945 after the German surrender to the Red Army. The country was divided among the great powers and remained separated till the fall of Berlin Wall in 1990. Today, Germany is one of the world’s strongest countries and a leading member of the European Union and NATO.

Art and Culture

Germany has also a long history of art dated from the 8th century AD. Painting and sculpture of the Gothic style can be found in a number of woodcarvings and church paintings. Later influences came from the Low Countries such as The Netherlands and Belgium and successively from the Italian Renaissance. Most important representatives of this stream were Albrecht Dürer and Hans Holbein. Other movements with significant impact on German art include the Baroque and Neoclassical periods and of course the Romantic school, mainly expressed through the work of Casper David Friedrich. In the 20th century, Expressionism was regarded as an entire German movement, culminated in the foundation of Dada in Switzerland and the art-school of Bauhaus. Today, there are many significant museums and art galleries all over Germany that comprise cultural inheritance. Some examples are the Bayerisches National Museum in Bavaria and the Alte Nationgalerie, the Deutsches Historisches Museum, the Deutsche Guggenheim art museum and the Galerie der Romantik in Berlin.

Gastronomy

A typical German meal may include from two to seven courses. It usually starts with a Vorspeise (appetizer) and a soup, followed by a main course with raw or cooked side dishes. Finally, at the end of each meal small treats called Nachspeise are served. Germans usually accompany their meals with beer, wine or Sekt (sparkling wine). German kitchen is one of great variety with influences from all German states. Each region has a different specialty and a diverse culinary tradition, making Germany a unique gastronomic destination. The area around the Black Forest and the Rhein River for instance, cultivates ingredients met in traditional specialties like the Nordrhein Westfield and the Rheinland-Pfalz.

Bavaria is known for its abundance of beer and meats. Local specialties include Spannferkel (spit roasted baby pig), Handkaes (kind of cheese) and Schwaebische Kasespaetzle (flour dumplings). Other traditional recipes are Dresdner Stollen (fruit cake), Blechkuchen (cake) and Welfenspeise (vanilla dessert), coming from Bremen, Thueringen and the Saxonian states. Finally, the famous fruit soup of Rote Gruetze, the delicious meat balls known as Bulletten and the pickled eggs or Soeier are most commonly cooked in Hamburg, Berlin and Brandenburg. The culinary tradition though that is met all over the country and unifies gastronomically all Germany, includes the exceptional German meats and sausages and the ever present German beer. 

Places to visit

The capital of Germany is a unique destination. Berlin symbolizes the end of World War II and the end of Cold War by the fall of its Wall in 1990. Today the city is an amalgamation of cultures and nationalities that infuse a greatly vivid and international oriented atmosphere. Embracing some of the most important art galleries, sites and museums in Europe and accommodating various events and festivals from concerts and theatrical plays to exhibitions of any kind, Berlin is not unfairly considered the cultural capital of Europe. Of course, it is also a city of great nightlife, a true metropolis full of bars, exceptional restaurants and trendy clubs. Some of Berlin’s sites that every tourist should visit include the remarkable Parliament Building (Reichstag), the Berlin Wall Museum that focuses on the history surrounding the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, which is a defining symbol of the city’s both division and unification, the famous Pergamon Museum, and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, which is half damaged due to World War II bombings and comprise a symbol of the war’s destruction. For those that visit Berlin, it should be also mentioned that hotels in Berlin are among the best hotels of Germany, with various modern facilities and unique architectural styles.

It is almost impossible to find a city, town or village in Germany not worthy visiting. All German cities accommodate unique beauties and exceptional style, starting with the capital of Bavaria, the magnificent Munich. Its exceptional churches such as the Cathedral Church of our Lady (Frauenkirche) and the Church of St. Peter (Alter Peter), its wonderful castles and parks like the Nymphenburg Palace and Park, the Palaces Schleissheim and Parks and the English Garden and of course the great variety of beers and meats served in traditional Bavarian bars and restaurants make Munich a splendid destination by all means. Hotels in Munich are also famous for their hospitable environment and traditional Bavarian style.

Another great choice is Düsseldorf and Cologne. You can visit both cities in one day as they are only 30 minutes away from one another. Both built next to Rhine, they combine unique traditional inner city centers with vivid atmosphere and splendid nightlife. Especially, the bars in Düsseldorf are placed one next to the other, forming something like a long platform. This is the reason Düsseldorf is also known as the city with the longest bar in Europe. Therefore, it is certainly suggetsed that you reserve a hotel in Düsseldorf, before picking up a day to reserve a hotel in Cologne as well. Another city worthy visiting is Frankfurt. Frankfurt is Germany's main economic and political centre, housing many international organizations and business entities. Many people visit Frankfurt for business arrangements, a fact that it is also depicted in the great number of business class hotel in Frankfurt. For more diverse moments it is recommended that you visit Hamburg. Hamburg is a great German city, hosting some of the best bars and clubs of the area. Hotels in  Hamburg have an easy going atmoshpere and comfortable environment. Trier and Stuttgart are also cities with unique beauties and traditional German style. A visit there is surely recommended.