Inglourious Basterds, The Berlin International Film Festival, more than 30000 palaces and castles, hundreds of wineries and the Bundesliga are not the only things which define the majestic country of Germany. It is also home to an extremely rich and varied history, unique works of architecture, priceless art works, a great culture, crazy music and even wilder parties. Apart from the innumerable sights and things to do, Germany is also blessed with some of the most beautiful natural landscapes of the world. From spending a day amidst nature and exploring countless castles and palaces to sunbathing on nude beaches, Germany has something unique for each of its travellers. A few of the top sights of Germany are the Old City of Heidelberg, the Neuschwanstein Castle, the Cologne Cathedral, Romantic Rhine, Lindau and of course the world-famous Oktoberfest.
The Old City of Heidelberg
Heidelberg was one of the very few cities of Germany which was spared from bombings during the World War II. As a result, it retained much of its old world charm and still exudes an aura of romance and adventure which prevailed during the medieval era.
The Neuchwanstein Castle
The Neuchwanstein Castle is located on the top of a rugged hill near the town of Fusen. Popularly known as the best fairytale castle of the world, it has been an inspiration to numerous theme parks and fairy tales such as the Disneyland and the Sleeping Beauty castles. It is also one of the most photographed buildings of Germany and invariable features on most tourist itineraries.
The Cologne Cathedral
The Cologne Cathedral is one of the most important pieces of German history and is also the third tallest cathedral of the world. The construction of this cathedral took more than 600 years and the construction process was passed from generation to generation. The most astonishing fact is that when the cathedral was finally finished in the year 1880, it was still true to its original plans which were developed way back in the year 1248. Further, the cathedral also has the proud distinction of being the only standing building of Cologne after it was leveled by bombings in the World War II. As a result, numerous theories such as divine intervention came about. However, it was actually an orientation point for the pilots which resulted in it being saved from bombings.
Romantic Rhine
Popular as the most famous section of Rhine, Romantic Rhine has been enticing countless tourists since eternity. The area runs from Koblenz to Bingen and is characterized by the Rhine river carving its way through hundreds of castles and ruins and vineyard covered hills. Another factor which has contributed greatly to the appeal of the area are the countless historical towns and villages in the area which dot the Rhine River.
Lindau
The city of Lindau has great historical importance and is located on the converging point of the Swiss, German and Austrian borders towards the east of Lake Constance. The city has about 3000 inhabitants and is full of historical buildings and medieval palaces which are extremely popular amongst the tourists.
Oktoberfests
The Oktoberfest is the largest festival in Germany which is extremely popular all over the world and draws about 6 million tourists annually. The festival is known to have immense importance in the Bavarian culture and began way back in the year 1810. Its appeal and popularity has kept growing ever since and the carnival is famous for unlimited amounts of beer and traditional practices such as Knodel, Hendl and Wurstl.
The Brandenburg Gate
Very few monuments have received more international fame than The Brandenburg Gate. Built in between 1789 – 1791, the Gate represents the past and the present eras of Germany in exemplary fashion. The main attraction of the Gate is its unique architecture which includes 6 Doric Columns that forms 5 passageways with pedestrian access only. In the year 1794, a depiction of Goddess Victoria, the Goddess of Victory, riding a four-horse chariot was also added.
Berlin’s Museum Island
The Berlin Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is located right in the heart of the city of Berlin. This magnificent museum is extremely popular amongst the tourists as well as the locals due to its humongous collection of priceless treasures and artefacts. Also known to be one of the most important museums of the world, The Museum Island takes its visitors on a journey through time which begins with the cradle of civilization on the streets of Mesopotamia, passes through the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and the Islamic eras and ends with the era of 19th Century Romanticism and the Modern Ages.
The Romantic Road
The Romantic Road starts from Wurzburg and goes on till Fusen. It is one of the most visited routes of Germany which has been made popular due to the small winding towns and villages which line up along the route, exquisite wines of Wurzburg, the Neuschwanstein Castle, immense scenic beauty and the magnificent lakes of Fusen.
The Rugen Cliffs
Made famous in the works of Caspar Freidrich, the Rugen Cliffs are one of Germany’s most famous and popular attractions amongst tourists from all over the world. Located in the Jasmund National Park in the northeastern part of the Rugen Island, these have been subject to constant erosion. Towering high above the Baltic Sea is the Konigsstuhl, which is also popular as the most majestic part of the Rugen Cliffs. These chalk white cliffs are very popular for their mesmerizing sights, great aura and an incredible atmosphere of romance.