Germany Things to Do Tips by tini58de

Upper Middle Rhine Valley

This is the official brief description of the UNESCO committee:

"The 65km-stretch of the Middle Rhine Valley, with its castles, historic towns and vineyards, graphically illustrates the long history of human involvement with a dramatic and varied natural landscape. It is intimately associated with history and legend and for centuries has exercised a powerful influence on writers, artists and composers."

(quoted from the official UNESCO website)

Personal impression:

For me it is always nice to take the IC train from here up north, which passes exactly along the banks of the Rhine river. the most exciting part is to see, if you sit on the right side to really be able to enjoy these sights.

Würzburg

This is the official brief description of the UNESCO committee:

"This magnificent Baroque palace – one of the largest and most beautiful in Germany and surrounded by wonderful gardens – was created under the patronage of the prince-bishops Lothar Franz and Friedrich Carl von Schönborn. It was built and decorated in the 18th century by an international team of architects, painters (including Tiepolo), sculptors and stucco-workers, led by Balthasar Neumann."

(quoted from the official UNESCO website)

Personal impression:

I remember attending a convention of deaf educators in Würzburg, when I was still at the University - now I wish, I had had a closer look at all of the architectural beauty!!! Another place that I will have to go back to!

Website: http://whc.unesco.org/sites/169.htm

Wieskirche

This is the official brief description of the UNESCO committee:

"bMiraculously preserved in the beautiful setting of an Alpine valley, the Church of Wies (1745–54), the work of architect Dominikus Zimmermann, is a masterpiece of Bavarian Rococo – exuberant, colourful and joyful."

(quoted from the official UNESCO website)

Personal impression:

We visited the Wieskirche during a VT meeting with my friend habert62 - with who we usually LOVE to see diffent destinations in Bavaria - stunning church interior!!

Website: http://whc.unesco.org/sites/271.htm

Stralsund and Wismar

This is the official brief description of the UNESCO committee:

"bThe medieval towns of Wismar and Stralsund, on the Baltic coast of northern Germany, were major trading centres of the Hanseatic League in the 14th and 15th centuries. In the 17th and 18th centuries they became Swedish administrative and defensive centres for the German territories. They contributed to the development of the characteristic building types and techniques of Brick Gothic in the Baltic region, as exemplified in several important brick cathedrals, the Town Hall of Stralsund, and the series of houses for residential, commercial and crafts use, representing its evolution over several centuries."

(quoted from the official UNESCO website)

Personal impression:

I remember so well, when the wall came down, my neighbor and I decided to have a look at the most remote part of the world - just outside our doorstep - and we went to the former GDR. Wismar was then really run down, but meanwhile they have really done a fabulous job renovating!

Same thing in Stralsund, which I visited while on a vacation in Rügen. - wonderful!
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Website: http://whc.unesco.org/sites/1067.htm

Speyer

This is the official brief description of the UNESCO committee:

"bSpeyer Cathedral, a basilica with four towers and two domes, was founded by Conrad II in 1030 and remodelled at the end of the 11th century. It is one of the most important Romanesque monuments from the time of the Holy Roman Empire. The cathedral was the burial place of the German emperors for almost 300 years."

(quoted from the official UNESCO website)

Personal impression:

It was only two years ago, that I first saw this fascinating piece of architecture - so close to my home!

Directions: For some more pictures of this truly wonderful town, please have a look at my Speyer page!

Website: http://whc.unesco.org/sites/168.htm

Maulbronn

This is the official brief description of the UNESCO committee:

"Founded in 1147, the Cistercian Maulbronn Monastery is considered the most complete and best-preserved medieval monastic complex north of the Alps. Surrounded by fortified walls, the main buildings were constructed between the 12th and 16th centuries. The monastery's church, mainly in Transitional Gothic style, had a major influence in the spread of Gothic architecture over much of northern and central Europe. The water-management system at Maulbronn, with its elaborate network of drains, irrigation canals and reservoirs, is of exceptional interest."

(quoted from the official UNESCO website)

Personal impression:

One detail, that might be interesting:
The movie: The Name of the Rose with Sean Connery and Christian Slater was done here! Fantastic architecture!!!.

Website: http://whc.unesco.org/sites/546.htm

Luebeck

This is the official brief description of the UNESCO committee:

"Luebeck - the former capital and Queen City of the Hanseatic League - was founded in the 12th century and prospered until the 16th century as the major trading centre for northern Europe. It has remained a centre for maritime commerce to this day, particularly with the Nordic countries. Despite the damage it suffered during the Second World War, the basic structure of the old city, consisting mainly of 15th- and 16th-century patrician residences, public monuments (the famous Holstentor brick gate), churches and salt storehouses, remains unaltered."

(quoted from the official UNESCO website)

Personal impression:

I went to vocational school in L?beck and always spent 4 weeks at a time there. I really enjoyed that place with its wonderful architecture, the most delicious Marzipan and all the leisure activities that I could have there...

Website: http://whc.unesco.org/sites/272.htm

Köln/Cologne

This is the official brief description of the UNESCO committee:

"Begun in 1248, the construction of this Gothic masterpiece took place in several stages and was not completed until 1880. Over seven centuries, successive builders were inspired by the same faith and a spirit of absolute fidelity to the original plans. Apart from its exceptional intrinsic value and the artistic masterpieces it contains, Cologne Cathedral testifies to the enduring strength of European Christianity."

(quoted from the official UNESCO website)

Personal impression:

For me it is almost always just a short stop - hop out of the central railway station and there you go: you stand in front of this fantastic cathedral! It really is VERY impressive!

Website: http://whc.unesco.org/sites/292.htm

Hildesheim

This is the official brief description of the UNESCO committee:

"bSt Michael's Church was built between 1010 and 1020 on a symmetrical plan with two apses that was characteristic of Ottonian Romanesque art in Old Saxony. Its interior, in particular the wooden ceiling and painted stucco- work, its famous bronze doors and the Bernward bronze column, are – together with the treasures of St Mary's Cathedral – of exceptional interest as examples of the Romanesque churches of the Holy Roman Empire."

(quoted from the official UNESCO website)

Personal impression:

Hildesheim is very close to where I grew up and so I went there quite often, not really knowing about this fantastic UNESCO World Heritage site (which it only became in 1985), so here is another place, that I will have to visit to freshen up my memory!!!

Website: http://whc.unesco.org/sites/187.htm

Goslar

This is the official brief description of the UNESCO committee:

"Situated near the Rammelsberg mines, Goslar held an important place in the Hanseatic League because of the rich Rammelsberg metallic ore deposits. From the 10th to the 12th century it was one of the seats of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Its well-preserved medieval historic centre has some 1,500 half-timbered houses dating from the 15th to the 19th century."

(quoted from the official UNESCO website)

Personal impression:

I grew up not too far from Goslar, so I was quite young, when my parents took me there. Nothing much that I can remember, but I want to go there again for sure!

Website: http://whc.unesco.org/sites/623.htm