cityspheres - historic highlights of germany

H I S T O R I CHIGHLIGHTSOF GERMANY

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Content

Germany

To travel is to experience

Historic Highlights of Germany

Germany’s historic cities!

Exploring Germany

“Back to the Routes!”

Short Breaks

General news

City bites

Great Food and Drink

In Focus

Germany Insight

Fantastic sites

Quirky and Offbeat

Explore more

Getting Around

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The “Cityspheres” guide is edited by Historic Highlights of Germany e.V., Ernst-Ludwig-Ring 2, DE-61231 Bad Nauheim. Publication Manager: Bjoern Rudek. Printed in Germany, January 2013. Whilst every care has been taken in the writing and production of this guide, errors or inaccuracies cannot be completely excluded.

Photo credits: air-klick.de, Barbara Neumann, Björn Rudek, Cäsar Willich, Deutsche Bahn AG, Eckhart Matthaeus, Fluxus + Museum Potsdam, Fränkisches Weinland / Andreas Hub, FWTM/ Raach, FWTM/ Schoenen, Heidelberg Marketing GmbH, HHoG/ Takano, Hotel Neptun Rostock-Warnemünde, Koblenz Touristik/ Thomas Frey, la vie Restaurant, Landeshauptstadt Mainz, Monika Rittershaus, Nadia Pacino, Niels Stappenbeck, Nordlicht, Oliver Lang, Osnabrück Marketing und Tourismus GmbH, P!Elmedia, Ralf Emmerich, Regio Augsburg Tourismus GmbH, Restaurant Friedrich Wilhelm IV, Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier, Thomas Zühmer, Ron Stern, Sascha Mayerer, SPSG / Anton Graff, SPSG/ Michael Lüder, Staatlicher Hofkeller Würzburg, Stadt Augsburg - Marktamt, Stadt Würzburg, Thüringisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie (TLDA), TIT/ Yaph, TMB/ Boldt, Wiesbaden Marketing GmbH, Wikimedia Commons / Josef Lehmkuhl, www.maisenbacher-art.com (Foto W. Scheuermann)

Schwabentor (Freiburg)

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This is what we call “Germany off the beaten track”. Experience Germany the way the Germans do it: We promise that after your journey you will know a great deal more about the country in the heart of Europe!

Björn Rudek CEO Historic Highlights of Germany

HISTORY UP Your Life!Germany OFF the beaten track

Dear readers,

How much do you know about Germany? More and more travelers from around the world discover our country which is a true treasure chest of many themes and possibilities. In your hands you hold a great mix of travel ideas for Germany’s historic cities – those destinati-ons that were ennobled with the title of the Historic Highlights of Germany, representing quality, trust and value.

With one glance at the map you will quickly be able to spot well-known cities, but also those places which – despite their historical significance – are not often on the classical travel rou-te. What all member cities of the Historic Highlights of Germany have in common is that they are neither too big nor too small. A fusion of significant European history and modern lifestyle took place here. Travelers are able to experience the unexpec-ted, chat with locals at markets and gain a whole new impres-sion of Germany.

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards!” (Søren Kierkegaard)

Contact us


HEADQUARTERS

Ernst-Ludwig-Ring 261231 Bad NauheimGermany

t: +49 (0) 6032 – 93 74 393f: +49 (0) 6032 – 93 74 [email protected]

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Discover Germany: culture, nature and much more besides.

To travel is to experienceDestination Germany: the country where travel dreams come true. In the heart of Europe – and at the heart of life. Buzzing world cities including Berlin, Hamburg and Munich are magnets for millions; historical gems such as Heidelberg with its castle or Würzburg with its palace are destinations of majestic beauty. Scenic landscapes from coastal mudflats to towering mountain ranges alternate with river valleys, vineyards and sweeping forests. And most importantly of all there is the warmth and hospitality of the people, their cosmopolitan outlook and their lust for life.

Great destinations. Unforgettable experiences.Museums of world renown such as those on Berlin's Museum island or in Munich's museum quarter are reason alone to visit these cities. in leipzig and Bayreuth, a glittering musical tradition that is still very much alive finds expression in a calendar of cultural highlights. and Germany now has 37 unescO World heritage sites bearing witness to great history and exceptional natural beauty. But it is not always just the great and the important that make up the appeal of Germany, it's often the smaller towns as well, whose sleepy old quarters and quintessential traditions offer many a pleasant surprise. Bamberg, for exam-ple, Münster and trier – alongside many others. in all places and at all times people are out enjoying life, at town celebrations and street festivals, in cosy inns and in the countryside, amid glorious natural beauty. shopping and chilling out are always an option, and those who want to boost their health are well catered for in famous spa towns such as aachen, Wiesbaden and Baden-Baden. also well catered for are active holidaymakers on the many walking and cycling routes, including those in Germany's 14 national parks – the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors.

The Top 100 mobile app: Finding without searching.there is so much on offer in Germany that it's sometimes difficult to know where to

start. to help narrow down the selection the GntB has launched the top 100 mobile app, which features the 100 most popular sights in Germany as chosen by visitors. currently in the no. 1 spot: heidelberg castle. the app can be found at www.germany.travel/top100

Authentic, beautiful, cool Germany 2013: from youth travel to Richard Wagner.Great destinations, many target audiences. Families, single travellers, people in the prime of their life, the lGBt community, honeymooners, the health-conscious, busi-ness travellers, visitors with restricted mo-bility: Germany is there for all of them. in 2013 youth travel takes centre stage under the banner 'hotspots in Germany'. Young travellers from around the world have named and rated their very own 'hotspots' in Germany as part of a GntB Facebook survey and shared them with their friends.

Germany is in. Among young people of all ages.

the latest findings show: Germany's cities are 100% on trend when it comes to young people's tastes. and that doesn't just start and end with Berlin, the central star in the galaxy of youth lifestyles. Young travellers have already come up with 'hotspots' up and down the country in the categories of nightlife, must-sees, shopping, cafés & bars as well as festivals & events. From

March 2013 an interactive map will make it possible to discover these hotspots, com-ment on them and share them with others. and it will continue in this vein throughout the year: teenagers and young people will be able to post their own favourite places in Germany on the interactive map and share these with their friends and peers, thereby playing an active role in the youth travel campaign. What's more, there's a dedicated GntB app for finding free Wi-Fi hotspots in Germany, perfect for staying in contact with friends at home.

also on the agenda is Richard Wagner: in 2013 Germany is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of this remarkable yet controversial genius with concerts, exhibitions and plays in a number of cities, including the composer's birthplace, leipzig, and his adopted home of Bayreuth. another anniversary being celebrated in style is that of the Brothers Grimm fairytales, which this year are 200 years old – or young to look at it another way! For more information about the themes for 2013 visit www.germany.travel. One thing we can promise: it's going to be another exciting year!

Theme for 2014:UNESCO World Heritage in Germany.Germany's unescO World heritage includes important churches, abbeys and palaces, parks, industrial monuments, historic town ensembles and entire natural landscapes. World heritage sites. together with the historic highlights of Germany these will be the focus for 2014 – showca-sing the finest legacies of man and nature. the anticipation is already beginning to build at www.germany.travel/unesco

this and much more information for journalists and the media can be found at www.germany.travel/presse

Welcome to Germany – www.germany.travel

Understanding Germany’s his-toric cities often means more than just visiting its buildings. It’s also about understanding its traditions.

Augsburg, Erfurt, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Mainz, Münster, Osnabrück, Potsdam, Rostock, Trier, Wiesbaden and Würzburg are joined together as “Historic Highlights of Germany”– 13 of the best alternative his-toric cities for short breaks off the beaten track.

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Germany’s finest selection of historic cities


All of the Historic Highlightsof Germany member cities offer packages with overnight stays in a hotel (incl. breakfast) and many more services for less than $ 100 / € 77 per day.

Follow the traces of the Romans starting from $ 38 / € 29, be captivated by North German Hanseatic cities from $ 47 / € 36 or by magnificent castles from $ 41 / € 29.

Step back into the times of Martin Luther starting from $ 59 / € 45, discover treasures of German Romanticism from $ 64 / € 49 or indulge in wine culture from only $ 62 / € 48.

Best Value Packages

We make city breaks affordable – excellent value for money

All offers refer to overnight stays per Person in a double room, including additional services. (*December 2012, prices depending on current exchange rates)

More information: www.germany.travel/specialoffers

There are few places in Germa-ny older than these wonderful cities, whose history, which of-ten dates back more than two millennia, is brought to life with style and verve. Each one has played a major role in changing the course of German, Europe-an and sometimes even world history. While each city has its own unique attractions and events, all are known for an abundance of well-preserved churches, chapels, museums, castles, town halls and historic houses. At these destinations, visitors don’t just view mo-numents, they interact with history!

Further information: www.historicgermany.com

Prinzipalmarkt (Münster) Würzburg

Wine and Rhine (Koblenz)

Germany’s oldest guesthouse “Zum Bären” (Freiburg)


With six Dream Routes and four Christmas Dream Routes, Historic Highlights of Germany’s member cities offer featured itineraries for individual plan-ning.

The routes are offered in avariety of themes and interests. Visitors to the Historic High-lights of Germany website – www.historicgermany.com – are able to peruse a list of “Dream Route” topics, select one that matches their interests and view a map and a city-by-city description that most close-ly reflects those interests.

Check:www.germandreamroutes.travel

“Back to the Routes!”Featured Itineraries

Exploring Germany

Koblenz

WiesbadenMainz Würzburg

Trier Heidelberg

Freiburg

Augsburg

Erfurt

Münster

Osnabrück Potsdam

Rostock

Dream Route 2: Kings, Emperors and Palaces

The feudal time of the nobility

GERMANY’S VAST HISTORICAL HERITAGE ALLOWS TRAVELERS TO VISIT BISHOP’S SEES AND RESIDENCE CITIES, CASTLES, PALACES AND FORTRESSES OF EUROPEAN RANK.

Dream Route 1: Roman Heritage

On the traces of a world power

TRACES OF THE GREAT ROMAN CIVILIZATION ARE STILL VERY MUCH IN EVIDENCE IN GERMANY. THE OLDEST CITIES ALL HAVE ROMAN ORIGINS AND DATE BACK MORE THAN 2,000 YEARS.

Dream Route 6: Vintage Travel

A pleasure for the senses

A TOUR OF DISCOVERY THROUGH CITIES ON THE RHINE, MAIN OR MOSELLE RIVERS ENTHRALS THE SENSES WITH HIGH-CALIBRE CULTURE AND INTER-NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED WINES.

Dream Route 5: Treasures of German Romanticism

The epoch of longing

FROM THE END OF THE 18TH TO THE MIDDLE OF THE 19TH CENTURY, THE FEELING OF LONGING AND LOVE WAS PUT INTO EXPRESSIVE WORDS: ROMANTICISM, A SPIRITUAL MOVEMENT THAT SPREAD FROM GERMANY OUT INTO ALL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

Dream Route 3: Cities of the Hanseatic League

Witnesses of the first globalization

IN THE MIDDLE AGES SO CALLED “CITY ALLIANCES” WERE CREATED. THE “HANSE” (HANSEATIC LEAGUE) MADE THE ECONOMY BOOST IN NORTHERN GERMANY’S CITIES AND BROUGHT PROSPERITY.

Dream Route 4: On the Roots of the Reformation

The Country of Martin Luther

THE TIME OF THE RELIGIOUS REFORMATION (16TH CENTURY) IS CLOSELY CONNECTED TO THE HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS OF GERMANY AS MARTIN LUTHER LEFT BEHIND IMPORTANT TRACES IN MANY CITIES.

Seal the Deal!

Complete Tour Packages

Where To Book It?

TOEUROPE

USA/Canada (toll free):1.800.817.8137, International: +49.6475.911.0239toeurope.eu

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General newsShort Breaks

The Federal Garden Show 2011 has changed the face of the city of Koblenz considerably: Past and present are inextricably interwoven and new gardens and promenades invite travelers to explore the city. In the fall of2012, the Forum Mittelrhein shopping mall opened its doors. The FORUM CONFLUENTES and the ROMANTICUM will open upon July 1st, 2013 – a new inter-active exhibition experience which introduces visitors to the natural beauty of the Rhine Valley and its myths and legends – the German Romanticism. Equipped with audio guides, one will go on a fantastic journey on an imaginary Rhine steamer and be amazed.

More information:

The “Schlossbeleuchtung” (Castle Illumination) in Heidel-berg is a fascinating spectacle of flames and light, that takes visitors back into the local his-tory. They originated in 1613 when newly-wed Prince Elector Frederic V welcomed his young wife to Heidelberg. The English princess Elizabeth Stuart was received with due respect and a splendid event. To commemo-rate the destruction of the castle by the troops of the Sun King ofFrance (1693), Heidelberg celebrates castle illuminations several times every summer. Picturesque and otherworldly Bengal fires drench the ruined walls in a dazzling red light. When the ‘fake fire’ dies away, a cheerful, brilliant fireworks display takes over and adds festive glamour to the beautiful Old Town.

More information: www.heidelberg-tourismus.de

New Attraction in Koblenz: ROMANTICUM

400th anniversary of Heidelberg’s impressive Castle Illumination

It was a sensation for archaeolo-gists when thousands of Roman gold coins were discovered during construction works of a parking garage on the 9th of Septemer 1993 in Trier. 20 years after the discovery, the largest ever found gold treasure of Aurei of the Roman Empire with more than 2570 gold coins will be on exhibition from Septem-

The gold of the Romans – starting in autumn in Trier!

Reopening after renovationWith more than 500 years of history, this is one of the oldest hotels in Germany. The “Stei-genberger Hotel Drei Mohren” in Augsburg presents itself after a complete renovation in its full splendor.For more information: steigenberger.com/Augsburg/

Opening GHotel Würzburg Germany’s young hotel chain GHotel has opened its newest house in Würzburg. In close location to the central station and to the historic Old Town, the hotel offers modern rooms, suites and apartments which are spread over 17 floors. The rooms have stunning views over the historic city. For more information: www.ghotel.de

Germany’s world champion beer-sommelier Sebastian Priller has dedicatedhimself fully to the golden barleyjuice and is not only the headof the Riegele Brewery in Augsburg – where traditional beers as well as creative beer specialties are brewed – but also the current world champion beer-sommelier. For more information: www.riegele.de

Wiesbaden: Awarded leading Spa Resort The spa resort “Nassauer Hof Therme” in Wiesbaden was awarded with the Senses Well-ness Award as the “World’s Best Spa Resort” in the category “City Resort”. Beauty, sports, health, prevention and rehabili-tation: These are the elements of the “Nassauer Hof Therme” which invites you on 1500 sqm to relaxation and well-being. For more information: www.nassauer-hof.de

ber 2013. The site where the treasure was found is located in the western part of the city, an area where several valuable discoveries were made before, such as a deposit of 49 richly ornamented silver vessels weighing over 250 pounds or a large, partially gilded silver jug which shows, among other things, figures of apostels with halos. Go on a journey into the world of the Romans in the “Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier” (Archaeological Muse-um Trier). A special tip is the multilingual multimedia show “Im Reich der Schatten” (In the Realm of Shadows) alongside Roman gravestones.

More information: www.trier-info.de/english

A museum’s birthdayThe “Mainfränkisches Museum” (Main-Franconian Museum) in Würzburg celebrates its 100th birthday. On the 17th of May 1913 it opened its doors as the “Fränkisches Luitpoldmuseum”. The museum is particularly fa-mous for its detailed sculptures of the master sculptor Tilman Rie-menschneider. The largest collec-tion of his works is housed here. For more information: mainfraenkisches-museum.de

Darwinium opens in Rostock Three exhibition parts lead you on a total of 20.000 sqm through the entire biological evolution on Earth and finally through the cultural evolution of man. The great-grandson of Charles Darwin – Felix Padel – espe-cially arrived from India for the opening of the Darwinium on the 7th of September 2012. The British anthropologist found words of praise for the Darwini-um: He said he had seen many exhibitions already but that the Darwinium comes closest to the theories of his great-grandfather.For more information: www.zoo-rostock.de/english/

500 years Freiburg CathedralAround 1200, builders from Burgundy began with the con-struction which is based on the model of Basel Cathedral. The works were meant to take several centuries and should have been completed in the second quarter of the 16th cen-tury, at the turn of the Middle Ages to modern age. However, when the cathedral was con-secrated in 1513, the end of construction was officially dated. Although the ravages of time take their toll on the most im-portant Gothic cathedral of the Upper Rhine, the builders are able to keep up with the repairs. Good for humanity: According to legend, the world ends when there is no more scaffolding on the cathedral. For more information: www.freiburg.de

In briefNewsticker


German music samplerThe Round-UpAnnual Events

JANUARY

1 TrierWine Forum Mosellewww.trier-info.de/english

FEBRUARY

1 FreiburgAlemannic Fasnetwww.freiburg.de

1 MainzCarnivalwww.touristik-mainz.de

MARCH

1 ErfurtThuringian Bach Festivalwww.erfurt-tourismus.de

1 HeidelbergInternational Music Festivalwww.heidelberg-marketing.de

APRIL

1 OsnabrückEMAF European Media Art Festivalwww.osnabrueck.de/english

MAY

1 WiesbadenInternational May Theatre Festivalwww.wiesbaden.de/en

1 MünsterInternational Hanseatic League Daywww.tourismus.muenster.de

1 WürzburgMozart Festivalwww.mozartfest-wuerzburg.de

1 RostockInternational Beach Polo Cupwww.rostock.de

JUNE

1 Freiburg Wine Festivalwww.freiburg.de

1 PotsdamSanssouci Music Festivalwww.musikfestspiele-potsdam.de

JULY

1 RostockWarnemünde Weekwww.warnemuender-woche.com

1 TrierMoselle Festivalwww.trier-info.de/english

1 ErfurtCathedral Steps Festival Playswww.domstufen.de

1 HeidelbergCastle Illuminationwww.heidelberg-marketing.de

AUGUST

1 KoblenzRhine in Flameswww.koblenz-touristik.de

1 Mainz Wine Festivalwww.mainzer-weinmarkt.de

1 RostockHanse Sail Regattawww.hansesail.com

1 WiesbadenRheingau Wine Festivalwww.wiesbaden.de/en

SEPTEMBER

1 HeidelbergAutumn Fairwww.heidelberg-marketing.de

1 Münster“Schauraum” Festivalwww.tourismus.muenster.de

Music-loving travelers could spend every weekend alongside thousands of other fans listening to rock, jazz, folk or classical mu-sic in Germany’s historic cities. The Moselle Music Festival is the promise of great moments and top-class events in Trier and one of the most beautiful wine growing regions of Europe (May 8 – December 22, 2013). The traditional Mainz Midsummer “Johannisnacht” (St. John’s Night Festival) with music, thea-ter, folklore groups and mar-ching bands is the climax of the festival season in Mainz (June 21 – 24, 2013). The International Tent Music Festival has been one of the top cultural events in Freiburg for years which offers an unparalleled range of all mu-sic genres – rock, pop, jazz, blues and classical (June 26 – July 24, 2013). For five days cultures and people from all over the world meet on the streets and char-

ming squares of Erfurt with their traditions (music, dance, songs and costumes) during the International Folklore Festival “Danetzare” (July 11 – 15, 2013). “Le Carrousel de Sanssouci”, a spectacular baroque equestrian display from the days of Frederick the Great, is a fascinating journey back in time to the forgotten world of royal court pomp and splendour in Potsdam including classical horsemanship, live baroque music, singing dance and artistic finesse against the historical backdrop of the New Palace in Sanssouci Park (July 18 – 21, 2013). Würzburg’s International Street Music Festival with more than 300 artists from all over the world is the largest stage-free open air music festival in Europe (September 6 – 8, 2013).

More information: www.historicgermany.com

Festivals

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Mozart Festival (Würzburg)

Baroque Festival “Le Carrousel de Sanssouci” (Potsdam)

A 500 years of tradition: Augsburg Christkindlesmarkt Münster Christmas market

The famous Christmas markets open

on the first weekend in advent and end shortly before Christmas Eve.

www.christmasmarkets.travel

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Great Food and Drink –a unique Experience for all Palates

City bites

The best opportunity to expe-rience and buy regional groce-ries is to visit a typical farmers’ market. It almost seems as if time stood still: men and women stroll comfortably and without haste across the market square, chat among each other or to the market women and get inspirations for their lunch from the wide range of freshly harvested fruit and vegetables and homemade cheeses and sausages from organic farming. If one cannot decide from the wide selection, the stand operators are happy to support the decision-making with small samples.

In addition to the good atmo-sphere, the air is filled with the scents of many different products. It smells deliciously of fresh baked goods, tangy cheeses, flowers and even the vegetable stands can be identi-fied by their own fragrance.

In Erfurt, visitors experience the hustle and bustle in front of a historical setting, the “Erfurter Dom” (Erfurt Cathedral), and can enjoy an original “Thüringer Rostbratwurst” (Thuringian grilled sausage) along the way.

Freiburg’s farmers’ market is located at the foot of the “Freiburger Münster” (Freiburg Cathedral). The diverse offer of the approximately 100 stands is supplemented by arts and crafts and handmade souvenirs.

In the city of Münster, visitors experience the diversity of the typical regional products at some 150 stands. This farmers’ market, too, is located in front of the historical cathedral.

The farmers’ market in Mainz, which is located in the historic Old Town, offers apart from the market stands a “Marktfrüh-stück” (market breakfast) where one can enjoy light snacks as well as sample the wines of Mainz’ vintners.


Germany’s way of socializing at Farmers’ markets

Exploring

What you opt for is just a matter of taste!

Yummy

Farmers’ Market (Mainz)

Farmers’ Market (Wiesbaden)Traditional Thuringian Grilled Sausages (Erfurt)

In the Historic Highlights of Ger-many, travelers encounter many temptations – what they opt for is just a matter of taste. German cuisine is characterized by regio-nal diversity: each region has its own dialect along with its own regional food specialties.

Thuringian grilled sausage, Westphalian ham, original Muenster pumpernickel bread, raspberry schnapps, grain spirits, Black Forest cherry cake – whenever possible travelers should eat at locally owned restaurants.

Great Value for Money!

Guide Michelin’s “Bib Gour-mand” designation denotes good cuisine at a reasonable price in a variety of com-fort categories. Defined as “Inspectors’ Favorites for Good Value”, Bib Gour-mand restaurants offer two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less.

Travel TIP

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Top chef Thomas Bühner creates sensuous gastronomic experiences in “la vie” three-star restaurant in the heart of Osnabrück’s Old Town. The gour-met critics and guests are full of praise: “accomplished creations, which satisfy the highest stan-dards of enjoyment”.

Double Michelin star chef Wolfgang Becker stands for a clear and straightforward cuisine in Becker’s Restaurant (Trier).

Manfred Schwarz, who made his reputation cooking for heads of state, offers in “Schwarz – das Restaurant” inventive, complex cuisine and the best views on the 12th floor of the Print Media Academy in Heidelberg.

The restaurant “Die Ente” (The Duck) is located in the 5-star hotel “Nassauer Hof” in Wiesbaden. In 1979, the restaurant was awarded with a coveted Michelin star whichit has retained ever since. The restaurant’s young head chef, Michael Kammermeier, presents his very own interpre-tation of exquisite, straightfor-ward classic European cuisine with a very personal touch.

Q: Michelin says Germany isnow ranked only behind France in Europe in terms of top restau-rants, with its top chefs produ-cing extraordinarily varied and experimental food that is “very open to the cuisines of the world”?

Food critics say a more telling sign of Germany’s culinary rise was the number of restaurants in the very respectable two-star category, which has doubled to 36 since 2010. Germany has redeeming itself gastronomically in the past years and our Historic Highlights of Germany top-chefs would like to share their passi-on and zest for life. Their crea-tive dishes – often imaginatively interpreted classics with regional and national influences – are presented like works of art with all their aromas and textures.

Q: If travelers are looking to experience food in your cities, are there any food tours or food events?

There are guided brewery tours and beer seminars as well as walk and dine guided city tours including stops in restaurants and wine tasting with canapés. The Rheingau Culinary Week in Wiesbaden and the Rheingau region worth a visit. An exquisite Franconian spring dinner prepa-red by top chefs awaits travelers in Würzburg during the Baroque Festival. In Rostock’s seaside re-sort Warnemünde, near side of the “Alter Strom” (Old Stream), fishing boats lie tied to cleats as their crews sell from tables heaped with fish and restaurants offer herring, salmon, squid, ma-ckerel, pickled fish, smoked fish, fish sandwiches, fish-kabobsand fish cakes. Freiburg’s Plaza Culinaria trade show is the opportunity to enjoy the finer things in life with all five senses: tasting, smelling, feeling, seeing and hearing!

Björn Rudek CEO, Historic Highlights of Germany

Q: It’s all about German “Gemütlichkeit”!?

Something travelers should know is that in Germany, when a traditional restaurant is full but some tables have seats available, people have the option to share tables. And many do! Because being close to your neighbors and exchanging stories is part of the traditional experience.

Q: What kinds of food are found and eaten in Germany’s historic cities?

German cuisine is characterized by regional diversity. Thuringi-an grilled sausages in Erfurt, original Münster pumpernickel bread, Black Forest cherry cake in Freiburg, Mecklenburger Rip-penbraten (Mecklenburg’s roast ribs) with a Rostocker Doppel-kümmel (Rostock caraway seed schnapps) or in Würzburg the Franconian specialties include Franconian Hochzeitsessen (boiled beef and pasta, served with horseradish), Gerupfter (a special way of preparing ca-membert cheese) and Meefischli (small fish from the Main River) – whenever possible travelers should eat at locally owned res-taurants.

Meet the Chefs!Culinary Stars

Gourmets, enjoying top quality, organic, hand selected ingre-dients and who are willing to try unusual food compositions have to visit the restaurant “August” of Top Chef Christian Grünwald in Augsburg. Guide Michelin as well as Gault Millau mentioned the two-star restaurant bene-volently.

New Top Chefs

Stars rain over Germany’s historic cities! Guide Michelin awarded even more chefs of the cities of the Historic High-lights of Germany with a star in 2013: Martin Scharff, Dirk Seiger (Scharff’s Schlosswein-stube, Heidelberg) and André Skupin (Kaiserhof – Gourmet 1895, Münster).

Talking FoodInterview

“I certainly didn’t come to Germany to experience

exactly the same thing as I have at home!”

(Tracy Bymoen, Canada)

Farmers’ Market (Wiesbaden)

Friedrich Wilhelm Restaurant (Potsdam)

la vie Restaurant (Osnabrück)

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VINOPOLY! – The glorious grapes and its cities

Vintage Travel

In the Winery “Weingut am Stein” in Würzburg visitors are pleased to experience a perfect match from architecture and the uncompromising style of the wines: sunlight, green glass and oak create a changing play of light in the inside of the building.

Today, there are 13 wine-grow-ing areas in Germany with six of them being located in close proximity to cities of the Histo-ric Highlights of Germany.

Each of these cities provides a unique combination of culture and wine, and they are perfect for the individual traveler. In the old walls of the former Roman warehouses in Trier, that were built around about 330 A.D. on the Moselle, lies the origin of the “Weingüter der Vereinigten Hospitien” (United Hospices Wine Cellars).

The “Große Weinfass” (Great Wine Barrel) in the “Heidelber-ger Schloss” (Heidelberg Castle), an object of prestige of the elec-tor with a capacity of 219.000 liters, truly deserves its name.

More information:www.historicgermany.com

Wine enthusiasts do not likely associate wine with hospitals. “Bürgerspital” and “Juliusspital” are the two hospitals in Würz-burg that are actually funded by thriving wineries. In fact, it’s ac-tually some of the best wine in Germany, both wineries making the top 10 German wine list. They have a very modern wine room on site in a separate buil-ding, next to the historical (but still functioning) hospital. The Bürgerspital’s history dates back to around 1316, when a wealthy Würzburg man (Johann von Steren) made a donation which founded this “new hospital”. Fol-lowing this, many other wealthy citizens saw it as a good cause and helped him out. The story of the second “wine hospital” is similar in many ways, in that it is also a thriving hospital with a long history of being funded by wine. Who doesn’t love a good glass of wine? And knowing that every sip is helping others regain their health?

Wine funds a hospital?

Travel TIP

For 300 years, there has been one of the largest German wine cellars underneath the Resi-dence Palace in Würzburg with a production of 850.000 bottles a year.

During a visit to the traditional champagne producer Henkell in Wiesbaden, an impressive classical example of architecture awaits visitors that reveals all its splendor as they enter: the figurines, paintings and rococo ornaments of the “Marmor-saal” (Marble Hall) harmonizes refreshingly with the cheerful world of champagne. Next to Wiesbaden, the Hessian State Winery impressively blends into the landscape of Eltville and in the nearby “Kloster Eberbach” (Eberbach Monastery), modern elements of the winery were combined with historic monastic buildings. Out of the cellar, the wine advances contemporary to the cult on the surface.

Staatlicher Hofkeller (Würzburg)

Great Wine Barrel (Heidelberg) Eberbach Monastery (Rheingau, Wiesbaden)

Juliusspital (Würzburg)

German Wines!“It’s a pity one cannot stroke wine”, said Kurt Tucholsky. Well, we do! With the new Magazine of the German Wine Institute called “Oechsle”.www.germanwines.de

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Wine funds a hospital?

Brewery stories of Germany’s historic cities

It’s time to talk BEER!

Brewery Rostock) has existed since 1878 and is open for visitors. Those who love feasting in a historic setting, will feel at home in the brewery “Haus-brauerei Rampendahl” in the Hanseatic City of Osnabrück. There were once 150 Altbier-breweries in the Hanseatic City of Münster but there is only a single one left today: the brew-ery “Pinkus Müller”.

Towards the end of the Thirty Years’ War (1618 – 1648) the soldiers in the Mainfranken re-gion had drunk up nearly all the wine provisions. Thus, the idea arose that the men should be supplied with beer instead. In 1643, the “Fürstliches Hof-bräuhaus” (royal court-brewery) was founded in Würzburg, today the oldest company in the city.

More well worth seeing breweries of the nobility can be found in Brandenburg. The brewery in the “Krongut Born-stedt” (Bornstedt Crown Estate) in Potsdam has brewed the “Bornstedter Büffel” since 1689. The historic ground can be ex-plored on a guided tour. Directly located at the lake “Jungfern-see”, there is the “Meierei im Neuen Garten” which was origi-nally built in 1791 by Frederick William II. Here, many beer specialties can be enjoyed in historic rooms.

More information:www.historicgermany.com

The Bavarian city of Augsburg already began very early to put the lid on the adulteration of beer: The municipal law of the free imperial city had stipula-ted since 1156 that no beer of inferior quality is allowed to be brewed.

Augsburg can claim that the city provides the oldest evidence of middle-class brewing within our cultural area. As early as 1143 the city of Augsburg passed a purity law. Today, there are still four large breweries in Augs-burg. The brewery “Riegele” was founded in 1386 and is con-sidered one of the oldest in the world.

In the Early Middle Ages, mainly monks busied themselves with the art of beer brewing as theysaid that “liquid does not break the fast”. Even today, there are breweries that still produce beer according to the old recipes ofthe monks. The brewery “Brau-erei zum Klosterhof” in Heidel-berg, for example, belongs to the monastery of the “Stift Neu-burg” (Neuburg Abbey) whose history goes back to the 12th-century. In the midst of nature, even organic beer is produced as all ingredients used in the brewery are organically grown. Soon merchants and traders discovered the art of brewing, too. Thus, the tradition of beer can still be discovered in a vari-ety of ways in the Hanseatic City of Rostock. The “Hanseatische Brauerei Rostock” (Hanseatic

The Design Hotels member “Factory Hotel” in Muenster is an eclectic mix of buildings – some old, some new – located at what was once the site of the Germania Brewery. The former Schaaf brewery was transformed and this tradition came alive again. The result today is the “Kulturbrauerei Heidelberg” – a successful mix of a hotel, the

old brewhouse and a modern brewery located in the heart of Heidelberg’s Old Town.

Trier’s first microbrewery open-ed at Hotel Blesius Garten and brews in the traditional style as an unfiltered beer. In addition, there are seasonal beers such as May bock beer or Christmas bock beer.

Sleeping in a brewery is possible in Germany!

Travel TIP

Juliusspital (Würzburg)

Meierei Brewery (Potsdam)

Factory Hotel (Münster)

Riegele (Augsburg) Bornstedter Büffel (Potsdam)

Rampendahl (Osnabrück) Meierei (Potsdam)

historicgermany.com

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Germany InsightIn Focus

Religious travel in Germany

In 1518, Martin Luther stayed in Augsburg, at St. Anna Church, formerly a Carmelite Monastery. Later, Luther’s closest friend and colleague published the “Augsburg Confessions” based on their joint concerns with the medieval church. As a result ofthe Augsburg Confessions, manyhistorians suggest that the Reformation which swept the world had its very roots in Augsburg. And today, this once revolutionary document is basis of the creed for 600 millions of Protestants in the whole world. In 2012, the theological-histo-ric museum “Lutherstiege” in St. Anna Church reopened. Here, travelers will find originals of Luther’s writings and the famousportrait of the reformer that was painted by Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Exploring the roots of faith and walking in the footsteps of spiritual leaders.

The cities of the Historic High-lights of Germany present a vivid record of how religion evolved in Germany – indeed, throughout much of Europe – during the past two millennia. Those interested in Christian history will find the city of Trier especially interesting as Emperor Constantine was the first Christian Emperor. A main focus of the “Museum am Dom” is the building of the first Christian churches. A highlight for many in this museum is the collection of Constantine ceiling paintings which came from the family’s residential palace and were discovered beneath Trier Cathedral.

The time of the Reformation is closely connected to the history of the Historic Highlights of Germany as Martin Luther left behind important traces in many cities. He lived in Erfurt’s Augustinian Monastery as a monk from 1505 to 1511. The monastery complex houses an important library with rare books and a permanent exhibi-tion about the life of Luther. On top of that, it is used as a parish church and a pilgrims’ hostel.

Constantine’s “Aula Palatina”/ Konstantin-Basilika (Trier)

“Lutherstiege” (Augsburg)

Market Cross (Trier)

Martin Luther Memorial (Erfurt)

Church of our Beloved Lady (Trier)

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For over a thousand years, Jewish Magenza (Mainz) was an important spiritual and cultural center for east and west Europe-an Judaism. Poetry and prayers bear witness to the fame of the city’s scholars. The long Jewish tradition in Mainz can be disco-vered again: the new synagogue was completed in 2010 and the Jewish community itself sees the work as perhaps “the most im-portant design of contemporary Jewish architecture”.

Beyond that, the medieval Je-wish history also comes to life in Erfurt: the “Erfurter Synagoge” (Erfurt Synagogue) dates back to the 11th century and is the oldest from basement to roof preserved synagogue in CentralEurope. The Erfurter Synagoge as well as the Erfurter Schatz (Erfurt Treasure) were redisco-vered in the nineties. The Erfur-ter Schatz consists of a hoard of coins, gold and silver jewelry and of a rare Jewish wedding ring that goes back to the 14th century. After several exhibitions in New York, London and Paris, the treasure is now on perma-nent display in Erfurt.

Relics are considered as physi-cal remains of the body of a Saint or as objects of his or her possession.

The cult of relics can be traced back to the 2nd century and sin-ce the 5th century, almost every church has preserved relics. According to legend, the tunic of Jesus (Holy Robe) was brought to Trier by Saint Helena, the mo-ther of Constantine the Great. From a cultural and historical point of view, these cathedral treasures are definitely worth an expedition. Several of the 13 member cities of the Historic Highlights of Germany have unique relics in their churches and cathedral treasuries. In Trier, there is in addition to the Holy Robe also the grave of Saint Matthias, the only tomb of an apostle on German soil and north of the Alps.

In the Freiburg cathedral trea-sure, there is a reliquary bust from 1514 in which the skull of Saint Lambert is preserved. Saint Lambert was bishop of Maast-richt in the 7th century and was involved in the Christianization of the pagans.

The Jewish Heritage in Contemporary Germany

In Osnabrück, the Felix-Nussbaum-Museum is named after the Jewish artist Felix Nussbaum, who was born in Osnabrück in 1904 and murde-red in Auschwitz in 1944. Like no other painter, his impressive works record the stations of his life, from the "happy childhood" in a Jewish merchant family, via initial artistic success in Berlin, to the despair of a persecuted Jew living in Belgian exile. The museum, designed by the New York architect Daniel Libeskind, is home to the internationally renowned Felix Nussbaum collection. Among the 200 works is the main work “Self-portrait with Jewish pass”.


Robes, remains, cathedral treasuries

Crispin and Crispinian were martyrs who had to die in the 3rd century for their unwavering faith. Their physical remains can be found in the North of Germany, in Osnabrück. The cathedral in Mainz has as many as 45 bishops’ tombs and the treasury of Mainz Cathedral has been considered one of the most valuable treasures of the Occident for centuries.

“A Germany you won’t expect!”

(Ines Watson, United Kingdom)

New Synagogue (Mainz)

Old Synagogue (Erfurt)

Felix Nussbaum Museum (Osnabrück)

Jewish Treasure (Erfurt)

Cathedral Treasury (Osnabrück)

1000-year-old cathedral (Mainz)

historicgermany.com

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Germany InsightIn Focus

In the 15th century Johannes Gutenberg from Mainz inven-ted printing with letters made with a casting device and the printing press. And, as is pointed out at the Gutenberg Museum, Gutenberg’s and Martin Luther’s histories are fundamentally linked. Luther transcribed the Bi-ble. But it would not have been able to be read by the masses, leading to various religious revo-lutions, had an efficient means of printing not been invented by Gutenberg.

“The World Museum of the Art of Printing”, the Gutenberg Museum showcases the history of writing and printing in all of its forms and a highlight of the museum is definitely the two copies of the world famous “Gutenberg Bible” though, both entirely unique.

The primary purpose of astro-nomical clocks was to calculate Easter, a complicated business since the date is related to the phase of the moon and must be known six weeks in advance in order to begin Lent on time.

St. Mary’s Church in Rostock includes an astronomical clock dating from 1472 which is the only one of its kind still in wor-king condition with its original clockworks.

The most famous feature of Münster Cathedral’s interior is the magnificent astronomical clock (1540-43). Impressively, the years listed on the calendar are 1540 to 2071!

Incredible Astronomical Clocks

Where would we be without the“Man of the Millenium”

Münster Cathedral

St Mary´s Church (Rostock)

St Mary´s Church (Rostock)

Gutenberg Museum (Mainz) Gutenberg Memorial (Mainz)

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Most of what is known about medieval stained-glass making comes from a twelfth-century German monk who called him-self Theophilus.

In the Middle Ages only few people were able to read. So the histories of the Holy Bible and of the legends of the saints were illustrated on the windows. There are not a lot of churches in Germany like the cathedral of Freiburg, which still have a big part of their original win-dows dating from the 13th up to the 16th century. Here in 35 of 65 windows filled with pain-ted glass windows one will find 500 pieces of original glass.

The south clerestory of Augs-burg cathedral contains the oldest stained glass windows

Germany is known as a land of great composers. Their works can be heard around the world – and not least of all in concert halls, churches and cathedrals throughout Germany’s historic cities.

Significant musical history was written by Johann Sebastian Bach. His family lived for years in Erfurt. This composer from the period of Baroque is recalled by a tour called “Following Bach through the City”. Every year, Erfurt also hosts the “Thüringer Bachwochen” (Thuringian Bach Weeks) – an excellent traditi-on that offers much for music lovers.

Johannes Brahms composed his“Third Symphony” in Wiesbaden, and Richard Wagner worked on

“Symphony of Light” – stained-glass windows

in Germany: portraits of the prophets Jonah, Daniel, Hosea, Moses and David from the late 11th or early 12th century.

The interior of Rostock’s 14th century St. Mary’s church features a massive stained glasswindow depicting the Last Judgment.

St. Stephen’s in Mainz is the only German church for which the Jewish artist Marc Chagall (1887 – 1985) created the glow-ing blue stained glass windows.

World-famous composers in the annals of our cities

his opera “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” (The Mastersingers of Nuremberg) in a nearby villa on the Rhine River.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart also has roots in Germany’s HistoricHighlights cities. His father, Leo-pold Mozart, was born in Augs-burg in a house that is still stan-ding and houses a museum.

Although Bonn, just to the north, is better known as the birthplace of Ludwig von Beethoven, the world’s largest private Beethoven exhibition is in Koblenz. It was in the house at Wambachstrasse 204 that the composer’s mother, Maria Magdelena, was born in 1746. Today, the “Mutter-Beet-hoven-Haus” (Mother-Beet-hoven-House) also houses docu-ments and letters of cultural figures of the period.

"St. Mary’s in Rostock is a beautiful church. The

gilded altar is spectacular and the one of a kind

medieval Astronomic Clock which dates back to

1472 is very interesting!" (Debbie Beardsley, USA)

Gutenberg Memorial (Mainz)

Freiburg Cathedral

Freiburg Cathedral

Mozart Museum (Augsburg)

Houses of Bach Family (Erfurt)

Richard Wagner’s Villa (Wiesbaden)

historicgermany.com

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In Focus

Hidden Treasures

Medieval career with minnesang – Inspiration for Richard Wagner

(minne = love), was totally new back then. One of the most famous minnesingers of that period was Walther von der Vogelweide who worked in Würzburg.

Among the so-called “Meister-singer” (mastersingers) of the Late Middle Ages, Konrad von Würzburg was considered one of the “Twelve old masters”of minnesang. Heinrich von Meißen, called Frauenlob, wasone of the most influential Ger-man poets of the 13th century.His work is preserved in nume-rous manuscripts. He was so influential that many imitated his style. He worked at the court of the Archbishop of Mainz and was buried after his death in 1328 in the eastern cloister of Mainz Cathedral.

Frauenlob’s particular merit was the authorship of the Codex Ma-nesse, also known as the “Große Heidelberger Liederhandschrift” (medieval songbook). This is the largest and most famous German song manuscript of the Middle Ages. Since 1888, the manuscript is again preserved in the library of Heidelberg Uni-versity and one facsimile is con-stantly presented in the foyer of the library’s second floor.

Richard Wagner’s opera “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” (The Mastersingers of Nurem-berg) drew its material from the German music history and refers to the minnesang of the so-called “Meistersinger” (mastersingers).

Wagner offered one draft of the opera to his publisher Franz Schott in Mainz who asked himto complete the work. In order to be able to compose in peace, he moved into the country house “Villa Annica” at the bank of the Rhine river in Wiesbaden-Biebrich. From the large living room, he was able to see the baroque “Schloss Biebrich” (Biebrich Castle) and from thebalcony room he enjoyed a won-derful view across the Rhineand the towers of Mainz Cathe-dral in the distance. The visits to the casino and to the theater in Wiesbaden were a welcome change for him. The overture of the “Meistersinger” was finally created.

Schott Music was founded in1770 and is now one of the world’s leading music publi-shers. The headquarters have been in Mainz since the com-pany’s foundation. Among other things, Schott Music edited the entire compositional work by

Richard Wagner-year 2013

The composer and his mastersingers

Richard Wagner which made the publisher reach worldwide recognition.

To this day, the Richard Wag-ner Park in Wiesbaden repre-sents Wagner’s original plans of creating an opera house there. However, this project was eventually realized in Bayreuth. Wagner also had a significant influence on the local woodwind manufacturer Wilhelm Heckel. Heckel followed the wishes of the composer and built a baritone-oboe for him – the “Heckelphon” became world-famous . The workshop still exists in Wiesbaden and is one of the oldest woodwind manu-facturers ever.

The 12th century was the great epoque of courtly rituals. Table etiquette and manners were refined.

In lyric poetry, minnesang be-came very popular. The relation-ship between man and woman that was portrayed in minnesang

Heinrich von Meißen, called Frauenlob

Codex Manesse (Heidelberg) Biebrich Palace (Wiesbaden)

Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)

Schott Music (Mainz)

Germany Insight

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Significant innovations such as division of work, bookkeeping, cashless payment transactions and the postal system date back to the time of the Hanseatic League (since 1157) – a mercan-tile league of medieval north German towns.

Rostock preserved much of the charm that it once possessed as the most important mem-ber of the Hanseatic League. Great profane buildings such as the impressive storehouse and mighty churches evoke the wealth of the Hanse-merchants. In the historic center of Osna-brück, there still exist seven stone houses from the 12th to the 14th century. The so-called “Steinwerke” (vault houses), including their vaulted roofs, consist of laid stones. In contrast to half-timbered houses, they could resist the flames of the regular fires and were perfect storehouses for the merchants of the city.

The Hanseatic League as a tra-ditional trade organization has become an example of an eco-nomic phase-out model. From the 16th century on, it was no longer about making ends meet, but rather about gaining profit systematically: everything was benefit analysis. From then on,

Report

Looking into the Mirror of History: Risks and Benefits of Globalization

the market – i.e. the interplay of supply and demand – deter-mined the prices. So far, people used to invest and save. Then, new values determined their economic activity: Everything evolved around consuming and representing!

Jakob Fugger, born in 1459 inAugsburg, called “Jakob Fuggerthe Rich”, benefited from this development and became Eu-rope’s richest and most signifi-cant merchant and banker of the 16th century. He represented the new type of entrepreneur, knew how to combine trade and banking and used his economic power to exert influence on poli-tics. Jakob Fugger aspired to im-mense wealth – money making became an end in itself for him. The overseas trade between East and West was developing into a global economic system. In 1540, Germany’s oldest stock exchange was founded in Augs-burg. During the 16th century, the city developed into one of the most important trade and economic centers of the world.

Travel TIPS

Münster,Principal Market International Day of theHanseatic League

On the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the death of Karl Marx in March 2013, the Municipal Museum Trier “Sime-onstift” will hold an exhibition with the title “Karl Marx, the Icon.”

The exhibition may be viewed as an important step to 2018, the 200th birthday of Trier’s greatest native son, who was born here, grew up here, and,not least, was influenced decisi-vely by (private) teachers. The exhibition is a journey through almost a century. This journey begins in an era when portrait photography became increasin-gly more important, replacing portrait painting. The 20th cen-tury followed with new forms of representation all the way to the current art of Neo Rauch.

Caricatures, advertisements, and Web 2.0 are included as well as items of daily use which have sometimes already taken on the character of devotionals.

More information: www.trier-info.de/english

Karl Marx, the Icon from March 17 to Octo-ber 18, 2013

Münster uses its character and charm to create a link between tradition and modern lifestyles.

Colorful festivities such as the “Tag der internationalen Hanse” (International Day of the Hanseatic League) remember the zenith of the league. On this day, the “Prinzipalmarkt” (Principal Market) is turned into a festively decorated table where Westphalian canapés, cold beer and wine are served in a unique setting.

Tour Package “The cities of the Hanseatic League”

• 7-Day Self-drive Tour • Avis rental car with GPS • 3*** and 4**** hotel accommodations • Buffet breakfast

from EUR 679Bookable with www.toeurope.eu

“The history of regions was not only written

in the castles but in the small cities that bred

the religious, political and business leaders

of the day.” (Ted Davis, Canada)

Golden Hall (Augsburg)

Jakob Fugger

Prinzipalmarkt (Münster)

Karl Marx (Trier)

“Karl Marx, the Icon”

historicgermany.com

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Quirky and OffbeatFantastic sites

The FLUXUS+ Museum in Pots-dam has become a true meeting point for cultural travelers. The focus of the audiovisual exhi-bition is the Fluxus movement, an international art movement which developed around 1960 in New York and Tokyo. The artists who performed in the context of Fluxus over the years operate in music, fine arts, literature and theater. The FLUXUS+ Museumis located in the midst of Pots-dam’s Schiffbauergasse where a vibrant arts and culture scene meets high-tech businesses, ex-citing history and trendsetting future. For more information: www.fluxus-plus.de

Creative Potsdam

The Hip-Hotel is installed in a 250-year-old building, but don’t expect antique, creaky rooms. Everything is fresh and contemporary. Its rooms are all themed with global places, and when travelers step inside these rooms they definitely feel the place’s themes. The hotel owners have fun with the concept, too. For instance, the “Down Under” room has been composed to actually be upside down, so that one feels like stan-ding upside down when being in it! It is situated on the main pedestrian street (Hauptstrasse 115) which is right in the thick of things.

Heidelberg upside-down

Despite having various sites of great historical significance, Freiburg has also become known as Germany’s gree-nest city. The Victoria Hotel is Freiburg’s “Green Hotel”. This hotel has meticulously analyzed every aspect to reduce waste as well as electricity and resource consumption. The hotel does not only offer its guests free tickets for local public transport but also e-bike or e-car rentals and the rates are incredibly economical.

Buzzing around Freiburg in a teeny Electric Car!

Germany’s hidden fashion and design spots

Couples put locks on bridges (e.g. here in Warnemünde) and throw the key into the river to signify their love.

Lovely tradition

Hip-Hotel (Heidelberg)

Padlocks in Warnemünde (Rostock) Fluxus+ museum (Potsdam)

Freiburg, the “Green City”

The new “Staatliche Textil- und Industriemuseum (tim)” (State Museum of Textiles and Textile Industry) in Augsburg brings the history of the Bavarian textile industry back to life. Historical weaving looms clatter here alongside high-tech machines and produce for example the “Fugger-Barchent” (barracan)which is closely linked to Augs-burg’s Fugger-dynasty. The tim offers an exciting journey through the history of fashion and costumes of the past 200 years. For more information: www.timbayern.de

In 2011, Lady Gaga was so intrigued by the “Pepita” fabric that she appeared on the US talk show “The View” fully clothed in the print. Not only was she wearing the print all over, from her shoes to her sunglasses and hat, but the grand piano she was playing was entirely covered with the fabric, too! That Pepita print was first created in Bram-sche – a quaint town famed for its traditional clothmaking, just to the north of Osnabrück! There’s the “Tuchmachermuse-um” where travelers are able to see first-hand age-old machines at work while learning about all of the 18 steps involved in the clothmaking process.

Blue printing has a tradition that goes back 300 years. In Thurin-gia and in Erfurt, this old Thurin-gian craft has experienced a re-vival. Ms. Weiss, a master indigo printer and craftswoman, is one of the last in Central Europe to print her own designs traditio-nally by hand (using blocks) and to dye with indigo. The products made by Ms. Weiss (table cloths and scarves) are on sale in the indigo printing workshop.

Fashion design is one of the most popular courses of study in Germany’s oldest city, Trier. For lovers of creative fashion, the Neustrasse – with its many stu-dios and stores by young fashion designers – is the ideal starting point for a stroll. Shakira wears it. Kim Wilde and Madonna wear it. The jewelry by Miranda Konstantinidou now has famous fans. In 1986, the fashion designer from Trier founded a company in a small workshop which ever since pro-duces handmade fashion jewelry and fashion accessoires under the name “Konplott”. By now, Miranda Konstantinidou em-ploys around 1.200 people. The jewelry is sold in more than 900 stores worldwide, a visit to the store in Trier’s Konstantinstrasse is definitely worth it though.

Creativity, local design and “Stijl” in Mainz and Freiburg

It is THE temporary presentation and sales platform for young, creative people in Germany: The multi-day “Stijl” fairs in Mainz and Freiburg attract every year around 100 young designers and producers from all over the country. The product range includes t-shirts, street fashion and design products but also unique handmade pieces. “Especially in university towns like Mainz and Freiburg there are many active people who are committed to interesting pro-jects. The “Stijl“ fairs bring this development to the surface and offer the young, creative minds a platform”, says organizer Bastian Steinbeck.Dates: www.stijlmesse.de

tim – Bavarian Textile Industry Museum (Augsburg)

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In 1952, Nicolono di Camillo founded Germany’s first pizzeria in the Elefantengasse in Würz-burg. Pizza topped with cheese and even with ham and salami, soldiers raved about these American customs in front of the Italians: “Nick, you really have to open up a pizzeria in Germany!” And the business flourished: The cozy restaurant “Capri” in the medieval suburb Sand advertises with the sign “Germany’s oldest pizzeria”. For more information: www.capri-blaue-grotte.de

In one of the most beautiful art nouveau buildings of Trier’s Old Town, a unique concept of bookstore and café invites you to relax and enjoy. The coffee roasters produce small batchesof exclusive coffee which are prepared with love by the barista. Grandma’s homemade cheesecake and small dishes, made with ingredients from local manufacturers, create an atmosphere for individualists and connoisseurs. For more information: www.genussgesellschaft.de

The Kaffeeallianz in Osna-brück’s Old Town (Große Gilde-wart 12) fills the streets with the scent of fresh coffee and trans-forms coffee beans into real taste sensations. Customers can choose from bags of raw beans from different coffee growing regions and receive their indivi-dual roasted coffee beans. For more information: www.tomas-cafe-art.de

Since the first “Roestbar” opened in Münster’s quarter “Kreuzviertel” (Nordstrasse 2), coffee lovers are succumbed to the black temptation. This is because of the freshly roasted specialties and the distinctive Röstbar-atmosphere. Mean-while, more coffee houses were opened, the city now has three locations for con-temporary coffee enjoyment à la Münster. For more information: www.roestbar.de

1952: the triumph of the pizza in Germany begins in Würzburg

Local coffee enjoyment and way of life

Antiques, culture and gastrono-my in Wiesbaden’s Taunusstrasseprovide a blend that is unique to Germany. The new Café Insight combines all characteri-stics of the shopping street: You cannot only enjoy coffee and cake creations here but even the whole interior from table to chair etc can be purchased at pleasure – a true Café to go! Insight (Taunusstrasse 38) is considered an Event-Café and also offers concerts, exhibitions and gourmet tastings. For more information: www.insidewiesbaden.de

Café to go in Wiesbaden

Münster is a city full of artsy surprises. In fact, redefining the concept of “art” has become somewhat of a passion for the city. Riding around the city, one can notice the many “strange objects” – some looking like satellites, some looking like con-crete walls – dotting the city’s many public spaces. These are the city’s permanent reminders of its “Skulpturprojekte”. The concept has since caught on though, and Münsterites are now quite proud of this world famous art project. In fact, since it began in 1977, it has continu-ed every 10 years. And for eachproject, by invitation only, inter-national artists create large “sculptures” in public spaces.

Historic German cities can be incredibly edgy and youthful!

“This is one of the things I love about

travel. Discovering the little details that

make life different from one place to

another.” (Tracy Bymoen, Canada)

Kaffeeallianz (Osnabrück) Henry Moore sculpture (Münster)

historicgermany.com

22

Quirky and OffbeatFantastic sites

Here in Germany, where virtu-ally everything has a lengthy hi-story, even casinos have history. And casinos are well preserved institutions. Guides have started describing it as a sort of “casino royale” to visitors so that they realize this is the old school, high class, real luxury deal! The “Kurhaus” in Wiesbaden, the gorgeous building where the casino is now housed, was built in 1907. However, Wiesbaden’s casino history dates back to 1771, when the Duke of Nassau-Usingen first licensed public cardgames. Soon, everyone of impor-tance in Europe – dignitaries, musicians, poets, authors – came to Wiesbaden to gamble, a little or a lot. Dostojewski, whowrote the famous novel, “The Gambler”, lost all of his money there in 1865 (inspiring the book).

Casino Royale in Wiesbaden

Wilhelm Bartelmann, a basket maker in Rostock, invented (but failed to effectively patent) the beach chair in the late 1800s. He first created a one-seater wicker and cane “seating accommoda-tion” for the beach, based on a lady client’s request for protec-tion from the wind and sun. He later advanced his model into a two-seater. Bartelmann’s ori-ginal beach chair’s style differs substantially from the globalized form of the beach chair one sees at most beach resorts. Even though the beach chair has since evolved and spread in popularity, the traditional style chair is still what lines the public beaches of Warnemünde.

Great place for a comfy picnic: beach chairs in Rostock-Warnemünde

Deckchairs, beach volleyball and beach bar: That sounds like travel destinations in Southern Europe. Far from it: The cities of the Historic Highlights of Germany move with the times. Many city beaches beckon with a time-out. Locals and guests appreciate the combination of architecture and culture in the city landscape as well as the lifestyle and “gemütlichkeit” in the new city oases on rivers and streams. The only exception is the Hanseatic city of Rostock: In the summer months, the seaside resort of Warnemünde lures with gastronomy, games, sports, beach and sea.

Beach holidayjust around the corner

In 2011, wood carver and puppet maker Martin Gobsch has opened a small workshop on Erfurt’s famous “Krämer-brücke” (Merchants’ Bridge) where you can watch him at work. The unique mechanical theater “Theatrum Mundi”, which took him almost one and a half years to finish, is a true eye-catcher and at-tracts the crowds when it is started by inserting a coin. From Augsburg, the puppets conquered the living rooms of the Germans. Founded after WWII, the Puppet Theater from Augsburg becomes famous with countless TV shows. For a long time now, Augsburg’s Puppet Theater has been a cultural heritage which brings childhood memories back to life. 2013 is an anniversary year: Today’s adults unite the memory of those magical moments from almost 60 years ago, when the lid of the “Augsburger Puppenkiste” opened up for the first time on television. As children they were enchanted by a “World of threads”, without any action or violence.

Germany’s most famous puppets and their home

Golden yellow, creamy, delicate … Stefan Linder’s cheese-cake has achieved cult status. Whether plain, with cherries, raisins or poppyseeds: Stefan Lindner’s light and creamy cake creation has long achieved cult status in Freiburg: There are always long queues in front of his booth at the “Freiburger Münstermarkt”

Foodies TIP

“Perhaps the best cheesecake in the world...”

Where? Stefan’s cheesecake, “Freiburger Münstermarkt” (Farmers’ market Freiburg) at the Fischbrunnen (fountain).

When? Tue – Sat 8 – 1pm

Rheinstrand citybeach (Mainz)

Historical Casino (Wiesbaden)

Puppet master workshop (Erfurt)

Beach Chair, Neptun Hotel (Rostock)

Beach Life (Rostock-Warnemünde)

23

Getting aroundExplore more

Discover Germany with DB Bahn

CityCards – Get more!

CityCards open doors to visitors everywhere. Bought for an affordable price, they often let travelers use public transportation and give them reduced entrance fees for many sights and museums.


Experience the culture and history in enchanting cities such as Potsdam, Mainz or Augsburg and travel by train because nothing in Germany is easier, faster and more comfortable than traveling by train!

The modern Intercity-Express (ICE) train reaches speeds of up to 300 km/h (186 mph) and connects Germany’s greatest cities. We take you to your Historic Highlight while passing the most beautiful river valleys and fairytale castles.

Fly in and rail on.Fly to any major airport and con-nect directly to Deutsche Bahn’s rail and service networks or alter-natively use one of our 10 con-venient airport railway stations: www.bahn.com/airports. Frank-furt, Düsseldorf and Cologne Air-port have direct ICE connections to all major German cities with high train frequencies. Further-more, access to our services can be found at the airports in major cities such as Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. With open tickets and non-com-pulsory reserva-tions you can flexibly board anytrain at your convenience hol-ding a standard fare ticket or rail pass in hand.

How about a first class upgrade?Experience the extra comfort and flexibility of first class travel on your next trip. The first class carriages provide a peaceful at-mosphere with spacious design. Wider seats and more legroom guarantee individual freedom. Reliable cell phone reception andoutlets for your electronic devi-ces are also offered. First class attendants ensure personal and attentive service.

Dine and ride.DB Bahn restaurant cars and catering on board are revolu-tionizing the quality of cuisine available on high-speed net-works. Sip a beer or enjoy a gourmet platter of French cheese while you are carried to your destination. ICE trains, most IC and EC trains have a bistro offering light snacks and meals. A wide selection of hot and cold drinks is available.

German Rail PassThis offer from DB Bahn enables visitors from outside Europe to travel on all scheduled trains operated by DB Bahn for 3 to 10 days within a four week period. It is available for first and second class with fares starting at 188 euros only!

The German Rail Pass Extension brings you even further: with this additional ticket, you are allowed to travel to Brussels (on ICE International), Prague (on DB Expressbus from Munich and Nuremberg), Austria (Kufstein and Innsbruck on DB-ÖBB Euro-city trains) and even to Italy(Bolzano/Bozen, Verona, Bolog-na and Venice on DB-ÖBB Euro-city trains).Further information can be found here: www.bahn.com/germanrailpass

Savings Fare (Sparpreis)Travel conveniently throughout Germany in standard or first class with the Savings Fare. Fares depend on availability and apply for a single journey from 29 euros. Buy your ticket online: www.bahn.com/savingsfare

Our many booking channels are always at your disposalPurchase ticket online at www.bahn.com/international or find one of our DB Agency part-ners worldwide near you here: www.bahn.com/agencies

DB Bahn’s ICE high-speed train in Germany


Berlin

LeipzigDresden

Nuremberg

Stuttgart

Munich

CologneDüsseldorf

Hahn

Hannover

Bremen

Hamburg

Frankfurt

Osnabrück

Münster

Rostock

Potsdam

KoblenzErfurt

WiesbadenMainz

Trier Würzburg

Heidelberg

Augsburg

Freiburg

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Good reasons to choose our cities!


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Historic Highlights of GermanyErnst-Ludwig-Ring 261231 Bad Nauheim/ Germanyt: +49 (0) 6032 – 93 74 393www.historicgermany.com

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