Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for germany
The Finger of God
By Linda Tancs
Known as the “finger of God,” the church steeple at Ulm Minster is the tallest in the world at nearly 530 feet. You can reach the apex by climbing a mere 768 steps; congratulate yourself with a well-earned Märzen beer. Striking as the church tower is, it’s not the only thing that sets this historic German city on the Danube apart from the rest. For starters, it’s the birthplace of Albert Einstein. It’s also home to such curiosities as the Schiefes Haus (crooked house) and homes on stilts in the Fishermen’s Quarter. And don’t miss the Rathaus (town hall), boasting beautiful 16th century murals and an astronomical clock dating from 1520. Love carbs? Then the Museum of Bread is for you, dedicated to the 6,000-year history of bread and the bakery trade.
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Old Bones in Darmstadt
By Linda Tancs
Germany’s first UNESCO World Natural Heritage site is a fossil pit near Darmstadt, the cultural capital of Hesse. It’s not just any old fossil pit, mind you. The Messel Pit is a thriving tribute to the Eocene Epoch over 47 million years ago with over 40,000 finds to date. Relics include 30 complete skeletons, a prehistoric horse, hundreds of plant species and a wide assortment of fish, reptiles, birds, amphibians and invertebrates. The pit is accessible via guided group tours or a viewing platform.
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World’s Smallest Airport
By Linda Tancs
The world’s smallest airport is in Hamburg, Germany, and no, it isn’t Hamburg Airport (situated in Germany’s second largest city). The airport in question is one of the latest installations at Miniatur Wunderland, a sort of Legoland meets Lionel (as in trains) life-in-replica. The marvels of this small world were reported on previously. What will they think of next? The summer crush long gone, this time of year is great for a visit to the city’s biggest tourist attraction. Take the U-Bahn Baumwall or S-Bahn Stadthausbrücke.
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An Ancient Maritime Town in Germany
By Linda Tancs
Germany’s ancient maritime town, Stade, is a charming destination in Lower Saxony. Located on the Elbe River, its Hanseatic harbor boasts ferry service to Hamburg during the summer as well as a tour on a historic coaster dating from the 19th century. Under Swedish rule in the 1600s, the city’s history is housed in the Swedish Warehouse Museum, a curious structure rising out of the water on poles. The historic town centre features an array of half-timbered houses and winding alleys along with
Pferdemarkt and Fischmarkt squares (site of the Christmas markets) in the old quarter. And nearby is Alte Land, a vast fruit farming area where you can visit a typical fruit farm.
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The Fairy Tale Route
By Linda Tancs
Over 200 years ago, Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm published a collection of children’s and household fairy tales, widely known as Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Germany’s Fairy Tale Route is a 370-mile odyssey that takes you from their birthplace in Hanau to such sights as Hameln (famous for the Pied Piper legend), Trendelburg (featuring a castle associated with the Rapunzel tale), Kassel (home of the Brothers Grimm Museum) and Steinau, where the Grimm family home is located. This is one route that will no doubt leave you happy ever after.
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Germany’s Old Stone Bridge
By Linda Tancs
Germany’s oldest stone bridge, and its first to cross the Danube, is an icon of the Bavarian city of Regensburg. Built in the 1100s, the 16-arch bridge was used by crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. Nowadays the span’s southside bratwurst eatery is a go-to destination for sausage lovers. And what goes well with brats? Well, beer of course. On the north side of the bridge is Spitalgarten, site of one of the oldest surviving hospital breweries where patrons enjoy a healthy stein or two.
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The Bauhaus in Weimar
By Linda Tancs
The design movement known as Bauhaus was founded by Walter Gropius in Weimar, Germany. Its mission was to fuse all forms of art, and its philosophy had a profound impact on modern design and architecture. The Bauhaus Museum in Weimar offers a permanent exhibition that pays homage to the works of the Bauhaus masters and showcases their vast influence. Even Steve Jobs was greatly swayed by the Bauhaus movement.
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Leipzig Celebrates Wagner
By Linda Tancs
German composer Richard Wagner was born on this day 200 years ago, and the folks in Leipzig are celebrating their famous son’s milestone birthday. This year’s Wagner Festival runs through 26 May. Today’s events include a ceremony at the Opera to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth, attended by fans and dignitaries alike. Another highlight will surely be a production of his classic composition, Die Götterdämmerung, in the Paulinum building at the University of Leipzig. Throughout the festival the Museum of City History will be presenting a wide-ranging exhibition on his life, relationships and works. And stop by the maestro’s birthplace for the Tune A Day at 3:30 p.m. daily, where young musicians will perform a theme from one of his many masterpieces.
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Heidelberg Illuminates
By Linda Tancs
The fireworks at Heidelberg Castle in southwest Germany are an ancient affair. Now 400-years-old, the pyrotechnics began as a celebration of the royal marriage between Friedrich V and England’s Elizabeth Stuart. The thrice yearly event (June, July and September) will be supplemented today to mark the International German Gymnastics Festival taking place in the region. Besides the north and south river banks, great views are in store for those aboard river boats of the Rhine-Neckar River Cruising Company.
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Germany’s Venice
By Linda Tancs
Canal laden Spreewald is sometimes referred to as Germany’s Venice. Situated about 62 miles southeast of Berlin, it was designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1991, a designation reserved for those locales that have demonstrated best practices in environmental conservation. Its compact labyrinth of 171 miles of navigable waterways makes punting one of the most delightful and common means of getting around. What may be less commonly known is that the region was originally settled by Slavic tribes who remain in the area today and lend it their language. When you’re there, be sure to sample the gherkins, the region’s agricultural hallmark.
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