Germany
Germany is synonymous with the world’s most vibrant cities, enchanting medieval villages, and historic architecture. The country boasts of romantic castles, ancient abbeys and palaces, glistening skyscrapers, and the Black Forest. There are plenty of attractions to explore, and the warm, welcoming nature of its 83 million people will certainly give you a reason to visit repeatedly.
The country lies strategically, bound to its extreme north by Denmark along Jutland Peninsula, the Baltic Sea to the peninsula’s east and west, and the North Sea to the northern border. The Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium border Germany to the west and France to the southwest.
Surrounded by Europe’s varied landscapes, Germany boasts excellent rolling plains, mountains, forested hills, and agricultural lands. Berlin, the world’s most magnificent city, lies on the eastern-central side of the country. You’ll be amazed by the plethora of thinkers, poets, cultures, and histories.
There is much to discover in Germany's winegrowing regions - breathtaking landscapes, history, wine culture, hospitality and enjoyment. If you are seeking an active holiday, come and join us on one of our private hiking tours, for example the 7-days Moselle & Ahr wine lovers tour.
Typical German
Be sure to explore the following things that define the true German identity.
Beer
Germans love their beer, which is why they rank second after Czech as the largest beer consumer. The country is also known for its beer brewing tradition as it has close to 1,300 breweries producing up to 5,000 brands. As if that’s not enough, they have the Reinheitsgebot, a beer law originally dating 1516 that stipulates that hops, barley, and water only are the ingredients for brewing.
Bread and Sausages
German cuisine is seldom complete without bread. Germans have a long-standing tradition of baking, with varied ways to achieve different tastes in different country regions.
Sausages, known as Wurst, also form an essential part of German cuisine. Pork, veal, and beef are the various meat stuffing used in preparing the sausages. They have different tastes depending on the region and cooking style and enjoyed with beer or after.
Castles and Palaces
German architectural history boasts of ancient palaces and castles erected by European nobilities in the Middle Age. Germany has approximately 25,000 castles.
Palaces in Germany were associated with the wealthy nobilities, while castles formed a vital defense instrument in battles.
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte
You’ll surely come across various types of tempting cakes but won’t resist the famous Black Forest cherry torte, the Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte. The name of the dessert comes from a tart cherry distilled liqueur. Surprisingly, Germans only regard any cake as Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte if Kirschwasser is part of its ingredients.
Learn Some Common German Words
- Guten Tag (goo-ten tahk) - Hello/Good day
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Guten Morgen (goo-ten morgen) - Good morning
- Auf Wiedersehen (owf VEE-der-zane) - Good-bye
- Ja (yah) - Yes
- Nein (nine) - No
- Gern geschehen (ghern guh-shay-un) - You’re welcome (for a favor)
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Wo ist die Toilette? (vo ist dee toy-let-uh) - Where's the restroom/toilet?