Tourism in Germany

Tourism in Germany

The South Ural State University

The paper work:

TOURISM IN GERMANY

Written by:

Shamanova Nadejda Andreevna

Group: S-151

Checked by:

Kovaleva Olga Ivanovna

Chelyabinsk

2004

Contents

Introduction. 4

1. Germany 5

2. Getting there 7

3. Accommodation in Germany. 10

4. Where to go. 13

4.1.Festivals 13

4.2. National Parks 15

4.3. Routs in Germany. 20

5. A Journey to Berlin 24

5.1. Accommodation in Berlin 24

5.2. Sightseeing in Berlin 28

5.3. Eat, Drink, Nightlife 32

Conclusion. 34

Literature 35

Sites 35

Introduction.

Germany is rich by its tourist recourses. Each land has a lot of various

places of interest. «Come and be enchanted by the HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS OF

GERMANY!» - This is the motto chosen by thirteen historic German cities

that have joined together to offer you some truly incomparable travel

experiences. They will all fascinate and delight you - Augsburg, Bonn and

Bremen; Erfurt, Freiburg, Heidelberg and Lьbeck; Mьnster and Potsdam;

Regensburg and Rostock; Trier and Wьrzburg.

Each of these many-faceted cities is steeped in history. At every turn

you will encounter the great names of the past and enjoy the architectural

and artistic heritage of great eras. Deep in the heart of Europe, Germany

has had a seminal impact on Continental history. From the Holy Roman Empire

to Otto Von Bismarck's German Reich, Nazism and the rise and fall of the

Berlin Wall, no other nation has moulded Europe the way Germany has - for

better or worse.

Here, history really comes to life. And life comes to life too- in every

season the calendars are jam-packed with events for every taste: Top

quality concert series, art exhibitions, outstanding theatre, major

international sporting events, colourful street festivals and traditional

Christmas Markets sparkle with lights. This rich, interwoven tapestry of

the past and the modern is also the key to the charm and dynamism of the

historic highlights.

Fairy-tale castles, medieval towns, boisterous beer halls, breathtaking

landscapes and a cutting-edge arts scene - the land of Beethoven and

Bratwurst delights, excites and inspires.

1. Germany

Environment

The lowlands in the north of Germany stretch from the Netherlands to

Poland, skimming southern Denmark where it bridges the North and Baltic

seas. The industrialised central belt cinches Belgium and Luxembourg to the

Czech Republic's western prong. The Rhine and Main Rivers, long crucial for

inland shipping, power through the troughs and gorges which cut through the

Central Uplands. To the south, the Danube River drains the Bavarian

highlands from the Black Forest, near the French and Swiss borders, to

Munich. The southern reaches of the Bavarian Alps give way to Austria.

Germany is not prey to dramatic climatic extremes, although there are

regional differences. The most reliably good weather is from May to

October, with high summer a good bet for shorts and T-shirt, even in the

north. Autumn is a good time to visit Germany. As the tourist scrum

disperses and the forests turn golden, it's not too stifling to be active

but still thirsty enough to end the day with a few well-deserved steins.

Winter is wet, especially in the south, with snow rarely settling for long

except in the high country.

Facts for the Traveler

Visas: EU citizens can enter on an official identity card. Americans,

Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders and Japanese just need a valid

passport (no visa). Unless you're a citizen of a developing country, you

can probably stay up to three months.

Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1 (Central European Time)

Dialling Code: 49

Electricity: 230V, 50Hz

Weights & measures: Metric

When to Go

The German climate is variable so it's best to be prepared for all types

of weather throughout the year. That said, the most reliable weather is

from May to October. This coincides, naturally enough, with the standard

tourist season (except for skiing). The shoulder periods can bring fewer

tourists and surprisingly pleasant weather. There is no special rainy

season.

Events

Germans love to party, and kick up their heels at everything from pagan

harvest romps to black tie opera galas. The Winter Carnival (Fasching)

season occurs throughout Germany, with big cities such as Cologne (Kцln),

Munich and Mainz erupting into commotion just before Ash Wednesday.

Germany's rich musical heritage is showcased in a plethora of festivals.

Some towns concentrate on a particular composer, such as the Thuringian

Bach Festival in March or the Richard Wagner Festival in Bayreuth each

July, whereas others focus on a particular style. The jazz festivals in

Stuttgart (April) and Berlin (November) are lively and popular. Autumn is a

great time for harvest-inspired mayhem, especially in the Rhineland, where

the Rhine in Flames frolics feature barges laden with fireworks. Mention

must be made of Oktoberfest, Munich's annual lager frenzy, but it's a bit

like being stuck in a nightmarish soccer crowd and is more an example of

tourism at its lowest ebb than a display of German culture. Christmas fairs

are embraced wholeheartedly by German families; they occur in Munich,

Nuremberg, Lьbeck, Berlin, Mьnster and Heidelberg, amongst other places.

2. Getting there

Getting There & Away

The main arrival/departure points for flights in Germany are Frankfurt-

am-Main, Munich and Dьsseldorf. Frankfurt is Europe's busiest airport after

Heathrow. An airport departure tax of around US$5 is included in ticket

prices. If you're already in Europe, it's generally cheaper to get to and

from Germany by train or bus. While train travel is often more expensive

than catching a bus, it's generally faster, more comfortable (particularly

for overnight travel) and more efficient. Germany is served by an excellent

highway system connected to the rest of Western Europe. Roads from Eastern

Europe are being upgraded but some border crossings are a little slow,

especially from Poland. To enter Germany with a car or motorbike, you must

have third-party insurance. Ferries run between Germany's northern coast

and Scandinavia and the UK.

Getting Around

By train. Getting around Germany is easy. Domestic air travel is

extensive but unless you're in an awful hurry, you might as well save your

money - the German train network is wonderful. The railway system enables

everyone to travel comfortably to their destination. There are good

connections to both distant and local areas. Airports (Berlin Schцnefeld,

Dьsseldorf, Munich and Stuttgart) are also merged into this system. There

are 60 different connections to the neighboring European countries that

originate daily in Germany. The customs clearance usually takes place on

the train once it has left the station.

The eastern and western train systems have now been fully merged,

although fares in the east are still cheaper. Numerous fares and ticket

passes are available. There is usually a surcharge for the InterCity

Express (ICE) trains but it's worth it to travel 250km/h (155mph) through

the German countryside. Forget about buses until you're in train-unfriendly

terrain.

By bus. A European bus service completes the railway system. It offers

special connections on particularly interesting routes to tourists.

Information regarding the bus system is also available in each travel

agency.

A journey by bus will guarantee comfortable travelling. Enjoy and

experience towns and landscapes in a relaxing way. Lean back and enjoy the

view of diverse landscapes from large bus windows or visit one of Germanyґs

famous towns.Get on and relax - once you are comfortably seated, your well-

earned holidays will begin. Besides, you have chosen an environmentally

friendly way of travelling.

Internationaler Bustouristik Verband e.V. (RDA), the international

federation of bus tour operators, has set up a list of operators offering

bus journeys. The list is set up according to the Lands of the Federal

Republic of Germany and is available. Here you will find numerous journeys

based on particular themes, sightseeing tours and club tours. It is also

possible to set up your own journey in co-operation with the operator.

Deutsche Touring GmbH offers attractive journeys on public service buses

along Germanyґs touristic holiday routes. Today Deutsche Touring is one of

the most important bus companies in Europe. In cooperation with foreign

partners, it provides regular international services linking over 700

cities throughout Europe. Regional and urban public transportation

operators and associations offer a rich network of short distance bus

trips.

By car. If you are travelling by car, an ultra-modern and efficient

freeway network awaits you. Over 700 restaurants, gas stations, motels and

kiosks are open day and night to travellers driving across the

approximately 11,000 km freeway network of the Federal Republic.

German roads are excellent, and motorised transport can be a great way

to tour the country, although most towns have problems with car-parking.

The national and famous motorway network known as autobahn can be wonderful

and nightmare.

Bicycle touring in Germany is very popular. There are often separate

cycling routes in the cities, towns and in the countryside, but cycling on

the autobahn is strictly not allowed.

3. Accommodation in Germany.

There is a wide variety of accommodation possibilities in Germany

ranging from a private room to a vacation home up to a luxury hotel. There

are also lower priced lodgings available. Either way, standards are set and

checked so that you can expect a comfortable place to stay in every case.

Hotel corporations and regional and local tourism organisations publish

their own accommodation directories. You can make room reservations

directly through the hotel chain reservation systems, hotel corporations,

the airports and tourism organisations. Travel agencies also work closely

with hotels.

More and more hotels and hotel chains in Germany are including youth

specials into their programs. Special youth hostels and youth hotels have

dedicated and specialised themselves to tourists needs. They can even be

accommodated close to the city centers. Vacation villages and vacation

apartments are a good idea for spending more than one night somewhere.

Tourists can also spend the night at one of more than 2000 camping sites or

in one of over 600 youth hostels. Bed & Breakfast is not just a British

speciality. Almost all tourist information points can find you a private

room on arrival and can sometimes even make advance reservations.

Hotel rooms in Germany have a wide selection of price ranges. You can

stay overnight in luxury suites, rooms in middle class hotels or very

inexpensive accommodation in smaller hotels. From Flensburg to Munich, from

Aachen to Dresden, you can find hotels to fit your needs according to

German hotel classification standards. Hotels are classified based on a

uniform criteria and are categorised by a certain number of stars (i.e.

**** = luxurious). Some of Germanys` finer hotels are Accor,

ArabellaSheraton and Maritim

Camping & Caravaning

Whether staying in an RV trailer, motorhome or within the four walls of

your tent, you can be right at home in any beautiful setting. For a few

days or several weeks, delightful landscapes can be directly outside your

front door. Relax in nature and recover from the hectic pace of everyday

life. Germany offers an abundance of camp sites in areas chosen for the

incredible scenery they possess, and their gates are open to everyone. For

your vacation, you can choose from sites located in more tourist areas or,

for longer stays, get away to more remote locations in the middle of the

most gorgeous surroundings.

Guesthouses & inns

Besides hotels in all categories, there is naturally also a variety of

guesthouses and inns which can be found almost everywhere in Germany. They

offer a good opportunity for enjoying a low-priced vacation in a family

atmosphere.

Youth hostels

The youth hostels in Germany are open to all people, whether young or

old. Suitable for short visits or longer stays, hostels are ideal for many

different types of people and activities. Guests can include single people,

families, tour groups, sport teams and youth groups. They come for

everything from vacation camps to ski trips as well as conferences and

seminars. The only requirement is that one must be a member of the German

Youth Hostel Association.

Vacation on a farm

The most beautiful time of the year is awaiting you right outside your

door. Vacation farm areas can provide with peaceful, unencumbered days.

Out in the country, you will find elements of life that you otherwise may

not experience. Instead of the hectic pace of everyday life that makes you

feel unacknowledged, you encounter real hospitality in a warm, personal

atmosphere.

You will find yourself rejuvenated in such a natural setting whether

just walking outside, fishing, biking or horseback riding. There's no end

to the new experiences and discoveries you can make. The hosts of the farm

will spoil you with regional delicacies like fragrant fresh breads, home-

made sausages and cheeses as well as wine and juices from own vineyards.

Diverse leisure activities for both young and old round off the whole

experience in the country.

Bed and Breakfast

A Bed and Breakfast is typically a lower-priced alternative to hotels

and inns. Instead of staying in anonymous hotel beds, you sleep in cosy,

private guest rooms. You are welcomed cordially by your hosts who offer a

pleasant atmosphere in which to enjoy your stay. In the morning, breakfast

is prepared just for you according to your taste. Your hosts take a

personal interest in helping you with providing tips and information about

the area, the country and the people.

4. Where to go.

4.1.Festivals

A) The Berlinale.

From its beginning in post war Berlin, the Berlinale was designed to be

an international rather than a national film festival.

Over the years the festival has cemented its status as major European film

festival and is easily as important as its competitors in Venice and

Cannes.

The Golden and Silver Berlin bear and many honorary awards are much sought-

after.

B) Love parade in Berlin

German techno guru Dr. Motte and 150 of his closer friends started the

rave in 1989. They met at Berlin's 'Ku'damm' to celebrate a party and to

demonstrate for tolerance and love.

Successfully: the mobile party attracts en-vogue DJs and an enthusiastic

crowd.

Some facts: In 2000, the loveparade's busiest year to date, 250 DJs on 53

wagons partied together with over a million guests.

Recently, Austria, Israel, South Africa and Mexico have joined the craze

and organised their own love parades.

C) Frankfurt's Bookfair

Frankfurt is a big player in global trade fair business. An annual

average of 80 fairs and exhibitions attract numerous visitors from all over

the world.

One of the highlights is Frankfurt's book fair. The biggest book fair

worldwide dates back to the 15th century. Its popularity has increased ever

since.

Today, more than 250,000 annual visitors flood the fair.

The aim: information on a selection of the almost 400,000 books which are

being presented. Readings, talks, interviews and other side events offer

additional incentives for an interested public. Book industry, publishers,

critics, readers and writers alike are under the spell of the biggest book

fair world wide.

D) Carnival in Germany

In Germany Mardi Gras ('Fasching') is also referred to as the fifth and

foolish season ('die nдrrische Zeit'). It is a time of elaborate parades,

masks, balls and election of Carnival king and queen and official madness.

The exact time of celebration and the traditions vary from county to

county, but it generally takes place in early spring. Munich, Cologne,

Mainz are strongholds of Mardi Gras celebrations.

Switzerland and Austria, too, join the party with enthusiasm following

their own traditions.

E) Munich's 'Oktoberfest'

Even though it is called 'Oktoberfest', the festival actually takes

place in September, as Bavarian autumn can be tricky and surprise with

early cold and snow. Today, the 'Oktoberfest' is the largest festival

worldwide attracting a multitude of visitors. Apart from beer tents the

festival offers amusements as diverse as roller coasters, circus

appearances, festive parades and live brass bands.

The ceremonial opening happens at noon. The mayor arrives in a festive

coach followed by a decorated horse-drawn brewer's cart. Guests, staff and

the numerous brass bands are all wearing traditional costumes (lederhosen

and dirndls) for the occasion. At the end of the parade the major taps the

first keg of beer and shouts, "o'zapft is!" (The keg is tapped).

It takes good nerves and a solid stomach to survive the festivals 16 days

of intensive partying. However, the festival is a huge success: Apart from

attracting a multitude of visitors the festivals brand name 'Oktoberfest'

has been exported all over the world.

4.2. National Parks

A) The Jasmund National Park

[pic]

The Jasmund National Park offers many different landscapes within a very

small area. Come and visit a cretaceous landscape with numerous bogs, wet

grasslands and dry meadows. The most renowned attraction are the chalk

cliffs surrounding the Kцnigsstuhl which have been captured in paintings by

the famous artist Caspar David Friedrich.

Apart from the Kцnigsstuhl, the highest point on the chalk coastline,

the whole length of the chalk coastline is impressive. It stretches over a

length of 10 km, reaches a height of 117 m and consists of both active and

inactive cliffs, illustrating the dynamics of an active steep coastline.

The national park offers a wide range of activities, such as hiking and

bicycle tours, excursions and seminars which give the opportunity to

explore the most beautiful hiking trails through the regionґs forested

landscapes.

The Stubnitz area is not just worth a visit because of its magical chalk

landscape, it is also the home of mythical figures.

On guided tours, organised on a regular basis by the national park

administration, you will find out everything about Hertha, a Germanic

goddess, and Stцrtebecker, a pirate who is said to have buried treasure

somewhere in this area.

Highlights:

- Cape Arkona with the little town of Vitt

- the fishing port of Sassnitz with its fishing museum

- "Piratenschlucht" (pirateґs gorge) in Sassnitz

- Greifswald's museum with an exhibition of paintings by Caspar David

Friedrich

- historic craftsmen's dwellings in Gingst

- Grьmbke lookout tower near Neuenkirchen

Activities:

Jasmund offers a wide range of guided tours (daily tours take place from

April - September, both from the parking lot in Hagen to the Kцnigsstuhl

and from Sassnitz to the bizarre rock formations of "Wissower Klinken").

Furthermore, you can visit numerous exhibitions (at the national park

visitorsґ center at the Kцnigsstuhl and also at the Granitz hunting lodge

near Sellin).

The biosphere reserve "South East Rьgen" organises further hiking and

bicycle tours, as well as excursions.

B) The Wadden Sea of Hamburg National Park

The Wadden Sea of Hamburg National Park, which is the smallest of three mud-

flats national parks, is characterized by three islands:

"Neuwerk", widely covered with meadows and with a population of 40,

"Scharhцrn", with its sand dunes, and "Nigehцrn" which has been created

artificially. The island group is located directly at the mouth of the

river Elbe near Cuxhaven in northern Germany and protects a landscape of

approximately 12,000 hectares of wadden sea.

On guided tours you not only have the opportunity to learn about the

regionґs landscape but also about the islandsґ historical background.

On the way from Neuwerk to Scharhцrn you will walk along trails leading

across seemingly endless mud-flats. Scharhцrn, which used to be a sandbank,

is a tourist attraction mainly for its sea bird colonies. On a visit to the

ornithological station you will see one of the largest colonies of sea

swallows.

Highlights:

- carriage ride across mud-flats from Sahlenburg to the island of Neuwerk

- voyage with the MS "Flipper" from Cuxhaven to the island of Neuwerk

- guided walks across the Wadden sea

- guided tours to the bird colonies, salt marshes and wadden sea of Neuwerk

- guided tours to Scharhцrn, the bird sanctuary

- searching for amber on the "Kleiner Vogelsand"

- amber exhibition on the island of Neuwerk

Activities:

We recommend national park visitors on day trips to take a walk along the

main dyke, from which you can see the foreshore with its bird colonies but

also the islandґs interior. Cars are banned on the islands. For this reason

tours, for example, to the fortified tower of the island of Neuwerk,

through the salt marshes of the foreshore with their abundance of flora and

fauna, or to the "Ostschleuse" lock, can either be made on foot or by horse-

drawn carriage.

C) The Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony National Park

Make a trip to one of the most impressive wadden sea landscapes. High

up, in northern Germany, at the North Sea coast of Lower Saxony, the Wadden

Sea of Lower Saxony National Park is located. It protects the wadden seas

landscape between the river Ems and the river Elbe, including the offshore

East Frisian Islands. The national park offers amazing natural spectacles

and various landscapes, such as salt-marshes, which are typical of this

region, the steep coast near Dangast and the "swimming bog" near Sehestedt,

Germany's only remaining bog landscape located outside the country's dykes

Highlights:

- Wadden Sea House in Wilhelmshaven

- Norddeich seal station

- Lightship and whale-bone fence on the island of Borkum

- Fisherman's House Museum on the island of Norderney

- Dornumsiel Castle, surrounded by water

- German Shipping Museum in Bremerhaven

- Old lighthouse on the island of Wangerooge

Activities:

The surrounding area offers a wide range of sightseeing opportunities, such

as the East Frisian islands of Juist and Norderney. Whether you want to go

swimming and enjoy the broad beaches, take a ride in a carriage across the

island or a walk through the salt-marshes, the national parkґs recreation

and leisure program will guarantee a lot of fun and relaxation.

D) The Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein National Park

Welcome to the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein National Park, the

largest national park in central Europe. One third of Schleswig-Holstein

belongs to the worldґs largest uninterrupted wadden sea landscape, which

reaches from the North Sea coast of the Netherlands up to Denmark. The

wadden sea, a stretch of land affected by tides, are flooded by sea water

during high tide and remain dry during low tide, a unique phenomenon

worldwide. Experience an oceanic landscape as near to nature as it can be,

with dunes, beaches, salt-marshes and "Halligen", small islands which are

not protected by dykes and therefore become flooded whenever there is a

spring tide or a heavy storm.

Experienced guides will show the amazing spectacle of low and high tide.

You can watch how, after six hours of low tide, the wadden sea become

flooded again and the deep, artificially constructed furrows - called

'Priele' - fill with water. Whether you go swimming in the sea, take a walk

along the beach or over the mud-flats, join a boat tour or watch the birds

in the salt-marshes - your holiday in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein

National Park will definitely be relaxing, for both body and soul.

Highlights:

- Multimar Wattforum in Tцnning, a national park center

- Husum, with its old river port and museums

- ride in a carriage to the Sьdfall Hallig

- guided hiking tour across the mud-flats

- Nordstrand tourist information center with its aquarium

- Friedrichskoog seal station

Activities:

One of many possible sightseeing opportunities is a trip to the small

fishing villages which belong to the national park. You can also go on a

boat tour to the seal banks and observe a unique and fascinating animal

spectacle.

4.3. Routs in Germany.

Germany’s first “Vacation Routes” and “Scenic Routes” date back to

1927, each carving a path dedicated to a particular cultural or scenic

theme. Today, some 150 such routes exist, and millions of people travel

them annually. Discover Germany along the “German Castle Road,” “German

Fairytale Road,” or the most famous, the “Romantic Road.” Whatever your

interest, our Scenic Routes will guide you on a fun and exciting vacation.

A) The “Romantic Road.”

[pic]

Wuerzburg Residence Palace

In every traveler's life, there are never-to-be-forgotten moments. One

of them is the transformation that begins at the exit from the A-7

Autobahn, where you enter the Romantic Road. One of the most famous of the

German Vacation Routes wends its way from Wuerzburg to Fuessen.

The Romantic Road is a 220-mile journey from the River Main to the Alps

that offers the traveler what is simply one of the most beautiful and most

engaging melange of scenery, cuisine and ambience Germany can offer.

It's all gorgeous - the stunning Wuerzburg Residence Palace, the centuries-

old panorama and magical atmosphere of Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber and

Dinkelsbьhl, the Roman remains in Augsburg, Bavarian King Ludwig II's

unforgettable dream- castle of Neuschwanstein.

[pic]

Castle of Neuschwanshtein

Wherever travellers find themselves on the Romantic Road, exceptional

cuisine, delicious wines, glorious land- and city-scapes, castles, churches

and fortresses inspire the appetite and the soul. Here, in one of the most

charming and beautiful sections of Germany, even the most cynical and

unromantic traveler cannot help but be seduced.

B) The Classic route.

Whether we pass through Erfurt, Weimar, Jena or Gotha, names such as

Goethe, Schiller, Wagner and Strauss always linger on any trip through the

"green heart of Germany".

The town of Eisenach is known as the home of the "Wartburg", the

castle once inhabited by the famous Martin Luther. It is also, however, the

city of minstrels and birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach, whose history

can be traced in the local "Bach House" museum. Eisenach is a medieval town

which both Goethe and Wagner liked to visit, and it is a joy to wander

through the splendid forest landscapes of this area.

[pic]

Wartburg castle

Along the classic route, Gotha is also worth a visit. The "Friedenstein

Palace" and annual events such as the "Ekhof Festival" all contribute to

give the town a unique touch. In Arnstadt, we reach "the gateway to the

Forest of Thuringia ".

Excursions to the "Wachsenburg Fortress", "Gleichen Castle Ruins" and

"Mьhlburg Ruins" are highly recommended.

Next stop is Weimar, "European Cultural City 1999", which links to

Goethe and Schiller. Besides "Goethe's residence", his "summer-house on the

Ilm" and the "German National Theater", the "Goethe National Museum"

represents a special attraction in the city. Not far from Weimar is a town

called Jena, known foremost for the work and life of Friedrich Schiller and

which has therefore become a popular destination.

С) The Castle Road

Historical places and charming countryside with many romantic fortresses

and fairy tale castles make the 975 km long castle route from Mannheim to

Prague a varied route. The glory of time's past still has an effect today

on many towns and villages.

The countryside is as varied as the history. The river Neckar winds

its way through the Odenwald, the Hohenloher Ebene seems to stretch

endlessly into the distance, next the rolling Frankenhцhe and then the

northern part of so-called Franconian Switzerland. The legacy of the

artloving Electors of the Palatinate can still be admired in towns such as

Mannheim, Heidelberg or Schwetzingen.

[pic] [pic]

Ludwigsburg Castle Schwerin Castle

On the tracks of the Palatinate Earls, Mosbach, Neckarzimmern or Bad

Wimpfen are certainly well worth a visit, with their picturesque old town

centres and romantic halftimbered houses. Near Heilbronn the route passes

through winegrowing areas, the medieval free city of Nuremberg and the

vererable towns of Rothenburg o. d. Tauber, Coburg, Kronach, Kulmbach,

Bayreuth right through to Karlsbad and Marienbad, the famous spa towns, to

eventually reach Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.

All these towns with their 70 fortresses, ruins and castles line the

castle route like many pearls in a row and present themselves as impressive

witnesses to the past. Medieval towns, monasteries, historic buildings and

cultural treasures make sure the journey along the castle route becomes a

special and varied experience.

5. A Journey to Berlin

The might and scope of Prussian achievement is manifest in Berlin, one

of the world's most fascinating and troubling cities. Of strategic

importance since it first straddled the Spree River in the 13th century,

Berlin never hogged centre stage quite like it did this century. This is

the heart of Germany, its stoic beat echoing through grand public

buildings, glorious museums and theatres, and its urbane restaurants,

bustling pubs and raucous nightclubs. Today, the city, restored as the

nation's capital, is the focus of the mammoth project of reunification and

readings of Germany's mood are taken most accurately here.

Berlin is a good city to explore on foot. Take time to stroll from

Alexanderplatz to the Brandenburg Gate along Unter den Linden. The nearby

Kulturforum is a cluster of museums and concert halls on the south-eastern

side of Tiergarten that can take days to explore.

5.1. Accommodation in Berlin

During the cultural festivals? Trade fairs and conferences? Hotels are

totally booked up. The flood of tourists has increased since the opening of

the wall. Unless you have alternative accommodation, a spur-of-the-moment

trip to Berlin can be marred by an unpleasant or futile search for a hotel

room. Reservations made several weeks in advance are definitely

recommended.

Luxury Hotels

1. Bristol Hotel Kempinski (Kurfurstendamm 27) – The epitomy of traditional

luxury

[pic]

2. Grand Hyatt Berlin

In the new heart of Berlin at Potsdamer Platz, the modern design hotel

Grand Hyatt Berlin is adjacent to restaurants, shopping arcades, a casino

and the city's main musical theatre. The Philharmonic Theatre, New National

Gallery and Picture Gallery are located in the immediate neighbourhood; the

Government District, the city park Tiergarten and Berlin's greatest

cultural treasures are within walking distance. The city train and subway

stations at Potsdamer Platz are nearby, and Tegel International Airport is

9.4 miles/15 kilometres from the hotel.

3. Grand Hotel Esplanade ( Lutzowufer 15) - The modern, polished design

emphasises functional luxury. Centrally located between the

Kurfurstendammm, Unter den Linden and Potsdamer Platz, opposite the

Tiergarten Park, this designer hotel captures the spirit of contemporary

Berlin in a sophisticated setting. The hotel offers flexible and attractive

conference and banqueting rooms for up to 450 people. Hotel room have

bathroom, WC, telephone, fax, modem-connection, radio, TV, safe, minibar,

sound insulation, air conditioning, restaurants, 2 bars, swimming pool,

whirlpool, 3 saunas, solarium, beauty center, massage, fitness center,

hairdressing salon, 6 conference rooms for up to 450 persons, garage

parking, and conference boat. The “Esplanade” is a 5-star boat available

for conferences, parties and private celebrations. Room facilities: Air

conditioning, Minibar, Radio, Safe, Satellite TV, Sound insulation,

Telephone with modem-connection.

4. Inter-Continental (Budapester strasse 2) – the largest hotel in town.

Famous for its luxury.

5. Palace Hotel (Budapester strasse 45)

This luxury 5-star city hotel presents 282 individually decorated

rooms, including 32 suites about 55 - 225 sqm. Cable TV, refrigerated mini

bar, trouser press, soundproofed windows and further extras belong to our

standard. Its suites are appointed with marble bathrooms, exclusive hifi,

as well as whirlpool and large dressing rooms. The elegant banqueting

floors offer 12 different function rooms that can be extended to

accommodate 10 - 700 persons as well as 5 banquet rooms in the adjoining

Business Centre. Breakfast restaurant "Bon Dia", "Lounge" and "Sam's Bar"

offering snacks and cocktails. Michelin-rated-Restaurant "First Floor" with

chef Mathias Buchholz, Cafe-Restaurant "Tiffany's" and the rustic

restaurant "Alt- Nurnberg" in the bordering Europa-Center. Money exchange,

room service, laundry- and shoe cleaning service. Admission free to the

"Thermen am Europa-Center", a large health spa with sauna and swimming

pool.

First-class Hotels

Art hotel Sorat (Joachimstaler Strasse 28-29) – Art and accommodation:

the Wolf Vostell designer furniture sculptures make each room a unique

experience.

Avantgarde (Kurfurstendamm 15) – Neo-Baroque house with huge rooms

decorated with stucco mouldings.

Artemisia (Branderburgishe Strasse 18) – tiny, attractively decorated

hotel reserved exclusively for women.

Dom Hotel (Mohrenstrasse 30, Mitte) – fine modern hotel overlooking the

most beautifull square in the city: the Platz der Academy.

Mondial (Kurfurstendamm 47) – spacious rooms. The entire hotel is

designed for use by handicapped.

Hotels & Pensions.

Alpina (Trabener Strasse 3) – small villa with garden near the Grunewald

S-Bahn Station.

Kreuzberg (Grossbeerenstrasse 64) – for young, undemanding guests.

Savoy (Meinekestrasse 4) – Small but nice.

Terminus (Fasanenstrasse 48) – neither plush nor dingy.

Transit (Hagelberger Strasse 53-54) – Charming hotel for young people

who care more for atmosphere than luxury.

Youth accommodation

Jugendherberge Bayernalee

(youth hostel) – Bayernalee 36

Jugendgastehaus am Wannsee

(youth guest house) – Badeweg 1

Jugendgastehaus BERLIN

(youth guest house) – Kluckstrasse 3

Jugendgastehaus am Zoo

(youth guest house) – Hardenbergstrasse 9a

Jugendtouristenhotel

(youth guest house) – Franz-Mett-Strasse 7

5.2. Sightseeing in Berlin

A) The Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor)

[pic]

The Brandenburg gate is the unquestionable symbol of Berlin and is now

regarded as one of the greatest symbols of German unity. It is the last

remaining gate of the Berlin Wall and marks the western end of the famous

Unter den Linden Boulevard. The statue on top of the arch represents Nike

driving her chariot to victory towards the West.

B) Museum Island (Museumsinsel)

The Berlin Museumsinsel is a unique ensemble of museum buildings that

illustrate the evolution of modern museum design over more than a century.

The museums include The National Gallery, The Old Museum (Altes Museum),

The Pergamon Museum and The Bode Museum.

The National Galerie is an ultra-modern building built in the 1960s. The

museum collection specialises in works from the 19th and 20th centuries as

well as international contemporary art. The National Galerie is famous for

its collection of French impressionists.

The Old Museum houses an amazing collection of 18th, 19th and early 20th-

century paintings and statues. Any prominent artist you can think of it

probably featured here.

The Pergamon Museum is immense. It is divided into five sections: the

Antiquities Collection, the Middle East Museum, the Islamic Museum, the Far

East Collection, and the Museum of Popular Art. A few days is needed to

properly explore it.

The Bode Museum's original collection of Egyptian artifacts was very

badly affected by World War II. However, there are outstanding exhibits of

Byzantine and early Christian relics on show.

B) The Tiergarten

[pic]

The Tiergarten is often referred to as Berlin’s green heart. Originally

a hunting reserve for royalty, landscape architect Peter Joseph Lenne

turned the Tiergarten into a beautiful city park in 1742. During World War

II many of the trees were cut for firewood and the pristine lawns were

turned into vegetable gardens to feed the populace of Berlin. Heavy bombing

then damaged much of the rest of the park. The present-day plantings took

place just after the war and today the beautifully lush Tiergarten is a

popular place with Berliners and, to the surprise of many tourists, nude

sunbathing is permitted throughout the park. The park is over 412-acres and

it stretches for 1.75 miles west from the Brandenburg Gate.

D) The Berlin Wall

If you want to see what remains of the infamous Berlin Wall head down

Charlottenstrasse and then west along Leipzigerstrasse. There you can see

one of the best examples of what remains of the Wall.

E) The Berlin Radio Tower

The Berlin Radio Tower was built in 1924 for the Third German

Broadcasting Exhibition. Standing at 138-meters high, this steel-latticed

tower is a fantastic viewing point with panoramic bird’s-eye views of the

city. An elevator takes you to the observation deck at 125 meters to admire

the vista. There is a restaurant at the 55-meter level.

F) The Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg)

[pic]

The Charlottenburg Palace is the oldest surviving Prussian palace in

Germany. Building began in 1695 and was completed in 1790. There are 70

rooms and corridors crammed full of ornate furnishings and Watteau

paintings. The east wing houses an incredible collection of romanticist

paintings while the west wing houses a collection of ancient and

prehistoric art and artifacts. Take a guided tour of the royal apartments

and then stroll through the formal gardens that surround the palace.

G) The Reichstag

The Reichstag, built in 1884-94, has witnessed many of the key moments

in 20th century German history. It has seen the Proclamation of the German

Republic in 1918, endured a burning in 1933, a storming in 1945 by Russian

troops and German Reunification in 1990. Since its renovation in 1999, it

has housed the Bundestag (Parliament).

H) Soviet War Memorial (Treptower Park)

Treptower Park houses a very sobering monument to the Soviet soldiers

who died fighting Hitler. The park also contains a mass grave for the 5,000

soldiers killed in action. Walk the tree-lined avenue to see a statue of

Mother Russia crying for her dead children. There are huge white stone

reliefs set up in a manner not unlike the Stations of the Cross. They bear

quotations from Stalin and depict how the Soviets won out against Fascism.

At the far end of the park there is a massive statue of a heroic Soviet

soldier clutching a child in one arm and smashing a swastika with the

other.

I) The Jewish Quarter

The Scheunenviertel (Stable Quarter) is both Berlin's newest hot spot

and one of its oldest areas. It was originally founded in the 17th century

outside the medieval city walls. It survived Allied bombing raids and the

Red Army's assault on the city. Recently, the quarter’s old buildings are

being reincarnated as trendy bars, cafes, restaurants, and galleries. It is

lively, trendy and bohemian and well worth a visit.

5.3. Eat, Drink, Nightlife

Berlin offers a wide range of possibilities to go out. Restaurants, Pubs

and clubs of all kind and for every gusto invite you. Many places and

streets are perfect night walks because one restaurant is here next to the

other.

Many restaurants invite you to discover the delicacies of Berlin's

cuisine. In a cosy ambiance you can savour the regional specialities and

discover the variety of typical food along the meetballs (Bouletten) and

Berliner WeiЯe (beer with juice).

The whole world is at home in Berlin. Restaurants offer food from around

the world, from Argentina to Zimbabwe, folkloristic or exclusive. You are

at the right place in Berlin to go on a culinary journey around the world

or to discover really particular food.

[pic] [pic]

Savigny-Platz

Night owls with stamina can also give their undivided attention to the

interesting range of pubs around Savignyplatz in Charlottenburg. The area

consist of a great number of restaurants and bars where everyone can meet

the stars of television or Berlin's culture and political scene. Here is

the melting pot that combines symbolically the former west and the new

centre to a harmonic construction.

Pariser StraЯe and Ludwigkirchplatz

Especially the younger crowd is attracted to the Pariser StraЯe. At this

location you will find taverns, bars, American diners, Mexican restaurants

and very modern and stylish discos. During the summer life concentrates on

the street in form of many chairs and tables that invite us to rest. In the

middle of this street the well-maintained Ludwigkirchplatz with its rich

areas of green providing a relaxing shadow is located.

The Winterfeldtplatz and Schцneber

The Winterfeldtplatz is the location of a frequently visited market. In

the numerous taverns and bars, plenty of customers, tourists and locals

meet each other. The scene is uncomplicated and open minded, also due to

the presence of Berlin's gay population.

In GoltzstraЯe the Schцnebergers meet in places such as the Cafй M, Lux

or one of the numerous Indian snack bars. Between Schцneberg and Tiergarten

the 90° is still an up-to-date party location. But the Latinamerican Clubs

El Barrio or the Caracas Bar invite for a visit as well.

Conclusion.

Germany is among the most attractive countries for tourists because it

has developed tourist and hospitality industry. In every city or even in

the country tourists have an opportunity to find accommodation and to taste

the national dishes. And there are everywhere numerous places of interest

in Germany.

Every year a lot of tourists visit Germany to see its amazing and

outstanding sightseeing. There is no doubt that tourists visited Germany

wouldn’t be disappointed.

Literature

1.Western Europe on a shoestring.

2.Berlin. Insight pocket guide.

Sites

1. www.berlin-tourist-information.com

2. www.germany-tourism.de

3. www.lonelyplanet.com