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Tourist Guide and Information about Germany

 

 

 

 

The Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is a democracy member of the European Union (EU). The Federal Republic of Germany is a federation of individual states. There are 16 "Bundesländer" which are federal states with their own government. The states are Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia. The capital city is Berlin. Germany is located at the heart of Europe. It forms the link between maritime western Europe and the continental east, between the warmer south and the cool north. Germany is a triad of lowland plains, upland hills and mountains. From the Alps in the south, Germany stretches via the forested central highlands to the North and Baltic Seas. Its highest point is the Zugspitze (2,963 m). Germany is bordered by Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland.

  

Climate: The majority of Germany lies within the moderate, maritime climatic zone. Large fluctuations in temperature are rare. Rain falls throughout the year. The average winter temperature is +2°C on the North German Plain and - 6°C in the mountains. Average temperatures in July range between +18°C on the North German Plain and +20°C in the sheltered valleys of the south. Exceptions include the upper Rhine plains with their very mild climate, Upper Bavaria which is influenced by the föhn, a warm Alpine wind that blows in from the south, and the Harz mountains, which have their own microclimate with harsh winds, cool summers and snowy winters.

Tourist attractions: Vibrant cities with amazing architecture, fabulous shopping and pulsating nightlife. Enchanting medieval villages and traditional wine villages with friendly festivals and regional specialities. Picturesque countryside which is perfect for walking or simply relaxing in. Castles, palaces and abbeys that are the epitome of German romanticism.

Unesco has designated 32 German sites as World Heritage sites: Aachen Cathedral (1978), Speyer Cathedral (1981), Würzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence Square (1981), Pilgrimage Church of Wies (1983), Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Brühl (1984), St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church at Hildesheim (1985), Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier (1986), Frontiers of the Roman Empire (1987, 2005), 10 Hanseatic City of Lübeck (1987), Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (1990, 1992, 1999), Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch (1991), Mines of Rammelsberg and Historic Town of Goslar (1992), Maulbronn Monastery Complex (1993), Town of Bamberg (1993), Collegiate Church, Castle, and Old Town of Quedlinburg (1994), Völklingen Ironworks (1994), Messel Pit Fossil Site (1995), Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar and Dessau (1996), Cologne Cathedral (1996), Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg (1996), Classical Weimar (1998), Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin (1999), Wartburg Castle (1999), Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz (2000), Monastic Island of Reichenau (2000), Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen (2001), Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar (2002), Upper Middle Rhine Valley (2002), Dresden Elbe Valley (2004), Muskauer Park / Park Muzakowski (2004), Town Hall and Roland on the Marketplace of Bremen (2004), Old town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof (2006).

Between the properties submitted on the Tentative List are: The German Wadden Sea (1999), Upper Harz Water Management (1999), Heidelberg Castle and Old Town (1999), Housing Estates in the Berlin Modern Style (1999), Schwetzingen: A Prince Elector's Summer Residence - garden design and Freemasonic allusions (1999), Margrave Opera House and Bayreuth at the era of Margrave Wilhelmine – The ideal world of a woman between absolutism and enlightenment (1999), Mining and Cultural Landscape (1999), Fagus Works (1999), Gardens of the Landgraves in and around Kassel (1999), Corvey Abbey and Castle (1999), Speicherstadt and Chilehaus with Kontorhaus District (1999), Francke Foundation Buildings (1999), Naumburg Cathedral (1999), L’œuvre architecturale et urbaine de Le Corbusier – deux maisons du Weissenhof-Siedlung à Stuttgart (2007), Beech Primeval Forests of Germany (2007).

Travel Documents: Foreign nationals require a valid passport or other identification document to enter Germany. The passport must be valid for at least another four months after entry into Germany or the Schengen area. For citizens of EU countries a valid identity card is sufficient. Children must be included in their parent's passport or carry their own children's passport. Citizens of certain countries require a visa to enter Germany.

Health: Very good. EU citizens are entitled to free or subsidised primary care in the event of sudden illness or an accident in Germany. In many European countries the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has replaced the E111 form. Presentation of the European Card guarantees that the holder will not have to pay for, or will be reimbursed for, the costs of their medical treatment. Citizens of other states are advised to take out travel insurance.

Shopping hours: The greater part of the shops, in the week days, are opened from 9,00 am to 7,00 pm. Shops are closed on Sunday, with the exception of bakeries which generally open on Sunday mornings. Cafés and cake shops are open on Sunday afternoons. Germany has a huge range of different places to shop, from the traditional atmosphere of its town centres to more than 400 shopping malls, each like a world of its own. The one thing they all have in common is a colourful mix of shops, boutiques, restaurants and cafés. And nearly all Germany's towns and cities have pedestrianised areas with large department stores and shopping arcades.

Electricity: 230 V, 50 Hz. The Continental two-round-pin plug is standard.

Cusine: In Germany, every region has its own local cuisine with typical specialities. The typical German breakfast consists of bread or rolls with sausage, cheese, jam or honey and muesli, served with coffee or tea. Lunch is the main meal of the day and is usually a hot, cooked meal, usually of generous proportions. Dinner is usually eaten between 6pm and 7pm, and consists of bread and rolls with sausage or cheese. GERMAN CUISINE RECIPES.

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Airports and Flights: Germany is served by more than 100 international airlines. Germany's Lufthansa , together with its Star Alliance partners, offers the most frequent and extensive services The global route network and coordinated schedules of the Star Alliance partnership link Germany with a total of 795 destinations around the world. The most important airports are Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin/Tegel, Cologne/Bonn and Hamburg.

 

Area: 357,030 sqkm

Population: 82,530,000 (minorities of turks, italians, serbs, poles, greeks, spanish, austrians)

State Capital: Berlin

Language: German is the official language..

Religion: Protestant 42,8 %, Roman Catholic 32,6 %, Islam 3 %, Hebrew 0,1 %, others 22,4 %

Money: Euro

Time: Central European time. Clocks go forward in spring and back in autumn. The switch to summer time (forward one hour) happens on the last Sunday in March. Winter time (back one hour) starts on the last Sunday in October.

 

 

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