Extending across parts of Lower-Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, the Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany.

The name derives from the Middle High German word ‘Hardt’ or ‘Hart’ meaning mountain forest. With a height of 1,142 metres the Brocken is the highest peak.

Wernigerode Town Hall-Rathaus © flickr/dirk-bongardt

The magnificent landscape of the Harz with wide plateaus of 600 metres and more in altitude, mountain lakes, high moorlands, a central highland region with rocky peaks forming bizarre shapes, deep ravine-like valleys, waterfalls and large water reservoirs has a lot to offer not only for walkers.

Especially the Oker valley is famous for its fascinating rock formations and the Romkerhall waterfalls cascading from a great height and being one of the most photographed attractions in the Oker valley.

Walkers will find an extensive network of walking trails and in recent years the Harz has also developed into a very good mountain bike region with many routes suitable for every level. On several reservoirs a variety of water sports is permitted and the rivers offer opportunities for canoeing or kayaking.

Even famous people such as Martin Luther, Heine and Goethe were fond of the Harz Mountains.

Explore the nature with its fir and beech woods and lots of animals such as wild cat, lynx, black stork, pygmy owl, black woodpecker and many more and walk along the ‘Harzer Hexenstieg’ (Witches’ Way), located in the centre of the Harz. It runs from Osterode in the West over the Brocken, which is rich in local legends, to Thale in the East.

Brockenbahn © flickr/chop1n

But you should also visit the UNESCO world heritage cities of Quedlinburg and Goslar, see the cathedral treasure in Halberstadt, Wernigerode with its castle and city hall and Lutherstadt Eisleben, the place to commemorate Martin Luther. Walking through the narrow lanes of these medieval cities is like stepping back in time and you can discover countless reminders of the past.

Steam railway enthusiasts will certainly enjoy a ride on the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways operating on over 132 kilometres of track.

You can easily get to the Harz by rail or road, the nearest airport is Hanover. The Harz offers a wide range of accommodation styles with something for every taste.

This year the Munich Oktoberfest is going to celebrate its 200th anniversary. It will be held from September 18th to October 4th, 2010.

The Oktoberfest is the world’s largest fair and an important part of Bavarian culture. It traditionally takes place during the sixteen days in up to the first Sunday in October and is held on the so called Theresienwiese (or Wiesn for short) in Munich, Bavaria. More than 6 million visitors come from all over Europe, the US, Canada, India, Japan, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.

Oktoberfest Munich © flickr/digital cat 

The Oktoberfest was first held in October 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hilburghausen. The citizens of Munich were invited to join the festivities held at the Theresienwiese (Theresa’s field) outside the city gates and a horse race marked the end of the festival. The decision to hold a horse race again the following year gave rise to the tradition of the Oktoberfest.

And still today you can see horses drawing the carriages on the opening day of the Oktoberfest. On that day the ancient brewery carriages and the horses will be magnificently decorated.

If you want to catch the officially opening ceremonies you should be in the Schottenhamel tent at noon on September 18th.  The lord mayor of Munich then will have the honour of tapping the first keg of Oktoberfest beer. And once the barrel has been tapped, all visitors will be allowed to drink beer too.

Oktoberfest © flickr/sanfamedia.com

At the Oktoberfest not only about 70,000 hectolitres of beer will be drunk,  visitors will also eat huge amounts of typical Oktoberfest food such as Hendl (chicken), Schweinsbraten (roast pork), Haxn (pork knuckle), Würstl (sausages), Weisswurst (white sausages), Brezn (pretzel) and many more.

Since 1850 the statue of the Bavaria, the worldly Bavarian patron, has been watching the Oktoberfest. It was first sketched by Leo von Klenze, roanticised and ‘Germanised’ by Ludwig Michael Schwanthaler and constructed by Johann Baptist Stiglmaier and Ferdinand von Miller.

This year special events will be held to celebrate the anniversary of the Octoberfest. There will be a historical Oktoberfest with ancient fun rides and beer tents and a horse race will also take place. Even a special anniversary beer will be brewed. Normally every brewery has its own beer for the Oktoberfest but this year there will be a special beer brewed by all of them using old recipes that are slightly modified to match today’s taste .  Visitors interested in the history of the Oktoberfest can learn more about it in the Museum Tent.

Rügen, or Rugia is Germany’s largest island and located in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

It is one of Germany’s most visited holiday destination and is connected by the Rügendamm bridge with the mainland.

Rügen does not only offer former imperial spa resorts, where you can still find the noblesse of the Belle Epoque, but also little fishing villages, long sandy beaches, 100-year-old lighthouses and ancient megalithic graves.

Binz © flickr/froutes

Caspar David Friedrich, the great Romantic painter born in Greifswald, brought fame to the majestic white chalk cliffs of Rügen.

A great way to explore Rügen is with the ‘Racing Roland’ steam train. You get around many sights and seaside resorts such as Lauterbach, Göhren, Putbus and Binz.

And on Rügen you can even find Jasmund National Park which is the smallest National Park in Germany and famous for its chalk cliffs. The highest with about 118 metres is called Königsstuhl (king’s chair). There is a beautiful hiking trail leading from Sassnitz to the Königsstuhl and the walk will take about 3.5 hours. If you don’t want to walk such a long distance you can go by car to the large car park at Hagen and take the shuttle bus from there.

Sassnitz is a seaside resort with a beautiful historical town centre with houses typical for the region. Also of interest of to the visitors are the Submarine Museum, the Harbour Museum and the Butterfly Park. From Sassnitz you can also get to many other countries such as Sweden or Lithuania by ferry.

Kap Arkona © flickr/elbfoto

Another seaside resort and not far from Sassnitz is Binz. It might be the most visited place of the isle of Rügen and offers many shops, cafés, restaurants and a large sandy beach. The Jagdschloss Granitz not far from Binz is a palace open to the public. There you have a great view over the area from the tower.

Another place worth seeing is Kap Arkona, a cape and the northernmost point of Rügen with two old lighthouses. One of them, the old Schinkelturm, is housing a museum, the other one is still in use but is also open to the public Another tower used to be a navy bearing tower and also is open to the public. You can also take a guided tour of the old bunker at the cape.