Situated in the southeast of the region of Germany, Bavaria is one of the largest states within the country of Germany. Bavaria is the economic capital of Germany, with many of the major businesses such as BMW, Audi and Adidas holding their headquarters there.

Neuschwanstein, Bavaria © Julia Hoefer-von Seelen

Bavaria is a very traditional state but is very independent in its religion. They wear a traditional national costume known as the Tracht on special occasions and there is a tradition of folk music often related to the Celtic masses. Food and drink is very important in the Bavarian culture and they have many festivals to celebrate, such as the beer festival. Here beer is served by the litre and it only has three ingredient in it, namely water, hops and barley. They also hold wine festivals where their locally produced wine is celebrated.

There are beautiful forests in Bavaria, showing a natural paradise and haven for wild flowers and creatures. One particular forest is in the deep valley of Wolfsteiner Ohe, this amazing forest is great to bring children and nature close together and to encourage their love of all things different and natural. The Bavarian castles are worth visiting and are very informative when taken as part of a tour. Bavaria is a mixture of old and new with the cosmopolitan business centres and the old towns with historic statues and traditional culture.

There are many fabulous hotels available in Bavaria and all at a price that is affordable to everyone, If you are travelling throughout Germany then following the famous River Rhine will give you many fabulous places to visit and many historic places to see.

River Rhine © roger4336/flickr.com

The river Rhine is situated in the Swiss Alps and flows to the north sea. It is one of the most important and longest rivers in Europe. It was vital in the past for carrying trade and food along the river allowing local people to trade and diversify. It was also used as a major defence for the neighbouring towns and the number of fortifications and castles situated along the river proves just how important it was and that control was vital. The Rhine flows from the Switzerland, through to Liechtenstein, Austria and Germany, it also flows through France and finally the Netherlands.

A cruise along the River Rhine is an awesome experience, there are tours that last from eight days to eight hours, catering for everyone`s. Most of the stops on the tour are at Germany ports so there is plenty to see and experience. Taking in the wonderful sights of the River and the historic buildings is something that you will remember for a very long time. Accommodation along the Rhine river is comfortable and affordable, but if you wish to be a little bit more extravagant then there are some luxury hotels near by.

Whether you are travelling around Germany and sampling the wonders of the Rhine river and Bavaria or staying in one of the many secret rooms London has to offer there is something for every ones budget and personality to enjoy.

Covering an area of over 200,000 square metres (almost 55 acres) the Botanical Garden in Munich, Bavaria is not not only home to about 14,000 plants but also one of the most important botanical gardens in the world.

In the glasshouse complex you can go on a botanical journey to hot and humid regions, evergreen mountain forests and hot and arid deserts.

Or would you like to get some inspiration for your own garden, you get that in the large ornamental courtyard. In the large arboretum and the order beds will show you the family relationships of plants as well as their ecological needs.

Very interesting too is the alpine garden on the Schachen, located in the Wettersteingebirge about 90 kilometres south of Munich at a height of 1,860 metres, which not only is an invaluable basis for research but also serves to preserve rare European plant and bee species.

Throughout the year several events take place in the Munich Botanical Garden. From December till April you can see tropical butterflies in the greenhouses and from May 18th to May 29th 2011 there will be a Bonsai exhibition in the Winter Hall (Winterhalle).

From the Botanical Garden you can easily get to Nymphenburg Palace with its large park. You can either go for a walk or visit the Museum of Man and Nature (Museum für Mensch und Natur).

Opening Hours of Munich Botanical Garden:

• January, November, December: Main entrance: 9am, – 4.30pm    Glasshouse complex: 9am – 4pm
• February, March, October: Main entrance: 9am – 5pm    Glasshouse complex: 9am – 4.30pm
• April, September: Main entrance: 9am – 6pm    Glasshouse complex: 9am – 5.30pm
• May, June, July, August: Main entrance: 9am – 7pm    Glasshouse complex: 9 am– 6.30pm