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.

Cologne is Germany’s fourth largest city and the largest city of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Founded in 38 BC it is also one of the oldest German cities.

The most famous building in Cologne and the city’s iconic landmark is Cologne Cathedral, a World Heritage Site.
Even though the foundation stone of the cathedral was laid on August 15th, 1248 the cathedral wasn’t completed before 1880. During WW2 72% of the city centre were destroyed but the cathedral survived and can still be seen from nearly everywhere in the city centre and many other places. The towers with a height of about 157metres (the north tower is 7cm higher than the south tower) dominate the city’s skyline.

The cathedral houses the Shrine of the Three Kings that is said to contain the relics of the Three Magi.

Cologne © Rolf H./flickr.com

But apart from Cologne Cathedral there are twelve Romanic churches in Cologne, as well as other medieval buildings and three of the formerly twelve city gates. The Cologne City Hall established in the 12th century is the oldest German city hall still in use. In the 15th century the Renaissance style loggia and tower were added.

Cologne also boasts 36 museums and more than 100 art galleries. And it is a green city too with many parks and gardens. Besides several bridges crossing over the Rhine there also is the Cologne Cable Car connecting the two banks of the Rhine near Cologne’s Zoo Bridge (Zoobrücke).

And Cologne is of course famous for its beer, the Kölsch. The top-fermented beer is served in typical glasses and is part of the Cologne culture. The best place to drink Kölsch certainly is one of the small brew houses you can find everywhere in the city.

Camping in summer is quite popular but camping in winter is very special too and there are not only special accommodations available but also a variety of sporty activities.

At Lake Hopfensee, Allgäu, Bavaria you can not only go skiing in Winter but also have a spa with oriental flair to relax. There are a Cleopatra Bath, Gem Sauna and Thalassotheraries on offer.
There are downhill pistes, cross-country ski runs and toboggan runs offering entertainment for all the family.

Hopfensee © dorena-wm/flickr.com

The Teutoburg Forest (Teutoburger Wald) is ideal especially for weekend trips. In the Camphotel Rothenfelde there are saunas, gyms and a beauty parlour. A special place especially for couples.

The Südseecamp (South Sea Camp) isn’t located in the South Sea but in the Lüneburg Heath. There you can even find colourful Nordic holiday homes. The place got its name from the tropical swimming bath with slides and a white water canyon. But of course there is a sauna too get warm again after a long day out hiking in the snow.

People who like indoor-skiing should go to the Münstertal valley in the Black Forest. There you can go downhill skiing in two arenas. On offer are also an indoor swimming pool, saunas, a gym and massage for the campers.

Those who prefer to go skiing in the beautiful landscape of the Black Forest can do so in Seelbach. You can stay in log houses and there are also a swimming bath and saunas. Fun for all the family.

Established in 1935 the German Wine Route with a length of 85 kilometres is Germany’s first scenic wine route and still the most famous too.

The German Wine Route is full of history, culture and endless stretches of vineyards in a stunning landscape. It runs from Bockenheim (near Worms) in the north to Schweigen-Rechenbach (near the French border) through the Palatinate region of Rhineland-Palatinate. Besides being Germany’s second largest wine growing areas, it also is one of the most beautiful parts in the west of the country.

German Wine Gate © Charles 01-Wikipedia.org

The German Wine Gate in Schweigen-Rettenbach is an imposing ceremonial gatehouse, marking the start of the route and its southernmost point. But it really doesn’t matter in which direction you travel along the German Wine Route as there is so much to see and do.

During the festival season from March to October the German Wine Route is a hive of activity. There are the Mandelblütenfest (Almond Blossom Festival) in Gimmendingen in March, the Deutsches Weinlesefest (German Grape Harvest Festival) in Neustadt an der Weinstraße, The Stadtmauerfest (City Wall Festival) in Freinsheim in July, the Wurstmarkt (Sausage Market) and many more. A special highlight is the Erlebnistag (Adventure Day) being held on the last Sunday in August. The whole route then is closed to motor vehicles and open air wine bars are set up for hikers, cyclists and inline skaters visiting the festival. And no matter whether the roads are closed to motor vehicles or not, hiking and cycling are a good way to explore the whole route and enjoy the magnificent landscape and of course the wine.

German Wine Route © Ohummel-wikipedia.org

Typical wines of the area are the white wines such as Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Morio Muskat or Gewürztraminer and red wines such as Dornfelder, Portugieser and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir).

Besides vine also lemons, figs, sweet chestnuts and kiwi fruits grow in Region.

The German Wine Route also is a great travel destination during Advent season and Christmas because in many towns along the route typical German Christmas markets are being held.

A good way to discover the beauty of the Moselle region is on board a boat. You can sit down and relax and let the magnificent landscape pass by.

And when you stop at one of the beautiful towns along the river you can not only go sightseeing but also sample wines. So a Moselle River-Cruise is a wine tasting tour too. The whole region as you might know is not only famous for the beauty of its landscape but also for its great wines.
Along the Moselle you can see not only vineyards but also numerous castles and enchanting towns.

Moselle Cruise/Mosel Kreuzfahrt © flickr/JACoulter

The Moselle is flowing through France, Luxembourg and Germany and has its source at the Col de Bussang in the Vosges Mountains. At Koblenz it joins the Rhine and therefore is an important German waterway.
In France Metz and Thionville are located on the Moselle. In Luxemburg the town of Schengen sits on the Moselle and in Germany the oldest German town Trier sits on the river. Another well known town on the Moselle is Koblenz.
The Moselle Valley is snaking through Germany and picturesque villages with half timbered-houses take turns with rocks and hillsides.
Cochem Castle dating back to the 11th century and Traben-Trarbach and Bernkastel-Kues are special highlights of this river cruise.

You can get the cruises as full board cruises or with wine tasting and also for visitors who don’t fancy wine too much they are a great experience. Just try it; you might love the famous Riesling. And you can of course combine a cruise with a cycling tour.

Koblenz will enchant you with the castles and magnificent buildings of the old town with its winding alleys. There are the Ehrenbreitstein fortress,  the so called Deutschherrenhaus of the Order of the Teutonic Knights, the residential tower called Deutscher Kaiser (German emperor) built in the 16th century, the Schängel Fountain and the Church of Our Beloved Lady which dominates the skyline of Koblenz.

Another must-see on the cruise and never left out is Trier the oldest German city. In Trier you can see the famous Porta Nigra, the Roman bridge (Römerbrücke), the Roman baths, the Roman amphitheatre and many other buildings. The Porta Nigra is the oldest still existing Roman city gate north of the Alps and is a perfect starting point for a sightseeing tour. And also the Trier Cathedral, the huge Constantine Basilica and the other churches form the cityscape and are open to the public.

Bernkastel-Kues © flickr/Karamellzucker

Lovers of old castles will really enjoy a cruise on the Moselle.  Some of them you can watch when passing by and some of them you can visit on an excursion.

Famous are Arras Castle near Alf, Landshut Castle near Bernkastel-Kues, Cochem Castle, Eltz Castle, Gondorf Castle, the Old Castle in Koblenz, Saarburg Castle and Greven Castle in Trarbach.

Arras Castle dates back to 1830 and has been the residence of the electors of Trier for 1000 years. It went rack and ruin in the 18th century and was restored from 1907 on. Today it houses a restaurant, a café, a hotel and a museum. Worth a visit are the great hall and the dungeon.

You can easily climb up to Landshut Castle by foot. The ruin is really lovely and dates back to 993. It boasts with a glorious history and changing owners.

Cochem Castle is a castle on top of a hill and can be seen from afar. From there you have a great view of the town of Cochem. And there also is falconry in the castle and you might be able to see a show.

Eltz Castle looks like a castle in a fairy tale book and is still well preserved. For more than 800 years it has been owned by the Eltz family.

The Old Castle of Koblenz is a moated castle built in the 13th century by the elector of Trier Heinrich von Finsterlingen. Since 2002 it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Oberes Mittlerheintal’.

The Greven Castle at Trarbach also is a ruin but really imposing. It was built around 1350 as seat of government of John III and has a long history with numerous owners. In 1620 it was even conquered by the Spanish, after that by the Swedes and the French tried to keep it for a while during siege. In 1734 it was handed over to the city of Trier but the peace didn’t last very long. Only 21 years later the French blew the whole castle up. The damage was done but couldn’t harm the view of the surrounding area.

Great, not only when it’s hot…

4.4 oz cane sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ t cardamom, ½ tsp coriander, ½ tsp ginger,1pinch allspice, 8 egg yolks, 1 oz chocolate,  1 oz hazelnuts, 4 Aachener Printen (a special form of ginger bread from Aachen), 7 oz cream, 1tsp rose water

Mix the sugar with 3 tbs of water and the spices in a double boiler and stir it until it becomes pasty syrup.  Take it off the cooker and add the egg yolks, whisk well until it is light and fluffy and let it cool down on ice while stirring it. Chop the chocolate, the hazelnuts and the Aachener Printen and add to it together with the whipped cream and the rose water.

If you don’t have an ice-machine put it into the freezer for about 4 to 5 hours. Take it out every 30 minutes to stir so that no solid ice crystals build up.

It is great with chocolate sauce made of 5 oz cream, 1 tbs honey and 1.6 oz chocolate. Boil up 3 oz of cream with the honey, add the melted chocolate and let it cool down. Whip the rest of the cream before you add it.

Aachener Printen © flickr/diekatrin

Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia is not only easily to reach but also a city to enjoy and a walk in the city centre is quite formidable.

Aachen Cathedral/Dom © flickr/Jim Linwood

The cathedral was the first German architectural monument on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. It was not only the coronation church of more than 30 German kings and 12 queens but also the burial site of Charlemagne.
The Shrine of St Mary resting in the choir of the church dates from 1220-1239 and contains the four great Aachen relicts: St Mary’s cloak, Chirst’s swaddling clothes, St John the Baptist’s beheading cloth and Christ’s loincloth. Every seven years the relicts are put on display during the Great Aachen Pilgimage.
Seven of the eight bells of the cathedral date back to the year 1659. The biggest was melted down in WW2 but replaced in 1958.
Very impressive is also the cathedral’s treasure chamber with its unique collection of sacral art treasures from the late Antique, Carolingian, Ottonian and Staufian epoch.

Worth a visit is the Couven Museum offering its visitors an insight into the life in the city during the 18th and 19th century. Visitors can see high-quality furniture, fine chimney pieces and Italian stucco work. The museum also houses the Adler-Apotheke (pharmacy). In the pharmacy chocolate has been produced for the first time in 1857.

The gothic town hall of Aachen was built in the early 14th century on the foundation of the ruined palace of Charlemagne. In the 17th and 18th century it was converted into a baroque building. In the two fires of 1656 and 1883 the town hall was severely damaged. The north façade is decorated with the statues of 50 German rulers, 31 of them crowned in Aachen. Inside the building visitors can see the Coronation hall with its famous Rethel frescoes dating back to the 19th century, and the copies of the Imperial Crown Jewels and the gothic and baroque furniture.

Elisenbrunnen/Elisa Fountain © flickr/heipei

Especially at night the Elisenbrunnen (Elisa Fountain) is great to look at as it is beautifully illuminated. According to plans of Cremer and Schinkel it was built in 1827 and still today visitors can try the healing thermal waters from this fountain. Many famous visitors have visited Aachen spa over the centuries as can be seen on marble name plates.

Aachen has many restaurants offering international as well as regional cuisine. Visitors should try the typical Aachener Printen, mustard from Monschau and ham from the Eifel region.

Aachen also is a good starting point for trips to Belgium or the Netherlands and even the North Sea is not too far away.
At the Aachener Radstation near the main station bikes can be rented and even a special electric bike for the disabled is available but should be booked in advance under tel.: +49(0)241/450 195 02.

The Eifel is a low mountain range western Germany and eastern Belgium.

In Germany it occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia and of northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and is located between Aachen in the north, Trier in the south, Koblenz in the east.

Maria Laach © flickr/gmancgn 2008

Long ago the heart of the Eifel used to be a site of extensive volcanic activity and some of the hills are volcanic vents. Now there circle shaped lakes called “Maar” in the volcanic craters. One of the most popular is the Laacher See lake, which in fact is not a “Maar”, where the last volcanic eruptions took place about 13,000 years ago.

In the region there are about 240 volcanic vents and 60 “Maar” lakes. In numerous museums in the region visitors can learn all about the volcanic past of the Eifel. And you can also go on a discovery tour of the “German Volcano Route”. It is about 280 kilometres long and connects 39 geological sites of cultural and industrial historic interest and related to the Eifel volcanoes.

Besides the splendid nature and hiking and cycling trails visitors will also find castles and palaces in the Eifel. From the 11th to 13th century there used to be 140 castles in the region. Today most of them are ruins but nevertheless interesting. Many of them are now used for classical events. And visitors who want to see a rare example of a medieval castle in its original state should visit Bürresheim Castle near Mayen. It was even inhabited till 1921.

Burg Eltz © flickr/Jaeger-Meister

Burg Eltz (Eltz Castle) is another very beautiful example of an undestroyed medieval castle. It epitomizes German castle romanticism and really is worth a visit.

There are many abbeys and churches in the Eifel too. One of the most famous is the abbey “Kloster Maria Laach”. The church was built from 1093 to 1230 and is said to be one of the most perfect examples of Romanesque architecture.
But you should also visit the picturesque towns and villages such as Monschau, Bad Münstereifel, Nideggen or Blankenheim.

Families can spend their holidays on a farm as that always means great fun for the kids. Of course you don’t necessarily have to work during your stay but no one would mind a helping hand if you are interested in that kind of work. But of course there are hotels and private accommodation in the area too.

Not only during the Bundesgartenschau (Federal Horticultural Show) 2011 is Koblenz worth a visit.

Already now a lot is done in Koblenz. There are not only the classical guided tours but also adventurous tours at night or scenic tours which revive events and people of the past. Of course guided tours for groups are also offered in English, Italian, Dutch and some other languages. More information:  stadtfuehrungen@koblenz-touristik.de

Koblenz © flickr/onnola

You can also get “City on Foot” tourist informations via Bluetooth on your mobile phone as there are 14 transmitters in the town. All you have to do is register on www.stadtinfokoblenz.de

Koblenz is more than 2000 years old and has a lot to offer.

For almost everybody the “Deutsches Eck” (German Corner) is well known term. When the Order of Teutonic Knights settled here in 1216 the place where the rivers Rhine and Moselle meet got its name.

Even Koblenz got its name from this confluence as in Roman times it was called “Castellum apud Confluentes”.  At the Deutsches Eck there also is a memorial of Emperor Wilhelm I who had led Germany to a reunification after three wars. In 1891, the grandson of the deceased, Wilhelm II thought the place was quite suitable and in 1897 the memorial unveiled in a formal ceremony in the presence of Emperor Wilhelm II. Shortly before the end of WW2 it was destroyed by an American artillery attack. The huge and impressive head of the original statue can now be seen in the Central Rhine Museum in Koblenz.

In 2002 the Upper Midle Rhine Valley became a UNESCO World Culture Heritage Site. The 65 kilometres between Koblenz, Bingen and Rüdesheim epitomise Rhine romanticism. Painters, poets and thinkers got inspired. Many castles can be found there and show the strategic importance of the River Rhine in ancient times.

Deutsches Eck © flickr/rightee

The Ehrenbreitstein fortress is the largest preserved fortress of Europe and was built from 1817 to 1828 and the outside never changed. It rises 118 metres above the River Rhine and from there you have a great view.
The Deutschherrenhaus was the first settlement oft he Order of Teutonic Knights and now is home oft he Ludwig Museum devoted primarily to French art.

A Gothic residential tower called Deutscher Kaiser (German emperor) was built in the 16th century and is one of the few buildings that weren’t destroyed during WW2. The ground floor of the late Gothic vaults now is home to a restaurant.

The Schängelbrunnen (Schängel Fountain) can be found in the court yard of the town hall. It was designed by Carl Burger in 1941 and is dedicated to the local Koblenz poet Josef Cornelius (1849-1943) who wrote the lyrics to the famous Schängel song which is the hymn of Koblenz.  The bronze figure of the fountain spits out water several metres beyond the fountain’s edge at irregular intervals, so take care not to get wet!

St. Castor, Liebfrauenkirche (The Church of Our Beloved Lady) and St. Florian are the three churches of the town that form the skyline of Koblenz. St Castor was made a basilica minor in 1991 by Pope John Paul II.

St. Kastor © flickr/onnola

Those who visit the region of Rhine and Moselle should also try the regional wine. In 1925 the “Weindorf“ (Wine Village) was constructed in Koblenz on the occasion of the noble wine exhibition “German Wine”. In the Wine Village visitors can find timber-framed houses huddled around a square. Of course you do not only get wine but also the typical regional food.

There are also interesting museums in Koblenz such as the Rheinisches Fastnachtsmuseum (Rhineland Carnival Museum), the DB-Museum (Railway Museum), and the Mittelrhein –Museum Koblenz (Central Rhine Museum).

Not only two important rivers flow through Koblenz, it is also surrounded by the 4 low mountain rages Eifel, Hunsrück, Westerwald and Taunus. All 4 of them are great travel destinations for lovers of nature. You can hike and cycle there. And on the rivers you have a choice of different boat tours.

And as Koblenz is located in the centre of Europe it is easy to get there by car, train of plane. None of the surrounding airports is further away than 1 hour.

Rhineland-Palatinate  (RLP)

Germersheim:

Deutsches Straßenmuseum

In this museum you can learn a lot about the history of road construction. www.deutsches-strassemuseum.de

Imsbach:

Bergbau Erlebnis Welt

In the two mines “Grube Maria” and “Weisse Grube” visitors get information on the mining products and their use. www.bergbauerlebniswelt-imsbach.de

Ludwigshafen:

BASF

In the visitor centre of BASF you can experience the world of chemistry and find out why things are the way they are. http://besucherzentrum.basf.de

Mainz:

Gutenberg-Museum

The museum founded in 1900 is one of the oldest printing museums in the world. It presents Johannes Gutenberg’s technical and artistic achievements to the visitors. www.gutenberg-museum.de

Oppenheim am Rhein:

Deutsches Weinbaumuseum

In the winegrowing museum you get information on the winegrowing from mediaeval times up to now. You can see old tractors as well as old wine casks and bottles. Even wine that is more than 300 years old you can see. www.dwb-museum.de

Pirmasens:

Dynamikum

Here you can learn interesting things about nature, technology and movement and even try things yourself. www.dynamikum.de