Must know places of the world

The Must Know Places of the World: Europe: Germany



Bavaria
Heidelberg
Linderhof Castle
Munich
Neuschwanstein Castle
Nuremberg
Berlin
Berlin Wall
Brandburg Gate
Dahlem Museums
Bonn
Koln (Cologne)
Cologne Cathdral

Bavaria


Heidelberg


Heidelberg Castle was originally constructed by Prince Elector Ruprecht III as a residence. Over the years it expanded (columns were brought in from Charlemagne's ruined palace) to become what it is today. It was destroy twice, once during the Thirty Years War and then later destroyed again by French troops. Prince Elector Karl Theodor tried rebuild it, but in the middle of restorations it was hit by lightning. During the proceeding centuries, it was used as a stone quarry: castle stones were used to build surrounding houses. In 1800 that promptly stopped, and since 1934 it has been used as an outdoor theater performances, dinner banquets, and the Heidelberg Castle Festival.

Linderhof Castle


This was King Ludwig's favorite castle. Modeled after the Petit Trianon at
Versailles, it is lavishly decorated in the Renaissance and Baroque styles. Linderhof comes from the Linder family, who owned the farm on which the castle was built.

Munich


One of the largest cities in Germany, totaling over 1.2 million people, Munich is most famous for its yearly Oktoberfest festival, a festival of drinking and dancing. It also is the birthplace of the BMW. The Deutsches Museum is the largest science and technology museum in the world.

Originally the site of a monastery (Munchen is German for "town of the monks") it later became the capital of Bavaria. The cathedral Peterskirche is the oldest one in Munich, having been completed in 1488 with two onion dome towers. Michaelskirche, another old cathedral, contains the burial vault for the Wittesbachs, the Bavarian ruling dynasty. Of other interest is the art museum the Alte Pinakothek, which contains paintings by Rembrant, El Greco, Michelangelo, and countless others.

Neuschwanstein Castle


Castle Neuschwanstein was built by the mad King Ludwig of Bavaria during the late nineteenth century. The master bedroom is so elaborate that it took fourteen wood carvers four and a half years to complete. Unfortunately the king mysteriously died before completion in 1886. Six weeks later the castle was made a museum, which it remains today. The king was found drowned with his doctor. It is thought possible suicide, but more likely he was murdered by northern republicans who found him to be, well, mad.

Nuremberg


Home of the famous Nuremberg Trials. The Nuremberg Trials were the trials of Nazi war criminals.

Berlin


Berlin Wall


The famous Berlin Wall was built in 1961, originally as a line of tanks aiming inwards to East Germany, but was quickly replaced (4 days later to be exact) as a concrete wall. It became the symbol of the Cold War. It fell in 1989, and Germany became united officially the following year.

Brandenburg Gate


Built in 1791 by the German architect Carl Gotthard Langhans, it was originally intended as a monument to peace. A few years later, however, the winged victory goddess and a four-horse chariot were placed on the top, and it became a symbol of Prussian might. It was stolen by Napoleon in 1806, though it was quickly returned. It served as a backdrop to many student rallies until 1961, when the Berlin Wall sealed it off in No Man's Land, the land between the Russian territory and the Allied territory.

Dahlem Museums


The Dahlem Museums hold most of Fredrich the Great's enormous art collection that he amassed during his reign. Also contains an extensive collection of Oriental and Islamic art.

Bonn


One of Bonn's major claims to fame is it is the birthplace of famous composer Ludwig von Beethoven, born in 1770. Home to many large German universities, Bonn is one of the larger cities in Germany. Almost dead center of all the countries in the European Community, which will definitely have good affects in the future.

Koln (Cologne)


Cologne is a French name for the German city of Koln, and much of the world refers to it as such. It dates back to the first century BC when Roman invaders colonized it. It was been rebuilt after World War II when it suffered extensive damage. It is the birthplace of eau de cologne, the real name of cologne.

Cologne Cathedral


The Cologne Cathedral, having been completed in 873, is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. Art inside of it span more than a millenium.