Welcome! Please allow me to introduce myself and the purpose of this blog. My name is Bob Parsons and I have been working for over eighteen years with international students studying in the UK. During this time I have helped many students and answered many questions on a wide range of topics. If you have any tips, comments or advice to help international students or students from your country, please post them to my blog. Your experience, suggestions and advice may help many international students in the future. Best wishes, Bob.
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Tuesday 9 September 2008
Germany - Travelling in Europe.
Germany is worth a trip. There are many different things to see and to discover:
Northern Germany:
The key feature of “Norddeutschland” are the geestland and the marshes along the coastline of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.
The most northern point of Germany is the island Sylt. The island is one of the Frisian Islands and offers cylists, hikers, beach and nature enthusiasts a world of activities in a very relaxed environment. Naturally, you can fly into Sylt on one of the small carriers or on select flights from Lufthansa, but most people take the train over the Hindeburgdamm. You can catch the train in Niebuell and it is a short 30 minutes to the island. http://en.sylt.de/
Germany’s largest island is Rügen. It is located in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Rügen is known for its white chalk cliffs and its fine sandy beaches. Its shape is distinguished by the neighboring islands Hiddensee and Ummanz and also by many smaller peninsulas. Rügen is located in one of the most popular holiday and recreation areas within Germany, comprising such seaside resorts as Binz and Sellin and has more tourists per resident than any other location in Germany. www.m-vp.de/english/
Very special for the german islands is to do a “Wattwanderung” when the tide is out. In guided tours you can examine the seabed and the animals living in it.
The largest cities:
Germany’s capital and largest city is Berlin. It is best known for its historical associations for its lively nightlife, for its many cafes, clubs, and bars, and for its numerous museums, palaces, and other sites of historic interest.
On the following websites you can find cheap hotels, the over 160 museums in Berlin, castles like Schloss Charlottenburg, Schloss and Park Sanssouci and the numerous sights in Berlin like Brandenburgertor, Siegessaule, Reichstag or the Berlin Wall.
www.berlin.de/english/
www.visitberlin.de/index.en.php
Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany. It has architecturally significant buildings in a wide range of styles. The many canals in Hamburg are crossed by over 2500 bridges, more than Amsterdam and Venice combined. Hamburg has more bridges inside its city limits than any other city or town on Earth. The many parks of Hamburg are distributed over the whole city, which makes Hamburg a very green city. Hamburg offers more than 40 theatres, 60 museums and 100 music venues and clubs.
english.hamburg.de/
Dresden, the capital of the State of Saxony in Germany is one of the most ancient cities of the country.
Dresden claims to be one of the greenest cities in Europe, with 63% of the city being green areas and forests. Although Dresden is often said to be a Baroque city, its architecture is influenced by more than one style. The royal buildings are among the most impressive buildings in Dresden.
Sightseeing in Dresden implies a visit to its numerous palaces, ancient monuments, natural wonders as well as the beautiful parks and gardens. Some of the major palaces that are worth taking a look are the Schloss Pillnitz, the Royal Palace, the Dresdner Frauenkirche, Schloss Weesenstein, Schloss Moritzburg and others.
www.dresden.de/dwt/en/index.php
Munich is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. Munich is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. It is the third largest city in Germany. At the centre of the city is the Marienplatz - a large open square named after the Mariensäule, a Marian column in its centre - with the Old and the New Town Hall. Munich’s sight are for instance The Peterskirche close to Marienplatz as the oldest church of the inner city, the Frauenkirche as the most famous building in the city centre and two large baroque palaces in Nymphenburg and Oberschleißheim reminding of Bavaria's royal past.
Munich is a green city with numerous parks. The Englischer Garten, close to the city centre and covering an area of 3.7 km²
www.muenchen.de/home/60093/Homepage.html
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city. It lies on the River Rhine. The city's famous Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. The University of Cologne is one of Europe's oldest universities. Cologne is a major cultural center of the Rhineland and has a vibrant arts scene. It is home to more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries.
Cologne is also well-known for its celebration of Cologne Carnival, the annual reggae summerjam, the largest of its kind in Europe, and the LGBT festival Christopher Street Day (CSD).
www.koeln.de/en/
Further cities and places worth seeing
In Münster you find everything you can wish for during an exciting short stay: A city with plenty of history as well as shopping opportunities and green spaces for cycling, inline skating or golfing. And not least, a unique supply of activities to enjoy art and culture alongside other pleasures.
www.muenster.de/stadt/tourismus/en/
Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany and is still one of the most importany cities in northern Germany. It is a port city, situated along the river Weser.
Many of the sights in Bremen are found in the Altstadt (Old Town). Bremen's Market Square is regarded as one of the most beautiful in Europe.
www.bremen-tourism.de/english/
Tübingen, a traditional university town in Baden-Württemberg. In central Tübingen, the Neckar river divides briefly into two streams. Students and tourists also come to the Neckar river in the summer to visit beer gardens or go boating in Stocherkähne, the Tübingen equivalent to Oxford and Cambridge punts, only slimmer. Tübingen's Altstadt (old town) survived the Second World War, so it is one of the few completely intact historic Altstädte in Germany. houses.
www.tuebingen.de/en/1559.html
Leipzig is the largest city in the federal state of Saxony. The beautiful and compact old centre is full of Renaissance and baroque churches, as well as street markets, one of Europe’s oldest universities and a number of ultra-modern buildings. A combination of World War II bombing and communist semi-neglect during the East German Republic days had all but relegated this city to the history books.
www.leipzig.de/int/en/
The Harz is a mountain range in central Germany. It is the highest mountain chain in northern Germany occupying parts of the German states of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The Brocken is the highest point of the Harz. The effects of Germany's remarkable political change from November 1989 on a once divided region led to the re-united Harz and the opportunity to wander freely. In towns and villages of both East and West Harz one often feels to be stepping back into the Middle Ages. Many have half timbered framed houses (Fachwerkhäuser), with rich decorations of coloured rosettes and other symbols. A romanesque Harz journey begins in the episcopal city of Halberstadt, once the most powerful city in the Harz Mountains. Quedlingburg is well worth a special visit as it is a remarkable place. Once a centre of the German Empire, the town has kept much of its medieval character. It is now an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage listed town. Other very interesting towns are Quedlinburg, Stolberg, Schierke and many more.
http://www.harzinfo.de/pages/historic.html
Heidelberg is a city in Baden-Württemberg. It is no secret that Heidelberg is a jewel among German travel destinations. It is located in the Neckar river valley.
Over the years, Heidelberg has attracted numerous visitors, artists, intellectuals and academics from all over Europe and has sometimes been called a secret intellectual capital of Germany.
http://www.heidelberg.de/servlet/PB/menu/1088101_l2/index.html
Schloss Neuschwanstein is a 19th-century Bavarian palace on a rugged hill near Hohenschwangau and Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as a homage to Richard Wagner, the King's inspiring muse. Although public photography of the interior is not permitted,[1] it is the most photographed building in Germany[2] and is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.
Travelling in Germany by train:
Deutsche Bahn AG (DB AG, DBAG or DB) is the German national railway company.
www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml
Northern Germany:
The key feature of “Norddeutschland” are the geestland and the marshes along the coastline of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.
The most northern point of Germany is the island Sylt. The island is one of the Frisian Islands and offers cylists, hikers, beach and nature enthusiasts a world of activities in a very relaxed environment. Naturally, you can fly into Sylt on one of the small carriers or on select flights from Lufthansa, but most people take the train over the Hindeburgdamm. You can catch the train in Niebuell and it is a short 30 minutes to the island. http://en.sylt.de/
Germany’s largest island is Rügen. It is located in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Rügen is known for its white chalk cliffs and its fine sandy beaches. Its shape is distinguished by the neighboring islands Hiddensee and Ummanz and also by many smaller peninsulas. Rügen is located in one of the most popular holiday and recreation areas within Germany, comprising such seaside resorts as Binz and Sellin and has more tourists per resident than any other location in Germany. www.m-vp.de/english/
Very special for the german islands is to do a “Wattwanderung” when the tide is out. In guided tours you can examine the seabed and the animals living in it.
The largest cities:
Germany’s capital and largest city is Berlin. It is best known for its historical associations for its lively nightlife, for its many cafes, clubs, and bars, and for its numerous museums, palaces, and other sites of historic interest.
On the following websites you can find cheap hotels, the over 160 museums in Berlin, castles like Schloss Charlottenburg, Schloss and Park Sanssouci and the numerous sights in Berlin like Brandenburgertor, Siegessaule, Reichstag or the Berlin Wall.
www.berlin.de/english/
www.visitberlin.de/index.en.php
Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany. It has architecturally significant buildings in a wide range of styles. The many canals in Hamburg are crossed by over 2500 bridges, more than Amsterdam and Venice combined. Hamburg has more bridges inside its city limits than any other city or town on Earth. The many parks of Hamburg are distributed over the whole city, which makes Hamburg a very green city. Hamburg offers more than 40 theatres, 60 museums and 100 music venues and clubs.
english.hamburg.de/
Dresden, the capital of the State of Saxony in Germany is one of the most ancient cities of the country.
Dresden claims to be one of the greenest cities in Europe, with 63% of the city being green areas and forests. Although Dresden is often said to be a Baroque city, its architecture is influenced by more than one style. The royal buildings are among the most impressive buildings in Dresden.
Sightseeing in Dresden implies a visit to its numerous palaces, ancient monuments, natural wonders as well as the beautiful parks and gardens. Some of the major palaces that are worth taking a look are the Schloss Pillnitz, the Royal Palace, the Dresdner Frauenkirche, Schloss Weesenstein, Schloss Moritzburg and others.
www.dresden.de/dwt/en/index.php
Munich is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. Munich is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. It is the third largest city in Germany. At the centre of the city is the Marienplatz - a large open square named after the Mariensäule, a Marian column in its centre - with the Old and the New Town Hall. Munich’s sight are for instance The Peterskirche close to Marienplatz as the oldest church of the inner city, the Frauenkirche as the most famous building in the city centre and two large baroque palaces in Nymphenburg and Oberschleißheim reminding of Bavaria's royal past.
Munich is a green city with numerous parks. The Englischer Garten, close to the city centre and covering an area of 3.7 km²
www.muenchen.de/home/60093/Homepage.html
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city. It lies on the River Rhine. The city's famous Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. The University of Cologne is one of Europe's oldest universities. Cologne is a major cultural center of the Rhineland and has a vibrant arts scene. It is home to more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries.
Cologne is also well-known for its celebration of Cologne Carnival, the annual reggae summerjam, the largest of its kind in Europe, and the LGBT festival Christopher Street Day (CSD).
www.koeln.de/en/
Further cities and places worth seeing
In Münster you find everything you can wish for during an exciting short stay: A city with plenty of history as well as shopping opportunities and green spaces for cycling, inline skating or golfing. And not least, a unique supply of activities to enjoy art and culture alongside other pleasures.
www.muenster.de/stadt/tourismus/en/
Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany and is still one of the most importany cities in northern Germany. It is a port city, situated along the river Weser.
Many of the sights in Bremen are found in the Altstadt (Old Town). Bremen's Market Square is regarded as one of the most beautiful in Europe.
www.bremen-tourism.de/english/
Tübingen, a traditional university town in Baden-Württemberg. In central Tübingen, the Neckar river divides briefly into two streams. Students and tourists also come to the Neckar river in the summer to visit beer gardens or go boating in Stocherkähne, the Tübingen equivalent to Oxford and Cambridge punts, only slimmer. Tübingen's Altstadt (old town) survived the Second World War, so it is one of the few completely intact historic Altstädte in Germany. houses.
www.tuebingen.de/en/1559.html
Leipzig is the largest city in the federal state of Saxony. The beautiful and compact old centre is full of Renaissance and baroque churches, as well as street markets, one of Europe’s oldest universities and a number of ultra-modern buildings. A combination of World War II bombing and communist semi-neglect during the East German Republic days had all but relegated this city to the history books.
www.leipzig.de/int/en/
The Harz is a mountain range in central Germany. It is the highest mountain chain in northern Germany occupying parts of the German states of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The Brocken is the highest point of the Harz. The effects of Germany's remarkable political change from November 1989 on a once divided region led to the re-united Harz and the opportunity to wander freely. In towns and villages of both East and West Harz one often feels to be stepping back into the Middle Ages. Many have half timbered framed houses (Fachwerkhäuser), with rich decorations of coloured rosettes and other symbols. A romanesque Harz journey begins in the episcopal city of Halberstadt, once the most powerful city in the Harz Mountains. Quedlingburg is well worth a special visit as it is a remarkable place. Once a centre of the German Empire, the town has kept much of its medieval character. It is now an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage listed town. Other very interesting towns are Quedlinburg, Stolberg, Schierke and many more.
http://www.harzinfo.de/pages/historic.html
Heidelberg is a city in Baden-Württemberg. It is no secret that Heidelberg is a jewel among German travel destinations. It is located in the Neckar river valley.
Over the years, Heidelberg has attracted numerous visitors, artists, intellectuals and academics from all over Europe and has sometimes been called a secret intellectual capital of Germany.
http://www.heidelberg.de/servlet/PB/menu/1088101_l2/index.html
Schloss Neuschwanstein is a 19th-century Bavarian palace on a rugged hill near Hohenschwangau and Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as a homage to Richard Wagner, the King's inspiring muse. Although public photography of the interior is not permitted,[1] it is the most photographed building in Germany[2] and is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.
Travelling in Germany by train:
Deutsche Bahn AG (DB AG, DBAG or DB) is the German national railway company.
www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml
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