German cities and their attractions. The main attractions of Germany: list, photos and descriptions. Munich is the capital of Bavaria

The catalog presents both popular and little-known attractions of Germany with photos and descriptions, addresses and telephone numbers, and location on the map. In the article below you will find information about what is worth seeing in Germany first: architectural monuments, historically and culturally significant places, museums, galleries, theaters, parks and zoos, fountains, family entertainment centers.

There are a lot of interesting places in Germany: foreigners are interested not only in excursion routes, but also in ski resorts, amusement parks known throughout Europe, traditional beer gardens and, of course, they come to relax at Oktoberfest - the legendary and most popular German festival, eclipsing most in popularity attractions.

Recognizable symbols of the country are the sights of Berlin: the grandiose Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag building with a glass dome, the Berlin Wall, the Globe fountain, the German Opera, the city Cathedral - the largest Protestant church in Germany, and the Berlin Zoo - the largest in the world in terms of the number of residents. no animals. The city has many parks, galleries, beautiful castles and palaces, theaters, museums with various exhibitions, and there is even a Museum Island.

There are oases of nature in every major city - these are amazingly clean and almost ideal city parks, where citizens enjoy spending time and tourists relax after excursions. Large national parks - the unique Bavarian Forest, the high-mountain Berchtesgaden, the Saxon Switzerland nature reserve with a very unusual landscape.

Picturesque scenery can be found around Lake Alster in Hamburg, where sporting events are held. This is where the Millionaire Coast grew up, and an unusual and eerie sculpture peeks out of the water - a giant bather.

What to see in Germany. List of attractions

The main attractions of Germany: palaces and castles

Medieval castles and luxurious palaces are a true treasure of Germany, one of the main reasons for the inexhaustible flow of tourists visiting the country every year. It is hardly possible to talk in detail about all German castles, so we will focus on the most famous ones.

The romantic castle of King Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein, is located near the town of Füssen. This is one of the most popular attractions in the south of the country. It is believed that the fairy-tale appearance of Neuschwanstein inspired the creators of the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Paris. The interior decoration is even more impressive, especially the throne room.

In the western part of Munich there is one of the largest palace complexes in Europe - Nymphenburg. For a long time it was used to receive important guests, so already on the eve of the trip you can guess about the splendor of its interiors. The botanical garden and park at the palace complex are a great place for a walk.

Charlottenburg is the largest palace in Berlin. The museum complex is the palace itself and its interiors; located on the territory of the mausoleum of the royal family and the belvedere, where the porcelain museum now operates.

Zwinger Palace is a luxurious architectural structure in the Saxon Baroque style in Dresden. Today, the complex of palace buildings houses museums.

In the castles of Friedrichsfeld, Mespelbrunn, and Ephraim Palace there are also exhibition halls where excursions are regularly held.

Sights of German cities

Germany is not only Berlin, and independent tourists rarely limit themselves to just visiting the capital. Famous German attractions are scattered across several dozen cities, each of which has beautiful cathedrals, historical districts and interesting museums.

The second largest city in the country is Hamburg. Modern buildings here are organically combined with carefully protected architectural landmarks of the Middle Ages and later centuries. The city has many museums, green parks, and bridges. The central attraction is Hamburg City Hall, and the spiritual symbol of the city is St. Michael's Church, with its 132-meter tower offering magnificent views of the city and the Elbe River. Traditionally popular places for families with children are Hagenbeck Zoo, Planetarium, Miniature Wonderland, Falkenstein Doll Museum, Zoological Museum Hamburg. Reeperbahn street is the center of nightlife, the area of musicals and variety shows.

It's worth staying a few days in the capital of Bavaria for German attractions and local cuisine. The main square of the city is Marienplatz with the reconstructed Old Town Hall, where the toy museum is now located, and the New Town Hall with an observation deck. The most interesting places are Hellabrunn Zoo, BMW Museum, Bavarian Opera and National Theater, Munich Residence of Kings and Dukes, Frauenkirche Cathedral, St. Cajetan's Cathedral, Deutsche Museum, Pinakothek.

In fabulously cozy Bremen, of course, there was a place for the sculpture “The Bremen Town Musicians”. It is here that the most anticipated sights of Germany are located - medieval quarters and streets, which are especially pleasant to walk along: walk past

Germany is a country in Central Europe that attracts many tourists. Travelers get the opportunity to enjoy ancient architecture, special cultural potential, truly beautiful castles and museums.

The excursion program always turns out to be truly eventful. In addition, in summer you can enjoy national parks and beautiful nature, in winter - Christmas markets and a magical atmosphere. It is not surprising that tourists often prefer Germany, trying to combine acquaintance with culture and local attractions.

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

The Brandenburg Gate is one of the most famous landmarks not only in Berlin, but throughout Germany.

The gate was built back in 1791, taking into account the best principles of classicism. Despite the fact that the Brandenburg Gate was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War, it was restored in 1956. Nowadays, the landmark, which has symbolism and worthy historical potential, fits perfectly into the architectural appearance of Berlin.

Location: Pariser Platz.

Reichstag, Berlin

The Reichstag is a state assembly building that is considered one of the most important in all of Germany. This building is also considered one of the most significant landmarks in the country.

The Reichstag was built in 1894. At the same time, the architects were able to successfully implement the Italian Revival style, which makes a special impression.

It is important to note that the building hosted meetings of Reichstag organizations, which had a serious influence on the entire history of the country. In addition, the building has housed the Bundestag since 1999. At the same time, successful renovations, beautiful architectural design and a glass dome contributed to the building becoming an important tourist attraction.

If desired, travelers can climb to the very top of the dome, from where a wonderful panorama of Berlin opens.

Location: Platz der Republik - 1.

The zoo in Berlin is one of the largest in the world. Thousands of animals and birds are represented here. In addition, the zoo is home to amphibians, reptiles, insects, fish, and invertebrates.

The history of the zoo began back in 1844. Subsequently, it was possible to collect animals from almost all over the world, so in the Berlin Zoo you can see elephants, ostriches, antelopes, and flamingos. Over the century, the animal population increased, but during World War II, almost the entire zoo was destroyed and only dozens of animals survived. It took serious efforts to restore the zoo.

Nowadays, the Berlin Zoo is popular with tourists from around the world.

Location: Hardenbergplatz - 8.

Neuschwanstein is a truly fabulous castle in Germany, which is located in the forests of the Bavarian Alps. This castle complex attracts many travelers. In addition, Neuschwanstein served as the prototype for the castle of Sleeping Beauty, who is one of the most famous heroines of Disneyland.

The impressive size of Neuschwanstein Castle surprises many tourists. In addition, it seems that the towers, made in a truly beautiful ivory color, are floating against a background of fir trees.

The interior is an unusual mixture of different architectural and artistic styles, Moorish, Baroque and Gothic elements. Tourists can see the throne room in a decadent-Byzantine spirit, a singing hall with beautiful lighting, and a royal bedroom in the Gothic style. The truly beautiful interiors of the castle deserve special attention from tourists.

Neuschwanstein is one of the most worthy attractions in Germany.

Location: Neuschwansteinstraße - 20.

Semperoper, Dresden

The Semperoper Dresden is one of the oldest opera houses in all of Germany. The starting point for the beginning of theatrical life and the holding of regular performances is considered to be the 17th century.

The theater building was destroyed during the bombing of 1945. The restoration of the opera began only three decades later. It took ten years to carry out large-scale restoration work.

The Semperoper reopened in 1985. Now the opera is one of the best, but performances are performed only in German.

Location: Theaterplatz - 2.

Frauen Kirche, Dresden

Frauen Kirche is an Evangelical Lutheran church. The temple building surprises with its worthy architectural design, reflecting the best principles of Baroque. The current church began its history after construction, which took place between 1726 and 1743.

During World War II, the church was destroyed. However, the idea of restoring the temple appeared only in 1989, and the implementation of the project started only 5 years later. In 2005, the cathedral was reopened.

Palace Church, Dresden

The Palace Church in Dresden was built in 1755. The building was almost completely destroyed in 1945 during military operations, but, fortunately, restoration work began immediately after the end of the war. Until 1971, restoration of the organ, sculptures and other interior items was carried out. In 1980, the church was recognized as a cathedral.

The palace church surprises with its worthy implementation of the Baroque style. The beauty of the building's architecture is emphasized by dozens of statues. The appearance may seem gloomy, but inside the church is full of light. The cathedral houses a unique Saxon organ, created in 1750 - 1754.

The Palace Church deserves the attention of many travelers.

Location: Schloßstraße - 24.

This cathedral is one of the most worthy symbols of Cologne. The religious site is officially included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It should be noted that Cologne Cathedral, which was consecrated in honor of Saints Peter and Mary, is one of the largest in the whole world.

Construction of the ancient cathedral began in the 13th century, but construction activities dragged on for many centuries. It was only in the 19th century that construction was completed.

Cologne Cathedral surprises with its unique architectural style, large size, and colorful stained glass windows.

Location: Domkloster - 4.

Holy Spirit Hospital, Nuremberg

The Holy Spirit Hospital in Nuremberg is one of the most famous landmarks not only in Nuremberg, but also in Germany. This hospital was opened in 1332, thanks to which it managed to become one of the oldest health resorts in all of Europe.

The main architectural attraction of the hospital is the courtyard, which is surrounded by unusual “wings” of an ancient building. It should be noted that one “wing” is located directly above the water, thanks to which the arches descend directly into the river and create a special visual effect. If you walk to the courtyard, you can see a wooden gallery, which has still retained its medieval appearance.

Today, the hospital building is used as a nursing home. In addition, the building houses a cozy restaurant, popular among tourists.

On the small island of Herrenchiemsee there is a castle complex of the same name, which served as the residence of the Bavarian king Ludwig II. The majestic castle is surrounded by picturesque nature, the beauty of which is revealed by the Alps. You can guess that the residence is located at a distance from the main German cities, but King Ludwig always sought solitude and relaxation from noisy civilization.

Linderhof is the smallest castle, which was built by Ludwig II in 1886. This castle was used as a refuge.

The building is decorated inside and outside with mosaics, frescoes and sculptures related to German mythology. At the same time, inside the castle surprises with its statues, vases, porcelain decorations, ivory chandeliers, and fireplaces. It should be noted that the interior is based on Rococo and Baroque.

Tourists can now visit the following castle premises:

Tapestry halls.
Dining room.
Bedroom.
Reception.

Next to the small castle there is a beautiful park complex, which is decorated with a Moorish pavilion and the Grotto of Venus.

Beer Hall Hofbräuhaus, Munich

Many tourists associate the German city of Munich with beer. It is not surprising that the ancient Hofbräuhaus, which was founded in the 16th century as the court brewery of the Dukes of Bavaria, is located in Munich. Over time, ordinary citizens could also enjoy beer.

In the 19th century, it was possible to register the beer brand “Hofbräu”, which eliminates any counterfeits. At the same time, the old brewery building was replaced by a new restaurant, which included several premises. Evenings with Bavarian music and traditional dancing are still held here. Every tourist needs to visit the Hofbräuhaus beer garden.

Location: Platzl - 9.

Wall "Procession of Kings", Dresden

The "Procession of the Kings" in Dresden is a large panel on the wall of the royal court. The panel is created from real Meissen porcelain. To this day, the wall has been preserved almost in its original form. On the panel you can see representatives of the Wettin dynasty, as well as the last king, Frederick Augustus III.

The panel also depicts other people: scientists, artists, students, soldiers, a little girl. The panel depicts 94 people. It should be noted that to create a 102-meter wall it took about 25,000 tiles.

Location: Georg-Treu-Platz - 1.

Zwinger, Dresden

The Zwinger is an important complex in Dresden, consisting of four buildings. At the same time, the following cultural institutions are located in the buildings:

Dresden Art Gallery
Museums of porcelain, sculpture, mineralogy and geology
Physics and mathematics salon

The first building was built in 1709, and it was harmoniously located between the fortress walls. It was this fact that determined the appearance of the corresponding name of the architectural complex. These days the Zwinger attracts a large number of tourists.

Ettal is a Benedictine monastery located right in the Alpine mountains. The monastery, dedicated to the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was created in the 14th century with the participation of Ludwig IV.

Previously, the monastery complex consisted of male and female monasteries, the home of the Teutonic knights. However, subsequently the monastery premises fell into disrepair. In addition, in the 18th century the monastery was damaged by fire, and the complex was rebuilt in the Baroque style. Then the monastery was closed and reopened several times.

Currently, the monastery complex houses a brewery and distillery, a bookstore, a hotel, a cheese factory and small companies.

Location: Kaiser-Ludwig-Platz - 1.

Heide Park is one of the most famous amusement parks in Germany, located 70 km from Hamburg.

The park has four dozen attractions located around the lake. There is also a cozy but expensive restaurant on the lake shore.

So what is there to do in Heide Park? Visitors can enjoy swings, carousels, roller coasters, an ancient mine, a time machine, and a Formula 1 track. If you wish, you can watch a bird theater show, a program with the participation of alligators, dolphins, sea lions, and parrots. An interesting and unforgettable pastime is guaranteed.

Location: Heide Park - 1.

The ancient Eltz Castle is located in the forest near the city of Koblenz. This castle has managed to survive to this day in truly beautiful condition, thanks to which it attracts many travelers.

The castle-fortress was built in the 12th century. After 5 centuries, most of the castles that were located in the Rhine Valley were destroyed. Fortunately, Eltz Castle has been preserved in decent condition. Today the castle is still owned by the Eltz family. The castle is open to tourists.

Lorelei is a rocky cliff located on the right bank of the Rhine. This place is surrounded by numerous legends and still surprises travelers. Lorelei served as the basis for the works of Derzhavin, Pushkin, Lermontov, Blok and, of course, many German poets. A walk along the rocky cliff will be pleasant and absolutely safe. Organizing regular excursions helps to make Germany's nature more accessible to many tourists.

Germany is a truly attractive country, a trip to which will be unforgettable.

The charming German city of Siegen is located in the middle of green valleys, which are surrounded by mountains and covered with forests. Apparently, this is why it is considered the greenest city in Germany. The symbol of the city is the gilded crown crowning the spire of the Church of St. Nicholas, which was given to the city by Prince Johann Moritz of Nassau-Siegen in 1652 in honor of his accession to the throne.

Geographical location of Siegen.

The city of Siegen (German: Siegen) is located in western Germany, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (German: Nordrhein-Westfalen). Valleys adjoin the basin of the upper reaches of the Ziga River, in which the city is located. Eight mountains are located in the central region of Siegen: the highest mountain is Lindenberg, it reaches a height of 373 meters, a little lower Mount Fischbacherberg - 371 meters, further in height are the mountains Heusling - 364 meters, Giersberg - 358 meters, Wellersberg - 346 meters, Rosterberg - 326 meters, Heidenberg - 315 meters and Siegberg - 307 meters. On the southern side of Siegen, the city's territory also includes other mountains, such as the Pfanneberg, whose peak reaches 499 meters and is the highest point in the city.

Climate of Siegen.

The climate of Siegen, like throughout Germany, is moderate. The air temperature in winter reaches 0 °C; July is considered the warmest month (+17 °C). Since Siegen is located on a hill, there is a lot of rainfall here on average per year.

History of Siegen.

The city got its name from the Sieg River, which in turn most likely comes from the Celtic siek - swampy, swampy. The first mention of this region dates back to 1079; mining flourished here, as evidenced by numerous mines.

The next mention of the city appears in 1224, which states that the Archbishop of Cologne, Engelbert I, appointed Count Henry the Rich of Nassau as co-owner. Siegen came completely into the possession of the Nassau dynasty only on February 1, 1381.

The fortress and defensive structures were built in the 16th century. Count Wilhelm the Rich in 1536 established a pedagogium, from which the Siegen Gymnasium later arose. His son Johann the Middle founded a knightly military school, located in the preserved building of the old arsenal. He also built the Lower Castle on the site of an old Franciscan monastery. The main source of wealth for many times was mining and agriculture, which developed excellently.

The city suffered several times from large fires, earthquakes, floods, and numerous sieges. Siegen was often the site of religious conflicts. During the Great Patriotic War, the city suffered greatly from air bombing, the purpose of which was to destroy important transport routes, underground communications, bunkers and production facilities. Siegen was 90% destroyed.

Siegen became part of the District in 1815, becoming part of the Administrative District of Koblenz. In 1817 the city became part of the Arnsberg Administrative District. Siegen received self-government in 1923, and in 1975 the city and 10 communities were united into the new district of Siegen-Wittgentstein.

Sights in Siegen.

Towering over the city, the Upper Castle (German: Oberes Schloss) lies majestically on a hill. It was first mentioned in the mid-13th century. In the Middle Ages, the castle was the family seat of the Nassau dynasty. In 1905, the Siegerland Museum (German: Siegerlandmuseum) opened here, which houses paintings by Rubens, exhibits on the history of the city, mining, economics, mining of minerals and iron, as well as the history of the creation of mines.

There is also a Lower Castle (German: Unteres Schloss), which arose in the 17th century, at that time it was the seat of the evangelical line of the ancient house of Nassau. A thick tower with chimes, a family crypt, a monument to the victims of war and tyranny, as well as a huge palace square, where city holidays and concerts are still held. Currently, the Lower Castle is the site of land administrative institutions.

A unique church in the city is the Church of St. Nicholas (German Nikolaikirche), standing on a hexagonal base (the only example on this side of the Alps). Not far from the Lower Castle is the Martinikirche Church (German: Marienkirche). The Church of Christ on Mount Giersberg (built 1950-1960) stands on a pentagonal base and is built of unlined concrete. The tower, made in the form of high steles, forms an acute angle. In addition to these churches, the city has many church communities and churches of various denominations.

In addition to the Siegerland Museum, the city has many more interesting museums. For example, the smallest Beatles Museum (Beatles-Museum), which is dedicated to musicians from Liverpool and contains autographs, sound recordings, souvenirs and posters. The former car repair plant of the locomotive depot houses the South Westphalian Railway Museum, which includes photo exhibitions, model railways, dozens of locomotives, passenger cars and freight cars.

The Museum of Contemporary Art is dedicated to photography, painting, video and installation. Here you can see works by the artists Hilla and Bernd Becher, as well as the permanent exhibition of the Labrecht-Schadeberg collection, which represents the work of all international artists who have been awarded the Rubens Prize.

The underground adits can be visited in the mining museum called "Reinhold Forster Adits". An active museum of South Westphalia, it tells about the regional history (of the local Jewish population) and at the same time is a monument to the victims of National Socialism (there was a synagogue on this site, which was burned in 1938).

At the foot of Mount Ziegenberg there is a special gas storage facility - the Gasholder, which today is considered a monument to the heyday of the industrial era. It is one of only three ball-shaped tanks in the world with a riveted body.

Excursions from Siegen.

The city of Siegen offers a variety of excursions that include sightseeing and museum visits. You can also buy a tour to nearby cities: Hagen, Frankfurt am Main, Koblenz and Cologne.

Places for entertainment and shopping in Siegen.

Many different holidays and festivals are held in Siegen. The most popular and oldest city event is the Johannimarkt, a fair that has been taking place here for over 400 years. In July of every odd-numbered year, fans of the work of the great artist Peter Rubens gather, the so-called Rubenfest. In August, gay fans come to Siegen for Christopher Street Day, a gay parade that has been held here since 2000.

At the Apollo Theater, the first theater that opened in 2007, you can watch interesting theatrical performances, musical and pop performances. Larger events take place in Siegenlandhalle and Bismarckhalle. Open-air concerts are held in the Lower Castle.

Conclusion.

One of the most beautiful cities in Germany, surrounded by mountains, is located near Cologne, on the Sieg River. More than half of Siegen's territory is occupied by green spaces, and from the top of its hills there is an excellent panorama of the Rhine. Legends tell of a fabulous creature who lives mainly in the forests of Siegen and his name is “Dildapp”. When cartoonist Mathis Kringe dedicated a calendar to him in the 1980s, the word "dildapp" took on a new meaning: a clumsy but cute person. Moreover, this was the name given to residents of the neighboring city of Dillenburg who worked in Siegen in 1960-1980.

Tourism and travel are exactly what the expression “It’s better to see once than to hear a hundred times” applies to the greatest extent. Educational trips to other countries not only broaden one’s horizons, but also help to destroy some erroneous judgments and stereotypes.

Thank you very much for the travel stories sent to me by e-mail: [email protected]. Today Alexey Batuev will talk about Germany.

My wife Vera and I’s last two trips were marked by getting rid of stereotypes. I wrote a report about the first of them, “Knightly Rhodes”. You are reading the report on the second now. I called him

German sketches

Prologue. To Germany on the wings of a dream

The dream of visiting Germany began with us quite a long time ago. Its implementation was hampered by several reasons. Firstly, there is some fear of independent travel. Secondly, there is a misconception that such a trip for us, people with fairly modest financial resources, can be very expensive. And finally, thirdly, I was embarrassed by the difficulty of obtaining a German visa. The first reason was eliminated after two years ago in Prague, without outside help, we successfully completed the entire excursion program we had planned. The second reason disappeared after a meticulous study of prices on hotel and air ticket booking sites. It turned out that when booking in advance (at least 3-4 months before the trip), the prices are not at all high. The third reason was helped to eliminate by the Greeks, who last fall issued us six-month Schengen visas for a trip to Rhodes.

Since our visas were valid until March 28, 2014, when we returned from Greece in October, we immediately began planning a trip to Germany. Initially, it was decided to go to Munich, but then the plans were adjusted. The fact is that our good friends living in Germany, having learned about our plans, invited us to visit them, taking upon themselves all the worries about our accommodation, food and organizing the excursion program. Thus, the vector of our journey shifted from Bavaria to North Rhine-Westphalia, i.e. from south to northwest Germany. I’ll say in advance, we didn’t regret it at all.

In mid-December, we bought Lufthansa airline tickets via the Internet for the Moscow-Dusseldorf-Moscow route with very convenient round-trip flight times.

We flew there on March 4 at 5:50 p.m., arriving in Dusseldorf at 6:10 p.m. (this was very convenient for our friends who met us at the airport). The return flight was on March 14 at 10:50 with arrival in Moscow at 17:00.

Round-trip tickets cost 12 thousand rubles for two. For the same price we could get tickets from Transaero on the Perm-Moscow-Perm route, but we were afraid that due to a possible flight delay we might miss the plane to Dusseldorf. Therefore, we went from Perm to Moscow and back by train. Train tickets cost us 7 thousand rubles for two (round trip). In total, our travel expenses, including other minor transportation expenses, amounted to 20 thousand rubles for two. If the process of making major decisions had not been delayed, in November air tickets could have been bought 1.5 thousand rubles cheaper. Considering that accommodation did not cost us anything, the budget for our trip turned out to be more than modest.

The only thing that worried us before the start was the thought that we might have problems at passport control in Dusseldorf due to the fact that we had neither a hotel reservation nor an invitation. We only had with us the address and telephone numbers of the receiving party, i.e. our friends. Fortunately, the German border guards did not have any questions for us.

During 9 full days of stay in Germany (I don’t count the day of arrival and day of departure), we got acquainted with the cities of Siegen and Kreuztal (we lived there) and their picturesque surroundings, visited the very cute resort town of Bad Berleburg, went to Cologne, Koblenz, Bonn and Marburg and, during a two-day bus excursion, admired the capitals of the Benelux - Luxembourg, Brussels and Amsterdam, impressions of which I may describe in a separate report. However, first things first.

Part I. Siegerland

Our hospitable friends, Tatyana and Erich, live in the small quiet town of Kreuztal, about 70 kilometers east of Cologne. Kreuztal is a typical German outback.

Residential buildings, as can be seen in the photo, are small and low, no higher than three floors. The number of apartments in the buildings is also not large. For each apartment in the house there must be a garage and a large utility room, in other words, a storage room. Needless to say, the entrances to the houses and the streets are very clean. And in this small town there are these little cute cars.

There are no large enterprises or historical sites in Kreuztal. True, not far from our friends’ house there is an entrance to one of the old abandoned mines.

Mining trolleys stand nearby.

This suggests that for a long time, starting from the early Middle Ages, the most common profession in these parts was that of a miner.

Next to Kreuztal is the administrative center of the region - the city of Siegen, with which Kreuztal has actually merged into one urban agglomeration. On one of the streets of Siegen (or Kreuztal?) there is a traffic light, and local residents know that everything that is located on one side of the traffic light is called Siegen, and everything that is on the other side is Kreuztal. And vice versa, depending on which side you look at.

Siegen, unlike Kreuztal, is a fairly large (just over 100 thousand inhabitants) industrial city with enterprises predominantly in the metallurgical sector, as well as a cultural and educational center. The city has a university, a theater, and several museums. There are quite a lot of churches, with a variety of architectural styles. Artists from all over the world perform in the large concert hall “Siegerlandhalle”, including guest performers from Russia. Officially, the district of which Siegen is the center is called Siegen-Wittgenstein. Local residents call their region Siegerland.

Now let’s digress a little and talk in more detail about what I briefly mentioned at the beginning of my story - about the destruction of stereotypes.

If, by the will of fate, I had ended up not in Siegerland, but in some other region, I might have lived the rest of my life in captivity of my erroneous ideas about Germany. Before the trip, my brain, working in a straightforward manner and using standard general information from the fields of geography, politics, sociology, etc. etc., built approximately the following logical chain: 1. In Germany, with the exception of the south, where the Bavarian Alps are located, there are no large mountain ranges. This means that the landscape there is mostly flat. 2. In Germany, the Green Party has a very large influence, and a significant part of the population is concerned about protecting nature. This means that wildlife there is rapidly declining and needs urgent protection. 3. Germany has a high population density and, moreover, the population is growing due to legal and illegal migrants. This means that Germany is a highly urbanized country; the city is encroaching on the countryside and absorbing more and more of the land remaining free from development. The conclusion suggests itself: Germany is a predominantly flat, urbanized country, and wildlife in it is very uncomfortable.

But no! The epigraph to this part of the report could be the words from Vladimir Vysotsky’s song: “No, guys, it’s not like that. Everything is wrong, guys!

The basis of the Siegerland landscape is made up of many high hills, or, if you prefer, low mountains 300-400 meters high with narrow intermountain valleys. Here is a very typical photo.

The city of Kreuztal is located in two intersecting valleys, hence its name (“kreuz” - cross, “tal” - valley). On the roads passing through Siegerland and its neighboring areas, there are quite a few bridges (“talbrücke”), along which the autobahns fly from hill to hill. The hills are usually covered with forest, and the population lives in the valleys. Here is a photo that, as it seems at first glance, depicts the outskirts of the city.

But in fact, the city simply goes around this hill and continues into the next valley. There are a lot of forests in Siegerland. No matter which way you go, forests stretch along the roads. Moreover, mainly coniferous. Everything is like here in the Urals.

There are just no birch groves. Deciduous trees here are mainly of other species. I saw one birch tree, and it was not in the forest, but in the very center of the city of Koblenz. There is another significant difference between German forests and ours. When in Germany you look at the forest from afar, it seems like the same taiga as ours.

You drive closer, but no. As they say, Fedot, but not the same one. Our Russian nature is wild, the forest grows by God's will and reproduces by self-sowing. The German forest, for the most part, is man-made. All the trees stand in even, orderly rows because they were planted by man. No stumps, no snags, no dead wood, no dead wood. It happens that some plots are being cut down. But after this, the owner of the plot is obliged to clear it and plant it with new trees. There are, of course, areas where the life of the forest follows the laws of nature, but the main massif is still monitored and protected. The Green Party is not asleep!

“Greens” also pay great attention to the use of alternative, environmentally friendly types of energy – wind and solar energy. Everywhere you look you can see numerous wind turbines.

and solar panels.

Currently in Germany, electricity generated by wind and solar accounts for a fairly significant share of the total.

From all of the above it follows: Germany is a country with a very diverse nature and landscape, no one offends nature here, and there is plenty of land free from urban development, which is confirmed by low-rise residential buildings in small and medium-sized cities.

So, we dealt with the stereotypes, leaving no stone unturned. Now let's talk about the main city of Siegerland.

The city of Siegen stands on the Sieg River, which is where its name comes from. "Sieg" translated from German into Russian means "victory". Alternatively, the name of the river arose after someone ever won some significant victory on its banks. Scientists, however, do not agree with this and believe that the name comes from a Celtic word meaning “swampy, swampy.” And in fact, before the ancient Germans came to these parts, the center of Europe was inhabited by Celtic tribes, and in those ancient times there were more than enough swamps in Europe.

Siegen has an ancient rich history. In the most studied historical era, the city was the center of the independent Principality of Nassau-Siegen. As the name of the principality suggests, it was ruled by one of the branches of the ancient princely family of Nassau. The most famous representative of this glorious family was Prince William of Orange, the recognized leader of the Dutch revolution of the 16th century. The Counts of Nassau were very successful in breeding and multiplying, almost in the same way as the Rurikovichs in Rus'. Numerous lines and branches of this family had possessions in many European countries, and, above all, of course, in Germany. One representative of the dynasty was lucky enough to become the Holy Roman Emperor of the German nation, the second - the King of Great Britain. Currently, representatives of this princely house occupy the thrones in the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Little has been preserved of Siegen's historical heritage, since during the Second World War the city was 80 percent destroyed by Allied air raids. Siegen in particular and Westphalia in general were bombed with particular ferocity, since Westphalia was then, as indeed is now, the majority of Germany's economic potential. This federal state is home to one of the largest coal basins in Europe, the Ruhr coal basin, and the famous Krupp factories. Westphalia is for Germany what the Urals is for Russia - the stronghold of the state. Many enterprises were hidden in the forests during the war. In cities, people fled to bomb shelters. Bomb shelters, in turn, were camouflaged with structures like this.

They were built entirely from concrete and were stylized as residential buildings. Directly below them were bomb shelters. The authors of this project hoped that the enemy, who was targeting industrial and military facilities, would not bomb residential buildings and that the people hiding under them in bomb shelters would survive. Several similar buildings have survived in Siegen.

Despite the horrific consequences of the bombing, there is still something left in the city for lovers of antiquities. These are two castles – Upper and Lower. We were not in the Lower Castle. Various local administration services are now located on its territory. At one time there was also a local prison there. The Upper Castle houses the Siegerland Museum. That's where we headed.

On the way to the Upper Castle on Marktplatz square, we examined two more sights of the city. The first is the Church of St. Nicholas.

The church is architecturally remarkable. It is the only church north of the Alps that has a hexagonal base. It also has a gilded crown with a diameter of about 2.5 meters installed on its spire. Because of this, Siegen is sometimes called the "crown city".

The second attraction is a more than century-old tree, planted in 1898 by one of the great men of Germany - Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who, together with Kaiser Wilhelm I, united Germany into a single state.

There is a memorial sign at the base of the tree.

From Marktplatz it is very close to the Upper Castle.

On the ground floor of the castle and on its underground level there is an exhibition that tells about what the local population has been doing for a long time. And it was mainly engaged in mining, production of steel and products made from it. Going down to the underground level, you can examine the branched mine adits with rails for trolleys laid in them. There are no photographs of internal museum exhibitions, since photography is prohibited in the museum.

There is an art gallery on the upper floors of the castle. Mainly portraits of representatives of the princely house of Nassau are exhibited there. There are also portraits of the most famous from Nassau - William the Silent, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg, Prince of Orange. It's all the same person. As they said in one of the most famous Soviet films: “Georgy Ivanovich, aka Gosha, aka Goga, aka Mountain...” and so on and so forth. In a word, “Der Grosser König und Grand Knese.”

In addition to princely portraits, the exhibition includes works by one of the most famous Flemish artists - Peter Paul Rubens. I’ll tell you a little later how Rubens’ name is connected with Siegen. In addition to paintings, in the museum you can see household items of the former owners of the castle. After visiting the museum, from the observation decks located next to the castle, you can admire the panorama of the city.

From here you can see another famous church of Siegen - the Church of St. Michael.

There is a small park next to the castle.

In the park, among other interesting objects, there is this sculpture.

Conventionally, it can be called “Three Mothers of One Child.” The sculpture symbolizes the dispute between three cities - Siegen, Cologne and Antwerp - about the birthplace of the artist Peter Paul Rubens. This dispute continued until, at the beginning of the twentieth century, a document was found in one of the Dutch archives that clearly indicated that Rubens was born in Siegen. The story leading up to his birth is very interesting.

Rubens' father was one of the most respected citizens of the Flemish city of Antwerp and was repeatedly elected to the city elders. Due to the policy of terror carried out against Protestants by the Spanish governor of the Netherlands, Duke of Alba, Jan Rubens was forced to leave for Germany, to the city of Cologne. Since he was a famous lawyer, in Cologne he handled the divorce proceedings of Prince William of Orange and his wife Anne of Saxony. Gradually, the business relationship between Jan Rubens and Anna of Saxony developed into a love affair. The consequence of this was that the ill-fated lawyer was first imprisoned (really, don’t get on your own sleigh), and then exiled to Siegen, which in those days was obviously considered a “bear corner”. The most famous of the children of Jan Rubens, Peter Paul, was born in Siegen. In 1955, the city of Siegen established the Rubens Prize, which is awarded once every five years to artists who have dedicated themselves to European artistic creativity.

During our stay in Germany (from March 4 to March 14), the weather was exceptionally warm. Only one day, the one when we walked around Siegen, was cloudy. On all other days the weather was clear and sunny. On one day the temperature even reached +26. In the 2013-2014 season, there was practically no winter in Germany. At the time of our arrival, the leaves on the trees had not yet blossomed, but the trees, bushes and lawns themselves were covered with flowers. Global warming, however.

Having finished exploring the castle and its surroundings, we walked around the center of Siegen. It’s very pleasant to walk in any German city; you can always see something interesting. For example, these funny turtles in the children's sandbox.

On one of the streets we met a local “shepherd”, somewhat similar to Darth Vader from the Hollywood movie saga “Star Wars”. He was herding a whole herd of cows.

This is where we can probably end about Siegen and Siegerland. In the next part I will tell you about those picturesque places that are located next to them. German sketches. Part II German sketches. Part III German sketches. Part IV German sketches. Part V German sketches. Part VI German sketches. Part VII German sketches. Part VIII German sketches. Part IX German sketches. Part X

How do I save on hotels?

It’s very simple - look not only on booking. I prefer the search engine RoomGuru. He searches for discounts simultaneously on Booking and on 70 other booking sites.

Discounted hotels here

Germany attracts thousands of tourists every year, at any time of the year. Bavarian ancient culture, picturesque views of the Rhine River valley, huge breathtaking monasteries and mysterious castles. All this, combined with a rich historical past, makes Germany a majestic country. The southern part of this country is famous for its clean, deep lakes and excellent modern mountain resorts in the foothills of the Alps.

To describe at least part of the beauties and all the advantages of this rich country, we will need to compile a single guidebook.

All tourists are divided into two main groups: those who love a quiet and, one might say, “lazy holiday”, and those who prefer an active pastime. Some will be delighted by walking through ancient castles, squares, an insane number of monasteries and various other attractions. This article is intended for such tourists. Read also. So, what to see in Germany, where to go, what are the most memorable places worthy of our attention?

Of course, we cannot list all the interesting places and attractions, but we will tell you about the most famous and best of them.

As you know, Berlin is the capital of Germany, it is the pride of the Germans and a cultural and historical heritage with architecture of extraordinary styles and beauty. However, many guests of Germany still directly associate it with sad events and the world-famous Berlin Wall.

Part of the Berlin Wall at the entrance to the city metro

The fence, made of concrete, exceeded three meters in height. This building was erected back in 1961, and it was then that Germany was divided into two parts - East Germany and West. Attempts by the population to somehow cross the borders were brutally suppressed. According to official data alone, almost 1,000 people died trying to cross the wall.

In 1990, the decision was finally made to destroy the wall, and this event became good news and immediately spread throughout the world. It was a historic reunification of an entire huge and majestic country. In a short period of time, practically not a single pebble remained from the wall itself, only a fragment of about 1 km was left, which reminds of the Cold War.

Brandenburg Gate

This is another memorable historical value known throughout the world. They are located almost in the center of Paris Square and were erected in 1791 by order of Frederick William II.

This gate consists of a very large number of columns, which are made in a special Doric type. On these columns stands a rectangular pediment. He is crowned with a quadriga, and on it sits the Goddess of Peace in a solemn, proud pose on a chariot drawn by four horses. The Brandenburg Gate even today retains the spirit of the time when people entered the city under this majestic arch.

Museum Island Spreeinsel

In the east of Berlin there is an island called the Spreeinsel Museum, which is named after the river that flows around it - the Spree. There are as many as five museums here.

The most popular is the Cathedral, which has its own special Renaissance style. This attraction is considered young, because the construction of this Cathedral was completed around 1905.

Its façade is crowned with a huge and very beautiful dome almost 100 meters high. On both sides of the main part there are several naves with small chapels. Evenings of organ music and church singing are often organized on the territory of this Cathedral.

Dresden

Dresden can easily be called the country's true cultural capital. This city stands on the banks of a river with the melodious name “Elbe”. Dresden is also a major economic and political center of Germany, in no way inferior to the capital Berlin.

Walk along the streets and you will never cease to be amazed at how amazingly and harmoniously large modern industrial enterprises and historical architectural monuments coexist. There are a lot of attractions here.

The city is divided into two parts: old and new. In the old part is the Zwinger Palace, where the Dresden Art Gallery is located, where the world's most famous artists and sculptors are presented.

Next to the art gallery there is another castle-Residence, which today is a museum complex. The best observation deck in Dresden is the Hausmannstrum tower.

And those who are crazy about opera should visit the Semper Theater, located on Theater Square. Spectators who have visited Sempere will not forget its unique acoustics.

There are many temples and cathedrals in Dresden. And these are not just buildings that have a religious purpose and fulfill their special role, these are real works of ancient unique architectural art.

Bremen

This fairy tale city, despite its small size, is known all over the world and has many attractions. The main one is the Bremen Town Hall, where the local Senate is currently located. This is where the monument to the Bremen Town Musicians known to us from childhood is located.

Hohenschwangau Castle

This castle is truly considered the most beautiful in Bavaria. It is located in the village of Schwangau, in the southern part of the country. It was built in the mid-19th century as a summer residence for the royal family. On the territory of this castle, noblemen held ceremonial meetings, played balls, and received the real royal family in their chambers.

Today, this castle has been preserved almost in its original form. The interior decoration of the castle is striking in its beauty and sophistication. Everything is decorated in the same color scheme: lilac-lilac. The outer part is sandy soft color. The walls are decorated with unique paintings. The castle is located on a rock called the Swan of Mount Tegelberg.

And the whole atmosphere is very reminiscent of the atmosphere and decoration of the Middle Ages and it seems that if you close your eyes, women in lush beautiful dresses, with high hairstyles will begin to float in front of us in our minds, music will swirl and luxurious balls will begin, held within these walls for royal nobles.

Back in 1913, the castle acquired the status of a museum and was open to free visits by guests and tourists. In the castle courtyard there is a small fountain built in the shape of a swan figurine - King Ludwig loved them very much. You can see swans everywhere. They are depicted on door handles, chairs and other furniture. Now the castle, as before, belongs to the Wittelsbach family.

Almost three hundred thousand foreign tourists from all over the planet come here every year to admire this landmark of Germany.

On the territory of the famous Bavarian Alps, near the border with Austria, this castle is located. This building is truly considered great, because there are very few castles with such unique beauty. It was achieved by Louis II, who has a rather peculiar imagination, and who found a way out for it in such a realization of his whims.

Since the end of the century before last, this place has become especially valuable for tourists and guests of the city. Modern residents of Bavaria still tell tourists a legend about how a strange, eccentric monarch, having built a luxurious castle, loved to talk for a long time with the ghost Louis XIV.

Munich is the capital of Bavaria

Munich is a very beautiful ancient city. Back in 1175, it acquired the status of a city. It is famous throughout the world for its intoxicating drink - beer. There are 6 ancient breweries in Munich. Here they prepare a unique drink of its kind, which has no analogues throughout the world.

Beer paradise Hofbräuhaus

This beer hall was opened in 1589 and is truly the main attraction of Munich, which played a certain and very important role in its historical past. At this place, a sad event known throughout the world took place - the “Beer Hall Putsch”, which led to the rule of Hitler.

In the modern beer house you can enjoy real Bavarian strong beer, and on the second floor of the building, be sure to try the national Bavarian cuisine.

Fried pork sausages with sauerkraut. Hofbräuhaus is a beer garden. Munich

Beer festival

When talking about Bavarian beer, it is impossible not to talk about the famous festival called Oktoberfest. It is held in the fall, around the third Saturday in October, in Munich.

Sights of Germany. The most important and interesting sights of German cities: photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, websites.

The main attraction of Germany is the famous German pedantry and order. What does this mean for a tourist? And the fact that it is easy to navigate in cities, that four stars on the hotel facade guarantee a four-star level of service, that the train will leave the station on schedule, and the bun in the cafe will definitely be fresh and tasty. In such conditions, it is easy to plan a trip, and it is pleasant to carry out plans, even if they are grandiose.

In general, Germany resembles a mosaic: its individual fragments, sometimes completely different from each other, together form a surprisingly complete picture. Germany is rich in attractions of various kinds: these are the remains of ancient settlements, and beautiful medieval castles, and museums with impressively complete collections, and ski resorts, and buildings of modern architecture, and traditional beer restaurants, and high-tech automobile factories that invite car enthusiasts on excursions and master classes.

Cities of Germany

Such German cities as Berlin, Dresden, Frankfurt, Cologne, Hamburg, and Munich are known all over the world. Each of these cities is interesting for travelers in its own way. Museums and cathedrals, modern neighborhoods and historical buildings, art galleries and shopping streets of these cities will not leave even the most fastidious traveler indifferent. Such sights as the Cologne Cathedral, the Dresden Art Gallery, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, and the Munich Frauenkirche are widely known.

In general, Germany resembles a mosaic: its individual fragments, sometimes completely different from each other, together make up a surprisingly complete picture.

Castles in Germany

The castles of Germany are reminiscent of the fairy tales that are so rich in German literature. The famous Neuschweinstein was built by the Bavarian King Ludwig II at the end of the 19th century. Having taken the throne at a very young age, without life and political experience, Ludwig II could not become a successful monarch, but he built his own world, in which he was the only ruler and legislator - the magnificent Neuschweinstein Castle, which still soars over Bavaria as a beautiful mirage. Not far from it is the much older and gloomier Hohenschwangau Castle, where Louis II spent his youth. Hohenschwangau remembers the medieval knights, remembers the troubadours and minnesingers who sang of courtly love. An interesting small castle built in the middle of the Rhine on an island is the Pfalzgrafenstein customs castle. Thanks to its unusual location, the castle looks like a ship sailing on the Rhine. The castle was built as an Imperial Customs House, probably in the 13th century. Over its history, it has seen many merchants, and now it welcomes tourists who have a desire to touch history. Castles in Germany are the heritage of not only the country, but of all humanity.

The country found the strength to rebuild its cities destroyed during the Second World War, and they became very attractive to tourists from all countries. In almost every city there is a memorial that perpetuates the memory of soldiers who died in the last war. A special place among the sights is occupied by monuments of the recent past, when Germany was divided into two parts: this is the Museum of the History of the GDR in Berlin, and a monument dedicated to the fall of the Berlin Wall.