Some say it was inspired by a grand dream of the Markgraf von Baden-Durlach, Karl Wilhelm. Others, cheekily, think he established a new city as somewhere he could avoid his wife.
A visit to Dresden is to constantly be amazed at what glorious things are there — and also looking around in near constant disbelief that so many elegant buildings could have been built so recently.
Germany is home to some 46 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, encompassing millions of years of history. Here are five of our favourites, with an overview of what there is to enjoy.
Like Rome, Bavaria's Bamberg is very much a seat of church power. Yet this jewel of a city has a character and soul all of its own, waiting for you to discover.
It used to be said that ‘coins from Ulm rule the whole world’. If you don’t believe that, just take a look at the Ulmer Münster, whose spire completely dominates the city.
The corona crisis means that the big wide world may have to wait this summer and be replaced with trips around Germany. But which places can still give you the feeling of being abroad?
Germany isn’t as famous for skiing as the high Alpine regions of Austria, Switzerland, France or Italy. But the Bavarian Alps still offer gemütlichkeit galore – and some pretty fun pistes too.
Despite being the most popular holiday destination for domestic tourists, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is woefully under-visited by non-Germans. According to the Lonely Planet, 97 percent of tourists who flock to the region each year are German.
If foreigners have visited, it’s most likely to have been to the seaside Stadt of Rostock and maybe to see the stunning Schloss of Schwerin, the capital. But few venture deep into the forests that cover the vast mass of the northeastern state.
I spent a wintry weekend in the woods of this beautiful Bundesland to see what we have been missing out on.
At first glance, Wismar looks like an idyllic seaside town full of historic houses and buildings. Yet it also has a darker fictional past, being a filming location of the 1922 classic 'Nosferatu'.
Not only is the city of Halle (Saale) the birthplace of the celebrated composer Georg Friedrich Handel but is also a vibrant, modern city with art and culture to spare.
From Gothic architecture to Frankenstein and the Illuminati: we spent a warm summer's day in this picturesque Bavarian city on the banks of the Danube.
After nine months of living in beer-obsessed Munich, I was ready to delve into the delights of another of Germany’s fine alcoholic products and explore the country's wine-growing haven.
Situated on the Austrian border and dotted with Italian architecture, Passau in lower Bavaria is as much of a confluence of cultures as it is of rivers.
You might think of Berlin or Frankfurt as Germany's centre of power. But this overlooked city played a key role in European power for several centuries - and is still well worth a visit.
This charming city in Baden-Württemberg remains off the trodden tourist path - despite an over a thousand-year old history as a hub of trade, and remaining largely unscathed over the centuries.
For a couple thousand years, Germans have been making pilgrimages to sites offering them reassurance and peace. Find out what they are, and why they are held in just as high esteem in the modern day.
Known for its dominating student life, Green politics and historical charm, we write about why Tübingen is an ideal place to stay - whether for a long weekend or maybe your phD.
