Germany
Germany Guide
One of the largest countries in western Europe, Germany is a country of contrasts. It is known for it's modern technology and efficiency, but it also has medieval towns and cities steeped in history. Once divided into East and West, the Berlin wall was broken down in 1989 and both sides have pulled together to form a new country with Berlin as it's capital once again.
Whether your visit to Germany is for business or pleasure you will find so much to enjoy. The city of Berlin is once again buzzing with excitement, there is hardly any sign of the old divisions and the new buildings sit side by side with the old architecture. The famous avenues of the Kurfurstendamm and the Under den Linden are still the main streets in the city with many luxury hotels and shops, there is an excellent nightlife here, including several opera houses and at the other end of the scale a thriving “red light”area. Also in the eastern part of the country is the city of Dresden, almost totally re-built since it was destroyed in World War II, this is now a thriving capital of the Saxony region.
The river Rhine passes through the centre of the country, from the Swiss border in the south to the Dutch border in the north. A trip along the river in the centre of the country particularly between Koblenz and Mayence provides an excellent tour with your car hire Germany. The road right along the riverbank gives an excellent view of the barges still using the water as a means of transport and passes through medieval towns such as Bacharach am Rhein with their historic buildings. This area is also an important wine growing region and the hills to either side of the Rhine are peppered with vineyards.
Further to the south, lies Bavaria and the cities of Stuttgart and Munich. Stuttgart is a modern city, housing the Mercedes Benz World and the Porsche museums, both shining examples of modern German technology. Nearby is the popular spa town of Baden Baden, where people have visited for centuries to take the healing waters. Munich is famous for it's Oktoberfest – the beer festival, which is actually held in September. It's a chance to see the Bavarian way of life, eat the famous sausages and of course try the excellent German beer!