The South Ural State University
The paper work:
TOURISM IN GERMANY
Written by:
Shamanova Nadejda Andreevna
Group: S-151
Checked by:
Kovaleva Olga Ivanovna
Chelyabinsk
2004
Contents
Introduction. 4
1. Germany 5
2. Getting there 7
3. Accommodation in Germany. 10
4. Where to go. 13
4.1.Festivals 13
4.2. National Parks 15
4.3. Routs in Germany. 20
5. A Journey to Berlin 24
5.1. Accommodation in Berlin 24
5.2. Sightseeing in Berlin 28
5.3. Eat, Drink, Nightlife 32
Conclusion. 34
Literature 35
Sites 35
Introduction.
Germany is rich by its tourist recourses. Each land has a lot of various
places of interest. «Come and be enchanted by the HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS OF
GERMANY!» - This is the motto chosen by thirteen historic German cities
that have joined together to offer you some truly incomparable travel
experiences. They will all fascinate and delight you - Augsburg, Bonn and
Bremen; Erfurt, Freiburg, Heidelberg and Lьbeck; Mьnster and Potsdam;
Regensburg and Rostock; Trier and Wьrzburg.
Each of these many-faceted cities is steeped in history. At every turn
you will encounter the great names of the past and enjoy the architectural
and artistic heritage of great eras. Deep in the heart of Europe, Germany
has had a seminal impact on Continental history. From the Holy Roman Empire
to Otto Von Bismarck's German Reich, Nazism and the rise and fall of the
Berlin Wall, no other nation has moulded Europe the way Germany has - for
better or worse.
Here, history really comes to life. And life comes to life too- in every
season the calendars are jam-packed with events for every taste: Top
quality concert series, art exhibitions, outstanding theatre, major
international sporting events, colourful street festivals and traditional
Christmas Markets sparkle with lights. This rich, interwoven tapestry of
the past and the modern is also the key to the charm and dynamism of the
historic highlights.
Fairy-tale castles, medieval towns, boisterous beer halls, breathtaking
landscapes and a cutting-edge arts scene - the land of Beethoven and
Bratwurst delights, excites and inspires.
1. Germany
Environment
The lowlands in the north of Germany stretch from the Netherlands to
Poland, skimming southern Denmark where it bridges the North and Baltic
seas. The industrialised central belt cinches Belgium and Luxembourg to the
Czech Republic's western prong. The Rhine and Main Rivers, long crucial for
inland shipping, power through the troughs and gorges which cut through the
Central Uplands. To the south, the Danube River drains the Bavarian
highlands from the Black Forest, near the French and Swiss borders, to
Munich. The southern reaches of the Bavarian Alps give way to Austria.
Germany is not prey to dramatic climatic extremes, although there are
regional differences. The most reliably good weather is from May to
October, with high summer a good bet for shorts and T-shirt, even in the
north. Autumn is a good time to visit Germany. As the tourist scrum
disperses and the forests turn golden, it's not too stifling to be active
but still thirsty enough to end the day with a few well-deserved steins.
Winter is wet, especially in the south, with snow rarely settling for long
except in the high country.
Facts for the Traveler
Visas: EU citizens can enter on an official identity card. Americans,
Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders and Japanese just need a valid
passport (no visa). Unless you're a citizen of a developing country, you
can probably stay up to three months.
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1 (Central European Time)
Dialling Code: 49
Electricity: 230V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
When to Go
The German climate is variable so it's best to be prepared for all types
of weather throughout the year. That said, the most reliable weather is
from May to October. This coincides, naturally enough, with the standard
tourist season (except for skiing). The shoulder periods can bring fewer
tourists and surprisingly pleasant weather. There is no special rainy
season.
Events
Germans love to party, and kick up their heels at everything from pagan
harvest romps to black tie opera galas. The Winter Carnival (Fasching)
season occurs throughout Germany, with big cities such as Cologne (Kцln),
Munich and Mainz erupting into commotion just before Ash Wednesday.
Germany's rich musical heritage is showcased in a plethora of festivals.
Some towns concentrate on a particular composer, such as the Thuringian
Bach Festival in March or the Richard Wagner Festival in Bayreuth each
July, whereas others focus on a particular style. The jazz festivals in
Stuttgart (April) and Berlin (November) are lively and popular. Autumn is a
great time for harvest-inspired mayhem, especially in the Rhineland, where
the Rhine in Flames frolics feature barges laden with fireworks. Mention
must be made of Oktoberfest, Munich's annual lager frenzy, but it's a bit
like being stuck in a nightmarish soccer crowd and is more an example of
tourism at its lowest ebb than a display of German culture. Christmas fairs
are embraced wholeheartedly by German families; they occur in Munich,
Nuremberg, Lьbeck, Berlin, Mьnster and Heidelberg, amongst other places.
2. Getting there
Getting There & Away
The main arrival/departure points for flights in Germany are Frankfurt-
am-Main, Munich and Dьsseldorf. Frankfurt is Europe's busiest airport after
Heathrow. An airport departure tax of around US$5 is included in ticket
prices. If you're already in Europe, it's generally cheaper to get to and
from Germany by train or bus. While train travel is often more expensive
than catching a bus, it's generally faster, more comfortable (particularly
for overnight travel) and more efficient. Germany is served by an excellent
highway system connected to the rest of Western Europe. Roads from Eastern
Europe are being upgraded but some border crossings are a little slow,
especially from Poland. To enter Germany with a car or motorbike, you must
have third-party insurance. Ferries run between Germany's northern coast
and Scandinavia and the UK.
Getting Around
By train. Getting around Germany is easy. Domestic air travel is
extensive but unless you're in an awful hurry, you might as well save your
money - the German train network is wonderful. The railway system enables
everyone to travel comfortably to their destination. There are good
connections to both distant and local areas. Airports (Berlin Schцnefeld,
Dьsseldorf, Munich and Stuttgart) are also merged into this system. There
are 60 different connections to the neighboring European countries that
originate daily in Germany. The customs clearance usually takes place on
the train once it has left the station.
The eastern and western train systems have now been fully merged,
although fares in the east are still cheaper. Numerous fares and ticket
passes are available. There is usually a surcharge for the InterCity
Express (ICE) trains but it's worth it to travel 250km/h (155mph) through
the German countryside. Forget about buses until you're in train-unfriendly
terrain.
By bus. A European bus service completes the railway system. It offers
special connections on particularly interesting routes to tourists.
Information regarding the bus system is also available in each travel
agency.
A journey by bus will guarantee comfortable travelling. Enjoy and
experience towns and landscapes in a relaxing way. Lean back and enjoy the
view of diverse landscapes from large bus windows or visit one of Germanyґs
famous towns.Get on and relax - once you are comfortably seated, your well-
earned holidays will begin. Besides, you have chosen an environmentally
friendly way of travelling.
Internationaler Bustouristik Verband e.V. (RDA), the international
federation of bus tour operators, has set up a list of operators offering
bus journeys. The list is set up according to the Lands of the Federal
Republic of Germany and is available. Here you will find numerous journeys
based on particular themes, sightseeing tours and club tours. It is also
possible to set up your own journey in co-operation with the operator.
Deutsche Touring GmbH offers attractive journeys on public service buses
along Germanyґs touristic holiday routes. Today Deutsche Touring is one of
the most important bus companies in Europe. In cooperation with foreign
partners, it provides regular international services linking over 700
cities throughout Europe. Regional and urban public transportation
operators and associations offer a rich network of short distance bus
trips.
By car. If you are travelling by car, an ultra-modern and efficient
freeway network awaits you. Over 700 restaurants, gas stations, motels and
kiosks are open day and night to travellers driving across the
approximately 11,000 km freeway network of the Federal Republic.
German roads are excellent, and motorised transport can be a great way
to tour the country, although most towns have problems with car-parking.
The national and famous motorway network known as autobahn can be wonderful
and nightmare.
Bicycle touring in Germany is very popular. There are often separate
cycling routes in the cities, towns and in the countryside, but cycling on
the autobahn is strictly not allowed.
3. Accommodation in Germany.
There is a wide variety of accommodation possibilities in Germany
ranging from a private room to a vacation home up to a luxury hotel. There
are also lower priced lodgings available. Either way, standards are set and
checked so that you can expect a comfortable place to stay in every case.
Hotel corporations and regional and local tourism organisations publish
their own accommodation directories. You can make room reservations
directly through the hotel chain reservation systems, hotel corporations,
the airports and tourism organisations. Travel agencies also work closely
with hotels.
More and more hotels and hotel chains in Germany are including youth
specials into their programs. Special youth hostels and youth hotels have
dedicated and specialised themselves to tourists needs. They can even be
accommodated close to the city centers. Vacation villages and vacation
apartments are a good idea for spending more than one night somewhere.
Tourists can also spend the night at one of more than 2000 camping sites or
in one of over 600 youth hostels. Bed & Breakfast is not just a British
speciality. Almost all tourist information points can find you a private
room on arrival and can sometimes even make advance reservations.
Hotel rooms in Germany have a wide selection of price ranges. You can
stay overnight in luxury suites, rooms in middle class hotels or very
inexpensive accommodation in smaller hotels. From Flensburg to Munich, from
Aachen to Dresden, you can find hotels to fit your needs according to
German hotel classification standards. Hotels are classified based on a
uniform criteria and are categorised by a certain number of stars (i.e.
**** = luxurious). Some of Germanys` finer hotels are Accor,
ArabellaSheraton and Maritim
Camping & Caravaning
Whether staying in an RV trailer, motorhome or within the four walls of
your tent, you can be right at home in any beautiful setting. For a few
days or several weeks, delightful landscapes can be directly outside your
front door. Relax in nature and recover from the hectic pace of everyday
life. Germany offers an abundance of camp sites in areas chosen for the
incredible scenery they possess, and their gates are open to everyone. For
your vacation, you can choose from sites located in more tourist areas or,
for longer stays, get away to more remote locations in the middle of the
most gorgeous surroundings.
Guesthouses & inns
Besides hotels in all categories, there is naturally also a variety of
guesthouses and inns which can be found almost everywhere in Germany. They
offer a good opportunity for enjoying a low-priced vacation in a family
atmosphere.
Youth hostels
The youth hostels in Germany are open to all people, whether young or
old. Suitable for short visits or longer stays, hostels are ideal for many
different types of people and activities. Guests can include single people,
families, tour groups, sport teams and youth groups. They come for
everything from vacation camps to ski trips as well as conferences and
seminars. The only requirement is that one must be a member of the German
Youth Hostel Association.
Vacation on a farm
The most beautiful time of the year is awaiting you right outside your
door. Vacation farm areas can provide with peaceful, unencumbered days.
Out in the country, you will find elements of life that you otherwise may
not experience. Instead of the hectic pace of everyday life that makes you
feel unacknowledged, you encounter real hospitality in a warm, personal
atmosphere.
You will find yourself rejuvenated in such a natural setting whether
just walking outside, fishing, biking or horseback riding. There's no end
to the new experiences and discoveries you can make. The hosts of the farm
will spoil you with regional delicacies like fragrant fresh breads, home-
made sausages and cheeses as well as wine and juices from own vineyards.
Diverse leisure activities for both young and old round off the whole
experience in the country.
Bed and Breakfast
A Bed and Breakfast is typically a lower-priced alternative to hotels
and inns. Instead of staying in anonymous hotel beds, you sleep in cosy,
private guest rooms. You are welcomed cordially by your hosts who offer a
pleasant atmosphere in which to enjoy your stay. In the morning, breakfast
is prepared just for you according to your taste. Your hosts take a
personal interest in helping you with providing tips and information about
the area, the country and the people.
4. Where to go.
4.1.Festivals
A) The Berlinale.
From its beginning in post war Berlin, the Berlinale was designed to be
an international rather than a national film festival.
Over the years the festival has cemented its status as major European film
festival and is easily as important as its competitors in Venice and
Cannes.
The Golden and Silver Berlin bear and many honorary awards are much sought-
after.
B) Love parade in Berlin
German techno guru Dr. Motte and 150 of his closer friends started the
rave in 1989. They met at Berlin's 'Ku'damm' to celebrate a party and to
demonstrate for tolerance and love.
Successfully: the mobile party attracts en-vogue DJs and an enthusiastic
crowd.
Some facts: In 2000, the loveparade's busiest year to date, 250 DJs on 53
wagons partied together with over a million guests.
Recently, Austria, Israel, South Africa and Mexico have joined the craze
and organised their own love parades.
C) Frankfurt's Bookfair
Frankfurt is a big player in global trade fair business. An annual
average of 80 fairs and exhibitions attract numerous visitors from all over
the world.
One of the highlights is Frankfurt's book fair. The biggest book fair
worldwide dates back to the 15th century. Its popularity has increased ever
since.
Today, more than 250,000 annual visitors flood the fair.
The aim: information on a selection of the almost 400,000 books which are
being presented. Readings, talks, interviews and other side events offer
additional incentives for an interested public. Book industry, publishers,
critics, readers and writers alike are under the spell of the biggest book
fair world wide.
D) Carnival in Germany
In Germany Mardi Gras ('Fasching') is also referred to as the fifth and
foolish season ('die nдrrische Zeit'). It is a time of elaborate parades,
masks, balls and election of Carnival king and queen and official madness.
The exact time of celebration and the traditions vary from county to
county, but it generally takes place in early spring. Munich, Cologne,
Mainz are strongholds of Mardi Gras celebrations.
Switzerland and Austria, too, join the party with enthusiasm following
their own traditions.
E) Munich's 'Oktoberfest'
Even though it is called 'Oktoberfest', the festival actually takes
place in September, as Bavarian autumn can be tricky and surprise with
early cold and snow. Today, the 'Oktoberfest' is the largest festival
worldwide attracting a multitude of visitors. Apart from beer tents the
festival offers amusements as diverse as roller coasters, circus
appearances, festive parades and live brass bands.
The ceremonial opening happens at noon. The mayor arrives in a festive
coach followed by a decorated horse-drawn brewer's cart. Guests, staff and
the numerous brass bands are all wearing traditional costumes (lederhosen
and dirndls) for the occasion. At the end of the parade the major taps the
first keg of beer and shouts, "o'zapft is!" (The keg is tapped).
It takes good nerves and a solid stomach to survive the festivals 16 days
of intensive partying. However, the festival is a huge success: Apart from
attracting a multitude of visitors the festivals brand name 'Oktoberfest'
has been exported all over the world.
4.2. National Parks
A) The Jasmund National Park
[pic]
The Jasmund National Park offers many different landscapes within a very
small area. Come and visit a cretaceous landscape with numerous bogs, wet
grasslands and dry meadows. The most renowned attraction are the chalk
cliffs surrounding the Kцnigsstuhl which have been captured in paintings by
the famous artist Caspar David Friedrich.
Apart from the Kцnigsstuhl, the highest point on the chalk coastline,
the whole length of the chalk coastline is impressive. It stretches over a
length of 10 km, reaches a height of 117 m and consists of both active and
inactive cliffs, illustrating the dynamics of an active steep coastline.
The national park offers a wide range of activities, such as hiking and
bicycle tours, excursions and seminars which give the opportunity to
explore the most beautiful hiking trails through the regionґs forested
landscapes.
The Stubnitz area is not just worth a visit because of its magical chalk
landscape, it is also the home of mythical figures.
On guided tours, organised on a regular basis by the national park
administration, you will find out everything about Hertha, a Germanic
goddess, and Stцrtebecker, a pirate who is said to have buried treasure
somewhere in this area.
Highlights:
- Cape Arkona with the little town of Vitt
- the fishing port of Sassnitz with its fishing museum
- "Piratenschlucht" (pirateґs gorge) in Sassnitz
- Greifswald's museum with an exhibition of paintings by Caspar David
Friedrich
- historic craftsmen's dwellings in Gingst
- Grьmbke lookout tower near Neuenkirchen
Activities:
Jasmund offers a wide range of guided tours (daily tours take place from
April - September, both from the parking lot in Hagen to the Kцnigsstuhl
and from Sassnitz to the bizarre rock formations of "Wissower Klinken").
Furthermore, you can visit numerous exhibitions (at the national park
visitorsґ center at the Kцnigsstuhl and also at the Granitz hunting lodge
near Sellin).
The biosphere reserve "South East Rьgen" organises further hiking and
bicycle tours, as well as excursions.
B) The Wadden Sea of Hamburg National Park
The Wadden Sea of Hamburg National Park, which is the smallest of three mud-
flats national parks, is characterized by three islands:
"Neuwerk", widely covered with meadows and with a population of 40,
"Scharhцrn", with its sand dunes, and "Nigehцrn" which has been created
artificially. The island group is located directly at the mouth of the
river Elbe near Cuxhaven in northern Germany and protects a landscape of
approximately 12,000 hectares of wadden sea.
On guided tours you not only have the opportunity to learn about the
regionґs landscape but also about the islandsґ historical background.
On the way from Neuwerk to Scharhцrn you will walk along trails leading
across seemingly endless mud-flats. Scharhцrn, which used to be a sandbank,
is a tourist attraction mainly for its sea bird colonies. On a visit to the
ornithological station you will see one of the largest colonies of sea
swallows.
Highlights:
- carriage ride across mud-flats from Sahlenburg to the island of Neuwerk
- voyage with the MS "Flipper" from Cuxhaven to the island of Neuwerk
- guided walks across the Wadden sea
- guided tours to the bird colonies, salt marshes and wadden sea of Neuwerk
- guided tours to Scharhцrn, the bird sanctuary
- searching for amber on the "Kleiner Vogelsand"
- amber exhibition on the island of Neuwerk
Activities:
We recommend national park visitors on day trips to take a walk along the
main dyke, from which you can see the foreshore with its bird colonies but
also the islandґs interior. Cars are banned on the islands. For this reason
tours, for example, to the fortified tower of the island of Neuwerk,
through the salt marshes of the foreshore with their abundance of flora and
fauna, or to the "Ostschleuse" lock, can either be made on foot or by horse-
drawn carriage.
C) The Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony National Park
Make a trip to one of the most impressive wadden sea landscapes. High
up, in northern Germany, at the North Sea coast of Lower Saxony, the Wadden
Sea of Lower Saxony National Park is located. It protects the wadden seas
landscape between the river Ems and the river Elbe, including the offshore
East Frisian Islands. The national park offers amazing natural spectacles
and various landscapes, such as salt-marshes, which are typical of this
region, the steep coast near Dangast and the "swimming bog" near Sehestedt,
Germany's only remaining bog landscape located outside the country's dykes
Highlights:
- Wadden Sea House in Wilhelmshaven
- Norddeich seal station
- Lightship and whale-bone fence on the island of Borkum
- Fisherman's House Museum on the island of Norderney
- Dornumsiel Castle, surrounded by water
- German Shipping Museum in Bremerhaven
- Old lighthouse on the island of Wangerooge
Activities:
The surrounding area offers a wide range of sightseeing opportunities, such
as the East Frisian islands of Juist and Norderney. Whether you want to go
swimming and enjoy the broad beaches, take a ride in a carriage across the
island or a walk through the salt-marshes, the national parkґs recreation
and leisure program will guarantee a lot of fun and relaxation.
D) The Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein National Park
Welcome to the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein National Park, the
largest national park in central Europe. One third of Schleswig-Holstein
belongs to the worldґs largest uninterrupted wadden sea landscape, which
reaches from the North Sea coast of the Netherlands up to Denmark. The
wadden sea, a stretch of land affected by tides, are flooded by sea
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