Germany - Travel Guide
Description
Firmly set in the heart of Europe, Germany has the highest population (and the healthiest economy) of all the European countries. It shares its land borders with Austria, France, Poland and the Netherlands, to name but a few and it borders both the Baltic and the North Seas. Contoured by valleys and imposing rivers, the centre of the country is dominated by densely-wooded uplands and large areas of Germany's diverse terrain are protected nature reserves.
The capital of Germany, Berlin, was once divided both physically and symbolically by a massive wall. Unification was achieved in 1990 and it is now acknowledged as the emblem of the reunited country, yet has managed to retain both its history and its importance.
Germany has an unrivalled cultural heritage. Folk culture and traditions are represented and preserved in museums, pageant and festivals across the country throughout the year, but the German¡¯s first love is music. The country has produced an astonishing amount of famous composers; from 18th century patriarch such as Handel, Bach and Beethoven, to Wagner, legendary for the production of epic operas. Almost every city of consequence has a first rate musical theatre, orchestra, opera or immense art galleries and museums.
With a temperate climate, excellent infrastructure and clean, well-serviced facilities provided for visitors to enjoy cultural trips, or a range of sports on offer (walking, skiing, cycling and tennis); Germany encompasses a huge diversity of landscapes and townscapes. There are over 150 major orchestras, 15,000 libraries, 4,000 museums and, in a country well-known for the production and consumption of beer, an array of festivals dedicated to food and drink.
Everything about the country is approached with typically German ¡®gusto¡¯ and the cuisine, although mainly plain, solid and well-cooked, varies immensely from region to region. Every part of Germany has its own type of sausage (wurst) and these are traditionally washed down with beer. Visiting Germany is a cultural must. There are magnificent castles to explore, average summer temperatures reach around 20¢ªC and the skiing season in the Alps lasts from mid-December through to March.
If variety is the spice of life then you won¡¯t get much spicier than coming to Germany.
Driving Guide
Unlike many European countries, the minimum age for driving in Germany is 17 years. Children must be at least 12 to sit in the front (unless the seat is fitted with a child restraint). Seat-belts are compulsory for all occupants. Roads in the former West Germany are superb, with the autobahns showing the standard of craftsmanship expected of the Germans. In the east of the country, the quality of the roads is fast catching up, but some remain fairly poor compared with Western standards. There are no speed limits on most stretches of the autobahns, although 130km/h is recommended, while the limit in built-up areas is 50km/h and on other roads it is 130km/h. As in Britain, automatic cameras are used extensively, and these can be positioned in unmarked police cars.. The fines for speeding and other motoring offences are large, so beware. The central parts of most German cities and towns feature a system of narrow, disjointed one-way streets, so make sure you have a map available. You may also find that parking out of the city and using the park-and-ride facility will save you a considerable amount of time. Do NOT drink and drive - for a first offence of driving with more than the legal amount of 80mg of alcohol in your system your driving licence will be confiscated for one month.
Germany - Key Facts
Timezone: UK+1.Languages spoken: German. English is widely spoken; some French.
Capital City: Berlin.
Major Cities: Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich.
Mojor Airports: Berlin (Schonefeld, Tegel & Tempelhof), Bremen, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart.
Population: 83 million
Area: 357,021 sq km - 137,846 sq miles.
Climate Guide: Weather can be changeable throughout the year. E Germany tends to have colder winters with more frequent snow and frost. Rainfall is fairly evenly spread throughout the year, although summer is marginally wetter.
Currency: Euro (EUR 1 = 100 cents).
Notes: EUR: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500.
Coins: EUR: 1, 2. Cents: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50.
Telephone Code: 49
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz.
UK Tourist Information: German National Tourist Office
PO Box 2695, London W1A 3TN
Tel: 020 7317 0908; 0900 160 0100 (brochures, 60p/min)
Fax: 020 7495 6129
E-mail: gntolon@d-z-t.com
Website: www.germany-tourism.de
Hotel Class: The official hotel classification system in Germany is a voluntary scheme administered by the German Hotel & Guesthouse Association (DEHOGA), which awards hotels from 1 star up to 5 stars. Where applicable, we have included the star rating of the property. Otherwise, arbitrary categories of £ up to £££££ are given based on rack rates, facilities and perceived quality which equate to the commonly used 1- to 5-star system. These categories serve only to compare relative standards within any given area.