Travel to Germany

If you’re looking for a place that’s rich with remnants of the recent past, then Germany’s the place for you. As you may well know, Germany was a key player in the previous world wars. Thus, it filled Germany with monuments to the stories of our grandfathers about times long past but never forgotten.

1.) Berlin Wall

There’s no other place in Germany that’s more suffused with charged up emotions than the Berlin Wall. You can just imagine the tears and the blood shed over this very wall. This remnant of the wars stands as one of the greatest monuments to democracy known to man – a sign that freedom will always come out victorious.

2.) The Romantic Road

Driving through the Romantic road would be one of the most pleasant drives you’ll experience in your whole life. This road is flanked by scenic landscapes on both sides. Occasionally, you’ll pass through a picturesque town, a beautiful gothic church, and sometimes, a quaint countryside inn.

3.) Augsburg

Passing through the Romantic Road will lead you to Augsburg, a town founded by the Roman Legions and named after the esteemed Roman emperor, Augustus. This picturesque town contains such historical places as St. Anne’s Church, the place where Martin Luther took refuge, and Dom, a very unusual Cathedral. You can also find here the Renaissance Golden Room, a sight that will make you squint with its shine.

4.) Neuschwanstein Castle

Did you know that Walt Disney used a castle found in Germany as his inspiration for the castle of Sleeping Beauty? It’s true, those alabaster walls and those high towers and wide parapets were all based on the Neuschwanstein Castle. It is now hailed as one of the most popular tourist spots in Germany.

5.) The Castles of Fussen

Like most of Europe, several castles are littered throughout Germany. It contains the other two of Ludwig’s castles, the first one being the Neuschwanstein Castle. This is a must-see for all those families who are traveling through Germany because the place literally looks like it’s been torn out of a storybook.

6.) Lake Constance

Lake Constance is both a tourist spot and an essential source of life for the Germans. Several areas in the country rely on this very lake for their drinking water, and this large lake is also a great place to swim and to go bird watching. Indeed, if you’re one for beautiful natural sceneries, then Lake Constance is not to be ignored.

7.) The Black Forest

The name looks like it has been taken from one of the fairytales, doesn’t it? The Black Forest – it sounds like a place where evil witches reside and cursed trees grow, but don’t let that deter you though. If anything, the Black Forest can hardly be related to its name as it’s a sunny forest with tall and sturdy firs. It’s a great place to go hiking and a great place for picnics.

8.) Cologne

When you hear the word, Cologne, what comes into your mind? A beautiful fragrance, right? Well, meet the town that’s called Cologne for a reason, and indeed, the town of Cologne has its own peculiar fragrance that’s very pleasing to the nose. Also, there you will find a beautiful view of the River Rhine and the Cologne Cathedral.

9.) Dachau

Take a break from the fairytale castles and mystical forests and go to the place called Dachau. Dachau is a concentration camp – a remnant of Germany’s dark past where you can just imagine the horrors that took place in this very spot. However, you will also find there a statue bearing the inscription, “Never Again”, a solemn promise of the German people that they will ‘never again’ commit such unspeakable acts – another true victory for peace.

10.) Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest – technically, it’s not a place, but it’s just too good a festival to leave out of any ‘top ten list’ that concerns tourism and Germany. This fun-filled festival in the town of Bavaria is guaranteed to leave you intoxicated and euphoric. You can spend days on end just drinking authentic German Ale and just letting yourself loose.

For 40 years, the Communist regimes in Eastern Europe appeared permanent. The Iron Curtain began to crumble in 1989 and in merely one year, countries have left behind communism one after another, like domino pieces.

The symbol of the Cold War, Berlin Wall has been called the "physical portrayal" of the Iron Curtain. For 28 years, the enormous construction separated in two a city - Berlin and a country - Germany. The fall of the Berlin Wall is the most important emblem of the communist bloc failure.

The creation of the wall began on August 13, 1961 to stop the westward exodus of the German people. In the east it was called "the anti-fascist protection wall" while in the west people named it "Wall of Shame". 155 km of embarrassment of over 3 m high, of which 43 km through the central part of Berlin.

The frontier was also made of km of trenches, bunkers, hundreds of watch towers and barbed wire. Although the creation of the wall began in 1961, Germany was disjointed since the end of World War II. In 1945, Reich capital was disjointed between the Allied powers in the west and the Soviet Union in the east, and in 1949 two countries were formed: Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic.

In 1952, East Germany closed its borderline with West Germany, concerned about the exodus of population. There were weak points though, where people were still capable to pass. More than 2.5 million Germans made it to west between 1949 and 1961.

Although on June 15, 1961 East German leader Walter Ulbricht officially stated that there will not be a wall built, on August 13, the eastern part of Berlin is encircled by barricades and barbed wire. The wall is constructed in several stages. In 1962 a barrier was added, 90 feet on the inside, being created a strictly administered "restricted area". Houses on this strip were demolished and people moved. The zone, mined and full of trapping wire, offered an extensive field of fire for the guards.

In 1965 concrete walls began to be raised and, over the years, observation towers were added, while patrols and security were increased.

The "four generations wall", ameliorated in 1975 was the last version. It was composed of slabs of 3.6 meters high and 1.2 meters wide. The wall was strengthened with motion sensors, fencing net and barbed wire, trenches against vehicles, and on the crest wall it was mounted a clean pipe, which would have made even harder to escalate.
The eight passing points were planed particularly for different categories of people that could pass through.

The most famous was Checkpoint Charlie, which was intended only to Allied personnel and non-German citizens.
During the history of the Wall, military personnel, officials and Allied diplomats could enter East Berlin without passport control. Also, Soviet patrols were able to enter without reserve in the West Berlin.

On November 9, 1989 the East German government decided to permit visits to West Germany, but the minister for propaganda was not accurately informed therefore a lot of disorientation was developed. Tens of thousands of Berliners rushed to the crossing points, insisting to move freely in the West. Overwhelmed by tens of thousands of people and in the absence of coherent instructions, border guards were improbably to open fire, allowing the crowds to cross.

The wall has been kept for a while after November 9. On June 13, 1990 East German army launched formal demolition, and on July 1 all border crossing points were properly abolished. The two Germany halves were finally rejoined on October 3, 1990.

Today, there are only three remaining portions of the wall: a section of 80 meters near Postdamer Plaz, a longer section near the river Spree and the third piece, turned into a monument, north of Bernauer Strasse.