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• What to see

Bavaria: Neuschwanstein Castle

Yes, everyone knows it from the popular film ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ and Neuschwanstein is also one of the most photographed buildings in Germany. The castle was actually the inspiration for Disney’s ‘Sleeping Beauty Castle’ which if you haven’t been photos will give you an idea of how breathtaking a castle of its stature really is. There is no way to drive up to the castle but if you don’t feel up for the walk up then you can take a horse and carriage up to the top. Put this on your list of the 50 places to see before you die, you will not regret it, you have my word.

Köln: Köln (Cologne) Cathedral

Although not as beautiful as Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, if you are into gothic architecture this is for you. Rather than being beautiful, Köln Cathedral is a terrifying and imposing building, despite being named as an “exceptional work of human genius” by UNESCO. For four years it stood as the highest structure in the world. It withstood seventy bombs during World War II and did not collapse because of it.

I mention Köln Cathedral as like the Minster in York, there is a limit on building heights around Köln to make sure if does not surpass the height and brilliance of their cathedral. Despite all this, I stick by my initial impression that the cathedral was frightening and imposing, but the view from the highest tower down onto the streets below is like staring down at a city of ants.

Berlin: Holocaust Memorial

This memorial is highly controversial. There was a 50-50 split in opinions towards the ‘simple’ memorial which cost 25 million euros to produce. Half the people I have spoken to think that the memorial is too sparse and doesn’t show enough emotions towards the deaths of the Germans who died during the Second World War. My own opinion was very different. The memorial was made up of hundreds of complete blocks, each block representing a thousand or more German Jews that died during the Holocaust. The volume of the concrete blocks – 2,711 in total – was staggering and really brings the casualty numbers home. The blocks are supposed to create a confusing and uneasy atmosphere to symbolise the same confusion and uneasiness during the Second World War. Though the Berlin Memorial isn’t an astounding or impressive site as you would stereotype most “tourist” sites, it is a site of historical importance.

Munich: Zoo

They have elephants! One of my fondest memories was feeding the elephants bananas at Munich Zoo which is good fun never mind how old you are! Munich Zoo holds 380 different species and spreads over 75 acres so you will not run out of things to see. Munich is also a brilliant place to see dolphin and sea lion shows.

• What to eat
  

  Black Forest Gateau

Black Forest gateau

You can often find Black Forest gateau anywhere in the world but there is nothing like having it in the Black Forest in Germany. Black Forest gateau is a mixture of chocolate cake, cream and sour cherries. They also add a very generous helping of fruit brandy. The Black Forest area also has a very high reputation for building very beautiful clocks, especially Cuckoo-clocks.

Frankfurters

With Frankfurt being a major city in Germany, it is hardly likely that frankfurters should be forgotten as it is one of the most famous delicacies of Frankfurt and of Germany itself. Bratwurst are also very high on the list. Germany is very well known for its huge variety and long tradition of preparing and producing sausages.

• Where to stay

I have been to Germany so many times it is difficult to count. In so many different ways. I have family that live in two different areas of Germany so every couple of years “The English” take over their homes and their lives and feed them new and wonderful British beer. Alternatively, I went to Germany on a German exchange which did test the very limits of my Deutsch vocabulary to realise the only words I really knew was ‘hallo’, ‘danke’ and ‘zwei bieren, bitte’ apparently one of the most important phrases in the German language).

• How to survive
  

  Cuckoo clocks

I always got told that when you are in a new country you do the walk; you talk the lingo; and generally try not to get noticed as being ‘that stupid British foreigner’. When ordering dinner at a back street cafe in Munich or in my case, a McDonalds, I tried so very hard to order my meal in German with my (exceedingly faltered GCSE) German accent and vocabulary only to realise that the man taking my order not only spoke almost fluent English but was pained by my German accent and deliverance. Having a German family myself you learn very quickly that they love you to speak English to them and unlike my side of the family’s talents in German, they are quick to learn and very enthusiastic to do so.

• Bottom line

Yet again, Germany is a surprisingly beautiful and fun place to stay, however Germany’s history is also very important to not only their own people but to the whole world.

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