"Cologne, or Köln, is 43 miles by rail from Aix-la-Chapelle. This famous city was originally the chief town of the ancient Ubii, the Oppidum Ubiorum of Tacitus; but it became known as Colonia Agrippina from A. D 51, when Agrippina, who was born here while her father Germanicus held command in the district, induced her [...]

A bus tour is always a good way to be introduced to a new city, and the daily Heidelberg City Bus Tour is attractive and efficient. Should you prefer to be on your own, public transport around Heidelberg is not difficult, even if your German isn’t quite up to the mark. Taxis are plentiful, and [...]

  From Goethe to Mark Twain, Artists Have Loved It   Oh, to be in Heidelberg, now that April’s here! One of the loveliest cities of Europe, the great German university city of Heidelberg stretches along both sides of the wide Neckar River, a tributary of the Rhine. Pleasure boats thread a leisurely path along [...]

MUNICH: Chic, cosmopolitan, carefree and kitschy: Bavaria’s capital and one of Germany’s biggest cities has more than an ample offering of great museums, architectural treasures, historic sites and world-class hotels, restaurants and shops. Add in its abundance of lederhosen and oompah bands and the overall feeling of Gemutlichkeit, or conviviality, and you see what makes [...]

NURNBERG: This city celebrated its 900th birthday in 1950 and the scars of World War II were still fresh. Nurnberg was once the ideal of medieval splendor but lost that legacy in the ashes of war. No other German city, except Dresden, suffered the devastation that Nurnberg did in a single air raid. On January [...]

Frankfurt: With 36 museums, innumerable galleries, theaters and nightclubs, Frankfurt stands tall on the German cultural skyline. Comprehensive art collections and special interest exhibitions attract the artistic. Opera performances and the Museum Concerts lead by world famous conductors draw music lovers, the Tigerpalasi, (Tiger Palace) presents international cabaret stars and the Festhalle (Festival Hall) hosts [...]

Cologne (Koln): The major city in western Germany’s industrial heartland, its best known sight is the mighty Gothic Dom. This Cathedral has a rich history, dating back to the 4th Century. The nearby old town has interesting monuments, squares and other traces of its 2000 year history. Right next to the Cathedral is the Roman-Germanic [...]

HAMBURG: A major port with plenty to keep maritime fans interested, offers nice boat trips around the harbor. You’ll pass docks and through the old warehouse district. In the center of the city are several lakes, popular spots to relax in good weather. Take an Alster Tour by steamer. This tour takes you along Alster [...]

Ludwig had no interest in state affairs, loathed his family, despised the court, and considered the aristocracy ridiculous. He also hated everything to do with armies and war, which was unfortunate considering that he reigned during the wars of German unification. Days before Prussia declared war on Austria and Bavaria, Ludwig proclaimed, "A war? There [...]

LEIPZIG might be your next train stop. A popular venue for trade shows, congresses and commerce this entertainment metropolis has old Renaissance and Baroque architecture, historical trading centers and malls with all modernized and restored facilities providing a stylish paradise for shoppers and sightseers. The Gewandhaus Concert Hall, the Opera House, the St. Thomas Choir, [...]