While Germany is home to hundreds of castles, gardens and historic sites, a few very special ones have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If you are a fan of castles (or even not) you will love the Wartburg Castle, the Würzburg Residence, gardens and Residence Square and the medieval castles of Augustsburg and Falkenlust at Brühl.
You can travel along the route of the Roman Limes and explore ancient Roman ruins on "The Frontiers of the Roman Empire" historic trail or check out one of the only intact examples of an 18th century Ironworks factory at Völingen. With over 20 different museums, you need go no further than Museuminsel in Berlin to explore history and art through the ages.
If you are looking for a more idyllic stroll through the past, consider the palaces and gardens of Potsdam and Berlin, wander through the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz or drive through the historic Middle Rhine Valley.
If you want to focus on visiting historic cities and towns, consider some of the Historic Cities and Towns of Germany - World Heritage Sites.
Monastaries, cathedrals, and religious monuments naturally play a big role in history and in Germany you can get a good taste of these by visiting some of the most beautiful examples of Germany's Historic Cathedrals and Religous Sites - World Heritage Sites.
This magnificent Baroque palace – one of the largest and most beautiful in Germany is surrounded by wonderful gardens. It was built and decorated in the 18th century by an international team of renowned architects, painters, sculptors and stucco-workers. The artwork in the palace is absolutely vibrant with colors and rich in design.
Set in an idyllic garden landscape, Augustusburg Castle (the residence of the prince-archbishops of Cologne) and the Falkenlust hunting lodge are among the earliest examples of Rococo architecture in 18th-century Germany.
The “Roman Limes”stretch over 5,000 kms from the Atlantic coast of northern Britain, through Europe to the Black Sea, and from there to the Red Sea and across North Africa to the Atlantic coast. Ruins along this route include remains of the ramparts, walls and ditches, watchtowers, forts, and civilian settlements from the days of the Roman Empire.
Constructed between 1730 and 1916, Potsdam's complex of palaces and parks is a piece of art in and of itself. The beautiful Sans Souci Palace remains its centerpiece and the parks and palaces line the banks of the River Havel and Lake Glienicke.
The Ironworks in Völingen are the only intact example in western Europe of an integrated 19th century foundry.
Between 1919 and 1933, the Bauhaus School, based first in Weimar and then in Dessau, revolutionized architectural and aesthetic concepts and practices. Ever wondered what the term "It's very Bauhaus" meant? This is your chance to find out. The whole complex is dedicated to the Bauhaus school of architecture and provides fascinating insights into this great modern design movement.
The five museums on the Museumsinsel in Berlin, built between 1824 and 1930, are the realization of a visionary project and show the evolution of approaches to museum design over the course of the 20th century. The museum's collections trace the development of civilizations throughout the ages.
Wartburg Castle blends superbly into its forest surroundings and has retained some original sections from the feudal period. Its reconstruction in the 19th century provides a glimpse into what the fortress might have been at the height of its power.
(2000)The Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz is an exceptional example of landscape design and planning of the Age of the Enlightenment. Its outstanding buildings, landscaped parks and English gardens transport visitors to another time and place.
The 65km-stretch of the Middle Rhine Valley, with its castles, historic towns and vineyards, makes for an incredible drive through beautiful landscapes and extends from Koblenz to Bingen.
