1. Germany boasts stunning landscapes, from the Alps to the Baltic Sea
Germany is a Central European country with a diverse range of landscapes, reaching from the Alps in the south to the Baltic Sea in the north. In total, the country shares borders with nine other European countries: Poland, Czechia, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
While one-third of Germany is covered in forests and woodlands, the country counts over 2,100 castles and 130,500 miles (210,000 km) of hiking trails, waiting to be explored. Other features of Germany’s landscape include:
- The Bavarian Alps: These mountains in the south offer stunning scenery, outdoor activities, and famous castles like Neuschwanstein.
- The Black Forest: Known for its woods, villages, and traditional cuckoo clocks, this region is perfect for hiking and exploring nature.
- The Rhine Valley: Famous for its river views, vineyards, and medieval castles, the Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- The Harz Mountains: This low mountain range in central Germany is known for its forests, towns, and mining sites.
- The Wadden Sea: A unique coastal wetland area along the North Sea coast, known for its opportunities for mudflat hiking.
With the daylight saving time in summer, you can make the best use of your days outdoors!
>>> READ MORE: Summer Camps for Teens – Ultimate Guide
The Hochkalter mountain range, located in the stunning Berchtesgaden National Park in Bavaria, Germany, features the majestic 2,607-meter Hochkalter peak.
2. The German language is complex and full of unique words
The metro sign for Mümmelmannsberg station; make sure you are listening carefully so you don’t miss your stop!
German is anything but easy. It is the official language of Germany, spoken by over 90 million native speakers worldwide. There are a lot of German words that can not be equivalently translated into other languages. For example, when expressing the lust for a travel adventure, Germans use the word “Fernweh“.
Moreover, the German language is known for its long and complicated words, that are not only difficult to pronounce but tricky to remember by both native speakers and non-natives. With 79 letters, the longest word in the German language is “Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft”, which describes the staff of a hydroelectric power station on the Danube.
Practice your German reading skills with these tricky words:
- Betäubungsmittelverschreibungsverordnung
- Datenverarbeitungsüberwachungsaufgaben
3. Germans love their beer, bread, and sausages, with thousands of varieties
Currywurst is even available in ready-to-eat packages at supermarkets everywhere. Got to fill that Currywurst craving.
In Germany, there are about 5,000 different types of beer, 3,000 types of bread, and 1,500 types of sausages.
Germans are renowned for their beer consumption, ranking among the top beer-consuming countries globally. In Bavaria, the state with the biggest beer Festival in the world – the Oktoberfest – beer is even considered a food.
The country is also popular for its variety of bread and sausages. The most beloved sausage – with 800 million eaten every year – is the famous Currywurst. The snack is so popular that there was even a museum dedicated to the sausage in Germany’s capital city Berlin.
4. The Second World War left surprising legacies like the Volkswagen Beetle and Fanta
World War II had a significant impact on Germany’s history, leading to the division of the country into East Germany and West Germany. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked a crucial moment, leading to the reunification of the nation.
But did you know that the wartime periods created these two popular products?
- Volkswagen Beetle: The iconic Volkswagen Beetle was originally designed in 1938 as part of a Nazi project to create a “people’s car” (Volkswagen) that was affordable and practical for the average German family. It became one of the most popular cars worldwide after the war. And for fueling sibling rivalries during heated games of Slug Bug (Punch Buggy).
- Fanta: During the war Coca-Cola syrup was difficult to import into Nazi Germany. To keep the business running, the German branch of the company created a new drink using available ingredients, which led to the creation of Fanta.
5. Many everyday essentials, like the printing press and MP3 technology, were invented in Germany
Germany has been the birthplace of many significant inventions and innovations across various fields. Have a look into five more inventions that we can’t live without today:
- Printing Press: Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable-type printing press in the mid-15th century, revolutionizing the spread of knowledge and information.
- Gummy bears: Hans Rigel invented the gummy bear in 1920 and founded the German sweet company Haribo.
- Kindergarten: Friedrich Froebel founded the first kindergarten in 1837, introducing the concept of early childhood education and emphasizing learning through play.
- X-Rays: Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays in 1895, a breakthrough in medical imaging that earned him the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.
- MP3 Technology: The MP3 audio format was developed by a team of engineers led by Karlheinz Brandenburg at the Fraunhofer Institute in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
6. Driving in Germany is unique with the high-speed Autobahn and narrow streets
In Germany you can find the world’s narrowest street, the Spreuerhofstraße, as well as the longest Autobahn (highway) network in Europe with a stretch of 7,000 miles (11,265 km). Driving on German highways can be an exciting experience! About 65% of the Autobahn has no general speed limit, but it is generally recommended to drive about 80 mph (130 km/h).
