historicgermany.com
#WeAreGermany Take the road less traveled!
HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS OF GERMANY
Monuments
Lifestyle
Heritage Experiences
Atmosphere Culture
www.germany.travel
Call +49 (0) 651 – 979 004 -60
About us
Historic Highlights of Germany It’s not only a logo or a tagline. Our Historic Highlights of Germany tourism brand is the consumer´s perception of Germany’s historic cities as a place to invest their precious time and money while traveling. It´s the sum total of what we promise to the traveler, and what they experience when they choose to spend time in our member cities.
Fourteen cities have teamed up to create the Historic Highlights of Germany. All member cities have been carefully selected and are perfect for travelers who wish to go beyond casual sightseeing and truly experience Germany’s rich culture and history. Augsburg, Erfurt, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Mainz, Münster, Osnabrück, Potsdam, Regensburg, Rostock, Trier, Wiesbaden and Würzburg are multifaceted destinations and each of these cities is steeped in history.
Free Travel Trade Services! Our passion for the brand “Historic Highlights of Germany” comes from our belief that it in order to stay profitable and marketable you must stay relevant. Our association is the way B2B is done and how professionals connect, collaborate and create new meaningful professional opportunities in today’s world. It’s never been easier to plan a fully independent FIT vacation OFF The beaten travel paths with us at your side! We are a full-service bureau for travel trade and have the experience and the relationships to provide your clients exactly what they are looking. We recognize that every GROUP is unique, are happy to cater to each individually, and can help you design a tour that matches the interests, budget, and travel abilities of your clients.
Perfect match for Travel Media! We have compiled a huge variety of interesting and lesser known facts, story ideas and information for editors, writers, freelancers – in whatever way you are related with the Travel Media. From special events to background information, your needs will be taken care of. Our press and blog trips can be organized on request. Publications and story angles must fit within our target market and promotion strategy. Approval of presstrip assistance is at the discretion of Historic Highlights of Germany headquarters, based on the type of publication, target audience and circulation/ unique visitor/ viewership numbers.
Services at a glance Information Ask specific questions, get help planning itineraries or incentives, get insider tips, or order brochures. Call +49 (0) 651 – 979 004 -60 info@historicgermany.com
Promotional Material Sales guides of all city partners and other sources of information are available through our headquarters. Call +49 (0) 651 – 979 004 -60 info@historicgermany.com
Advice and Assistance We are the ideal partner for supporting and facilitating your plans and we make it easy for you to plan trips to Germany. Visit our website www.historicgermany.com and join us on www.facebook.com/historicgermany for latest news and special promotions.
Fam Trips / Study Tours Offered annually in collaboration with the German National Tourist Board and our strategic partners. Further information: Call +49 (0) 651 – 979 004 -60 info@historicgermany.com
historicgermany.com
Calendar of annual events
Good reasons to choose our cities! Great composers such as Bach, Mozart and Wagner have left their mark on the historical cities. Their work is celebrated regularly at hugely popular music festivals. No matter what time of year you‘re visiting our cities, there are plenty of events to make your trip unforgettable. Discover community events such as art fairs, festivals and markets in unique venues.
JANUARY Trier, Wine Forum Moselle Around about 170 wines from Moselle, Saar and Ruwer are ready to be tasted. Enjoy the finest wines of the region in the relaxing atmosphere of the Forum Baths. Date: www.trier-info.de/english
Würzburg, Mozart Festival Highlights include “night music” performed by famous orchestras and international classical music stars in the beautifully lit garden of the Würzburg Residence and the rococo garden of Veitshöchheim Palace. Date: www.mozartfest-wuerzburg.de
FEBRUARY
JUNE
Freiburg, Alemannic Fasnet On Shrove Monday, (Rosenmontag) floats and colorful costumes can be seen on the streets. People hidden under wild, almost sinister masks play jokes on others until late at night. Date: www.freiburg.de
Heidelberg, Castle Illumination* Picturesque and otherworldly Bengal fires drench the ruined walls in a dazzling red light followed by brilliant fireworks display.
Mainz Carnival Known as the “fifth season of the year” it is a time when jesters rule the city, whose carnival anthem is “Mainz, oh how we sing and laugh in Mainz!” Date: www.touristik-mainz.de
Freiburg Wine Festival Münsterplatz square is full of Baden wines for Freiburg’s six-day wine festival which also attracts gourmets and wine enthusiasts from neighboring Switzerland and France. Date: www.freiburg.de
MARCH / APRIL Erfurt Bach Festival, April Works by Bach, his family and their contemporaries are performed in historical venues such as St Giles’ Church. Date: www.erfurt-tourismus.de
MAY Augsburg, Mozart Festival Germany’s “Mozart city” hosts a diverse musical and literary festival in historical venues. Date: www.mozartstadt.de Münster, Intern. Hanseatic League Day City tours focussing on the more than 625year Hanseatic history and the celebrated Hanseatic table, at which you will be served on the Prinzipalmarkt by the city’s retailers. Date: www.tourismus.muenster.de Osnabrück, May Festival Traditional dances are performed around colorful maypoles to welcome the merry month of May. Date: www.osnabrueck.de Wiesbaden, Intern. May Theatre Festival Opera, ballet and drama with outstanding performers in the Hessian State Theater. Date: www.staatstheater-wiesbaden.de
* additional events in July & September!
Dates: www.heidelberg-marketing.de
Potsdam, Sanssouci Music Festival The Music Festival is a rare opportunity to hear top artists performing in beautiful rooms and parks of the world-famous palaces and gardens of Berlin-Brandenburg. Date: www.potsdam-tourism.com
JULY Trier, Moselle Festival Trier’s famous embankment festival with live music and delicacies in the old fishermen’s village of Zurlauben. Date: www.trier-info.de Regensburg, Thurn and Taxis Festival The annual concert and theater festival is a delight for all senses – for the eyes and ears and of course for the palate. Date: www.thurnundtaxis.de Rostock, Warnemünde Week More than 2000 sailors and surfers compete every year before the coast of Warnemünde for world and European titles, world ranking points in all Olympic boat classes and the Laser European Cup. Date: www.warnemuender-woche.com Würzburg, “Hafensommer” Concerts, Comedy, Art and Theatre can be found on stage on the River Main surrounded by beautiful architecture and cheerful atmosphere. Date: www.wuerzburg.de
(JULY) AUGUST Erfurt, Cathedral Steps Festival Plays Once a year, the cathedral steps between the magnificent twin edifices of St Mary’s Cathedral and the Church of St Severus become one amazing stage. Date: www.erfurt-tourismus.de Koblenz, Rhine in Flames Europe’s biggest boat parade with over 80 boats passing castles and palaces illuminated by fireworks. Date: www.rhein-in-flammen.com Mainz Wine Festival* Once a year people meet up in Mainz municipal park and rose garden. If you prefer browsing for arts and crafts, the art market in the rose garden is for you. *additional event in September!
Date: www.mainzer-weinmarkt.de Potsdam Night of Palaces An opulent European program of theatre and music, literature, dancing and cabaret on more than ten stages. Date: www.schloessernacht-2010.de Rostock, Hanse Sail Regatta Rostock’s Hanse regatta is one of the largest maritime festivals in the world. Date: www.hansesail.com Wiesbaden, Rheingau Wine Festival Wine enthusiasts gather in Wiesbaden every August at the “longest” wine bar in the world. Date: www.wiesbaden.eu
(AUGUST) SEPTEMBER Heidelberg Autumn Fair, September All of Heidelberg’s old town is transformed into one big festive scene. About a dozen stages offer music entertainment, dance and performance art. Date: www.heidelberg-marketing.de Münster, “Schauraum” Festival This inspiring festival of art and culture transforms familiar locations in the city with light installations, open-air events and outdoor eateries. Date: www.tourismus.muenster.de Regensburg, Herbstdult The traditional beer fair, Regensburg’s mini-version of the Oktoberfest. Date: www.regensburg.de/tourism
Call +49 (0) 651 – 979 004 -60
History up YOUR life!
Our Highlights: Our tagline “History up Your life!” is a personal invitation to the traveler to explore the diversity and quality of the Historic Highlights of Germany member cities. The time will be too short to get a proper impression of all. Learn more about our must sees:
Augsburg • Renaissance Town Hall with its Golden Hall • Maximilian Museum with its Renaissance bronze statues and grand fountain • The Fuggerei is the oldest public housing project in the world. • Interact with famous Augsburg merchant families of the late 15th and 16th centu ries in the Fugger and Welser Museum.
Erfurt • St Severus and St Mary’s Cathedral – Gloriosa, the cathedral bell, is one of the largest in the world. • Old Synagogue – 11th century, the oldest fully intact synagogue in central Europe. • The Merchants’ Bridge (Krämerbrücke), is the longest series of inhabited buildings on any bridge in Europe. • Erfurt Augustinian Monastery – Martin Luther memorial site
Freiburg • Freiburg Minster (Münster) with its intricate, openwork spire and waterspout sculptures • The Augustinermuseums main attractions are the original stone figures and glass windows of Freiburg Minster. • Picturesque Fischerau Quarter and Wiehre Art Nouveau Quarter with student cafés and restaurants
Heidelberg • Heidelberg Castle – famous landmark with its Great Vat and the German Apothecary Museum. • Palatinate Museum – art and culture including the Twelve Apostles Altar by Tilman Riemenschneider • Historical student pubs (Zum Roten Ochsen, Schnookeloch, Zum Sepp’l) • Studentenkarzer: misbehaving college students were locked up in the University of Heidelberg’s private prison.
Koblenz • Spectacular cable car trip across the Rhine river to Ehrenbreitstein fortress • New instructive interactive ROMANTI- CUM featuring the romantic Upper Middle Rhine (UNESCO World Herite site) and the area’s history
• Stolzenfels Castle – crowning glory of Rhine Romanticism with its fabulous architecture and beautifully decorated halls and rooms. • Deutsches Eck (German Corner) land mark of Koblenz where the Moselle joins the Rhine
Mainz • St Martin’s Cathedral – 1000 year-old Roman Catholic cathedral • Stained-glass windows by Chagall in St Stephen’s Church • Isis and Mater Magna shrine – sensational view of religious cults in the Roman period • Gutenberg Museum – the highlight is the reconstruction of an old printing work shop.
Münster • Prinzipalmarkt Square and Town hall (European Heritage Label site) with Hall of Peace (Friedenssaal) • St Paul’s Cathedral – Astronomical clock, cathedral treasury • The outstanding LWL Museum of Art and Culture: 1,000 years of art and cultural history • The Pablo Picasso Museum displays over 800 of his drawings, prints and lithographic works.
Osnabrück • Felix Nussbaum House – Museum and first building of Daniel Libeskind in Germany • Old Quarter with Romanesque Cathedral and Steinwerke (vaulted houses) • Town Hall of the Westphalian Peace (European Heritage Label site) • Kunsthalle Dominikanerkirche (Art Gallery Dominican Church)
Potsdam • Large number of palaces and gardens, UNESCO World Heritage Site • Sanssouci Palace – magnificent summer residence of Frederick the Great • New Palace with its majestic interiors featuring the Marble Hall (Marmorsaal), Grotto Hall (Grottensaal), the Concert Room (Konzertzimmer) and an own Palace Theatre • Baroque Old Town and Dutch Quarter
Regensburg • Thurn and Taxis Royal Palace with cloister and Royal Stables Museum • St Peter’s Cathedral – foremost Gothic church in Bavaria • Old Quarter with Porta Praetoria and Old Stone Bridge (UNESCO World Heri tage Site) • Regensburger Domspatzen – the famous boys’ choir sings High Mass in the cathedral
Rostock • Old Town and University, the oldest university in the Baltic region • St Mary’s church with its Astronomical clock • Alter Strom – shopping street with inviting cafés, fishermen’s taverns and boutiques in the seaside district of Warnemünde • Brick Gothic town houses – rust-colored stepped gables and decorative features
Trier • Porta Nigra and roman monuments (UNESCO World Heritage Site) • Trier Cathedral – oldest episcopal church in Germany and Cathedral Museum • Archaeological Museum (Landesmuseum) – art and artifacts of international standing. • Karl Marx House – the birthplace of Karl Marx serves as a museum today
Wiesbaden • Kaiser-Friedrich-Therme – unique Art Nouveau thermal baths • Kurhaus with Casino – a parlor here is dedicated to Fyodor Dostoevsky who was a frequent guest. • Neroberg funicular railway and Russian Church
Würzburg • Würzburg Palace (UNESCO World Heritage Site) • Main-Franconian Museum has the world’s largest Riemenschneider collection • Old Main River Bridge and Marienberg Fortress • Three of Germany’s four largest wine estates: the Bürgerspital, Juliusspital and Staatlicher Hofkeller
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Itinerary Planning
Journeys through Germany HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS OF GERMANY
Our aim is to suggest tours with a rich cultural experience, friendly environment and a relaxing time. With six themed German Heritage Routes and four Christmas Heritage Routes, our member cities offer featured itineraries for individual planning.
Roman Heritage Journey
Gentle vineyard slopes that have produced fine wines since ancient times, and rivers, shrouded in myth and legend. A tour of discovery through the cities on the Rhine and Moselle rivers enthrals the senses with high-calibre culture and internationally acclaimed wines. www.historicgermany.travel/wine
Traces of the great Roman civilization are still very much in evidence in southwest Germany where the oldest cities all have Roman origins and date back more than 2,000 years. The Roman-themed Dream Route takes you from the former capital of the western Empire to the thermal baths, military camps and forts. www.historicgermany.travel/romans
Hanseatic Heritage Journey
Romantic Heritage Journey
The German Hanseatic League, or Hanse, was only one of many guilds of traders that existed in the Middle Ages, but its important historical role made it one of the best known. Magnificent town houses and other prestigious buildings still bear witness to the power and riches of the medieval merchants. www.historicgermany.travel/hanse
Fairytale palaces, enchanting old quarters with pavement cafés, ancient stone bridges, centuries-old markets and rivers straight from the pages of a storybook with castles perched on vineyard slopes. Germany had – and still has – scenery that poets, composers and painters elegantly captured in print, music and on canvas. www.historicgermany.travel/romanticism
Germany is dotted with impressive buildings left behind by the great rulers and royal dynasties who reigned supreme over its various territories. Discover the Germany of emperors and electors, whose legacy of splendor and extravagance still has the power to take your breath away. www.historicgermany.travel/emperors
Luther Heritage Journey Martin Luther’s ideas of ecclesiastical reforms (1517) sparked many changes and set the Reformation in motion. Historic places out of the life of Martin Luther and the Reformation can still be experienced as a travel itinerary through historical cities. www.historicgermany.travel/reformation
IN KM
Au
DISTANCES
Augsburg
Germany by Rail! Experience the culture and history in our enchanting cities. DB Bahn takes you to your Historic Highlight while passing the most beautiful river valleys and fairytale castles. Fly to any major German airport and connect directly to Deutsche Bahns’s rail and service network. Train travel comes at low prices with the German Rail Pass or Sparpreis (Saving Fare). Check www.bahn.com for details!
375 330 273 431 364 624 612 539 149 758 435 367 247
Erfurt
375
Freiburg
330 515
Heidelberg
273 337 186
Koblenz
431 313 332 169
Mainz
364 283 265 94 106
Münster
624 350 541 358 241 281
Osnabrück
612 327 596 413 295 336 60
Potsdam
539 284 778 598 576 546 443 389
Regensburg
149 325 470 315 442 363 595 579 458
Rostock
758 503 940 758 699 705 464 416 224 676
Trier
435 426 298 200 127 151 313 367 688 503 761
Wiesbaden
367 281 281 98 98 21 266 319 542 356 693 152
Würzburg
247 196 320 165 233 153 382 384 458 211 676 294 148
1 km = 0,62 Miles
Germany by Rail
Er
Imperial Heritage Journey
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Wine Heritage Journey
515 337 313 283 350 327 284 325 503 426 281 196 186 332 265 541 596 778 470 940 298 281 320 169 94 358 413 598 315 758 200 98 165 106 241 295 576 442 699 127 98 233 281 336 546 363 705 151 21 153 60 443 595 464 313 266 382 389 579 416 367 319 384 458 224 688 542 458 676 503 356 211 761 693 676 152 294 148
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Strategic Partners
Our Network Model
Photo credits: HHoG/ Takano, Yachthafenresidenz Hohe Düne, Landeshauptstadt Mainz, Heidelberg Marketing GmbH, Staatlicher Hofkeller Würzburg, Münster Marketing, Mozartfest Würzburg/ Oliver Lang, Björn Rudek, Ron Stern, Barbara Neumann, DB Bahn AG
Historic Highlights of Germany would like to help travelers get to destinations off the beaten travel paths. We work with strong partners to market and sell our travel products and provide our free support services through a variety of sales channels. Be part of our network!
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Contact us Historic Highlights of Germany HEADQUARTERS Simeonstrasse 55 DE-54290 Trier Germany t +49 (0) 651 – 979 004 60 f +49 (0) 651 – 979 004 62 info@historicgermany.com www.historicgermany.com
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