Destination Germany

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March 2012

PARKS & PALACES An exciting tour across the ages

SPIRIT CAST IN STONE Abbeys, churches and monasteries in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg

REGIONS OF CULTURE Brandenburg | Niedersachsen

© RTG / Lueger

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Modern culture and ideas factories in listed industrial areas and much more besides – that’s Metropolis Ruhr. www.ruhr-tourismus.de/en

Sponsored by:

CONTENTS

© Stadtmarketingesell. Wolfenbüttel mbH & Co. KG

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Cities of Culture Treat yourself to an exciting tour across the ages – from romantic castles and sumptuous palaces and parks, to pioneering architectural masterpieces.

05 HOTEL KRONPRINZ BERLIN Your home from home

05 HOTEL MUTTERHAUS DÜSSELDORF A Dü sseldorf hotel like no other

Regions of Culture 06 BRANDENBURG 2012 marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of Frederick the Great.

From April, an exhibition in Potsdam will be showcasing the latest research into the military genius – whose life as Prussian king was inextricably bound up with France – including new revelations about his various ties with Britain.

10 NIEDERSACHSEN

© TMB Fotoarchiv/Boettcher

04 PALACES, PARKS & PIONEERS

Niedersachsen is certainly one of the best regions to visit because it combines wonderfully varied scenery with fascinating towns and cities and great cultural heritage.

You can also discover the part Germany plays in the story of the British Royal Family.

1 Wolfenbüttel St. Mary’s Church 2 Potsdam Sanssouci Park 3 Düsseldorf Dyck Palace 4 Calw Hirsau Monastery

Monasteries, abbeys and churches – particularly those in the south of Germany – are extremely rewarding destinations. Often it is the peaceful spots that make the deepest impression and stay longest in the memory.

15 SCHMUCKMUSEUM PFORZHEIM Five thousand years of jewellery

Destination Germany – charming • fascinating • enticing is published as a supplement to BMW Club, Porsche Club, Mercedes-Benz Owners & Mercedes-Benz Owners Club UK Magazines March 2012 Publisher: Typeline Werbeagentur GmbH & Co.KG, Hanauer Landstraße 192 DE-60314 Frankfurt, Phone +49 (0)69 95 14 490, hallo@typeline.de, www.typeline.de Cover picture: New City Hall in Hannover © PantherMedia.net/Daniel Schidlowski Translation: LingServe Limited, www.lingserve.com Text reprints and picture reprints or copies only with prior permission.

All information obtained from sources at the stated organisations and companies. As at February 2012.

© PantherMedia.net/Peter Kirschner

© Foto: Stiftung Schloss Dyck

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Oberwesel Schönburg Castle in Oberwesel

PALACES, PARKS & PIONEERS A journey through time In Germany, it’s easy to experience history and culture at close hand. More than 30 sites have already been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status and there are many more promising candidates.

Treat yourself to an exciting tour across the ages – from the Middle Ages to the modern age.

Rhine in Flames: Some of the prettiest sections of the Rhine form the backdrop for the Rhine in Flames firework extravaganza every year from May to September. Bengal lights immerse the riverside walks and attractions between Rüdesheim and Bonn in a magical sea of red.

Romantic Castles along the River The best way to experience the World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley is by boat. The valley extends north for 65 kilometres, through breathtaking countryside, where steep vine-clad terraces are crowned with a total of 28 majestic castles and palaces – or what remains of them. Visitors continuing as far as Bonn will spot as many as 60 of these hilltop jewels and, long before the legendary Loreley rock is reached, will begin to feel the magic of this place; a magic that cast its spell over creative souls such as Heinrich Heine, William Turner and Victor Hugo, and found its expression in Rhine Romanticism. The castles have evocative names such as Pfalzgrafenstein, Rheinstein, Stahleck, Rheinfels, Liebenstein, Lahneck and Stolzenfels, ending with the defiantsounding Ehrenbreitstein Fortress near Koblenz.

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It may be hard to believe, but many of these edifices are relics of the 19th-century fascination with the Middle Ages and have never played host to a single knight.

Picturesque Parks and Palaces Just before Cologne is the town of Brühl, whose Augustusburg Palace (the favourite residence of Clemens August of Bavaria, Elector and Archbishop of Cologne) and adjoining Falkenlust hunting lodge are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Both are outstanding examples of the rococo style in Germany. With stuccoes and marble, paintings and sculptures, the ensemble brings together some of the finest elements of the 18th century creative explosion in an equally exquisite parkland setting. Any visitors still to be persuaded of the beauty of German palaces should continue their journey up the Rhine to Düsseldorf, where Benrath Palace awaits. This magnificent, late-baroque building with its extensive park was erected as a summer residence for Elector Palatine Carl Theodor and today houses several museums including one dedicated to European garden design. Located to the west of Düsseldorf is another example of late-baroque architecture: enchanting Dyck Palace, which has remained virtually unchanged since the mid-17th century and with its moat and English landscaped gardens is one of the Rhineland’s cultural highlights. Another must-see for history fans are the picturesque ruins of medieval Kaiserswerth Castle, which was built in 1180 by ‘Barbarossa’, the Holy Roman Emperor

© PantherMedia.net/Anna Reinert; Jasper Grahl

Highlight

If you ask international visitors to Germany what their favourite destinations are, at least two come up time and time again: the first is, of course, the capital Berlin – a buzzing city, which has everything (and more) that an urban soul could desire – and the second is the Rhine. This myth-enshrouded river, the longest in Europe, has provided many a fairytale backdrop for great Romantics, and particularly between Bingen and Koblenz. Both Berlin and the Rhine are home to UNESCO World Heritage sites and are intensely enriching travel destinations – from romantic castles and sumptuous palaces and parks, to pioneering architectural masterpieces.

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Düsseldorf Benrath Palace

Berlin Museum Island

© PantherMedia.net/Peter Nick; Anna Leopolder

Frederick I, on the banks of the river. History doesn’t tell us whether Frederick the Great of Prussia felt totally free of cares in Sanssouci Palace, his Potsdam residence to the south-west of Berlin. What is certain, however, is that the palace and its 300 hectares of parkland form the centrepiece of the UNESCO World Heritage site ‘Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin’.

The Capital City of Culture Switching from the Rhine to the Spree will allow us to hop over to Berlin’s Museum Island, one of Germany’s leading World Heritage sites. The unique ensemble, which was given World Heritage status in 1999, is being fully renovated and restored as part of the Masterplan Museuminsel project, which runs until 2015. In common with much of Berlin, Museum Island bears many of the hallmarks of the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel.

His Altes Museum, first opened in 1830, is modelled on a Greek temple and houses the classical antiquities collection of the National

Museums of Berlin, together with displays on the world of the Etruscans and the Romans. Then there is the Old National Gallery, with its 19th-century paintings and sculptures, the Bode Museum (notable for its Byzantine art) and the Pergamon Museum with its famous Pergamon altar. A visit to the Neues Museum is also a must. Dating back to 1855, it was rebuilt to plans by acclaimed British architect David Chipperfield and houses the iconic bust of the Egyptian Queen Nefertiti. The Berlin Modernism Housing Estates were less ostentatious but years ahead of their time. Built in the 1920s, they are still influential in the field of contemporary housing development design and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008.

There are a total of six of these housing estates in Berlin, and their efficiently laid-out, affordable flats enabled poorer people to achieve a higher standard of living. The best known of these is Siemensstadt (Siemens town), which was designed

by Walter Gropius amongst others; one of the loveliest is Falkenberg garden city.

Highlight UNESCO World Heritage Day 3 June 2012 This year’s UNESCO World Heritage Day will be dedicated to Potsdam’s celebrations for the 300th anniversary of Frederick the Great’s birth, with the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation placing Frederick the Great’s garden at the centre of the festivities.

Romantik Hotel Kronprinz Berlin

Hotel MutterHaus Düsseldorf

Your home from home

A Düsseldorf hotel like no other

What a location – a classical Berlin town house, built in 1894, surrounded by impressive chestnut trees – surprisingly quiet, yet just a step away from the famous Kurfürstendamm with its restaurants and luxury designer shops. The Kronprinz awaits you!

This fabulous hotel, set in an idyllic park in picturesque DüsseldorfKaiserswerth, offers home comforts and luxury in a fine historical building. There are 55 beautifully furnished guest rooms and a range of function rooms (20-212 m²). The kitchen serves fresh, varied cuisine – also made with quality organic ingredients. www.hotel-mutterhaus.de

www.kronprinz-hotel.de Kronprinzendamm 1 | DE-10711 Berlin Tel. +49 (0)308 96 030 | info@kronprinz-hotel.de

Geschwister-Aufricht-Str.1 | DE-40489 Düsseldorf Tel. +49 (0)211 61 727-0 | info@hotel-mutterhaus.de

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Potsdam Exhibition ‘Friederisiko’

Film Museum

BRANDENBURG 300th Birthday of Frederick the Great From April 2012, an exhibition in Potsdam will be showcasing the latest research into the military genius – whose life as Prussian king was inextricably bound up with France – including new revelations about his various ties with Britain. All the more reason to pay a visit to Potsdam.

www.friederisiko.de www.spsg.de www.filmmuseum-potsdam.de www.preussisches-arkadien.de You will find more fantastic holiday ideas at www.brandenburg-tourism.com

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A new take on ‘Old Fritz’ The Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation (Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten) aims to shed new light on Frederick the Great with its exhibition ‘Friederisiko’ (a title combining his German name Friedrich and the German word for ‘risk’). The ‘Friederisiko’ exhibition can be seen from 28 April to 28 October 2012 at the New

Palace and Sanssouci Palace Park in Potsdam.

This new take on the Prussian king will unfold 12 thematic topics about the king and his times in 70 halls and rooms of the New Palace, some extensively restored and newly accessible. www.friederisiko.de A curator talks about the European view of Frederick the Great Thomas Biskup is one of the curators of the ‘Friederisiko’ exhibition and a lecturer in early and modern history at the University of Hull. He has spent many years researching 18th century Prussia. The section of the exhibition entitled ‘Europe and the world’ shows for the first time what Prussia‘s neighbours such as Poland, France and Britain thought of Frederick and his actions.

For Biskup, it is time for a new picture of Frederick to emerge: “We still tend to think in terms of 19th century categories, which is what makes this exhibition so exciting. Frederick was not a frugal servant of his state, he was a courtly sovereign who dreamed of taking his place among the great rulers of world history and who strove to emulate the ‘Sun King’, Louis XIV of France.”

© SPSG/Wolfgang Pfauder; SPSG/Peter Adamik

More information

On 24 January 2012 Potsdam and the Brandenburg region surrounding Berlin celebrated the 300th birthday of Frederick the Great, who in 1740 was pronounced king in Prussia and in 1772 King of Prussia. Frederick had earned the sobriquet ‘the Great’ in his own lifetime, after a 46-year reign. Among the people, he was – and is still today – known as ‘Old Fritz’. But how ‘great’ was he really? Today, Frederick is one of history’s most contradictory ruling figures – a highly educated, tolerant art lover on the one hand, and a vainglorious foreign-policy aggressor on the other. The Prussian king is remembered for his love of all things French, but new research reveals his ties with Britain to be stronger than previously assumed.

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© TMB Fotoarchiv/Boettcher; SPSG/Roland Handrick; TMB Fotoarchiv, Zibell

Sanssouci Palace

Frederick as an anglophile ruler The history of Prussia is more closely linked to Britain than first thought. There were, of course, the familial relationships between the two royal families. But people across the English Channel were also obviously wary of Frederick’s ambitions.

For a long time, Britain regarded the young Prussian king as a power-hungry upstart. English philosophers and writers from John Locke to Isaac Newton thought very highly of Frederick the Great, as did Voltaire. The Prussian did not, however, get along with King George II, his uncle on his mother Sophia Dorothea’s side. Like the rest of us, he was able to choose his friends but not his family. Despite their differences, the two kings negotiated the Treaty of Westminster at the end of 1755. It was a political marriage of convenience from which both drew benefit.

Frederick agreed not to attack the Electorate of Hanover, which George ruled in proxy. In doing so, he provoked the anger of France, Britain’s biggest political rivals on the world stage, which entered into an anti-Prussian alliance with Austria at the beginning of the Seven Years’ War. Britain was Frederick’s only major ally during the conflict.

The British benefited from the fact that Prussia was tying up French resources in central Europe, allowing them to consolidate their empire at the expense of France. The ‘Friederisiko’ exhibition posits this conflict as the real ‘first world war’.

In Britain, because of the war against Catholic Austria, Frederick was seen as a “Protestant hero, who is subjugating the dark forces of Catholicism.”

As Thomas Biskup says: “People simply over-

looked the fact that Frederick was an atheist.”

Today, there are still pubs in England with names such as the ‘King of Prussia’ or ‘Frederick’ – a vestige of his past popularity.

At the court of the Prussian king Educated individuals who opposed the British monarchy rapidly found sought-after posts at the court of Frederick the Great. Among their number were the Scottish Earl Marischal George Keith (1693 - 1778) and his brother James, regarded as traitors in their homeland because they helped in the uprising against the British monarchy.

Frederick appointed George as envoy to France (a post of the greatest importance at the time), and James as general and governor of the Principality of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. The hat of war hero James Keith was even found in the foundation’s storerooms and will be on display in the ‘Friederisiko’ exhibition. We know that George Keith was one of the most outstanding personalities at Frederick the Great’s court.

Despite brief return trips to Scotland in 1761 and 1763 - 64, he eventually settled in Prussia for good, dying in Potsdam. Stand on the terrace of Sanssouci Palace and you will see Keith House, in which the Scot once lived. Its proximity to the palace reflects the close bond between the king and his French envoy and confidant. Every other month in 2012, there will be a staged guided walk in the company of the Earl Marischal of Scotland, run by the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation. www.spsg.de

TIP

If you are thinking of touring the palaces, gardens and churches of Brandenburg, why not let someone else do the driving? Simply take your seat in the coach and let the driver and your guide do the rest. Day trips including lunch, coffee and cake to around four towns in Brandenburg cost €69.00 per person.

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TIP

The Potsdam Sanssouci tour is the perfect introduction for visitors to Potsdam. Not only will you find out all about the city, but you will also get a good look inside Sanssouci Palace.

The tour lasts 3.5 hours and costs €27.00 per person (1 Apr - 31 Oct 2012, daily except Mondays). The tour departs at 11 am from Luisenplatz square.

Medieval games then and now at Le Carrousel In 1750, Frederick the Great held a great tournament in the Berlin ‘pleasure garden’ after he had secured Silesia in the War of Austrian Succession and established Prussia as a leading power. The ‘Carrousel de Berlin’, as it was called, was the event for the Prussian king’s court and for other courts across Europe. Frederick paid tribute to his family and to himself as the ‘Sun King’ of the 18th century. Participants in colourful costumes staged a public medieval tournament.

There was ring racing, jousting and other equestrian challenges. All this was witnessed by Voltaire, Frederick the Great’s ‘PR officer’, who willingly reported to the whole of Europe on the pomp of the Prussian court. “Unfortunately”, explains Thomas Biskup regretfully, “much has been lost over the centuries, including the special equestrian skills.” Thanks to coloured drawings, however, it has been possible to replicate the historical costumes. In July 2012, the ‘king’ of all courtly festivals, the baroque carrousel, is being recreated for a modern audience. ‘Le Carrousel de Sanssouci’ will be held outside the New Palace in Potsdam to mark the 300th anniversary of Frederick the Great’s birth. Tickets are already on sale. Dates: 19 - 22 July 2012 www.hoefische-festspiele.de Other exhibitions in Potsdam Even more background information about the Prussian king is revealed at Potsdam Film Museum. ‘Frederick II of Prussia – Unduly Famous’ (24 Jan - 3 Mar 2013) takes a closer look at

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Grotto Hall

Frederick the Great on the big screen. The House of Brandenburg and Prussian History (Haus der Brandenburgisch-Preußischen Geschichte) presents ‘King & Potato – Frederick the Great and the Prussian Tartufoli’ (20 July 28 October 2012) and the Potsdam Museum will feature ‘Frederick and Potsdam – the Invention of a City’ (20 August - 2 December 2012).

June 2012 also sees the world premiere of a musical based on Frederick the Great’s life in Potsdam’s Metropolis Hall.

Some enchanted evening: Potsdamer Schlössernacht 2012 Why not make the ‘Potsdamer Schlössernacht’ (Potsdam Night of the Palaces) the highlight of a weekend break in Potsdam, the UNESCO World Heritage city, from 17 to 19 August 2012?

In beautifully illuminated Sanssouci Park, the former summer paradise of the Prussian kings, entertainment amongst the palaces and themed gardens comes courtesy of storytellers, living statues, musicians, elf-like characters, stilt artists and pastorals. Nowhere else is the Prussian baroque shown in all its pomp and glory better than in the grounds of Sanssouci Palace. The multi-faceted programme features more than 350 performers at over ten venues and open-air stages. At Sanssouci Palace there will be choral songs from the neo-classical and Romantic period as well as courtly dances of the rococo and baroque. The chamber orchestra of Berlin will be playing the finest waltzes by Strauss and Tchaikovsky at the orangery. Performances of

© TMB Fotoarchiv/Boettcher; SPSG

Potsdam Chinese House

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New Palace

the ‘Ballet Baroque’ against the backdrop of the orangery cascade promise to be a particularly special experience. The Brandenburg Youth Symphony Orchestra will be playing the final concert of its 2012 world tour on the stage by the New Palace. During the Night of the Palaces, a multitude of acclaimed bands and ensembles set the scene with lively South American rhythms, fiery flamenco, tango, swing and jazz. The highlight of this year’s festival will as ever be the Night of the Palaces firework spectacular, held at midnight outside the New Palace. But with the palaces illuminated, 15 kilometres of lit paths, street musicians, acrobats and mini classical music formations, even a stroll through the park will be an experience to remember. A selection of gourmet food and drink rounds off the evening. www.potsdamer-schloessernacht.de

Happy times in Rheinsberg Palace Further afield from Potsdam, Rheinsberg Palace is a must-see attraction in the Brandenburg region. Frederick the Great spent his youth in the residence, a time which he himself said was the happiest of his life. Rheinsberg Palace lies on the shores of Lake Grienerick and is perfect for waterside strolls. Throughout the year in the palace and park, Rheinsberg Music Academy will be presenting concerts, readings and performances on the theme of ‘300 flutes for Frederick’.

In July, the Rheinsberg Palace Chamber Opera performs ‘Crown Prince Frederick’ in the palace theatre. Another highlight in the Havelland region, west of Berlin, is the Havelland Music Festival beginning in February 2012, which turns its attention to Frederick the Great and Johann Sebastian Bach and their famous encounter

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TIP

‘Frederick at 300 – a king in his homeland’ (five-day trip): A circular tour through the Brandenburg region with stops in Neuruppin, Rheinsberg and Zernikow. In Potsdam there is a guided walk, plus visits to Sanssouci Palace Park and the Frederick the Great exhibition in the New Palace. You will also have time to visit Berlin.

Price: €405.00 per person sharing a double room.

© SPSG; TMB Fotoarchiv, Mundt

Rheinsberg Palace

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Marienburg Castle Aerial view

Hannover Panoramic view of Herrenhausen Gardens

Castles and palaces, parks and gardens, churches and museums – visitors to Germany will discover these in abundance in the northern state of Niedersachsen, framed by the North Sea, the Harz and the Weser and Elbe rivers.

There are so many reasons why Germany is an attractive holiday destination. Niedersachsen is certainly one of the best regions to visit because it combines wonderfully varied scenery with fascinating towns and cities and great cultural heritage. You can also discover the part Germany plays in the story of the British Royal Family.

TourismusMarketing Niedersachsen GmbH Essener Str. 1 DE-30173 Hannover Tel. +49 (0)511 270 488 0 Fax +49 (0)511 270 488 88 info@tourismusniedersachsen.de www.niedersachsen-tourism.com

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Of fairytale castles and glorious gardens The Guelph dynasty, the oldest royal house in Europe, left a remarkable legacy of cultural treasures in Niedersachsen and it is well worth making a trip to the region for these alone. A fine example is neo-Gothic Marienburg Castle, which sits in splendour above the Leine valley like a fairytale palace. Formerly the Guelph summer residence, the castle was a gift from King George V of Hannover to his wife Marie and remains in private ownership to this day. Visitors practically have the status of guests as they are able to view the royal state apartments and private rooms.

Celle Palace, dating from 1292, is quite a contrast, situated opposite the 500 or so houses that comprise Europe’s largest ensemble of half-

timbered architecture. Prussian and British kings came from the Celle line of the Guelph dynasty, a fact that is especially well illustrated in the ‘Royal Hall’. The paintings and other treasures displayed here date back to the time when Hannover was a separate kingdom and Hanoverian kings ruled Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Royal Palace in Wolfenbüttel and Guelph Castle in Hannoversch Münden near Kassel take you back to the times of the Guelph dynasty. The sense of history is also palpable in Braunschweig’s old quarter with its cathedral, castle and lion statue. Outside Braunschweig – the largest city between Hannover and Berlin – is Richmond Palace, an outstanding example of late baroque architecture.

The adjacent park in the style of a classic English landscaped garden is well worth a visit in itself.

Herrenhausen Gardens, laid out by the Guelph’s court gardener, are a masterpiece of baroque garden design in the north of Hannover. The gardens are among the largest in Europe, and the tradition of lavish baroque fireworks is still kept very much alive there. On several dates during the summer, spectacular displays bathe the

© Stadtmarketinggesellschaft Wolfenbüttel mbH& Co.; EAC GmbH; Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH / Nik Barlo jr.

NIEDERSACHSEN A rich heritage full of beauty

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© TourismusMarketing Niedersachsen GmbH/J. A. Fischer ; Stadtmarketinggesellschaft Wolfenbüttel mbG&Co.

Braunschweig Lion statue and town hall tower

gardens in a magical glow. The 60,000 or so summer flowers, 1,000 potted plants, the many orchid varieties in the Berggarten and the Englishstyle Georgengarten are a real delight for any horticultural enthusiast.

The majestic beauty of Herrenhausen Gardens and Marienburg Castle make any trip to Hannover all the more special. The city’s rather unusual mix of culture, history and shopping is one of the reasons why the city is becoming increasingly popular among visitors from abroad.

Of kaisers, kings and cultural heritage History has left countless traces in Germany’s towns and cities, but just as in other European countries, these sometimes detract from the overall picture. This is what makes the rich heritage of destinations in Lower Saxony all the more captivating. If you stroll through Celle, Lüneburg, Osnabrück, Hamelin and many other towns in the region, you’ll find largely intact ensembles that bring beauty and harmony to the streets and squares. Charming medieval towns and breathtaking palaces bear eloquent witness to the Renaissance era, while the opulence of the baroque lives on in the churches. Castles and palaces are often the main attractions in the towns, such as in Goslar at the foot of the Harz mountains. The highlight of Goslar’s historical old quarter, which has been awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO, is the Imperial Palace. For more than two centuries, German and European history was written here at numerous imperial and court diets. All the walls of the vast aula

regia – the imperial hall – are decorated with scenes telling the story of the Holy Roman Empire.

The ruins of Hardenberg Castle, located only ten minutes north of the university town of Göttingen, can also look back on a thousand years of history.

At the foot of the once mighty fortress is the Hardenberg estate. The estate’s KeilerLand ‘wild boar’ marque adorns products from the schnaps distillery, Hardenberg Castle and the castle park.

The romantic setting of the estate could come straight from the pages of a storybook. It is only the distillery and five-star Burghotel and golf resort that lend it a contemporary feel.

Land of legends and fairytales The Brothers Grimm fairytales are cherished all over the world. Many of the stories, which the two brothers crafted into an enduring cultural legacy, originated in the Weserbergland. The German Fairytale Route is at its most magical here, passing through a picturesque landscape of hills, rivers and leafy forests. It was here that Rapunzel let her hair down and Cinderella worked night and day. The daring tales of Baron von Münchhausen and, of course, the Pied Piper of Hamelin also have their origins in the Weserbergland. The open-air play of the Pied Piper is performed on an open air stage every Sunday at 12 o’clock from the middle of May until the middle of September. One of the most beautiful castles in the region is Bevern Castle, built in the Weser Renaissance style, whose history is closely associated with the Münchhausen family.

TIP

During the ‘Evening with Casanova at Wolfenbü ttel Palace’ (dinner theatre) you can listen to stories told by the bon vivant and enjoy a Prosecco and a three-course meal, including beverages, in the festively decorated Renaissance Hall of the palace. It was at Wolfenbü ttel that Casanova spent “the best weeks of his life”.

Price: €59.90 p.p. (for groups) Bookings: +49 (0) 5331 86 280 touristinfo@wolfenbuettel.com

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TIP

Each summer, the world’s best pyrotechnical teams battle for the trophy at the International Fireworks Competition. On five evenings they conjure up fantastic fiery pictures in the baroque-style Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen.

During the summer season, various guided tours provide visitors with information and entertainment. You can, for instance, take a tour in the company of Electress Sophie or the master gardeners of the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen.

The winter season features botanical exhibitions and orchid advisory days. More information at www.hannover.de

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Hamelin Pied Piper open-air play

The splendour of stately gardens The numerous parks and gardens in Niedersachsen still capture the charm of long-forgotten times. Grand, ornamental gardens inspired by classical designs enjoy pride of place alongside abbey and castle gardens from the Middle Ages.

The rulers of Niedersachsen strove to emulate the Sun King, Louis XIV, and his famous Gardens of Versailles. Their gardens were places of leisure, with secluded pavilions and labyrinthine mazes. The interplay of coloured floral blooms usually creates a wonderful contrast to the lush green lawns and majestic buildings.

The Osnabrücker Land region, which extends from Teutoburg Forest to the Dutch border, is home to some of the most beautiful parks and

Papenburg Altenkamp Estate

gardens in Niedersachsen. It was at Ippenburg Palace near Bad Essen that the tradition of the German garden festival began in 1998. Only a few miles away are two of the region’s most beautiful moated castles, Schelenburg and Schloss Hünnefeld.

A highlight of the Osnabrücker Land region is the ‘Garden Dreams’ cycle route, a circular trail of 169 kilometres. It is based on the ‘open gardens’ idea, popular in the UK, and links 37 private gardens. All the gardens, of course, have stories of their own and provide ample opportunity to make new friends.

Emsflower Park near Emsdetten offers a horticultural experience on a much larger scale.

Occupying an area of 100 hectares, it is Europe’s

© TourismusMarketing Niedersachsen GmbH/J. A. Fischer; Papenburg Tourismus GmbH / Nordbild Media

Celle Half-timbered houses

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© Hameln Marketing und Tourismus GmbH; TourismusMarketing Niedersachsen GmbH

Bad Essen Ippenburg Palace

largest combined nursery and visitor centre and tells you everything you need to know about plant cultivation around the world. The marshland on both sides of the Ems river, which flows from south to north through Niedersachsen along the border with the Netherlands, has proved perfect for parks and gardens. This is perfectly illustrated by the sumptuous baroque garden at Schloss Altenkamp near Papenburg. The gardens at Dankern Castle, Düneburg Estate and Landegge Estate are geared specifically towards tourists and offer modest to luxury accommodation with character.

Consummate garden design can also be found in the gardens adjacent to Oldenburg Castle, the historical heart of the vibrant university town of Oldenburg. The garden is like a ‘living painting’ with its ancient trees, magnificent shrubs, waterways and gentle lawns. Rhododendrons were planted here 200 years ago and can now be admired as the oldest specimens of this plant in Germany. The 30 hectare Lütetsburg Castle Park, near to the Wadden Sea, is the largest Englishstyle landscaped park in northern Germany and never fails to delight with its rare trees and shrubs and architectural features. Both parks are included on the ‘Garden Cultur Route’, which combines some of the finest parks and gardens in northwest Niedersachsen as several leisurely day trips.

Over 30 idyllic, individually designed, elegant parks and gardens await you. Experience the amazing variety of the region’s parks and gardens, many of which are true hidden gems simply waiting to be discovered.

All of Niedersachsen at a glance!

Take a journey through time and experience magnificent castles and proud forts. The many grand estates and residences of Niedersachsen awaken dreams of splendid celebrations, heroic deeds and exuberant banquets. Pass through the stone portals and find yourself transported back to a bygone era. Today, these magnificent buildings offer a wealth of possibilities, provide overnight accommodation and great events in a historical ambience. Visitors can have an entertaining time and unforgettable experiences behind the thick walls, in the princely halls, the ladies’ chambers or the castle courtyards. The English-language brochure ‘castles, forts, parks and gardens’ published by TourismusMarketing Niedersachsen features the best parks and gardens and historical highlights in Niedersachsen.

The names of the chapters in this 68-page brochure speak for themselves: ‘Enchanted parks and fairytale castles’, ‘Regal periods and castle fortresses’ and ‘Moated castles and rose gardens’. But it’s not only the stunning photos that whet the appetite for a trip to northern Germany. Insights are also given into the aspects of courtly life that visitors can experience for themselves: history at its most compelling!

Markets, concerts, medieval banquets or a ‘courtly Christmas’ are sure to make any trip all the more memorable. The crowning glory – in the truest sense – is a stay in one of the castles or palaces offering delightful accommodation fit for a king! Enjoy browsing and see you soon in Niedersachsen

TIP

The ‘castles, forts, parks and gardens’ brochure can be ordered free of charge from the TMN online shop at www.niedersachsen-tourism.com, info@tourismusniedersachsen.de via email or by calling +49 (0)511 2704 8850.

castles, forts, parks and gardens Travel back in time to the Royal Route in Niedersachsen

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Maulbronn Monastery complex

BAVARIA & BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG Spirit cast in Stone Often it is the peaceful spots that make the deepest impression and stay longest in the memory.

Famous abbeys and churches from the UNESCO World Heritage list combine striking architecture with enchanting scenery and spiritual inspiration.

Pfaffenwinkel Wies Church

Highlight Medieval-themed events in Kraichgau-Stromberg, the holiday region between the Rhine and Neckar rivers: • Medieval market on 21/22 April 2012 at UNESCO World Heritage Maulbronn Monastery • Peter and Paul Festival: lively medieval festival featuring a historical defence corps and rousing fanfares on the market square in Bretten’s old quarter from 29 June to 2 July 2012 • Concerts at Maulbronn Monastery from 19 May to 30 September 2012.

More tips on events in the region can be found in our ‘KulTour’ calendar. For your free copy, please call +49 (0)7252 96330 or visit www.kraichgau-stromberg.com (available in German only)

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Bavarian Rococo in the Pfaffenwinkel region The Pilgrimage Church of the Scourged Saviour – known simply as the ‘Wies Church’ – is a rococo gem. Surrounded by woodland and meadows and set against the backdrop of the Ammergau Alps on a clearing in the Pfaffenwinkel, the church is regarded as one of the finest achievements of the Bavarian rococo. It is unlikely that the tears supposedly seen here on a carved figure of the Saviour in 1738 would have been the main reason for the church being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This can instead be attributed to the sublime stucco work and ceiling frescoes by the master craftsman Johann Baptist, who was responsible for the design of the church, a miracle in itself with 40 windows set in a mere 40 metres of length. The masterly choristers’ stalls and the

pulpit are also a dream come true for the rococo fans that come in droves to see this church, which is virtually unrivalled for its splendour.

The Power of Tranquillity in the Black Forest The Monasteries Route between Alpirsbach and Maulbronn is a great way to explore the region, and boasts the northern Black Forest as its enchanting backdrop along 104 kilometres of nature, culture, ancient edifices and centuries-old traditions. It provides an enthralling insight into the world of three prominent abbeys, each of which is located within a tranquil valley and can be reached on foot, by road or by public transport. The route begins in Alpirsbach, whose red sandstone monastery has dominated the beautiful Kinzig valley for the past nine hundred years. This former Benedictine abbey, with its severe, bold architectural lines, is characteristic of the Romanesque style and contains the now Protestant abbey church of St. Nicholas. Two particularly striking features of the church are the triple-naved columned basilica and the late-Gothic cloister, which was rebuilt in the 15th century and today doubles as an atmospheric venue for concerts. The route’s next stopping point is the monastic complex at Hirsau, in the town of Calw. The actual abbey – that of St. Peter and St. Paul – stands on the grounds of its predecessors, the churches of St. Aurelius I and St. Aurelius II. Located on the banks of the river Nagold, the site is an imposing landscape of ruins. The remnants of the triple-naved columned basilica are the building’s oldest fragments and date back to the

© Kraichgau-Stromberg Tourismus e.V.; PantherMedia.net/Mario Baessler

Belief and religion aside, monasteries, abbeys and churches – particularly those in the south of Germany – are extremely rewarding destinations.

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© Internationale Bodensee Tourismus GmbH; Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim, Fotos: Valentin Wormbs/Günter Meyer

Reichenau Monastic Island

early 9th century. The 11th century represented the heyday of this medieval monastery, which had grown rich under its abbot, Wilhelm of Hirsau.

Those parts of the complex that remain intact give an idea of just how big the site once was.

Another highlight for ‘history hoppers’ is the Maulbronn Monastery Complex, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built by Cistercian monks in the secluded Salzachtal valley, this remarkable edifice seems destined to stand for eternity. Already some 860 years old and tucked away in rural surroundings dotted with lakes, vineyards and quarries, this is one of the loveliest, best-preserved monasteries north of the Alps. Its fascinating history is depicted in the monastery museum, which is housed in the former cooperage and the Frühmesserhaus, where matins used to be said daily. Exhibitions also offer insights into the Protestant monastery school that was established in 1556 and whose famous former students include Johannes Kepler, Friedrich Hölderlin and Hermann Hesse. It is also worth visiting the early-Gothic abbey cellar.

The Churches of Reichenau Island Reichenau Island on Lake Constance is characterised by its abundance of vegetable farms set

in idyllic countryside. But there is much more to this seemingly pragmatic landscape. The island – connected to the mainland by a single, magnificent causeway lined with poplars – was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in the year 2000.

Reichenau’s three wonderful churches bear witness to the religious and cultural role played by a large Benedictine abbey in the Middle Ages that was founded by the itinerant bishop Pirmin in 724. From the 8th to the 11th century, this imperial abbey became one of the spiritual centres of the western world. In addition to the abbey school, which educated a host of famous students, the abbey library achieved world renown mainly thanks to its sensational manuscript illustrations and goldsmith works. The ‘Reichenau School of Painting’ finds its most perfect expression in the Church of St. George, which was consecrated in 896 and features a magnificent series of frescos depicting the miracles of Christ. The island’s two other churches are no less breathtaking: the Minster of St. Mary and St. Mark contains the loggia and memorial stone of Henry III, the Holy Roman Emperor, and a splendid treasure chamber, whilst the collegiate Church of St. Peter and St. Paul boasts a late-Romanesque mural depicting the enthroned Christ.

Highlight ‘Calwer Klostersommer 2012’ at Hirsau In 1959, to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the foundation of Hirsau's monastery, a stage was erected in the cloister and the Hirsau Monastery Plays were born. From 27 July to 7 August 2012, the age-old sandstone walls of St. Peter and St. Paul's Abbey will form the historical setting for a series of high-calibre cultural events.

Five thousand years of jewellery Devoted to the history of jewellery, the Pforzheim Jewellery Museum is the only museum of its kind worldwide. Some 2,000 exhibits reveal the vast diversity of jewellery over five millenia, from antiquity, the Renaissance and Art Nouveau as well as today.

The Reuchlinhaus in which the museum is located is a masterwork in the International Style.

ART INDICATOR

Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim Jahnstraße 42 DE-75173 Pforzheim Opening hours: tu - su and holidays 10 am - 5 pm (except 24 and 31 dec) www.schmuckmuseum.de

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