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Tourist information for Southern Germany:
Southern Germany, the provinces of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, is
perhaps the most visited part of Germany. The lovely landscape of the Black
Forest in the west, the rolling hills of central Bavaria, the valleys of the
Rhine and Danube and the Alpine scenery in the south make up a country full of
scenic delights. Add to this the lure of Munich and some of Germany's most
beautiful towns - Augsburg, Wurtzburg, Heidelberg, Bamberg among others - and
its easy to account for the region's popularity. Our summary should be augmented
by a good guide book.
Map of Southern Germany
Stuttgart is a prosperous modern city with two famous festivals, one for
wine and one for beer, a world class gallery in the Staatsgalerie, excellent
shops and innumerable good quality value-for-money restaurants. There is a
lively cultural scene. South-east of Stuttgart is Esslingen, featuring
important buildings from Roman times onward. To the north be sure to visit
Ludwigsburg with its impressive and beautiful planned layout of gardens and
palaces dating from around 1700.
In the far south of this part of Germany is the Bodensee (Lake
Constance), bordering Switzerland and Austria. On its balmy shores are the
popular and very pretty towns of Meersburg and Uberlingen, while
the cosmopolitan town of Konstanz has a fine selection of old
buildings.To the north is the Schwabian Jura, a landscape of rocky hills and
crags, criss-crossed with good marked trails offering excellent walking. The
Danube flows through a spectacular gorge, and the village of Haigerloch
is one of the loveliest in Germany. The massive Munster at Ulm dominates
everything for miles around.
The Black Forest is perhaps the best known tourist destination in
Germany, deservedly so. A land of watery gorges, fertile valleys, dark forests
and spectacular mountain scenery, as well as countless pretty towns and
villages. The mighty Danube rises here, and in the south the Rhine
flows through some of the area's most stunning scenery. Visit the Munster in the
lively and relaxed town of Freiburg. Swim in the lakes, walk along
countless kilometres of trails, make the easy climb of the Feldburg for
an amazing view of the distant Alps. Before you leave, bask in the sophisticated
opulence of stylish Baden-Baden.
Hilly Heidelberg, with its beautiful sandstone buildings and superb
vistas, is the essential place to visit in the north of this region, although
the planned cities of Mannheim and Karlsruhe have much to offer.
Bavaria contains some of Germany's loveliest scenery as well as some of
its most impressive cities. Beautiful sub-alpine slopes in the south, with
abundant walking through flowery meadows, offer winter skiing in
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, close to Oberammergau, home of the ten-yearly
passion play. The gentler hills towards Munich are dotted with tranquil lakes
and medieval monasteries. Other highlights are the beautifully restored city of
Nurnberg, architecturally magnificent Bamberg, and the prosperous
medieval city of Regensburg and the Danube valley. Opera lovers will need
no prompting to visit Bayreuth, also a good centre for the wonderful
hiking in nearby Franconian "Switzerland".
Munich is one of Europe's major cities. Its great squares and wide
streets, alongside the narrow thoroughfares of the Old Town, lend the city an
air of sophistication. The Englischer Gardens right in the heart of the city are
a great place to relax on a hot summer's day. As well as a wealth of
architectural sights, visit the museums and galleries. Munich is a great
culinary centre, and is famed for the quality of its beers, celebrated in
Europe's greatest beer festival, the Oktoberfest. The nightlife has something
for everyone, with music of all sorts, and theatre to satisfy every taste.
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