bike tours Lake Constance

Lake Constance, known as Bodensee by the Germans, is a very large lake located along the borders of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Fed by the River Rhine as it flows down from the Alps, Lake Constance is some 40 miles long and almost nine miles wide. With an area of 220 square miles, it’s Central Europe’s second largest freshwater lake and over four million people rely on the lake for drinking water.

An interesting fact about this lake in Germany is that there’s no firm layout for where the boundaries of the three bordering countries begin and end. The Swiss think the border runs down the center of the lake while Austria believes that the lake should be shared equally by all three nations. Germany does not possess a firm opinion on the matter.

The water around the edge of this lake in Germany is quite shallow and features some marshes which are home to approximately 250,000 different kinds of birds. Some merely nest there during their winter migration while others take up residence throughout the year. Amazingly these birds find room to live when the shallows consist of 14% of the entire surface area of the lake. The birds feed on shellfish, plants, and other things around the lake. Those touring Lake Constance, by bike or other means, will want to keep an eye on the marshes. Several species of threatened birds are fond of nesting amid the reeds and some blossoming plants—such as Siberian lilies—can be found.

There are over 30 species of fish to be found in Lake Constance. Yet pollution and over-fishing has damaged the aquatic ecology. However, conservation efforts have brought a species of fish back from the verge of extinction.

Those looking to take bike tours Lake Constance will not be disappointed. A circular trip around this lake in Germany is possible and is approximately 150 miles and takes around four days to complete. While you will remain near the lakeside, there are some hills to be climbed. Generally the bike path is paved but there are instances of gravel so be certain to pay attention. The signs for cyclists will change depending on where you are as each country uses a different style. Accommodations for those taking bike tours Lake Constance are readily available—there are both hotels and bed and breakfasts along the way. If you want to take bike tours Lake Constance you are advised to make reservations as this scenic activity is very popular, particularly during the summer and especially during July.

Christmas in Germany

Many who travel to Germany do so during the warm months of summer, but there are special treats available for those who come during the off-season. Christmas in Germany is a magical time and there are all sorts of experiences you can have that summer tourists will miss.

Throughout the country, Christmas markets—sometimes known as Kris Kringle marts—begin opening during the last week of November. It doesn’t matter where you are; in villages, towns, and cities, there is almost always at least one Kris Kringle Mart. It’s in these markets that you can find some of the most authentic German goods, because they are all hand-made. Each of the stalls in a Kris Kringle Mart offers different things—from delicious baked goods, to toys, to fine leatherwork. By Christmas Eve, most markets will have closed down, and a few will close earlier.

The history and traditions of Christmas in Germany is quite interesting. The name we often use for Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, originally evolved out of the word Christkindl, or “Christ Child.” Additionally, we derive all manner of Christmas traditions from the German culture. The Adventskalender, those festive looking calendars featuring a 24 day count up to Christmas disguised as windows and doors, was originally created by the Germans. As one of the Christmas customs Germany, candles or chocolates will be placed inside the paper windows as treats for children prior to Christmas.

Music is central to Christmas in Germany as well and a few of our more popular holiday songs originate from Germany. The most famous of these is Silent Night, having been translated into 44 different languages.

And of course no German Christmas would be complete without a tree. The tradition of decorating the tree extends far back in German history and even includes a twist. Traditionally, the Christmas customs Germany dictate that the tree is presented to those assembled prior to the Christmas meal. However, children are not allowed to see the tree before then. Often times, the children will be sent off to be occupied while the parents decorate it with lights, ornaments, and cookies. Presents are placed beneath the boughs of the tree and when the time is right, the children are brought back in the room to sing carols and open gifts. The secrecy of some of the Christmas customs Germany greatly enhances the holiday for both the children and the adults. As a result, there’s little reason to wonder why Christmas is such a prominent holiday.

Fraunkirche

This classic baroque church was originally built between 1726 and 1743 and has been a primary focal point for Dresden, Germany ever since. Despite the fact that the Saxony elector was a catholic, Frauenkirche (“Church of Our Lady”) was built as a Lutheran cathedral. Dresden’s city architect, George Bähr, was a baroque master and was known for capturing the essence of the Protestant movement by designing the altar, chancel, and baptismal font to be located within clear sight of the congregation. A famous organ-maker created a great organ for the church and Johann Sebastian Bach performed a recital on it. Given its collective history, it’s no wonder why so many tourists flock to Frauenkirche Dresden each year. The walking tour Dresden is quite popular and seeing the magnificent church both from afar and up close allows for a thorough insight into just how incredible a structure it is.

The single most mesmerizing feature of the Frauenkirche Dresden, and perhaps in the entire city, is the dome. Made of sandstone and weighing upward of 12,000 tons, this 314 foot tall dome is referred to as die Steineme Glocke (“Stone Bell”). Amazingly, there are no internal supports and despite initial, and perhaps well-founded, doubts the dome proved to be quite stable. This accomplishment is often compared to Michelangelo’s dome at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The Stone Bell is so solid that some witnesses claim that over a hundred cannonballs struck it during the Seven Years War without damaging it.

Yet Frauenkirche Dresden met its end on February 13th, 1945 when the Allied bombing of Dresden began. The church held up for two days and two nights of the 650,000 incendiery bombs dropped upon the German city. However, after the temperatures in and around the church reached 1,000 degrees Celsius, the supports collapsed and Frauenkirche fell into ruin. Some pieces of the church were not destroyed by rubble—the altar and the chancel still stood. In addition, the altar was only partly damaged by fire. Yet the fire-scorched stones would lie in a heap in the center of Dresden for the next 45 years due to Communist rule overtaking that area of Germany.

But after German reunification in 1989, the efforts to rebuild Dresden Frauenkirche began in earnest. It began with a citizens’ initiative but quickly grew into a group that was privately funded and campaigned hard for the requisite funds to rebuild the great baroque church and give Dresden, Germany part of its history. The project picked up speed and soon other groups began to form, including both American and British organizations.

The rebuilding process of Dresden Frauenkirche cost an estimated $217 million. Architects, engineers, and historians specializing in art worked to reuse some of the original building. However, pieces of stone were often sold to raise money for the reconstruction. The goal was to not only recapture an essential part of Dresden’s past, but to also draw more tourists to this exquisite feat of architecture. Even before the reconstruction began, a walking tour Dresden was quite popular.

The original blueprints for Dresden Frauenkirche were used and the foundation was first laid in 1994. The head architect, Eberhard Burger, used the original materials of the church as much as possible—all save the dome. About 3,800 original stones were used in the rebuilding process. Advancements in technology sped along the progress and construction finished in 2005, ahead of schedule and easily in time for Dresden’s 800th anniversary in 2006. The sprawling building makes for an excellent walking tour Dresden. Fully restored, Frauenkirche is an absolute must-see for any tourist visiting Dresden.

Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Dom Dominating the skyline of Cologne, Germany is their world famous cathedral--Kölner Dom. By far their most famous landmark for hundreds of years, the Cologne cathedral is part of the Roman Catholic Church and hosts the Archbishop of Cologne. One of the most interesting things about cathedral Koln is just how long it took to complete it. The construction initially started in 1248 but due to multiple halts in building, it took over six hundred years before the cathedral was complete.

Cologne Dom - Horizon Originally built on the site of a Roman temple, Cologne Cathedral is an amazing feat of both beauty and architecture. Its twin towers stretch an incredible 515 feet in the air. For a few years after completion, until the finish of the Washington Monument, the structure of Cologne cathedral was the tallest in the world. It still remains the tallest gothic building in the world. Meanwhile, the interior of this German cathedral is absolutely massive. The space inside is the equivalent to over six hundred houses. The cathedral Koln has twelve bells, including the bell of St. Peter; weighing in at 24 tons, it's the largest free-swinging bell in the world. Needless to say, the support structure of Cologne cathedral is quite strong.

Given the size and age of the structure of Cologne Cathedral, construction is perpetually underway somewhere on the church. It suffered 14 hits throughout World War II by Allied bombers but it did not collapse and by 1956 the restoration was complete.

Perhaps the most famous relic enshrined within cathedral Koln is the Sarcophagus of the Magi. This great sarcophagus is from the 13th century and is considered to be the largest reliquary in the western world. The sarcophagus is thought to hold the remains of the three wise men. Also of note in the church is an altar painting of the city's patron saints as well as Gero Cross--the oldest crucifix in Northern Europe.

Castles in Germany

Linderhof From fortresses in the Alps to citadels along the river Rhine, there are many interesting and famous castles in Germany. The styles vary, from Baroque to Renaissance. The ones you see in Bavaria will not look like those by the Rhine, but that's what makes touring these castles so interesting--no two are exactly alike.

Some of the most famous castles in Germany are those built by King Ludwig II. This Bavarian King had an ambitious imagination and his desires are readily seen in his castles.

Castle Linderhof Near the town of Eisenach, you'll find one of Germany's oldest castles--Wartburg. Founded in 1067 AD, the legend of its creation says that a German Duke was captivated by the view of the Alps and decided to build a castle at that very spot. Wartburg has many interesting facts about castles in Germany. One of which is that contests for musicians were held in the castle and one can find frescos depicting the winners. The castle also played a part in the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther was sent to Wartburg castle as a punishment for leading the Reformation. However, while there he worked on translating the New Testament into German and his original desk is still there today with the Bible he worked on (complete with the comments he scrawled in the margins). In 1999, Wartburg was placed within the World Heritage List and attracts thousands of visitors each year.

The first of Ludwig's castles is Linderhof. Originally it was nothing more than a simple wooden hunting lodge that the King could stay in during his many trips into the countryside. However, within a few years, Ludwig commissioned an elegant castle to be built. He declared that this place would be the next Versailles and the French inspiration is quite apparent in the architectural style of the exterior. Broad fountains and elegant statues are located across the grounds. The rooms inside revel in their opulence, with gilded woodwork, many-tired crystal chandeliers, and sprawling beds fit for a King. Linderhof has many intriguing facts about castles in Germany. Be sure to check out the "magic table" in the dining room. The table was engineered so that it could be lowered through the floor and into the kitchen which was built directly beneath the dining room. There, the servants could restock the table and have it lifted back up without the King ever seeing them.

The second and perhaps most famous castles in Germany is Neuschwanstein. Located on the slopes of the Alps, it is the very definition of a fairy tale castle. Indeed, one of the interesting facts about castles in Germany is that the Sleeping Beauty castle in Disney Land was actually based on Neuschwanstein. The similarities are quite obvious with this German castle's magnificent spires and bright alabaster walls. The interior is no less fantastic, but some of the rooms were never finished. However, what was completed is absolutely remarkable. In King Ludwig's bedroom, it took a team of 14 carpenters four and a half years just to complete the intricate woodwork. Throughout the castle, you'll find rich tapestries depicting scenes from the operas of Richard Wagner.

Burg Eltz Castle

Perhaps the most famous of German castles, Burg Eltz Castle is a towering medieval structure located in a lush forest in the Lower Moselle Valley near Koblenz. The first mention of a Burg Eltz was in 1157. Burg Eltz Castle has remained in the same family ever since—for over 30 generations.

Like some other castles of Germany, Burg Eltz is a Glanerbenburg, meaning that it belonged to several branch families of joint heirs. Prior to the unification of Germany, inheritance laws in many German states dictated that possessions be split between all successors. By uniting their inheritance, the heirs could afford to build and retain a castle. By 1530, Burg Eltz Castle was shared by three separate branches of the Eltz family. (It has since been unified under a single branch.)

Burg Eltz Castle has over 80 rooms that rise in eight towers up to ten stories high. The well-fortified structure was only attacked once—and never taken. While many west German castles were destroyed by French troops in the late 17th century, Burg Eltz survived thanks to a Eltz family member in the invading army.

For most of its existence, Burg Eltz Castle was more of a luxury family home—along the lines of Chenonceau, Chambord, and other chateax in France’s Loire Valley—than a defensive fortress, like the Krak de Chevaliers in Syria or Stirling Castle in Scotland. Thanks to its peaceful history, Burg Eltz is one of the best preserved castles of Germany.

Burg Eltz Castle is surrounded on three sides by the Eltz River (its name means literally, “castle on the Eltz”) and nestled in a 200-foot rock spur in the middle of a dense forest. Its picturesque location has made it one of the most popular attractions in Germany and a favorite subject of numerous painters, including R.J.W. Turner and Edward Lear. Its fame among German castles is rivaled only by Frankenstein Castle, the inspiration for Mary Shelley’s famous novel.

Two of the three sections of Burg Eltz Castle are now open to the public; the third is still the ancestral residence of the Eltz family. The only way to see Burg Eltz is on one of the 45-minute castle tours. The castle tours include a visit to the superb Gothic chapel. Because the castle has been in the same family for 800 years, the rooms are filled with centuries-old furniture, art, and weaponry, much of it decorated by the Eltz family crest. Castle tours in German leave regularly; visitors can wait for enough English-speaking people to comprise an English tour group or follow the German tour with a helpful English fact sheet.

Burg Eltz Castle is open to the public daily between April and October, with tours leaving between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm. Admission is about $10 each. The lovingly preserved fortress, one of the finest castles of Germany, is well worth the price.

The Black Forest

The name of what is arguably the greatest forests of Germany--the Black Forest--often conjures up images of a dark, sinister place. Don't let the name fool you. The Black Forest in Germany is one of the best places you can go to explore some of the natural beauty the country has to offer.

Sitting in the south west corner of the state of Baden-Württemberg, the Black Forest borders France, Switzerland, and the Neckar River. The forest itself straddles the continental divide, with the Atlantic watershed which is drained by the Rhine to one side and the Black Sea watershed which is drained by the Danube to the other.

This forest acquired its name due to a large concentration of pine trees which causes it to look quite dark from a distance. Additionally, the nearby mountains can cast their shadows over the valleys and further serve to darken it. However, the town at the center of the Black Forest in Germany, Freudenstadt, has made a claim that it actually receives the more hours of sunshine than any other town in nation.

The forests of Germany are highly valued and woodcutting is only allowed under the strict supervision by forest rangers. The timber is valuable, but environmental preservation, and thus tourism of the Black Forest in Germany is even more important. As a result, the trees that are cut down are replanted.

The forest itself is an area of heavily wooded mountains and verdant valleys. If you love nature, you will absolutely adore the Black Forest in Germany. The land and villages look relatively unchanged, as if you've stepped back in time, and when you walk through the forest, you can get an insight into what ancient Germany might have been like. Some of the houses you'll find in the villages are over three hundred years old. The Germany Black Forest even hosts some of the world's finest craftsmen of Cuckoo Clocks. Other places of interest to see include vineyards and castles. In addition, the Germany Black Forest possesses a rich mythological tradition, where werewolves and witches haunt the darkness, so watch out. Fortunately, there are dwarves that live within the woods who like to help people.

Located near the Germany Black Forest is Baden-Baden, a place renowned for its resorts and spas and a perfect place to stop before or after exploring one of the most impressive forests of Germany.