Wartburg castle

Along the classic route, Gotha is also worth a visit. The "Friedenstein Palace" and annual events such as the "Ekhof Festival" all contribute to give the town a unique touch. In Arnstadt, we reach "the gateway to the Forest of Thuringia ".
Excursions to the "Wachsenburg Fortress", "Gleichen Castle Ruins" and "Mühlburg Ruins" are highly recommended.

Next stop is Weimar, "European Cultural City 1999", which links to Goethe and Schiller. Besides "Goethe's residence", his "summer-house on the Ilm" and the "German National Theater", the "Goethe National Museum" represents a special attraction in the city. Not far from Weimar is a town called Jena, known foremost for the work and life of Friedrich Schiller and which has therefore become a popular destination.
С) The Castle Road

Historical places and charming countryside with many romantic fortresses and fairy tale castles make the 975 km long castle route from Mannheim to Prague a varied route. The glory of time's past still has an effect today on many towns and villages.
The countryside is as varied as the history. The river Neckar winds its way through the Odenwald, the Hohenloher Ebene seems to stretch endlessly into the distance, next the rolling Frankenhöhe and then the northern part of so-called Franconian Switzerland. The legacy of the artloving Electors of the Palatinate can still be admired in towns such as Mannheim, Heidelberg or Schwetzingen.

Ludwigsburg Castle Schwerin Castle
On the tracks of the Palatinate Earls, Mosbach, Neckarzimmern or Bad Wimpfen are certainly well worth a visit, with their picturesque old town centres and romantic halftimbered houses. Near Heilbronn the route passes through winegrowing areas, the medieval free city of Nuremberg and the vererable towns of Rothenburg o. d. Tauber, Coburg, Kronach, Kulmbach, Bayreuth right through to Karlsbad and Marienbad, the famous spa towns, to eventually reach Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.

All these towns with their 70 fortresses, ruins and castles line the castle route like many pearls in a row and present themselves as impressive witnesses to the past. Medieval towns, monasteries, historic buildings and cultural treasures make sure the journey along the castle route becomes a special and varied experience.

5. A Journey to Berlin

The might and scope of Prussian achievement is manifest in Berlin, one of the world's most fascinating and troubling cities. Of strategic importance since it first straddled the Spree River in the 13th century, Berlin never hogged centre stage quite like it did this century. This is the heart of Germany, its stoic beat echoing through grand public buildings, glorious museums and theatres, and its urbane restaurants, bustling pubs and raucous nightclubs. Today, the city, restored as the nation's capital, is the focus of the mammoth project of reunification and readings of Germany's mood are taken most accurately here.

Berlin is a good city to explore on foot. Take time to stroll from Alexanderplatz to the Brandenburg Gate along Unter den Linden. The nearby Kulturforum is a cluster of museums and concert halls on the south-eastern side of Tiergarten that can take days to explore.

5.1. Accommodation in Berlin

During the cultural festivals? Trade fairs and conferences? Hotels are totally booked up. The flood of tourists has increased since the opening of the wall. Unless you have alternative accommodation, a spur-of-the-moment trip to Berlin can be marred by an unpleasant or futile search for a hotel room. Reservations made several weeks in advance are definitely recommended.

Luxury Hotels

1. Bristol Hotel Kempinski (Kurfurstendamm 27) – The epitomy of traditional luxury

2. Grand Hyatt Berlin

In the new heart of Berlin at Potsdamer Platz, the modern design hotel Grand Hyatt Berlin is adjacent to restaurants, shopping arcades, a casino and the city's main musical theatre. The Philharmonic Theatre, New National Gallery and Picture Gallery are located in the immediate neighbourhood; the Government District, the city park Tiergarten and Berlin's greatest cultural treasures are within walking distance. The city train and subway stations at Potsdamer Platz are nearby, and Tegel International Airport is 9.4 miles/15 kilometres from the hotel.

3. Grand Hotel Esplanade ( Lutzowufer 15) - The modern, polished design emphasises functional luxury. Centrally located between the Kurfurstendammm, Unter den Linden and Potsdamer Platz, opposite the Tiergarten Park, this designer hotel captures the spirit of contemporary Berlin in a sophisticated setting. The hotel offers flexible and attractive conference and banqueting rooms for up to 450 people. Hotel room have bathroom, WC, telephone, fax, modem-connection, radio, TV, safe, minibar, sound insulation, air conditioning, restaurants, 2 bars, swimming pool, whirlpool, 3 saunas, solarium, beauty center, massage, fitness center, hairdressing salon, 6 conference rooms for up to 450 persons, garage parking, and conference boat. The “Esplanade” is a 5-star boat available for conferences, parties and private celebrations. Room facilities: Air conditioning, Minibar, Radio, Safe, Satellite TV, Sound insulation, Telephone with modem-connection.

4. Inter-Continental (Budapester strasse 2) – the largest hotel in town. Famous for its luxury.

5. Palace Hotel (Budapester strasse 45)

This luxury 5-star city hotel presents 282 individually decorated rooms, including 32 suites about 55 - 225 sqm. Cable TV, refrigerated mini bar, trouser press, soundproofed windows and further extras belong to our standard. Its suites are appointed with marble bathrooms, exclusive hifi, as well as whirlpool and large dressing rooms. The elegant banqueting floors offer 12 different function rooms that can be extended to accommodate 10 - 700 persons as well as 5 banquet rooms in the adjoining Business Centre. Breakfast restaurant "Bon Dia", "Lounge" and "Sam's Bar" offering snacks and cocktails. Michelin-rated-Restaurant "First Floor" with chef Mathias Buchholz, Cafe-Restaurant "Tiffany's" and the rustic restaurant "Alt- Nurnberg" in the bordering Europa-Center. Money exchange, room service, laundry- and shoe cleaning service. Admission free to the "Thermen am Europa-Center", a large health spa with sauna and swimming pool.

First-class Hotels

Art hotel Sorat (Joachimstaler Strasse 28-29) – Art and accommodation: the Wolf Vostell designer furniture sculptures make each room a unique experience.

Avantgarde (Kurfurstendamm 15) – Neo-Baroque house with huge rooms decorated with stucco mouldings.

Artemisia (Branderburgishe Strasse 18) – tiny, attractively decorated hotel reserved exclusively for women.

Dom Hotel (Mohrenstrasse 30, Mitte) – fine modern hotel overlooking the most beautifull square in the city: the Platz der Academy.

Mondial (Kurfurstendamm 47) – spacious rooms. The entire hotel is designed for use by handicapped.

Hotels & Pensions.

Alpina (Trabener Strasse 3) – small villa with garden near the Grunewald S-Bahn Station.

Kreuzberg (Grossbeerenstrasse 64) – for young, undemanding guests.

Savoy (Meinekestrasse 4) – Small but nice.

Terminus (Fasanenstrasse 48) – neither plush nor dingy.

Transit (Hagelberger Strasse 53-54) – Charming hotel for young people who care more for atmosphere than luxury.

Youth accommodation

Jugendherberge Bayernalee

(youth hostel) – Bayernalee 36

Jugendgastehaus am Wannsee

(youth guest house) – Badeweg 1

Jugendgastehaus BERLIN

(youth guest house) – Kluckstrasse 3

Jugendgastehaus am Zoo

(youth guest house) – Hardenbergstrasse 9a

Jugendtouristenhotel

(youth guest house) – Franz-Mett-Strasse 7

5.2. Sightseeing in Berlin

1. The Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor)

The Brandenburg gate is the unquestionable symbol of Berlin and is now regarded as one of the greatest symbols of German unity. It is the last remaining gate of the Berlin Wall and marks the western end of the famous Unter den Linden Boulevard. The statue on top of the arch represents Nike driving her chariot to victory towards the West.

B) Museum Island (Museumsinsel)

The Berlin Museumsinsel is a unique ensemble of museum buildings that illustrate the evolution of modern museum design over more than a century. The museums include The National Gallery, The Old Museum (Altes Museum), The Pergamon Museum and The Bode Museum.

The National Galerie is an ultra-modern building built in the 1960s. The museum collection specialises in works from the 19th and 20th centuries as well as international contemporary art. The National Galerie is famous for its collection of French impressionists.

The Old Museum houses an amazing collection of 18th, 19th and early 20th-century paintings and statues. Any prominent artist you can think of it probably featured here.

The Pergamon Museum is immense. It is divided into five sections: the Antiquities Collection, the Middle East Museum, the Islamic Museum, the Far East Collection, and the Museum of Popular Art. A few days is needed to properly explore it.

The Bode Museum's original collection of Egyptian artifacts was very badly affected by World War II. However, there are outstanding exhibits of Byzantine and early Christian relics on show.

1. The Tiergarten

The Tiergarten is often referred to as Berlin’s green heart. Originally a hunting reserve for royalty, landscape architect Peter Joseph Lenne turned the Tiergarten into a beautiful city park in 1742. During World War II many of the trees were cut for firewood and the pristine lawns were turned into vegetable gardens to feed the populace of Berlin. Heavy bombing then damaged much of the rest of the park. The present-day plantings took place just after the war and today the beautifully lush Tiergarten is a popular place with Berliners and, to the surprise of many tourists, nude sunbathing is permitted throughout the park. The park is over 412-acres and it stretches for 1.75 miles west from the Brandenburg Gate.

D) The Berlin Wall

If you want to see what remains of the infamous Berlin Wall head down Charlottenstrasse and then west along Leipzigerstrasse. There you can see one of the best examples of what remains of the Wall.

E) The Berlin Radio Tower

The Berlin Radio Tower was built in 1924 for the Third German Broadcasting Exhibition. Standing at 138-meters high, this steel-latticed tower is a fantastic viewing point with panoramic bird’s-eye views of the city. An elevator takes you to the observation deck at 125 meters to admire the vista. There is a restaurant at the 55-meter level.

F) The Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg)

The Charlottenburg Palace is the oldest surviving Prussian palace in Germany. Building began in 1695 and was completed in 1790. There are 70 rooms and corridors crammed full of ornate furnishings and Watteau paintings. The east wing houses an incredible collection of romanticist paintings while the west wing houses a collection of ancient and prehistoric art and artifacts. Take a guided tour of the royal apartments and then stroll through the formal gardens that surround the palace.

G) The Reichstag

The Reichstag, built in 1884-94, has witnessed many of the key moments in 20th century German history. It has seen the Proclamation of the German Republic in 1918, endured a burning in 1933, a storming in 1945 by Russian troops and German Reunification in 1990. Since its renovation in 1999, it has housed the Bundestag (Parliament).