What Germany is famous for: history, sights and interesting facts

Speaking of Germany - a powerful country that is located in the central part of Europe, we have a lot of different associations. This ancient state is often called the heart of the Old World - and it is not accidental. For many centuries, beginning with the Holy Roman Empire and ending with the fall of the Berlin Wall, erected after the end of World War II, Germany had a significant impact on European (and not only) countries. Among other things, it is an ancient country with an incredibly rich culture and nature that attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. So what is Germany famous for? In this article we will tell you about interesting historical sights of this European country, about its culture, cooking and about the features of the mentality, etc. We will also present you the stories of great emigrants and describe what the famous Russian figures in Germany were doing.

What should you visit first?

Regardless of the purpose of your trip to the country of Beethoven and Bach, you, of course, will be interested in making excursions to one or another of the sights. However, given the ancient history of the country, you need to understand that there are a lot of them and you will not be able to visit all for one trip. Therefore, it will be more expedient to get acquainted with them before your arrival, find out where the famous sights of Germany are. To the delight of the guests of the country, they are scattered all over the German state, and wherever you go, there will always be something to see. Each city is famous for something special, and even if there is not any castle available, then there must be a museum, and if there is neither, then it will be interesting for you to participate in one of the many festivals, including culinary , Taste the legendary German beer or delicious meat products. By the way, many gourmets on the question of what Germany is famous for, first of all they call it Bavarian beer and sausages or sausages, which are prepared according to several dozen recipes.

Architecture: ancient castles

Germany is a truly beautiful country. Here you can see the buildings built centuries ago, but beautifully preserved, thanks to the special secrets of building German architects. Such buildings include the famous castles of Germany - fabulous palaces, which are often used by filmmakers for the filming of historical motion pictures. The most famous and romantic among them is Neuschwanstein, which is in the heart of Bavaria. It is he who is depicted on the famous Walt Disney logo. Another castle, Hohenzollern, was built in the Gothic style of the Renaissance. He was the family estate of the Hohenzollern dynasty, ruling Prussia before the First World War. He often flickered in knightly films. The third castle, which deserves special attention, is Eltz. He is over 8 centuries old. Its main feature is location: it is built on a hill, at an altitude of 200 meters, surrounded by a high forest, next to which the river flows calmly. Is not it beautiful? Today, the castle is divided into two parts: one for the museum's exposition, and the second for the members of the Elz family.

Famous buildings in Germany

In addition to the castles in the country, there are many other architectural masterpieces, for example the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag - a legendary government building that was built in the Renaissance style, but which went down in history not because of its beauty, but in connection with the installation of the red banner of victory, About the end of the war. By the way, on its walls there are still inscriptions left by the soldiers of the victorious Red Army. Today, the Bundestag, the country's parliament, operates in the building. To the famous buildings of Berlin is also the Cathedral. In other cities of Germany, as already noted, there are also many beautiful and noteworthy buildings. For example, the Munich Hofbräuhaus. It was built in the late 16th century. Today it houses a beer restaurant of a special type with a beer garden. This is an obligatory place for visiting tourists. In the old days, Mozart, Wagner and even Hitler came here. It was here that the Fuhrer arranged the Beer Putsch.

Temples

By the way, believers on the question of what Germany is famous for first of all indicate the Cologne Gothic cathedral. It is rightly called the greatest miracle of Gothic architecture. The construction of the cathedral was begun in the 13th century and has not yet been completed. He is shocked by his height, which is 157.4 m. However, he is not the first, but the third tallest temple in the world, the first with a height of 161.5 m is in the German city of Ulm, however he is not as beautiful and famous as Cologne . But Hamburg is famous for its numerous bridges. There are much more of them here than in Amsterdam or Venice.

Museums and galleries

Even than Germany is famous? Of course, with its museums, art galleries, temples of culture. Among them a special place is occupied by the famous Dresden Gallery, in which the legendary Sistine Madonna is stored - the pearl of the museum. And in general, this gallery has one of the largest collections of paintings in the world. Here are exhibited paintings by Titian, Raphael, Rubens and Rembrandt, Velasquez, and well-known artists of Germany, among which a special place is occupied by the works of Durer, Joachim Zandrart, Martin Schongauer. Dresden can be called the cultural capital of the country. Here, more than in other cities, you can see buildings that are of particular interest to tourists. One of the main attractions of Germany is the island museum, which is located in the capital. It consists of 5 museums, which contain exhibits that were created by people living in the territory of modern Germany for 6000 years. Modern, but no less famous museums in Germany - Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Here you can see how the shape of these famous cars changed from the first day of their creation to the present day.

Famous people of Germany

This European country is home to many great people: philosophers, scientists, writers and poets, composers, artists, politicians and generals. Who in the world is not familiar with the organ music of JS Bach or the symphonies of L. V. Beethoven. The most famous in the history of the Germans are Otto von Bismarck - the "iron" chancellor of Germany, who carried out the unification of the country along the small German path; Martin Luther (1483 - 1546) is a Christian theologian who translated the Bible into German - he can also be ranked among the most famous people in Germany. Johann Wolfgang von Gette is the author of the famous "Faust," a German writer and poet, thinker. The works of Proust, Thomas Mann, Zweig, Schiller, etc. are included in the list of compulsory literature in the senior classes of schools, as well as in universities.

Famous thinkers

Friedrich Nietzsche is the most famous philosopher in the whole world, like Immanuel Kant. And can not Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels be called celebrities in Germany. Their teachings, although not found a large number of followers in their native country, but served as an impetus for the collapse of such a powerful power as the Russian Empire. Germany is famous for its pioneering scientists: Albert Einstein, who created the theory of relativity, Heinrich Hertz, Georg Om, Alexander Humboldt, etc. And, of course, Germany is famous for the creators of fascist theory: Adolf Hitler, Himler, Goebbels and others - people who 5 years kept the whole of Europe in fear.

Famous Russians in Germany: Princess Romanovs

Russia has always been in close relations with Germany, with periods of peace and war constantly alternating. Special love for the Germans was inflamed by Peter the Great. The dynasty of the Romanovs quite often was related to the German princes and princesses, especially the Württemberg clan. So, the Grand Duchess Ekaterina Pavlovna, the sister of Alexander I and Nicholas I, married the king of this German dynasty. By the way, Bonaparte was wedded to her, but she preferred Georg Oldenburg, and after his death married Wilhelm of Württemberg. In the history of Germany, her name is inscribed in gold letters, she was a great example of a merciful queen who placed the interests of the country above her own. To perpetuate her memory, her husband, after the death of his beloved wife, built a vault - an Orthodox chapel, which looked like an ancient temple with the inscription above the door: "Love will never die." Another Russian princess, Olga, also married the Württemberg prince, subsequently becoming Queen of Württemberg. Her name is associated with the creation of a children's charity hospital in Stuttgart.

Emigrants

In Germany, 18-20 centuries. There were also a lot of natives of Russia, some of whom were real world celebrities: Sofya Kovalevskaya, who wished to graduate, which was impossible at the time of her youth in Russia, and left with her husband for Germany. The famous artist Vasily Kandinsky, who is considered the founder of abstract art, after the Soviet power reigned in the country, left Russia and settled in Berlin. Later he won world fame far from his homeland. For a time, the great poetess Marina Tsvetaeva lived and worked in the German capital together with her daughter. Of our contemporaries today in Germany is very popular opera diva Anna Netrebko. Of course, she is not an emigrant. The people of culture of its caliber are today considered citizens of the world. Simply, it is very much appreciated by the Germans, is the face of such megafirms as Chopard and Schwarzkopf.

Mentality

What else can you tell us about the Germans? Speaking of them, we, of course, first of all present German punctuality. In fact, it is one of the most disciplined nations in the world. In addition, the Germans are law-abiding and careful in everything. In this respect, they are very pleased to deal with, they never fail. Residents of Germany are also very hardworking and efficient - they like to work and to rest. In the country, sport is a cult, and here a healthy way of life is propagated. Some tourists get the impression that they are cold people, a bit tight-fisted. However, this is not so: they can be moderately friendly and responsive, and generous too.