I imagine it’s one of those Marmite things – you either love it or hate it. I think it’s rather splendid, the Bierpinsel. This building, dating from the 1970s, is supposed to ‘look like a tree’ (truly) but from day one has been known as...
When I first saw a photograph of the building you see above, it went straight to the top of my list. I have to go there one day. The excellent photographer who created the photograph above has made the building look very stylish and elegant – it dates from...
Okay. Recently I wrote about the Shivering Sands Army Fort and described it as one of the spookiest places I’ve ever seen. Actually, it’s a toss-up – England’s Shivering Sands or Germany’s Ferropolis. You can get a glimpse of what the...
An American chap was once telling me a joke. It was about cars, two men were arguing; an American and a something-else that I don’t remember. The punchline was that the American said “Well, I should know because we Americans invented the car”. I...
I could spend weeks in Berlin just looking at the architecture. And one building to see before it gets destroyed, or simply crumbles away, is the Stadtbad Lichtenberg. The building was opened in 1928 as a public baths. But more than that. It had swimming pools, a spa,...
Now, Jeremy Clarkson and I have very different views on one certain subject.His views have been widely aired on TV and in print and mine, sadly, haven’t. On this particular subject though, Jeremy and I – were we to meet in a cosy pub somewhere for a chat...
I do like a good hotel but I’m not sure whether this is one I’d like to stay in. It’s not open as yet, so I’m secretly hoping that it might be delayed at the planning-permission stage or something. You see, to me this is just a little too...
There are so many things to see in the old German town of Heidelberg. You’d need, I think, at least two weeks there in order to enjoy everything that the place has to offer.But one site, often overlooked by visitors, is the Thingstätte. The whatstatte? Well,...
Gender discrimination, prostitution, sex for sale … it’s all here in the (relatively) hidden area of Herbertstraße. If you’re under eighteen, you can’t stroll down this street. Women aren’t welcome either. Herbertstraße is one of the last...
This battered building has a varied history. Built in 1888 it started life as a theatre. It continued in its role until the final couple of years of the Second World War. It was one of the very few theatres in Hamburg that survived Allied bombing unscathed but when...
I’ve rarely seen street art that I haven’t appreciated. And that appreciation is doubled – no, much more – when the venue is the Berlin Wall. When the wall came down in 1989, artists from all over the world commemorated this with the creation...
It looks like an ugly lump of concrete and … well, it is. It is also a protected historic monument. Really. The fact that it dates from 1941 gives us a clue as to why it’s a historically important structure. And its name? Schwerbelastungskörper means...
Just look at that bridge. Located in a public park in Gablenz, Germany, the bridge was constructed in the nineteenth century. The park is a popular place to visit as its gardens – abounding with rhododendrons and azaleas – are spectacular. What’s...
No, it’s not a roller coaster. But it looks like one, doesn’t it? In fact, it’s an art installation but one that the public can enjoy – by travelling along and around it but on foot rather than at roller coaster speed. And the view is...
The Englischer Garten in Munich is so called because its style is based on the parks that were popular in England during the eighteenth-century. This large urban park was modelled on the English versions. This is why it’s easy to see why there was a famous...
You’ve heard that name before, haven’t you? Hamelin? That’s right, it’s Hamelin where the legend of the Pied Piper began. The story of the Pied Piper refers to an incident which apparently happened in the Middle Ages, in 1284. The story...
If you’re heading to Germany and wondering about the quality of the tap water then I have good news for you. Germany has one of the best quality water supplies in the world. Water is something that the German authorities take incredibly seriously. You’ll...
It’s very likely that you’ve heard about Colditz Castle. Even though it became famous (or rather, infamous) eighty or more years ago the very name can still give us a shiver. That’s not because it’s been the setting for a spooky film or because...
I’m all for healthy eating. (Most of the time). But when you’re travelling, what a great opportunity you have to sample the cuisine of other cultures. And anyway, there ought to be a rule that calories outside of your own country just don’t...
Although its name suggests otherwise, The Green Citadel in Magdeburg isn’t green. It’s pink. With splashes of red, yellow and bright primary colours. It was designed by Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser and is just one of the excellent reasons...
If you’re a motor racing fan (like me) then the Nurburgring needs no introduction whatsoever. But have you driven it? If not, add it to your to-do list right now. These days, the ‘ring even offers plenty for the non-motorsport fans in the family....
Way back in 1990, Flo Hayler started collecting Ramones memorabilia. He collected tickets and t-shirts, posters and pants. These were to form the basis of the Ramones Museum in Berlin. Yes, you’re right of course, the Ramones are mostly associated with their...
Kunsthofpassage is a series of alleyways in the student district of Dresden. The area contains quirky bookshops and cafés – and unusually decorated buildings. One of the most famous is the one you see above. A series of drainpipes are displayed not only in an...
It seems unbelievable to us today. It was June 2, 1988. Joe Cocker gave a concert in Dresden, Germany. That doesn’t sound too unusual, does it? A musician playing a public concert? But it was unusual when you realise that at that time, Germany was still a year...
Most of us know a little about the 1936 Summer Olympics that were held in the outskirts of Berlin. And even for those of us who know very little, the combination of Germany, 1936 and Hitler indicates very creepy undertones. As we can imagine, Hitler saw the games as...
There are over 60,000 stolpersteine in various places throughout the world. If you’ve been to Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy … most of Europe … then the chances are that you’ve seen at least one. If your trip is in the future, watch out...
Definitely falling into the category of dark tourism, Peenemünde is decidedly spooky. It is located on the island of Usedom in the Baltic and since the nineteenth century was a vacation venue for Prussian royalty and German nobility. But, in common with several other...
If this Bavarian castle looks vaguely familiar to you, that’s because it’s been used in several movies. Probably the one that used it the most was Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang and it was also used in The Great Escape. It’s also said to have been the...
Maybe a tropical resort vacation is way beyond your means, especially if you live in Europe. But never mind, did you know that you can enjoy a tropical island stay in Germany? This is thanks to the Tropical Islands Resort at Krausnick. (See the map below). You can...
Stuttgart, in the Baden-Württemberg area of Germany, is an ancient city with so much to see and do for travellers. But if you’re keen on cars or if you’re a motorsport fan there are even more reasons to visit this fascinating place as Stuttgart is often...
If you’re looking for somewhere really different – and truly inexpensive – in Bonn, Germany, then take a look a Basecamp. It’s not a hotel, or a hostel or even a campsite. Basecamp consists of a selection of quirky accommodations located in a...
It’s just a few steps from the beach. The building has been meticulously renovated to the highest quality. The luxuriously furnished apartments have expansive views of the ocean. It’s located on an island on one of the most beautiful coasts in Europe....
Krämerbrücke means “Merchant’s Bridge’ and this particular bridge is more like a small village spanning the river Breitstrom. It’s located in the city of Erfurt – which still has much of its original medieval architecture. The original...
Yes, there really is a genuine Frankenstein Castle and it is open to the public. It’s in Germany (as you would expect) and overlooks the city of Darmstadt. It was originally built in the thirteenth century and it’s thought that it provided Mary Shelley,...
