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11 Known and Notable Facts About Living in Germany

 

If you plan a trip to Europe, then your list of countries to explore surely has to have Germany! It is well known that Germany is a nation of poets and philosophers. Germany is full of culture, history, and peculiar laws, from important discoveries to Christmas customs, sausages, and beer. The Black Forest, the Alps, the major towns, and Oktoberfest are other attractions in Germany.

Let’s learn more about Germany in typical German fashion without wasting any time!

 

Berlin

“Berlin ist arm, aber sexy,” as former Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit once remarked, means “Berlin is impoverished but seductive.” Well, it’s no longer impoverished, but it still draws tourists from all over the world.

Berlin, the nation’s capital, is well known. Compared to Venice, it is actually nine times bigger and has more bridges. Berghain, one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, is also located in Berlin. There are no cameras permitted inside, and there is a 50% possibility that you will be turned away for unspecified reasons.

 

Great thinkers

It’s well-deserved that Germany is known as “The Land of Poets and Thinkers” (Das Land der Dichter und Denker). The world has benefited from hundreds of years of scientific, literary, and philosophical beliefs because of Germany’s past and present.

Albert Einstein is well-known for his theory of relativity, but other scientists, including Robert Koch, the creator of bacteriology, are equally significant.
Modern perspectives on pretty much all aspects of life have been influenced by German philosophers including Kant, Nietzsche, Marx, Engels, and Tolle.

 

Oktoberfest

The massive Oktoberfest celebrations are imitated in many nations, but to experience the real thing, travel to Munich, Bavaria. The greatest fall festival, Oktoberfest, is celebrated in Germany.

Since Oktoberfest officially begins in September and runs until the first Sunday of October, the moniker is a little misleading.

Louis I, the Crown Prince of Bavaria, wed Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. In order to commemorate the union of their beloved royal couple, the famed German city of Munich initially staged Oktoberfest; the custom continues to this day.

During the two-week celebration, an estimated 78,500 hectoliters (2 million gallons) of beer are consumed, demonstrating the more laid-back side of German society.

The proper way to attend Oktoberfest is to don your Lederhosen, learn a folk dance, and consume your body weight in bread.

 

Beer

However, it would be incorrect to infer that only Oktoberfest attendees drink German beer.

Germans have been making beer since 800 BC, and its popularity has only grown with time. Germany is famous for its love of, production of, and consumption of beer.

After the Irish, Germans are the second-largest beer consumers in the world. In contrast to other nations, drinking beer in public areas like parks or on the street is completely legal. Even a takeout beer has its own word in German: weber.

Augsburg, a city in Bavaria, declared in 1156 that “no beer of lower quality is allowed to be brewed.” Germany as a whole is now subject to that law. According to the DeutschesReinheitsgebot (German Purity Laws), the only ingredients that may be used to prevent adulteration are water, barley, and hops.

In Germany now, there are 1,300 breweries producing 7,000 different types of beer.

 

Bavaria

Munich offers more than just Oktoberfest. In reality, Germany’s Bavarian area is well-known for its vibrant culture and breathtaking scenery. Munich has a completely different vibe than hipster Berlin, and Bavaria is where it’s from the lakes to the Alps.

In Munich, there are many sites to explore. Munich offers the best beer gardens and 80 museums to choose from. Lederhosen, which is typically worn during Bavarian weddings, originated there. Though some Bavarians dress in Lederhosen for some Friday night fun, it doesn’t mean you won’t see them on the streets.

Some of Germany’s best treks and lake views may be found in Bavaria.

To explore the German Alps, hikers should travel to Tegernsee, 48 kilometres (30 miles) from Munich. From there, you can either ascend Wallberg Mountain or simply take in the scenery. One of the cleanest lakes in Europe is Königsee, which is close to the Austrian border.

 

Neuschwanstein Castle

Does this castle remind you of anything? This castle is so well-known that it merits its own unique discussion. The Neuschwanstein Castle is well-known for being located in Germany.

One of the main tourist destinations is the Neuschwanstein Castle, also in Bavaria. When Walt Disney and his wife went there in the 1950s, they felt it ought to serve as the model for the castle in Sleeping Beauty. The Disney logo was also influenced by it!

Ludwig II of Bavaria initially owned Neuschwanstein, which he had constructed in 1869.

The castle’s exterior is its most stunning feature, and taking photos inside is not allowed. However, if you love Disney, you must see it!

 

Trains

Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and The Netherlands are among the nine European nations that border Germany. Train travel is the most convenient way to explore Europe, and Germany is renowned for having an amazing rail system.

Stay put for now! Before you go from Germany, keep in mind that the country’s rail system is actually one of the greatest ways to see it. In Europe, Germany boasts the fourth-best rail system, and its trains are almost always on schedule.

Deutsche Bahn is the name of Germany’s principal railway system, which is 41,315 kilometres (25,672 miles) long. In Germany, trains can take you almost anywhere, and they are frequently more affordable and quicker than flying or renting a car, even with the Autobahn.

 

The Autobahn

Even if you don’t fully understand what the Autobahn is, you’ve probably heard of it. The 12,993 kilometres (8,073 miles) long Autobahn, which connects Germany’s major cities, is renowned worldwide.

Here are some facts about the Autobahn to dispel some common misconceptions about it.

One-third of the Autobahn does have speed limits, contrary to popular belief. Contrary to common opinion, Adolf Hitler was not the primary architect of the Autobahn. In fact, it was created in the 1920s as the building was getting started. Although it was once intended to be a racetrack, it is now a driver’s paradise to get from point A to point B.

 

Bread

It’s rather surprising that hamburgers, as we know them, didn’t begin in Hamburg, especially given that Germany is known for having a slight fixation with bread. In Germany, there are 300 different types of bread, and it is my life’s goal to try each one.

As a bread enthusiast and ex-pat from Europe, I can attest that I inhale more deeply when I drive by German bakeries in Australia, albeit they don’t quite compare to the real thing. Snack time is referred to as “Brotzeit,” which translates to “bread time,” in southern Germany. Pretzels, rye bread (Follkornbrot), and pumpernickel are a few of the more well-liked variations.

Germany’s ubiquitous bread is so well-liked that it has a distinct name for each region of the nation. “Brötchen” is a general phrase that denotes little bread. In the south, the small bread roll is known as a Semmel, and in the north, it is known as a Rundstück.

 

Innovation

Germany is renowned for its innovations and inventions, which you surely already knew, but did you also know that it also boasts the fourth-largest economy in the world? Many of the modern-day essentials exist today because of German visionaries and inventors!

You begin each day by brushing your teeth with toothpaste, an invention from Germany. Two Germans, one of them being Karl Benz, are credited with creating the automobile, therefore Mercedes Benz. Your car’s airbag is likewise a German import. All German products include the refrigerator, aspirin, chip cards, contact lenses, helicopters, jeans, and x-ray equipment.

You might be surprised to learn that Baron Manfred von Ardenne, a German, actually created television in 1931. Berlin had the first television broadcast in 1935. Budweiser, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Siemens, Bosch, Porsche, and Volkswagen are all well-known German brands.

 

Classical Composers

You probably know the names of Beethoven, Handel, and Schubert, three of Germany’s most celebrated classical composers.

Christian weddings are one of the main ways that the two German composers’ legacies are still carried on today. These composers are responsible for two of the most well-known bridal marches that are still in use. Many people are unaware that both of these pieces of music were originally written with theatregoers, not genuine congregations, in mind.

For the opera Lohengrin, Richard Wagner wrote the “Bridal Chorus” or “Here Comes The Bride” in 1850. It’s also the version that has crude lyrics substituted in, at least among kids. The Bridal March by Felix Mendelssohn was composed for the London performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1842.

If you are planning to study in Germany, get more information on the German education system from our study-abroad experts by visiting www.manyagroup.com

 

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FAQs

What is Oktoberfest?

Germany hosts one of the biggest and oldest beer and travels fair events in the world. Since its inception at the start of the 19th century, Oktoberfest has become one of the most renowned occasions in German history.

What is the Cologne carnival?

Every year, a carnival begins on the streets of Cologne at exactly 11:11 p.m. on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of November. There are theatrical performances, balls, and parades. People celebrate in the streets while donning various costumes and masks, singing, dancing, and, of course, drinking beer.

Is education free in Germany?

Even for foreigners, education is free in Germany. We are also not referring to elementary and secondary education as public colleges and universities as well as higher education are all free.

When does Oktoberfest start?

It starts in September.

What is the history of Brandenburg Gate?

Germany’s capital, Berlin, which is also the biggest city in the country, is home to this famous landmark. A Prussian monarch ordered its construction in the neoclassical style of the Acropolis in Athens as a symbol of peace, and in the 18th century, it served as a city gate.

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