Munich Video Guide

Munich
Pending Berlin’s full recovery from its long period of division, MUNICH is the German city which most has the air of a capital about it. Even though it has never ruled over a territory any larger than the present-day Land, the grandiose palaces from Bavaria’s era as an independent kingdom give it the appearance of a metropolis of great importance. When this is added to a remarkable postwar economic record (courtesy of such hi-tech giants as the car manufacturer BMW, the aerospace company MBB and the electronics group Siemens), and to its hard-won status as the national trendsetter in fashion matters, it’s easy to see why Munich acts as a magnet to outsiders. Students flock here to study; the rich and jet-set like to live here, as do writers, painters, musicians and film-makers, while foreign nationals now make up more than a fifth of the population. Munich’s other, more familiar face is of a homely city of provincially minded locals whose zest for drinking, seen at an extreme during the annual Oktoberfest, is kept up all year round in cavernous beer halls and spacious gardens.

Hamburg Video Guide

Hamburg
As a harbor city located in the far north of Germany, Hamburg has been known for centuries as the “gateway to the world.” One of Hamburg’s most famous sons, novelist Wolfgang Borchert, lovingly described the city as “more than a heap of stones, roofs, windows, beds, roads, bridges and street lamps. It is more than factory chimneys and traffic jams—more than the screeching of seagulls, squeaking of trams and thundering of the railway—it is more than ships’ horns, whirling cranes, curses and dance music—oh, it is so much more!” Even writer Heinrich Heine, who did not always sing Hamburg’s praises, returned again and again, just as many visitors do. Hamburg has an air about it: on the one hand, it is a busy and bustling metropolis; on the other, an elegant and cozy seaside idyll. Whatever your impression may be, you’ll never get tired of Hamburg!

Dresden Video Guide

Dresden
Saxony’s capital Dresden is located in what once was called Valley of the Clueless; as the city is encircled by mountains and hills, the signals of the West German TV stations never seemed to reach Saxony’s antennas, forcing them to watch the propaganda programs the Socialist party had hatched up for them. Once an important cultural and commercial metropolis featuring Germany’s then most impressive architecture, Dresden was practically wiped out over two nights of air raids in February, 1945. The city has recently undergone much renovation and is now reaching the splendor it once had. Nowadays, it is marked by hard contrasts: most of the famous buildings have been restored or rebuilt from scratch; the Neustadt, formerly a beggars’ quarter, is flourishing to a surprising extent; various parks and recreational areas contribute to its beauty.

Nurnberg Video Guide

Nurnberg
Nothing more magnificent or splendid is to be found in the whole of Europe. When one perceives this glorious city from afar, its splendour is truly dazzling. When one enters it, one’s original impression is confirmed by the beauty of the streets and the comeliness of the houses. The burghers’ dwellings seem to have been built for princes. In truth, the kings of Scotland would be glad to be housed so luxuriously as the ordinary citizen of N?rnberg.This mid-fifteenth-century eulogy, written by the future Pope Pius II, shows the esteem in which medieval N?RNBERG was held. As the favourite royal residence and seat of the first Diet called by each new emperor, the city then functioned as the unofficial capital of Germany. It was a status which had been achieved with remarkable speed, as N?rnberg was only founded in the eleventh century; thereafter, its position at the intersection of the north–south and east–west trading routes led to economic prosperity, and, as a corollary, political power.

Frankfurt Video Guide

Frankfurt
Visitors to Germany do not find much to make them linger in the sprawling city of Frankfurt on the River Main, unless their purpose is business rather than pleasure. For most visitors to the country, however, Frankfurt’s huge showpiece airport is the point of arrival and departure. The city is a major transport hub and an industrial and financial metropolis that ensures it is the economic powerhouse not only of Germany, but central Europe. Frankfurt is home to Germany’s central bank, the Bundesbank and Europe’s most important stock exchange, which has been trading since 1585.
For tourists Frankfurt does offer some sights, some intriguing restaurants in the Nordend, a variety of artistic and cultural events, and excellent shopping opportunities. Sightseeing opportunities are mostly confined to the historical core of the city, known as the Romerberg, where Charlemagne erected his fort in medieval times. Most of the original buildings were destroyed during World War II, but some have been reconstructed, including the home of Goethe, Frankfurt’s famous son who became Germany’s greatest writer. For shopping it is hard to beat the Zeil, Germany’s equivalent to New York’s Fifth Avenue.