Around Germany

For the lovely city of Heidelberg, 2013 is a year to be marked on the calendar of history. In fact, this year is the 400th anniversary of the traditional appointment with the fireworks show at the Castle, wanted for the first time in 1613 by Frederick V to celebrate his spouse Elizabeth Stuart, Princess of England. However, the three pyrotechnic events of June 1, July 13, and September 7, are just the tip of the iceberg of an eventful year, as is the tradition of this lovely city overlooking River Neckar.

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After six years since the last edition, on May 25 and 26 it will be time again for Wolkenkratzer Festival in Frankfurt, that is, the Skyscrapers Festival. For two long days, the 5 Km way in Frankfurt city centre, there where the highest skyscrapers of the city dominate, will be the stage for open-air shows and performances by street artists and especially athletes who will perform daring acrobatic flights from the tops of high-rise buildings.

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Rust is a German village of less than 4000 inhabitants, in Baden-Württemberg. Every year, in this small town on the border with France, over 4 million people flock to Europa-Park, the second largest amusement park in Europe after Disneyland Paris. Europa-Park was founded in 1975 by the Mack family, who are a leader amusement ride manufacturing company in the world.

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On the occasion of the International Women’s Day on March 8th, we would like to pay tribute to the German feminist movement. Generally, if you think about 19th century and 20th century great personalities of German art and culture, those who come to mind are mainly men: Nietzsche, Einstein, Marx, Kafka, Thomas Mann, Richard Wagner, Joannes Brahms, and so on. However, the German history of the last 200 years is full of female characters who started dealing with the issues of women’s self-determination, their actual role in society, as well as their importance in the relations within institutions, politics and the family.

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Some of the most important trade shows of the year will take place in Germany throughout March. Numismata, an unmissable event for collectors and fans of ancient coins and medals, will take place in Munich, with more than 300 international exhibitors. Hannover will host CeBit instead, one of the world’s most important exhibitions for new technologies. The tourism sector will meet in Berlin during ITB, International Travel Show. Starting from the second week of March, it’s time for Internorga at Hamburg Messe, an international event for the wealthy food & beverage and catering industries. Last but not least, the cultural event par excellence for the world of literature: publishers, authors, journalists and readers will flock as usual to Leipzig for Leipziger Buchmesse, one of Europe’s most famous book fairs ever.
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Berlin International Film Festival, whose first edition was in 1950, is one of the major cultural events in the German capital. During the ten days of the Berlinale, which this year will take place from February 7 to 17, the whole city is involved, and the logo, a bear, is a constant presence in the large billboards and posters available in all the stores and tourist places of Berlin.

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Even in winter, the German Clock Route is a fascinating journey to take. The Clock Route is a 320 km circular road that begins and ends in the town of Villingen-Schwenningen, Baden-Württemberg. A road that crosses the magnificent landscapes of the Black Forest and the Medieval Baar county, and that in its unfolding between forests, rivers and castles touches some towns renowned for cuckoo clocks manufacturing and the presence of artisans who have created actual “time marking” works of art.

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New Year’s in Germany is a very special time, also because before Carnival there are no other festivities in the Country. Therefore, on New Year’s Eve in Germany, people spare no expense, and even restaurants and clubs are always packed. Silvester, that’s how New Year’s Eve is called in Germany, is also an opportunity to enjoy some traditions, actual rites of passage into the new year. And even for New Year 2013, German families are preparing their good luck charms to get welfare and prosperity for the new year.

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New Year’s 2013 in Germany will be a celebration in the spirit of tradition. German squares, roads, restaurants, clubs and theaters will be crowded with locals and tourists alike, all ready to celebrate the new year with a toast of Feuerzangenbowle, a traditional drink of some fraternities made with red wine, rum, orange peel, cinnamon and cloves. New Year’s Eve in Berlin will be as usual in the name of unbridled celebration in the streets with its clou moment at the Brandenburg Gate, while in Stuttgart the appointment will be at the Kunstmuseum Civic Art Museum, in Schlossplatz. In Munich, New Year’s is also passion, love and revenge with Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Bayerische Staatsoper.

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Christmas Markets in Germany are a tradition that is renewed every year. Always very colorful and full of handicrafts and food, German Christmas markets are among the most famous and oldest in Europe: indeed, the one in Dresden is known since 1400 while Munich earliest Christmas Market dates back to 1600. However, if you wish to escape the attractive chaos that reigns supreme in the Christmas markets held in Berlin or Hamburg, you can visit the classic Christmas appointment in smaller towns, less frequented by tourists, where the atmosphere is more intimate and where even the products on the stalls have lower prices.

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