February 2003 - Nr. 2
"Enchanting Towns in Germany"
GNTO’s New Colour Guide Profiles Close to
200 Historic Towns
Toronto – Visitors to Germany have discovered the country’s small towns. They are travelling in increasing numbers to such places as the Pied Piper’s Hamelin in the north, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s spiritual home town of Weimar in the east and historic Cochem in western Germany’s Riesling country along the Moselle river. A perpetual favourite among university students worldwide, Tübingen in Germany’s south attracts them, so does Rothenburg on the Romantic Road, and many others.
They travel to these places for good reasons – each of them provides, in a nutshell, the best of what Germany has to offer. All are rich in history, with authentically restored architecture in their old town centres. At the same time, they bustle with life, offering cultural and sporting events, folklore festivals, shopping to rival many of the bigger cities, and at least a few of the world’s best places to pamper body and soul, including Baden-Baden, on the edge of the Black Forest.
The German National Tourist Office’s 174-page, full-size guide, called "Enchanting Towns in Germany -- Feel the Romance, Enjoy the Culture", presents close to 200 of these small towns. Of these, 108 are portrayed in more detail, starting with a variety of photographs and a general description of the place, how to get there and lists of major sights in town and nearby, all manner of events during the year, suggested excursions and tips on what to do and where to eat and stay. To help navigate and narrow down the choices, the guide divides Germany into north, east, west and south and comes with a referenced map of the country.
Leafing through the guide’s colourful pages should convince even the most stalwart big city travellers that they might just be missing some of Germany’s treasures, never mind the scenery. Some 4300 small town museums will mount more than 8000 exhibitions in 2003, and more than 10,000 folk festivals and related events across the country will entertain and feed in style those visitors venturing beyond the big cities, ready to be enchanted.
The one question weary small town travellers to Germany’s countryside will no doubt ask is, ‘Why are the many other small towns I happened upon on my trip not listed in this guide?’ The answer is, ‘Some want to be found by you, and there are hundreds more to discover on your own.’
Canadian tour operator Horizon Holidays offers an 11-day luxury motor coach tour, called "Bavaria, Austria and Alpine Road", stopping in, among other small towns, Lindau on Lake Constance. The tour operator also presents a 12-day all-inclusive, escorted Elbe River cruise, visiting Martin Luther’s home town, Wittenberg, and the place that manufactures some of the world’s best china, Meissen.
For more information on Germany, please contact the German National Tourist Office’s toll-free number 1-877-315-6237, send an e-mail to gntony@aol.com or visit GNTO’s Web sites: www.germany-tourism.de and www.visits-to-germany.com .
