Page 24 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

INTRODUCING GERM AN Y  23

A PORTRAIT OF GERMANY

Stereotypes of Germany tend to focus on its industrial and economic prowess, as
well as its hard-working citizens. While this is true to some extent – it is Europe’s
largest economy – it’s also made some extraordinary contributions to the arts,
culture, science and philosphy. Germany is filled with breathtaking natural beauty
and exciting, modern cities, while its locals have a penchant for romanticism.

Modern Germany is surprisingly multi­ History and Romance
cultural. Since World War II, many places For many, the river Rhine epitomizes tourist
have become a melting pot of diversity, Germany, particularly the romantic stretch
with inhabitants from across the world. between Mainz and Cologne. The country
More than 15 per cent of the 80 million has far more to offer in the way of scenery
population were born beyond the country’s than this, however. There is the ever­
borders, rising to 20 per cent when you changing Baltic coastline, the sandy
include the German­born children of islands of the North Sea, the lakes of
immigrants. These are made up of the ‘guest Mecklenburg, lonely castles perched on
workers’ from Turkey who started arriving crags in Baden and Thuringia, mountain
during the 1960s and 1970s, as well as ranges including the Alps, the vast
significant communities of Poles, Italians, Bodensee lake, medieval cities and fairy­
Greeks, Romanians, Chinese and Russians. In tale villages. Not all of the latter are original,
addition, over a million refugees from war­ as countless towns were destroyed by
torn countries across the globe have arrived bombs during World War II, but many have
following Angela Merkel’s open­door policy. been meticu lously rebuilt to the original
In almost every town an eclectic variety of plans, and it is now difficult to tell the
restaurants represents this diversity. difference between the old and the new.

The market in the old town of Mainz is typical of those found throughout Germany
A wintry Bavarian scene, with Neuschwanstein Castle in the background

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