Page 9 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

HOW T O USE THIS GUIDE  7

SOUTHERN GERM AN Y  211
MUNICH Germany Area by Area
The capital of Bavaria, Munich is sometimes called “Germany’s Introduction The
secret capital”. Lying right at the heart of Europe, the city rapidly In this guide, Germany is divided
overshadowed once powerful neighbours, such as Ingolstadt,
Augsburg and Nuremberg, to become southern Germany’s 1landscape, history and
main metropolis. With its vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere, into 13 areas, each of which is
fine buildings, museums and shops, it is one of the country’s
most popular tourist destinations. character of each region
The citizens of Munich have been known But it is not only art that gives Munich its are described, showing covered in a separate section.
for centuries for their love of the arts. The unique charm. The country’s biggest folk
masterpieces that were created here festival, the Oktoberfest, is held each year The most interesting cities, towns,
during the Baroque and Rococo periods in Theresienwiese, where visitors to the how the area has changed
were equal to Italian and French works. town can join in the revelries or just sit and
In the 19th century, the town’s develop­ watch, ordering a plate of sauerkraut with
ment continued along Neo­Classical lines, sausages and washing it down with some through the ages. It also villages and sights in the area are
gaining for it the name of “Athens on Isar”. of the excellent Bavarian beer.
Just how appropriate the name is can be When planning a shopping trip to marked on the Area Map.
seen when strolling along Ludwigstrasse Munich visitors can be sure that its shops outlines the sights on offer
or Königsplatz or visiting the Glyptothek, are equal to those of Paris and Milan, not
which houses Ludwig I’s collection of Greek only in the breadth of their range but also
and Roman sculptures. in terms of their prices. for visitors.
In the late 19th century the Munich The town is also one of Germany’s main
Academy of Fine Arts was amongst Europe’s centres of high­tech and media industries.
best art schools. Not many cities have as Many TV stations and film studios, as well as
great a choice of world­class theatres, operas over 300 book and newspaper publishers,
and museums as can be found here in Munich. have their main offices in Munich.
164  E AS t E r n GE r MA ny S A xo n y  165
Exploring Saxony Getting Around
Leipzig and Dresden both have airports, as well as
When travelling in Saxony, a visit to Dresden is a must. excellent train and road connections with the rest Regional Map This shows the
Visitors should set aside several days to explore its of Germany. The A6 motorway runs west from
historic sights and magnificent museums. Dresden is Görlitz, through Dresden and Chemnitz; the A13
also a convenient base for excursions to the attractive links Dresden with Berlin, and the A14 with Leipzig. 2main roads and the general
Other roads, national and regional, are clearly sign­
landscapes of the Sächsische Schweiz (“Saxon posted, and all the towns described in this guide
Switzerland”) and further afield – to Bautzen, Görlitz and can also be reached by local buses.
Zittau, or to the Erzgebirge Mountains, towards Freiberg Lutherstadt
Wittenberg
and Chemnitz. Another town worth visiting, at least topography of the area. All
for a day, is Leipzig with its historic sights,
The Neo-Gothic Rathaus in Marienplatz, Munich’s central square Delitzsch Bad Düben The giant castle and cathedral complex in Meissen MUSKAU BAD
cultural events, trade fairs and exhibitions.
Interior and ceiling of the Antiquarium Hall in the Residenz Museum TORGAU
Halle Spree sights are numbered, and
Rackwitz Hoyerswerda
Eilenburg
UKGER_210-211.indd 211 31/10/2013 15:50 Wurzen Berlin Bernsdorf there are also details on how
LEIPZIG O b e r l a u s i t z
Riesa Grossenhain Niesky
Markkleeberg Oschatz Schwarze Elster
KAMENZ BAUTZEN to get there.
Zwenkau Zwickauer Mulde Y Aachen
Leisnig MORITZBURG
Colditz Freiberger Mulde MEISSEN Coswig Bischofswerda Löbau GORLITZ
M U L D E VA L L E Elbe S ACHSIS CHE
Pleisse
Rochlitz Burg Kriebstein Radebeul Stolpen Ostriz
Wechselburg SACHSEN DRESDEN L a u s i t z e r B e r g l a n d
Rochsburg Mittweida Hainichen Freital PIRNA S CHW E IZ ZITTAU
Meerane AUGUSTUSBURG FREIBERG Weesenstein Bad Schandau
Erfurt
Glauchau CHEMNITZ
Pockau
Neukirchen ZWICKAU Marienberg
The Old Town of Bautzen, situated high above Fl ha Prague
the banks of the Spree River SÄCHSISCHE SILBERSTRASSE
Reichenbach
Sights at a Glance Schneeberg
1 Leipzig pp166–7 Plauen Annaberg-
2 Torgau Auerbach Auersberg 1019m
Buchholz
3 Mulde Valley Oberwiesenthal
4 Zwickau Fichtelberg 1214m
5 Chemnitz Oelsnitz
6 Augustusburg Saddle horses grazing on paddocks near Kamenz
8 Freiberg Nurnberg V o g t l a n d
9 Meißen Boxes contain additional
0 Moritzburg Key
q Dresden pp172–81 Motorway
w Pirna information about sights.
r Kamenz Major road
t Bautzen Minor road
y Bad Muskau Scenic route
u Görlitz Main railway 0 kilometres 20
i Zittau 0 miles 20
Minor railway
Tours Country border
7 Sächsische Silberstraße International border Young musicians in the Barockgarten,
e Sächsische Schweiz Summit in Großsedlitz, near Dresden
For additional map symbols see back flap 184  East E r n G E rm an y sa x on y  185
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp492–503 and pp510–33
climbing the 15th-century
Colour coding at the edge of Alte Wasser kunst, a tower that still has remains of its medieval for rock-climbers, walkers and
UKGER_164-165.indd All Pages 31/10/2013 15:47 churches in Jerusalem. Görlitz Zittau Mountains, a paradise
nature lovers. The town itself is
pumped Spree water up to the
town fortifications with original
splendidly preserved, with many
town. It is the symbol of Bautzen
towers and gates, including the
every page makes it easy to find and offers splendid views. Kaisertrutz, a 15th-century historic buildings, such as the
The cathedral Dom St Peter
barbican, extended in the 19th
beautiful, Baroque Noacksches
Haus (Markt 2). The Neo-
century and now home to the
is now used jointly by Catholics
each particular region. (choir) and Protestants (nave). town’s art collection. Renaissance Rathaus (town
The late-Gothic Schloss
hall) was built in 1840–45,
to a design by Carl Augustus
Ortenburg houses the
Environs
Sorbisches Museum, devoted The small town of Ostritz, Schramm. The Johanniskirche,
to Sorbian history and culture. 16 km (10 miles) to the south, by Karl Friedrich Schinkel,
has a charming original combines elements of Neo-
E Sorbisches Museum Cistercian abbey, St Marien thal Classical and Neo-Gothic styles
Ortenburg 3. Tel (03591) 42 403. (1230). Its red-and-white and is an excellent example of
Open Apr–Oct: 10am–5pm Tue–Sun; buildings are to this day Historicist architecture.
Nov–Mar: 10am–4pm Tue–Sun. Baroque Neptune fountain in inhabited by nuns, who show
Untermarkt, in Görlitz visitors around and serve food Environs
and home-brewed beer.
The charming spa town of
Detailed Information All Gothic altar from 1513 in St Annen church, in Kamenz u Görlitz Oybin, 9 km (6 miles) south
of Zittau, can be reached by
t Bautzen
r Kamenz
Road map F4. * 66,000. £ @
n Obermarkt 32 (03581-475 70). i Zittau narrow-gauge railway. Its
attractions include the hilltop
Road map F4. * 28,000. £ @
Road map F4. * 16,800. £ @
Road map F4. * 44,000. £ @
3major towns, places of interest n Pulsnitzer Str. 11 (03578 379 205). n Hauptmarkt 1 (03591-4 20 16). Sommertheater (Jul); Straßen theater- n Markt 1 (03583-75 22 00). ruins of a Gothic abbey,
_ Kultursommer (May– Sep);
immortalized by Caspar David
_ Vogelhochzeit (Jan); Lausitzer
festival (Aug). ∑ goerlitz.de
_ Hutbergfest (May). ∑ kamenz.de
_ Klosterfest (Ascension) (May); Fest
Friedrich. It is worth timing your
Fischwochen (Oct). ∑ bautzen.de
am Dreiländereck (Jun); Stadtfest (Jul).
and other tourist sights The best time for a visit to Kamenz This town is scenically situated This border town, whose ∑ zittau.eu visit for a Saturday evening in
is the end of May or June, when
summer, when you can witness
eastern part, Zgorzelec, has
Zittau is an excellent starting
the rhododendrons that cover
the procession of torch-bearing
on a high rock overhanging the
belonged to Poland since 1945,
the Hutberg (294 m/965 ft high) Spree River valley. Known boasts a long history. Its oldest point for excursions into the monks or listen to a concert.
are listed in order and Ephraim Lessing, was born in political prisoners during the Founded in 1210–20, the town
records date back to 1071.
mainly for its top-security jail for
are in flower. The poet, Gotthold
GDR era, today it enchants
flourished in the 15th and 16th
Kamenz in 1729. Although his
house no longer exists, the
visitors with its beautifully
centuries. In 1990 an extensive
numbered according to Lessingmuseum, founded in reconstructed old town. Many Doorway of the Neo-Renaissance palace in restoration plan was begun, and
1929, is devoted to his work.
signs are bilingual, German and
now visitors can see its historic
A great fire destroyed much
Bad Muskau
buildings in their former glory.
Sorbian, reflecting the fact that
of the town in 1842, but it Bautzen is the cultural capital of The charming houses in
the Regional Map. Each spared the late-Gothic the Sorbs. The winding streets y Bad Muskau Obermarkt (upper market),
with their ori ginal houses, the
the Renaissance portals and
St Marien church, a four-nave
Road map F4. * 4,170. @
15th-century structure with
city walls, the curiously crooked
decorations on houses in
n Schlossstr. 6 (035771-504 92).
entry contains information Gothic altars and other Reichen turm tower and the ∑ badmuskau.de Brüderstraße and the fasci nating
Untermarkt (lower market),
interesting features. Equally
Baroque town hall in the town
Bad Muskau, a small town and
noteworthy for their furnishings
with its vast town hall complex,
square form a very attractive
are the Gothic ex-Franciscan complex. It is also worth spa, boasts one of Saxony’s enchant everyone. The older
most beautiful parks, which has
St Annen church and the
on important sights. unusual hall-church been included in the UNESCO of Wendel Roskopf, has an Fountain with a statue of Roland, the French knight, in Zittau
wing of the town hall, the work
Katechismuskirche.
Cultural Heritage list. It was
amazing external staircase with
Originally part of the town’s created in 1815–45 by the writer Renaissance ornaments, and The Sorbs
fortification system, it has a Prince Hermann von Pückler- winds around the statue of Justice. The Sorbs, also known as the
row of loopholes on its Muskau. The Neo-Renaissance One of the most remarkable Lusatians or Wends, are an
upper storey. The old palace at its centre was churches is the imposing five- indigenous Slav minority who live
cemetery and the Gothic destroyed in World War II and nave, 15th-century Haupt­ in the eastern regions of Saxony
funereal church reopened after reconstruction stadtpfarrkirche St Peter und and Brandenburg. Their ancestors,
Begräbniskirche St Just in 2008. The English-style St Paul whose Baroque furnish- the Lusatian Slavs, were conquered
are also worth a visit. landscaped park surrounding it, ings are among the finest in by Germans in the 10th century.
As is the Museum der a nature reserve since 1952, is Saxony. Also noteworthy is the Although condemned to
Westlausitz, a museum well worth visiting. Its main Oberkirche, with an original extermination by the National
of the local region. part, on the northern shores of Gothic main altar and 15th- Socialists, today they enjoy
the Lusatian Neisse River, is in century wall paintings in the side complete cultural autonomy. The
E Lessingmuseum Poland. A joint Polish-German nave. One of Görlitz’s curiosities revival of their language and
Lessingplatz 1–3. Tel (03578) programme has opened the is the Heiliges Grab (Holy tomb), traditions is apparent in the
380 50. Open 9am–5pm Tue–Fri, Impressive Baroque entrance to the Domstift entire area to visitors from both built in 1481–1504, a group of bilingual signs in towns.
1pm–5pm Sat & Sun. sides of the border.
154  EASTERN GERM AN Y in Bautzen N A u M buRG  155 three chapels that are replicas of
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp492–503 and pp510–33
Naumburg Dom Pulpit The richly ornamented ViSitoRS’ ChECkliSt
The impressive Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in UKGER_184-185.indd All Pages pulpit basket, from Practical Information 31/10/2013 15:48
Naumburg is one of the finest Gothic structures in 1466, and the Domplatz 16–17.
Germany. The present cathedral is the second to be adjoining stairs have tel (03445) 23 01 10.
been renovated.
open Mar–Oct: 9am–6pm Mon–
built on the same site; only a section of the eastern Sat, noon–6pm Sun; Nov–Feb: A visitors’ checklist for each
crypt survived of the earlier Romanesque church. 10am–4pm Mon–Sat, noon–4pm
Construction started before 1213, with the earliest parts Sun. &
including the late-Romanesque east choir, the transept of the main sights provides
and the main body. The early-Gothic west choir was
built in the mid-13th century, the newer Gothic east practical information to help
choir c.1330. The northeast towers date from the
15th century, the southwest towers from 1894.
you plan your visit.
. Main Portal
The late-Romanesque, 13th-century portal is
decorated on the left side with eagles. The
tympanum features Christ in a mandorla
Stained-Glass Windows in the Presbytery (almond-shaped area) supported by angels. Major Sights At least two
The stained-glass windows depict scenes
of the apostles of virtue and sin. Some
sections are original 13th-century work, but
two were completed in the 19th century. 4pages are dedicated to
each major sight. Historic
. Founders’
Statues
The statues of buildings are dissected in
Margrave Ekkehard and
his wife, Uta, are true
masterpieces – the artist
succeeded marvellously in order to show their interiors.
capturing the beauty and
sensitivity of his subjects. East Choir Altar
This Gothic altar features the Virgin Interesting towns or town
Mary with the Infant Jesus, surrounded
by the figures of the saints.
kEY centres have street maps
1 West choir
2 Sarcophagus of
Bishop Dietrich ii . Portal of the with the main sights
3 East choir West Reading
4 the Main Altar, built in the mid- Room The Gothic twin portal
14th century, is a stone retable depicts the Crucifixion, a St Mary’s Altar indicated and described.
depicting the Crucifixion with the moving and highly expressive This late-Gothic triptych (c.1510)
saints which was transferred from group sculpture by the brilliant depicts the Virgin Mary with the Infant,
another altar. “Naumburger Meister” whose framed by Saints Barbara and Catherine,
identity remains unknown. with the Apostles in the wings.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp492–503 and pp510–33
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