You’re going to find the Oder-Spree district to the right side of Germany’s capital Berlin. And it got its name from the fact that both the Oder and the Spree rivers run through this area.

Oder-Spree District Map

But it is not only Berlin that makes this district interesting. Frankfurt (Oder) is as well just a cat jump away, as is the country of Poland (both in the east).

Let’s talk about a couple highlights the Oder-Spree district has on offer for you…

First, there are two Nature Reserves, the Naturpark Schlaubetal and the Naturpark Dahme-Heidessen. The former is located between Müllrose and Neuzelle and provides 200 bird types and other water animals. The latter you’re going to find around the town of Storkow. What’s impressive about this one is that it contains more than 100 lakes. Due to this you’ll find countless bird types, fishes, sea-eagles, and wild geese.

As for the towns, go ahead and visit Eisenhüttenstadt, the capital of the Oder-Spree district. Being surrounded by hills and pine forests makes for a lush backdrop to this revitalized town.

Then there’s Müllrose, a small town with a museum that showcases exponates from its history that is a couple hundred years long.

Oh, and Woltersdorf is also worth a visit as it has an observation tower that stands on a 97m (318ft) tall hill providing a stunning view over the district as well as Berlin (if the weather permits it)! Awesome.

A city that was once known as the city of a thousand fires was the most important coal-mining town in Europe in the 20th century. Gelsenkirchen has since invested itself into solar power, and contains Germany’s biggest solar power plant.

During WWII it featured a women’s subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp. There are still many above-ground air-raid shelters found throughout the city today.

On February 1st in 2005, a Jewish synagogue opened replacing the one burnt down in the anti-Jewish riots of Kristallnacht. Attached to the synagogue is also a community center and meeting place. In fact during WWII almost three quarters of this city was destroyed.

It has since become home to the famous football club FC Schalke 04, of which Pope John Paul II became an honorary member. He had celebrated a Mass before 85,000 people in Gelsenkirchen’s Parkstadion in 1987.

For nature lovers, there are many hiking and cycling trails to ensure your discovery of the culture and charm of the city. There is an Opera House, Musiktheater im Revier (“MiR“), for a great night out. Be sure to call ahead for times and availability. The MiR is at the end of the main shopping district, with the train station at the opposite end. This makes for a convenient trip from nearby towns.

If venturing through Gelsenkirchen by foot or bicycle you will be sure to find the Red Bridge. This double arched bridge provides the ability to cross the Rhein-Herne-Kanal. The bridge can be found in Nordsternpark. The lush landscape was designed for the 1997 National Garden Show. The northern side of the canal features contemporary gardens and many attractions, but to the south the park is kept more obsolete and natural.

Still showing signs of the medieval era, Eichstätt celebrated the 1100th anniversary of its charter in 2008. If you are a history buff, this is the place to see. Home of the only Catholic university in Germany, this town has a lot to offer.

A Jurassic Museum located in Willibaldsburg is a necessity for anyone with kids. How could you pass up the chance to see Dinosaur remains? Known to the locals as Juramuseum, this locale features fossils from the Jurassic limestone. Included in the display is a fossilized Archaeopteryx.

For anyone who does not like the pushiness of some travel guides and would like to experience their own tailored interests, there is a walking tour that will give you a great insight of the extensive variety that Eichstätt offers.

By starting at Dom, which is its Cathedral, you can view a covered alter holding the remains of the first Bishop of Eichstätt, St. Willibald. Heading toward the south is the Electoral Palace once used by Angelini and Gabrieli in Baroque Residenzplatz.

Continuing east, you will uncover the Church of the Guardian Angel, known as Schutzengelkirche. To enjoy history in the roots of religion, head to Kauzinerkirche and you can view a replica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

When searching for authentic souvenirs, make sure you head to Marktplatz. You will find a shopping area. This also makes a great resting point; feel free to gaze at the Willibald Fountain.

If you are on a tight budget and like a more frugal route for souvenirs, check out the quarry near the Berger Museum. They allow you to collect your own fossils! The final stop is the Jurassic Museum.

I think by venturing on foot and being able to not only view the culture, but also mingle with the locals creates an atmosphere that cannot be recreated by a guide. There are many museums along this route that will give you insight and knowledge.

The Eichstätt district in Bavaria lies right in the Altmühltal, a valley, and Germany’s second largest Nature Park. That means opportunities for relaxation and sports all over the place.

Eichstätt District Map

The Eichstätt district is made for extensive bike tours. More than 360km (224mi) of bike routes through pure nature give you lots of opportunities for exploring this district via the country side. It’s one reason why it’s considered as being among the most well-known bike tourism regions.

It’s also made for cruising on the Main-Danube Canal as well as Jurassic discoveries in the Franconian Jura and in Eichstätt. Eichenstätt is anyway a town you cannot miss. With prehistoric exhibitions and museums and its proven 140 million year long history, it is one of the jewels in the Upper Bavaria region.

Go for it! :-)

Bavaria (German: Bayern) is Germany’s chief and oldest state located in the south. Its captial, Munich, attracts millions of people every year.

Bavaria Map

For a span of over thousand years perception of itself and its sovereignty has evolved and the heritage is still alive. Bavaria is not merely endowed with its scenic beauty and cultural monuments, nor is it just a holiday and vacation spot famed for its hospitality. Even now, as before, the Free State is the top agricultural province of Germany.

In Bavaria, you’ll find a lot of interesting places to visit with mountainside castles, world-class museums and art treasures, Alpine character and Mediterranean verve, the Hofbräuhaus and famous Oktoberfest in Munich, beer gardens and haute cuisine, operas and boisterous nightlife in Augsburg, I could go on an on…

And you’ll find Open-year-round resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen surrounded by the Bavarian Alps. The Berchtesgadener Land with the classy town of Berchtesgaden is a true masterpiece of nature. The Bavarian Forest (Bayerischer Wald), which is present in the south-eastern corner of Bavaria, represents central Europe’s largest continuous woodland area.

By the way, most Bavarians speak with a very strong slang (accent). At least when you visit the deep country side and small villages, even we “normal” Germans have a hart time understanding anything of what they’re saying. ;-)

And if you’re curious, check out the other page talking about the Bavarian history!

The Heilbronn district in the state of Baden-Württemberg is characterized by its ancestors, or in other words by its culture and heritages.

Heilbronn District Map

More than 13% of the Heilbronn district consists of Nature Reserve. You know what that means… Rarities and biotopes are protected (but can be discovered via marked routes), and in freely accessible areas you’ll feel free to simply enjoy pure nature accompanied by flying and twitting birds.

Highlights of the district are certainly its towns such as Bad Friedrichshall, Bad Rappenau, and Bad Wimpfen — all of which are unique and stimulating with their Health and Spa Centers (Kurbäder), gardens, vineyards, museums, monuments, and lots of festivities showing off the Kraichgau culture.

Eppingen must be on your itinerary, showing off the beauty of the Kraichgau with its majestic half-timbered buildings.

Then, of course, there is the city of Heilbronn. Although not counting to it politically (it’s located right in the middle and namegiver of the district), it has as well photogenic buildings and beautiful, historical sights.

Lastly, not to forget the cute, ancient wonder of Lauffen am Neckar, majestically overlooking the Neckar River.

Enjoy! :-)

The Karlsruhe district in the state of Baden-Württemberg is formed around the city of Karlsruhe (doesn’t belong to it politically though) and comes up with attractive landscapes.

Karlsruhe District Map

Fishermen and aqua sport fans find a couple opportunities to let their passion flow in this district. Besides landscapes like around the Rhine River, you’re going to find the Kraichgauer Hügelland, an area made up of hills, meadows, vineyards, castles, and cute little villages with half-timbered houses.

The Albgau is also inviting since it leads you as the “Nothern Gate” to the most stunning of all our German Regions, the Black Forest.

Some of the towns I recommend to get a first taste of this district, besides Karlsruhe itself, are Bruchsal, Bretten, Ettlingen, Kraichtal, and Weingarten. They have either magnificent historical buildings as well as opportunities for sports, but also yummy restaurants serving original food from this region (Baden), having their own unique taste. (One of the reasons to come back to the Karlsruhe district over and over again.)

By the way, in case you plan to come here with one of the discount airlines, the Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB) is nearby (located in Rheinmünster in the Rastatt district).

The elegant state Baden-Württemberg, composed after the war in 1952, is considered a constituent Land of the Federal Republic.

Baden-Württemberg Map

Stuttgart, its capital, is by far the largest city of this ethnically flourishing state that borders on France along the Rhine in the west and on Switzerland in the south, with Lake Constance (Bodensee) right “on” that border.

Baden-Württemberg has one of the main and most speckled tourist areas of Germany, the outstanding Neckar valley with its stunning Odenwald, the calm Black Forest and lakes in the south, and the famous spas of Baden-Baden and Bad Wildbad.

Freiburg and Heidelberg have well-noted universities. The all year climatic condition helps you to enjoy the spots all around. In Baden-Württemberg, the local brews are sweeter and softer, in order to appeal to palates familiar to wine.

Stuttgart and Mannheim are the main manufacture centers, while Karlsruhe serves as being Home of German Justice.

But the environment that invites people to Baden-Württemberg the most is still the Black Forest, which is well-known for its romantic valley meadows, mills, farms, and ravines. It is also known for its cuckoo clocks and skiing.

Winter sports are customary around the Feldberg (height 1,493m or 4,898ft), where you can have skiing and snowboarding in addition. It is the uppermost mountain in the Black Forest.

Baden-Württemberg is also called the “Nine Stars of the Southwest of Germany.” No matter if you have come for business or pleasure, you will find innumerable things to see and do around. Its cities offer a wide range of cultural actions, art, shopping and beer and wine fair.

And it is Germany’s main location for spa festivals. You can take pleasure in whole relaxation in this place. After getting calm, you can go to one of the region’s first-rate cultural attraction. Right from the jazz festivals to classical concerts of ballet, open-air museums, exhibitions and theatre performances. You can also find art and culture of the maximum calibre all through this region.

Also remember to visit many of the fortress and palaces makes you go back in the past and find out about the lives of the nobility in former times.

In the east of this amazing state, you can find the rugged Swabian Alb. It is ever lasting scenery full of small towns, beech forests and juniper groves, conquered by numerous caves, ruins and fortress.

In 1949, the basic law in German Federation had the power to decide the fortune of the lands. To avoid this, all the three lands agreed to a trial vote, held on September 24, 1950. Finally the result went in favor of the pre-war borders.

The varied and amusing nature spots of Baden-Württemberg retain you to bounce back towards her again. :-)

The Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis in the state of Baden-Württemberg got its name due to the fact that it covers two areas that are made for unforgettable vacations, the Odenwald and the Neckar River.

Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis Map

If idyllic villages, romantic landscapes, charming small towns and villages with half-timbered houses, and strong four seasons are your cup of tea then head over to the Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis — a district made for unforgettable moments.

A couple highlights are the town of Buchen with its town center of the middle ages, its Town Hall and other baroque buildings, and the Eberstadter Tropfsteinhöhle, a dripstone cave that attracts visitors from all South Germany.

Then there’s Zwingenberg with its Schlossfestspiele (Castle Festivals), a cultural highlight taking place every year in August.

And Walldürn is also worth to mention since it’s a Catholic Pilgrimage, attracting more than 150,000 people into town every year.

Besides, the district has two more cultural highlights… one of which are the Neckar-Odenwald-Tage. They are celebrated in various towns and villages during the end of September until beginning of October.

The other is a Special Day called Natürlich Mobil, taking place on the third Sunday in June providing fun for young and old on 34km (21mi) along the highway B 27 between Heilbronn and Mosbach.

Enjoy! :-)

The Rhein-Neckar Kreis (also called Rhine Neckar) in the state of Baden-Württemberg counts to the most appealing districts in Germany. It is also where one of the most popular German cities, Heidelberg, is located (although it doesn’t count to it politically as it’s an urban district on its own).

Rhein-Neckar-Kreis Map

I’ve spent eight years of my life in the Rhein-Neckar-Kreis. This district is awesome! You find plenty of sights, museums, castles, yummy restaurants, shopping areas… I could go on and on. You’ll never feel lonely nor stressed. Everything is balanced out just nicely. Here are some of its highlights…

Schwetzingen, the beautiful 22,000 inhabitants town, is the one where I’ve spent the eight years in. Although fairly small, it has its own baroque castle (love it!), which impresses visitors from all over the world with its extensive gardens area (not to forget the Schlossplatz — or Castle Square — with its unforgettable and unique seven restaurants!)

Then there’s Sinsheim and its Auto & Technik Museum as well as Burg Steinsberg are a must-visit. And speaking of technical stuff, Hockenheim with its Formula 1 race and its Motor Sport Museum may also be on your itinerary.

Another sweet-spot is Ladenburg with its very historical town center (Old Town). There is one restaurant that you will LOVE, it’s called Die Kartoffel. Although they’re a bit hidden and fairly small, they get visitors from all over the world on a regular basis.

One another highlight of the Rhein-Neckar-Kreis is Neckargemünd, the little town at the Neckar River with also very tasty restaurants serving food that you’ll want to take home and eat for the rest of your life. :-)