Getting To Know About Germany
Situated in Western Europe, Germany has the largest population among all the European countries. The country previously known as federal republic of Germany was divided into East Germany and West Germany during the cold war. It sections became unified in 1990, and is now headed by an elected president and a chancellor who oversees governmental affairs. The unification of the two sections yielded a total of 16 states that now make up the present day population of 82 million. Berlin is the capital and also the largest city of Germany. Other popular cities in Germany are Hamburg, Cologne, Munich and Frankfurt.
The country attracts millions of tourists every year because of its natural and alluring landscapes, magnificent sceneries of high mountains, beautiful lakes and rivers, and the numerous parks. The river Rhine, the longest flowing river in the country is one of the biggest attractions for tourists. Boat rides on the Rhine is very popular.
German culture is diverse, consisting of both modern and eclectic inhabitants who now enjoy carefree lives, by getting together and participating in numerous carnivals and festivals that take place throughout the year. Some of them are the German beer and wine festivals such as the Oktoberfest which offers entertainment for both the inhabitants and tourists as well.
The different states that make up Germany have many dialects, but the official language spoken by almost everyone in Germany is German. Inhabitants from other countries who have settled here also speak various languages that include Danish, Turkish, Greek, Italian, Russian and Kurdish. These languages are spoken by second and third generation Germans whose descendants emigrated from other European countries. The English language is taught in schools so a sizable amount of Germans also speak English.
Vacationing in Germany is exciting because one gets to learn about its preserved history and culture. Home to famous writers, artists and great musicians like Johann Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven, the country also has over 600 art museums that display some of the finest works of art in the world. There are also numerous theatres where musical orchestras are performed even in this modern day Germany.
Germany also boasts of more than 350 universities that are patronized by students from all over the world, with great academic excellence. Some of their universities were established as early as the 13th century where disciplines such as fine arts and applied sciences are offered. Universities of Munich and Heidelberg are some of the highest ranked universities in the country.
A trip to Germany would not be complete without a visit to one of these famous places:
The Cathedral of Cologne: This cathedral was constructed in the 18th century and it’s one of the tallest cathedrals in the world. It is also the only building that survived the bombing of Cologne during World War II.
The Romantic Road: Is a great tourist attraction in the Bavarian region. The road is lined with historic buildings and walking trails that leads to vineyards and churches.
Berlin Brandenburg Gate: This gate demarcated East Berlin from West Berlin during and after the war that separated the country. It is truly a historic place and the former American President Ronald Reagan also delivered his speech here in 1989, about tearing down the wall for the unification of East and West Germany.
Don’t forget that Axis Translation offers German translation services.
