General Information
The country officially named the Federal Republic of Germany occupies a key geographical position in the heart of Europe. Bordering on France and the Benelux countries to the west and Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Germany plays an important geopolitical role as the link between Eastern and Western Europe. With 84 million inhabitants Germany is the EU's most populous state. It also has the largest economy in the EU and the third largest in the world.
Division of Germany
After World War II Germany was divided into four military zones controlled by the U.S., Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union. The German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, was established in the Soviet sector in 1949, resulting in a division of Germany that lasted over 40 years until reunification on October 3, 1990. The most famous symbol of the Cold War was the Berlin Wall.
Germany's Capital City
During the Cold War years Bonn served as the provisional capital of West Germany, while Berlin became the capital of East Germany. Berlin was named the capital of reunified Germany in 1990, and became the official seat of government in 1999 when most ministries and agencies moved from Bonn to Berlin.
Tourism
Of Germany's 16 states, Bavaria with its capital Munich has long been a favourite destination for foreign tourists. The single most popular tourist destination in the country, however, is the Cologne Cathedral, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. The Umfulana head office is located near this world famous landmark. No tour package to Cologne would be complete without a stop in the scenic Middle Rhine Valley, another World Heritage Site. Other popular destinations include the Black Forest in southwest Germany, Hamburg and the Mecklenburg Lake District in the north, and Berlin and Dresden in the east. |
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| Top tourist attraction in Germany: Cologne Cathedral |
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| Germany Tours: Rothenburg |
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| Highlight of Germany Tours: Rhine Valley |
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