Germany by Rail – A grand Tour

For many centuries now it has been a leading trading and trans­porta­tion hub due to its loca­tion along the Rhine River. Cologne became one of the focal points of Western culture during the Middle Ages when, under the rule of Friedrich II, the relics of the Three Wise Men were brought to Cologne in 1164 after being captured from Milan. Cologne Cathedral, one of the most magnif­i­cent struc­tures north of the Alps, was built to house these relics, although construc­tion wasn't completed until 600 years later. Today the landmark is the emblem of Cologne and is also a World Heritage Site of UNESCO. The old town facing the Rhine together with the city boasting 12 Roma­nesque churches among its numerous other histor­ical sites creates a unique ensemble and Cologne is also known as the center of the German Mardi Gras cele­bra­tions that peak during the carnival period.

Hamburg was offi­cially granted the status of “Impe­rial Free City” by Fred­erick I (Barbarossa) in 1189. Its loca­tion close to the North Sea and the Baltic Sea soon made the northern outpost one of Europe's leading ports. Hamburg's rise to promi­nence was sealed by its trade alliance with Lübeck in 1241, which marked the origin of the Hanseatic League, a powerful union of trading guilds that maintained a stronghold on trade in most of northern Europe for over 400 years. Hamburg cont­inues to culti­vate this link to its glorious past even today, often refer­ring to itself, like Lübeck and Bremen, as a “Free and Hansa City”. It is the second wealth­iest metropolis in the EU after London and a leading media, indus­trial, commer­cial and cultural centre.

Yet there is hardly a city that affected – and was affected by – 20th century history more than Berlin. After the peaceful reuni­fica­tion Berlin became a world city of culture, politics, media and science. In the 21st century the city has become a magnet for entrepreneurs, crea­tive people and immigrants. Berlin’s archi­tec­ture, festivals, nightlife and crea­tive alterna­tive scenes attract millions of visitors to the city.

After it survived the 30-year war, it burned to the ground in 1685. The city of the Saxon Elector was then rebuilt in glorious fashion and given a uniform baroque townscape which earned her the name “Florence of the North”. In February 1945 the hitherto scarcely damaged city was razed to the ground in one night by a devastating bomb attack. For decades the ruins of the Frauenkirche were a memo­rial to the horrors of war. The glorious resto­ra­tion of the Frauenkirche in 2005 unleashed the ambi­tion of the city to reconnect with its former splendor and beauty before the 2nd World War. The old town between the Zwinger (palace) and Kreuzkirche (Church of the Holy Cross) has been restored to its former glory and many other sites in the city are being rebuilt.

Because of its strategic loca­tion at a bridge and also at the inter­sec­tion of two trade routes, the city soon became the resi­dence of the Wittelsbach family who reigned as dukes, electors and kings of Bavaria. The city expe­r­i­enced a boom in the Baroque era and finally also in the 20th century. Munich became the capital of Art Nouveau – but also of the National Socialist move­ment. In 1919 Hitler already tested the demonic effect of his speeches in the Hofbräukeller. Although Munich is a high-tech loca­tion today, the Bavarian folklore is lovingly cared for, espe­cially in the last week of September when the Okto­berfest beer festival takes place.

It is consid­ered the cradle of German Romanticism and has inspired poets such as Brentano, Arnim or Eichendorff. The city is mentioned for the first time at the end of the 12th century. 200 years later the univer­sity was estab­lished and the castle under Pala­tine Count Rupert was built. In 1693 the town and castle were destroyed and rebuilt in the 18th century in baroque style. Rising majes­tically above the roofs of the old town are the ruins of the Heidelberg Castle – the most spectac­ular in its loca­tion, size and beauty in all of Germany. The clas­sical-romantic view of Heidelberg's Old Town and the castle can be enjoyed from the Philosphengärtchen (Philoso­phers' Garden) and along the Philoso­phers’ Way on the north bank of the River Neckar.