History up Your life!

It takes something special to be one of the 13 cities that belong to the Historic Highlights of
Germany association – Germany´s finest selection. At these destinations, visitors don´t just view monuments, they interact with history!

Historic Highlights of Germany is representing 13 of the best alternative cities for short breaks and itineraries and would like to help travelers to get to destinations off the beaten track. Each city has played a major role in changing the course of German, European and sometimes even world history. Our aim is to suggest tours with a rich cultural experience, friendly environment and a relaxing time.

Participating cities are: Augsburg, Erfurt, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Mainz, Muenster, Osnabrueck, Potsdam, Rostock, Trier, Wiesbaden and Wuerzburg - perfect destinations for travelers who wish to go beyond casual sightseeing and truly experience Germany's rich culture and history.

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Nominee of the 2nd Annual CNN iReport

Do you still remember the 2011 German gladiator report `What does it take to be a REAL gladiator?´on CNN iReport? This report that is a Finalist for the CNNi "Best Original Reporting" award. And, YOU can help it win the "community choice award" by voting once a day! So VOTE EVERYDAY until June 11 by clicking the link on the top right corner of the video!  We´d love your support and share the news with your friends!

Follow the link!

Our monuments leave a lasting impression!

Heidelberg Castle is the favourite among international visitors to Destination Germany. This is the result of a survey undertaken to find out Germany ’s top 100 attractions. The survey got more than 18,000 clicks, while 5,500 respondents submitted their three favourite attractions and was carried out by the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) in which it sought the opinions of people who have visited the country.

Places of interest in our member cities can be found in the top 100. "Retracing the history of our cities is extremely exciting as it leads through many interesting cities and chapters of German even European history. ”, says Björn Rudek, Managing Director of the Historic Highlights of Germany. "It takes something special to be one of the 13 cities that belong to our alliance and member cities have to fulfill important quality criteria." Historic Highlights of Germany is representing Germany´s diversity and wide range of cultural attractions paired with a modern lifestyle.

Our voted attractions:

Rank 1: Schloss Heidelberg (Heidelberg Castle)
Rank 8: UNESCO World Heritage site Schloss Sanssouci, Potsdam (Sanssouci Palace)
Rank 12: Altstadt Heidelberg und Alte Brücke (Heidelberg´s Old Town and Old Bridge)
Rank 21: Würzburger Residenz (Würzburg Palace)
Rank 27: UNESCO World Heritage sites, Trier
Rank 50: Freiburger Münster (Freiburg Cathedral)
Rank 62: Krämerbrücke, Erfurt (Merchants Bridge)
Rank 88: Erfurter Dom (Erfurt Cathedral)
Rank 89: Festung Marienberg, Würzburg (Marienberg Fortress)
Rank 91: Mainzer Dom (Mainz Cathedral)

2012 Birthday Celebrations on a Grand Scale
for Frederick the Great

On no other city in Germany have the Prussian monarchs left such a definitive mark as they have on Potsdam what is today the capital city of Brandenburg, situated on the very doorstep of Berlin.  King Frederick the Great played a particular role in this and it is his 300th birthday that is to be the focus of this year’s forthcoming year-long celebrations in Potsdam.

The Foundation for Prussian Palaces and Gardens Berlin Brandenburg will be staging an exhibition entitled “Friederisiko – Friedrich der Grosse (“Frederick and Risk - Frederick the Great“) from 28th April to 28th October 2012. The Prussian king also takes center stage in musical events:  the Potsdam Sanssouci Music Festivals, which will be taking place in the palaces and parks, will be presenting their program under the banner of “Frederick the Great: Music and Europe” (09.-24.06.2012). And the baroque horse-riding displays to be staged in the forecourt of the New Palace (19.-22.07.2012) hold the promise of a really special experience.
 
Further information

VINOPOLY 2012 - high calibre wine heritage

The combination of history, culture and fine wine in Germany will be irresistible for many individual travellers. This year, the wine culture in six of our 13 member cities is the center of attention. German wine celebrates its international comeback and receives highest ratings amongst international critics.

With various new offers travelers will be introduced to the finest wines and can experience how cultural landscapes and family traditions have been shaped by them. Experience our finest wine destinations: A tour of discovery through cities on the Rhine, Main or Moselle rivers enthrals the senses with high-calibre culture and internationally acclaimed fine wines.

Further information

Discover Germany with DB Bahn

Experience the culture and history in our enchanting Historic Highlights of Germany cities. DB Bahn takes you to your Historic Highlight while passing the most beautiful river valleys and fairytale castles. Fly to any major german airport and connect directly to Deutsche Bahns´s rail and service network. Train travel comes at low prices with the German Rail Pass or Sparpreis (Saving Fare). Travelling with Deutsche Bahn means arriving at your destination relaxed.

Further information

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