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June 2015 |
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Perfect Pair: Regensburg and 'divine medicine'- beer
"Beer is a divine medicine" or so said the 16th century alchemist and physician Paracelsus. And in Regensburg, the city on the Danube where he was a regular visitor,
you can take your medicine in many ways. You can try it, for example, in the grounds of a hospital: the Spitalgarten (left), by the Stone Bridge. The brew here comes from the Spitalbrauerei, the oldest hospital and brewery foundation in the world, with beer cellars that date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. If the city is too hot, then try the near surroundings. The Zur Walba beer garden 5km downstream in the village of Unterirading, for example. Or jump on one of the frequent riverboats heading to Weltenburg, and the old monastery on a bend in the river, where the beer has been made by monks since 1050. Their brew is best enjoyed in the monastery courtyard, and
derives from water drawn from a deep well in the Jurassic rocks way down below. Pretty cool.
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Perfect Pair: Summer and Weimar for food and culture
Summer and Weimar - there’s no better pairing and this is why the
Weimar Summer events each year draw lovers of music and arts to the pretty Thuringian town. From July through to September, Weimar is transformed into an open-air stage featuring everything from concerts to video installations and including film screenings and contemporary art shows. The town’s green spaces, palace and picturesque old buildings form a perfect backdrop, and many international artists feature on the programme. There's an added benefit for visitors: Weimar’s vibrant culinary scene, with the town’s restaurants and chefs creating special summer menus for the occasion. How does a light frothy soup, buttermilk-lime jelly or pike cheeks with
lemon and tarragon butter sound to you? Good, we think.
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Perfect Pair: Boating and fishing with Kuhnle-Tours
For keen freshwater fishermen, a fishing experience of a very special kind is available on the Mecklenburg Lakes just north of Berlin. Boat hire operator Kuhnle-Tours
has recruited an experienced fishing guide and allocated dates (10-14 September, 12-15 October) for a full-on fishing experience. The lakes are particularly known for potentially record-breaking pike, along with perch and walleye. The three night packages are based on one of Kuhnle’s cabin cruisers on Lake Müritz, sharing with other like-minded fishermen. You can either fish from the main boat, or veer off into backwaters in a dinghy with an outboard. The guide will show you the best spots and advise on tackle etc for fishing success, plus of course on the preparation of your catch for dinner on the boat in the evening. From €179 per person/night.
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Perfect Pair: Music and nature in Leipzig's parkland
Music and nature make an intoxicating combination, but not necessarily a combination that you would associate with city life. Leipzig, though, is different. This is the city of parks and palm gardens. It is also the city where J S Bach spent 27 years as choirmaster, Robert Schumann wrote his Spring Symphony, Richard Wagner was born, and Felix Mendelssohn conducted the Gewandhaus Orchestra. So this summer, these two features of city life come together in the Rosental. This park is one of Leipzig’s most popular, and on 10/11 July, with the celebration of 1,000 years of Leipzig, the Gewandhaus Orchestra is putting on
special outdoor performances, which will be free of charge (thanks to sponsorship from Porsche). Guests will come equipped with picnic baskets and blankets, set out against the backdrop of summer’s starry sky.
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Perfect Pair: Princely castle and gardens in Mannheim
The rich culture and history of Mannheim - the third largest city in Baden-Württemberg - can be encapsulated in two key locations: the baroque Mannheim Palace
and the castle gardens at Schwetzingen. The Palace, with its 400 metre façade, is one of the largest in Europe. During the 18th century it was the residence of Elector Carl Philipp, whose successor was the enlightened prince Carl Theodor. He made Mannheim a
Musenhof, a place where great thinkers and creators gather; amongst its visitors was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart was also a visitor to the 72 hectare gardens at Schwetzingen (left), a harmonious combination of geometry and landscape. This was Theodor’s summer residence, and its English-style gardens are whimsical and peaceful, making an ideal retreat from the hubbub of the city and the heat of the day.
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Picture Credits
Masthead left to right, T top, B bottom: Black Forest gone blue, Achim Mende. Brandenburger Hof hotel. Schloss Lübbenau (T). Bundesliga, GNTB (B). Ski lift at Fichtelberg, Oberwiesenthal Tourism (T). Martin Luther (B). Chilled gnome, DZT (T). Rügen cliffs, GNTB (B). Cherry cake, pa (B). Berlin S-Bahn
Main images: Regensburg beer garden: Regensburg Tourismus GmbH. Weimar: Maik Schuck. Leipzig concert: Jens Gerber. Schwetzingen: Copyright SSG
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