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February 2013 |
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The joys of spring: ride a gleaming tower in Bankfurt
They call it Mainhattan, and this spring Frankfurt is celebrating its gleaming towers with a Skyscraper Festival on the weekend of 25-26 May. Visitors can ride to the top of participating Wolkenkratzers to view the city from above, and there’s also a big street party with a skyscraping theme, with high-wire acrobats, light shows, hot air balloons, facade climbers and skaters. The city has put together weekend packages
which include two nights stay and a free ticket up one of the banking high-rises, from €69.
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The joys of spring: nature's pink paint for the Palatinate
The Palatinate, Germany’s second largest wine region, is known for its mild climate and almost Mediterranean feel. Certainly so in spring when all along the German Wine Route almond trees erupt in beautiful pink blossom. Each year, the Mandelblüte
(almond blossom) is an enchanting sight, and it is celebrated in ‘Pink Weeks’, with a number of events and festivals taking place from 1 March - 30 April. The region’s castles, churches and buildings in the historical wine towns are lit up in pink, and there will be festivities such as the almond blossom festival in Gimmeldingen or ‘almond mile’ in Edenkoben. More information about the Palatinate region
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The joys of spring: history and cycling in Regensburg
UNESCO World Heritage site Regensburg is blessed with a rich history and a stunning location on the Danube. And this spring, visitors can combine delving into a significant era of the city’s history with enjoying some outdoor delights. 2013 sees the 350th anniversary of the convocation of the Perpetual Assembly in Europe, Germany’s oldest parliament. From 1663 to 1806 it met in Regensburg’s Old Town Hall. From April to October, there are daily tours of the hall and the torture chamber
in the cellar. Afterwards, back in the sunlight (hopefully), hire a bike and cycle along the river to Walhalla, Germany’s hall of fame, or to Germany’s smallest wine-growing region around the village of Bach.
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The joys of spring: celebrating Ayurveda on the Moselle
Start spring the healthy way. For two decades, the Ayurvedic Parkschlösschen
has been the epitome of authentic Ayurvedic treatments in Europe. To celebrate its 20th birthday this year, a special Pancharkama cure will be offered from 1 May - 30 September at a particularly good price. In addition, the Parkschlösschen medical team will be offering not only traditional therapies, but also a free chakra treatment for energy and vitality. Alternatively, guests can choose an extra consultation with a physician. As a further "thank you", guests will receive a 10 percent discount on overnights 1 May - 30 September. Information: info@parkschloesschen.de
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The joys of spring: a special place to rest in Rothenburg
Bavaria’s Sightsleeping Hotels are specially-selected palaces, castles and designer hotels which offer exclusive accommodation for the discerning traveller, usually in stunning locations. These buildings usually have some cultural importance in themselves, and one particular case in point is the
Hotel Eisenhut in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany’s prettiest medieval town, on the Romantic Road. The Eisenhut was a nobleman’s house in the 15th and 16th centuries and it became the accommodation of choice for aristocrats, celebrities and politicians right up until the 1930s. Now you can stay there too.
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The joys of spring: Henry's world of cool design in Weimar
Listen up, design aficionados: Thuringia is celebrating the 150th anniversary of Bauhaus pioneer Henry van de Velde this year and Weimar, where the Belgian architect and design genius lived for 15 years, is right at the centre of things. ‘What Coco Chanel is for fashion Henry van de Velde is for architecture’ states one guestbook entry at Haus Hohe Pappeln, which he built for his family in Weimar. His other famous buildings are the School of Art and the School of Applied Arts in the Bauhaus university (left), both used by the Bauhaus when the movement was founded in Weimar.
A number of exhibitions centre around his work, such as ‘Passion, function and beauty’ (24 March - 23 June) at Neues Museum in Weimar, or ‘The Architect Henry van de Velde’ (29 March - 12 May) at Weimar’s Bauhaus University.
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The joys of spring: flights unlock Dresden’s baroque glory
Dresden is known as the ‘Florence on the Elbe’ so what could be better than a spring weekend in the Saxon capital to discover its outstanding art and culture. From 28 March, Cityjet will start regular flights from London’s City Airport. First time visitors will marvel at the Zwinger Palace’s beautiful baroque architecture. The complex of galleries and courtyards houses superb museums such as the Old Masters Gallery which displays Raphael’s famous
Sistine Madonna. Dresden regulars will enjoy leisurely walks along the river banks and strolling through the historic city centre. Cosy and centrally located 4-star Hotel Elbflorenz has come up with the perfect spring break package from €119,50 per person in a double room.
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The joys of spring: maypoles reach for the sky in Bavaria
Every year, on 1 May, towns and cities in Bavaria compete to raise the highest (up to over 90 feet) and
most majestic maypole. These poles can look different from place to place; sometimes they are complete with tree bark, and sometimes they are painted blue-and-white, hung with colourful ribbons, decorated with carved figures and adorned with a wreath. The pole is erected without mechanical assistance but just with thick, long rods ('Schaibeln') bound together into 'Scheren'. In neighbour communities the young men's associations often try to steal the maypole, which they then redeem through a ransom of beer.
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The joys of spring: Kuhnle starts the season with a splash
Cabin cruise operator Kuhnle Tours, with boats all over Germany but particularly in the Brandenburg and Mecklenburg lakes, is kicking off its main season with open days
in one of its key bases, the harbour village of Müritz (pictured left), on 27-28 April. The idea is to showcase both the new additions to its fleet and to familiarise visitors with the idea of houseboat holidays. But Kuhnle has more than just boats here, so is offering the opportunity to visit rental apartments and houses on site. Also with live music, and a used boat sale.
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The joys of spring: Leipzig's key waterborne attractions
Water and culture come together in surprising ways in Leipzig, the cutting edge Saxon city. Gondolas and galleries exist side by side, and parks, woodlands, cycle and hiking trails are often just a boat ride away. Many of the water tours start from Plagwitz (pictured left), which is right by the city’s uber-trendy Spinnerei, a former factory (with spring gallery tours) which has now become a mecca for art-lovers. The New Lakeland area is a particularly popular destination in the summer, with picturesque
beaches, and Leipzig even has Italian packages which include gondola rides.
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The joys of spring: magical storytelling in Lower Saxony
It is 200 years since the first publication of Childrens’ and Household Fairytales
by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. The anniversary is being celebrated all along Germany’s Fairytale Road, and nowhere more so than in Hamelin, the city of the Pied Piper. Live performances of the tale, with a cast-list of 80, take place every Sunday, and this year there’s going to be additional theatricals in nearby woodlands. Forest of Shadows (23-25 May) combines lighting effects and imagery to recreate Grimm stories, and visitors use lanterns to light their way from scene to scene. And there's plenty more to see
elsewhere in Lower Saxony.
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The joys of spring: taste the Black Forest in Baiersbronn
The Black Forest's
Baiersbronn is a foodie heaven and hiker's paradise. Gourmet hikes offered from April combine both in an unsual way. Chef and wild herb expert Friedrich Klumpp (left) will take visitors on a tour, and literally feed them nature’s bounty in this beautiful part of the northern Black Forest. During the four hour walk a five-course menu will be prepared and served in idyllic spots, with enchanting views. Chef Klumpp has some special treats in store, such as ground ivy dipped in chocolate, which tastes like After Eight. Hike incl. menu: €27, information & booking:
info@baiersbronn.de
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Picture Credits
Foto-Montage Skyscraper Festival 2013: FFH. Palatinate: Rhineland-Palatinate Tourism. Regensburg: Regensburg Tourism. Parkschloesschen: Parkschloesschen. Rothenburg: Hotel Eisenhut. Weimar: Weimar Tourism. Dresden: Dresden Tourism. Bavaria: Bavaria Tourism. Kuhnle: Kuhnle-Tours. Leipzig: Leipzig Tourism. Lower Saxony: Hamelin Tourism. Baiersbronn: Baiersbronn Tourism.
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.
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