27 Nov 2013
SouthWest Germany Shines its UNESCO Cultural Treasure Chest for 2014
Germany has 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and in conjunction with the German National Tourist Board's celebration of the nation's cultural and natural treasures, SouthWest Germany proudly presents its own UNESCO sites in 2014: the former Cistercian abbey of Maulbronn is the best-preserved medieval monastery north of the Alps; then the town of Aalen just north of Ulm, where Einstein was born, marks the Roman defensive walls and the northern border of the Roman Empire; the island of Reichenau, next door to the beautiful garden island of Mainau, is a charming island in the middle of Lake Constance and home to three Romanesque churches dating from the 9th to12th centuries; last but not least are the 6,000 year-old Lake Dwellings and the Lake Dwelling Museum (Pfahlbautenmuseum) in Unteruhldingen on the opposite shores of Lake Constance. Historical monuments underlining once again the extent of Germany's long history.
>>Aalen
Varrrooom! The German F1 Grand Prix Roars to Life in SouthWest Germany in 2014
Famous for its car museums and manufacturers, SouthWest Germany hosts one of the world's legendary Grand Prix motor races: the German Formula One Grand Prix from July 18 to 20 next year. The legendary Hockenheim circuit is only 30 minutes from the increasingly chic university town of Heidelberg. The original Hockenheim circuit opened in 1932 on roads carved through the forest. The current circuit has hosted the German F1 Grand Prix since 1970. Relatively flat, the track is 2.84 miles long, and the long straights, slow corners and tricky hairpins test drivers, cars and brakes to the limit. With crowds of some 120,000, excitement levels are high, particularly in the cavernous grandstands overlooking the Motodrom stadium.
Sixty Years of the Baden Wine Route
In 2014, the Baden Wine Route celebrates its 60th anniversary. The famous tourist route stretches over 160 kilometres from Baden-Baden to Weil am Rhein and in a loop around the Kaiserstuhl and Tuniberg. It is often called the "gourmet dining route" because of its many village inns and regional specialties ranging from asparagus to Speck (bacon). The route zigzags through the "finest gourmet corner" of Germany. There could not be a better way of getting to know the vineyards and wine towns in the foothills of the Upper Rhine Valley on the western edge of the Black Forest. The Baden Wine Route connects the best wine-growing areas and leads motorists or cyclists to wine trails, wine education routes or co-operative wine-growing associations. Half-timbered houses, wineries, fortresses, ruins, castles, monasteries and museums invite you to stop and visit. In many places there is parking for hikers; just leave the car and roam the vineyards on foot.
Wine Festivals in SouthWest Germany in 2014
One of Europe's major quality wine producers, SouthWest Germany, matches scenic vineyards with centuries of tradition. To celebrate the annual grape harvest, towns and villages create "wine villages," with stalls where you can eat, drink and taste while you chat to the winemakers. One of the most popular winefestivals is the Freiburg Wine Festival from July 3 to July 8, 2014 in the middle of the impressive medieval square in the shadow of the cathedral. This is followed by another major festival: the Stuttgart Wine Village from August 27 to September 7, 2014. All the local restaurants and taverns also take part, so you can pair local dishes with fine local wines.
Stuttgart's Markthalle Turns 100!
Everyone loves markets and in Stuttgart, the Markthalle celebrates its 100th birthday in 2014. Created by the architect, Professor Martin Elsaesser and dedicated by the city of Stuttgart on January 30, 1914, this beautiful Art Nouveau market with its glass domed ceilings (closed Sundays) has the freshest fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. The 37 tempting stall also include ethnic delicacies from Europe and around the world in a historical setting so that you shop in the atmosphere of old world Europe and yet have an opportunity to buy the most up-to-date items for your house and kitchen. In the center of Stuttgart on the Dorotheenstrasse, the Markthalle is beloved by the people of Stuttgart and is a perfect place to combine with sightseeing as it is around the corner from Schiller Square and the palace.
>> Markthalle
For interactive maps and more information on cultural eventsand destinations in Southwest Germany and to start planning your trip, please go toSouthWest Germany and please click here for>> press photos and images.
Victoria Larson
Press Representative, US and Canada
SouthWest Germany
917-678-7689
