Let's face it, summer is coming to an end. Slowly, but surely. Not to worry, though, autumn is the perfect time for European city breaks, and the Cultural Heart of Germany has some top options from tracing contemporary history in Leipzig to checking out a delicious chocolate festival in the Harz mountains.

Leipzig's Peaceful Revolution

There could be no better time than this autumn for pencilling in a trip to Leipzig. 25 years ago, on 9th November 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, and leading up to this momentous event the so-called Leipzig Monday demonstrations played a decisive role in Germany's Peaceful Revolution: The protests culminated on 9th October 1989 when, after prayers for peace in Leipzig's St Nicholas Church, thousands of people gathered with candles to demonstrate for more freedom in the GDR. As an important milestone on the way to the fall of the Wall these demonstrations are commemorated each year in Leipzig with the Festival of Lights (9th Oct), featuring large-scale projections and theatrical installations. Leipzig Tourism offers a Peaceful Revolution package (two nights from EUR 125 pp in a double room) which includes a guided city tour, entry to the Stasi Museum and one two-course dinner.

If you can't make it to the Festival of Lights, pick any other date since Leipzig, where urban cool meets cosy corners, is always a delightful place for shopping, culture and going out. Located only an hour south of Berlin the city's vibrant cultural scene and nightlife has tempted many away from the German capital. One of Leipzig's stand-out features is the historical centre with its maze of pedestrianised zones, small cobble-stoned lanes and a whole network of courtyards, passages and palatial former trade fair halls.

Markets & the Middle Ages in Thuringia

It's Thuringia's largest festival and has been going for more than 360 years. It also revolves around one thing and one thing only: the humble onion. Weimar's unique Onion Festival (10-12 Oct 2014) transforms the charming town into one big market featuring music, dance, food and drink. Onions in all shapes and forms reign over proceedings: Try a delicious onion tarte or be surprised by the many special decorative items than can be made using tried onions. And there's even an Onion Queen. To dive in, Weimar Tourism has come up with special Weimar Onion Fair packages. The classic option from EUR 99 per person in a double room features three-star hotels (two overnights incl. breakfast), while the premium one upgrades to four-star hotels from EUR 179 per person in a double room (two overnights incl. breakfast).

Getting there is easy with direct flights from London Gatwick to nearby Erfurt. Speaking of which, the Thuringian state capital is very much worth a visit, too, featuring one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in Germany with beautiful half-timbered houses, the unique ensemble formed by St Mary's Cathedral and the Church of St Severus and the enchanting Merchants' Bridge with its many delightful independent shops. Family-run four-star Hotel Zumnorde in a restored townhouse right in the city centre offers a three night package from EUR 295 per person in a double room, including some extras such as a dinner and ErfurtCard for free or reduced admission.

Wernigerode's sweet tooth

There's no point not admitting it, we're chocoholics. And frankly, who isn't. Wernigerode in the Harz mountains is therefore doing us all a favour by staging a chocolate festival from 30th October to 2nd November. The town which is famous for its unparalleled variety of splendid timber-framed houses provides the perfect scenic backdrop for all things chocolate with a chocolate market and top national and international chocolatiers offering their products on the central square in front of the historic town hall. The programme also features chocolate workshops and local restaurants and cafés offering special chocolate menus. No need to say more.

A two nights offer for EUR 139 per person in a double room includes a chocolate welcome treat and a special chocolate city tour. Bookings can be made by contacting Wernigerode Tourism on info@wernigerode-tourismus.de. While in town and if you manage to drag yourself away from the many sweet temptations, don't miss one of the region's biggest attractions: From Wernigerode, the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways take visitors through beautiful scenery up the Brocken, and the steam train ride to the mountain's summit might - depending on your taste - even be more delightful than sampling what the chocolate festival has to offer.

Travel information:

Easy access to the Cultural Heart of Germany with Cityjet from London City to Dresden, Ryanair to Leipzig and Germania from London Gatwick to Erfurt-Weimar.

Best travel option for Wernigerode: flights to Leipzig, then train

The Cultural Heart of Germany online:

Website: www.culturalheart.info

Facebook:www.facebook.com/CulturalHeartofGermany

Twitter: www.twitter.com/CulturalGermany 

For more information on the individual city break offers and the region, please contact:

B Connects. Barbara Geier Content Services

On behalf of Cultural Heart of Germany (Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia)

barbara@bconnects.net, phone 07983 242 195