25 Years Germany Reunification

This year on October 3rd, people all over Germany will celebrate 25 years of reunification. With six additional federal states (including Berlin), there's much to discover for visitors – from the beautiful Baltic Sea Coast to the rich-in-history Ore Mountains.

Connecting all the new federal states, the Green Belt is an 870-mile-long trail running along the former inner-German border, which is now a habitat for rare flora and fauna, and paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.

Below are some highlights what's to discover in the new federal states:  

Thuringia

Never heard of Thuringia before? No worries, but its famous city Weimar should be on the travel list: It's intrinsically linked with the great names of Germany's intellectual past, such as Goethe and Schiller, Bach and Nietzsche, who all lived and worked here. 16 historical buildings today are comprised in the UNESCO World Heritage site “Classical Weimar,” and this is also the place where the Bauhaus architectural movement started in 1919.

Saxony

If you've always wanted to know where the traditional wooden Christmas decorations come from, head to the Ore Mountains in Saxony. Christmas pyramids, nativity sets, nutcrackers, candle arches – all this and more is crafted in the region's 1,600+ workshops. If you go, make sure to see one of the masters to at work, for example in the town of Annaberg-Buchholz.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is known for its hundreds of miles of beautiful Baltic Sea beaches. It's also where Rügen, the biggest of Germany's 51 islands, is located. In addition to its fine, sandy beaches, Rügen is known for its famed chalk cliffs as well as pretty fishing villages and elegant manor houses.

Saxony-Anhalt

The state of Saxony-Anhalt, in turn, is the perfect place to take a journey back in time and retrace the steps of Germany's “rebel monk” and church reformer, Martin Luther. Must sees are Luther's birth house in Eisleben, one of the oldest museums in the world, and Wittenberg, where in 1517 Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church.

Brandenburg

Brandenburg's Spree Forest boasts unspoilt nature and old traditions,just an hours' drive south-east of the German capital, Berlin. Where streams criss-cross an area with unique flora and fauna, the Sorbs (Europe's smallest Slavic minority) still build their traditional wooden punts by hand. Visitors can take a tour with them along the narrow waterways and should of course try the famous Spree Forest gherkins. Their production process from field to fork can be discovered on the 160-miles-long Gherkin Cycle Route.

Berlin

Berlintoday is a compelling mixture of historic sights, world class cultural attractions and creative neighborhoods. Visitors can discover the city's different facets by strolling or biking along the former wall, on the Berlin Wall Trail, or marvel at the East Side Gallery, a piece of wall that was painted by artists from 21 countries or soak in the atmosphere in hip Prenzlauer Berg.

For more information, check out the 25 perspectives that represent the reunified Germany!