World Country Guide

Introduction

Situated at the crossroads of Europe, the country consists of 16 states (Bundeslnder), which are divided for the purposes of this section as follows: Berlin, Baden-Wrttemburg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Northwest Germany (the states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg and Bremen), Rhineland (North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland Palatinate and Saarland), Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia. Northwest Germany includes the North Sea coast and the East Friesian Islands, Schleswig-Holstein and the city-states of Hamburg and Bremen, along with the Weser Valley, Lneburg Heath and part of the Harz Mountains.
The Rhineland region incorporates the industrial sprawl of the Ruhr, the varied landscapes of Westphalia, the wine-producing region of Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland. The state of Hesse with its ‘fairytale road’, also includes the major financial centre of Frankfurt-am-Main.
The Black Forest is in the southwest, and forms part of the state of Baden-Wrttemberg. Other areas of interest in this state include the Neckar Valley, Swabia and Lake Constance.
Munich (Mnchen) is the capital of Bavaria, whose main tourist regions are the Bavarian Forest to the east, Franconia to the north, Upper Bavaria and the Alps to the south and the Allgu region of the southwest. Bavaria is the most popular tourist destination for both Germans and overseas visitors alike.
The states of Brandenburg (which surrounds Berlin), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (on the Baltic coast), Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and, of course, eastern Berlin itself, constituted the former East Germany (GDR) prior to re-unification in 1990. The Baltic coast with its resorts is the major holiday region in the former east, followed in importance by the Thuringian Forest, the northern lakes, the Saxon Hills, the Harz Mountains and the Zittauer Gebirge.
The scenery of Germany is enormously varied, ranging from sandy beaches to towering mountains, forests, lakes, medieval villages and some of Europe’s greatest cities. Every area has its distinct regional foods, and it offers a huge choice of local wines and beers.