Walking
The Harz Mountains, Black Forest
and the Bavarian Forest are some of the best areas
for walking. The network of marked trails amounts to some 132,000km
(82,500 miles). The District of Templin in the
March of Brandenburg provides 480km (300 miles)
of paths.
The German Alps Club (Deutscher Alpenverein) maintains
several huts in the Alps and the other ranges. Tours can be organised
as well as courses in rock climbing. The Saxon Hills
between Dresden and Bad Schandau,
with more than 1000 prepared routes, provide excellent training
for aspiring climbers. Excellent facilities can also be found in
Oberhof.
Spectator
sports
The Federal Republic of Germany has extensive sports facilities
with a sports field or stadium in all the larger towns. League
football matches take place between Friday and Sunday.
International matches also take place regularly and the national
team were world champions in 1990, a title they previously won in
1954 and 1974, as well as having been runners-up in 1966 (to England),
1982, 1986 and 2002, and quarter finalists in 1998.
Wintersports
Resorts are mainly in the Suhl area in the south
of the country. The main resort is Oberhof, which
offers excellent ski-jumping and tobogganing.
Ice hockey and skating are
both popular.
In Bavaria, skiing is available
at resorts such as Berchtesgaden, Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
Inzell, Oberstdorf, Reit im Winkl,
as well as in the southern mountains. Other areas are the Bavarian
Forest, the Black Forest and the Harz
Mountains. The season runs from November to April. Curling
is especially popular in Upper Bavaria.
Cycling
Cycling is increasingly popular and cycling paths ensure that even
in cities cycling is a safe form of transport. Bicycles can be hired
from several railway stations, a list of which is available through
the German National Railways (Deutsche
Bahn) or the German National Tourist Office
(see Contact Addresses section).
Further information is available from the German Cycling Club (Allgemeiner
Deutscher Fahrrad-Club) e.V. (ADFC), Postfach 107747, 28077
Bremen (telephone number: (421) 346 290, fax number: (421) 346 2950,
e-mail: kontakt@adfc.de).
Watersports
The northern coastline and the extensive rivers and lakes provide
sailing, swimming, windsurfing
and both sea and river fishing. A fishing permit
is needed. Fishing is particularly good on inland waterways, fishing
and sailing are also popular at the Bay of Lietzow
on the Baltic coast. The Baltic coast has many beautiful beaches.
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Horse riding
Hotels with horse riding facilities are located in all the
tourist regions. Racecourses can be found at Baden-Baden,
Frankfurt/M, Hamburg and Munich.
Wine tasting
The German wine country has many small vineyards which welcome visitors.
The main wine-growing regions are around the rivers Rhine,
Moselle and Neckar in the west
of the country and, further east, near the Saale,
Unstrut and Elbe rivers.
For motorists, there is a signposted ‘wine road’ (Weinstrasse)
running through each area. The majority of German wines are white
and light, with such varieties as Riesling and
Silvaner.
Wines are officially classified by the Government as either Tafelwein/Landwein
(table wine/country wine) or Qualitätswein
(higher-quality wine from a specified area). Qualitätswein
mit Prädikat is the highest category. Within this
last category, the wine is classed according to ripeness and quality:
Kabinett for example is a light, low-alcohol wine
made from fully ripened grapes, while Trockenbeerenauslese
is a sweet wine made from grapes which have shrivelled almost to
raisins.
For a list of private vineyards open to the public, contact the
German National Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses
section) or the German
Wine Institute, PO Box 1660, 55116 Mainz (telephone number:
(6131) 28290; fax number: (6131) 282 920, e-mail: info@deutscheweine.de).
Spas
Germany has over 300 spas and health resorts which can offer a wide
range of traditional and modern treatments. All are strictly regulated
by the Government, and promise beneficial results for such conditions
as rheumatism, respiratory problems, stress, or nervous disorders.
Spa stays are very popular with Germans, not only because they are
a national tradition, but because they offer holistic treatment
combined with relaxation. Under medical supervision, visitors can
take the waters or undergo treatments involving peat and mud for
example. Many of the spas are situated on the North Sea
and Baltic coasts.
Language
courses
There are many opportunities to pursue courses in German language
and culture. Often these are subsidised by the Government.
For further information contact the Goethe
Institut, 50 Princes Gate, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2PH,
UK (telephone number: (020) 7596 4000, fax number: (020) 7594 0240,
e-mail: mail@london.goethe.org |
