By Rhonda Campbell
Germany is a European country with a rich and complex history. The German Information Center reports that the capital city of Berlin has 3.4 million residents. The entire country boasts a population of 82 million residents, with 7.3 million of the country's residents being foreigners. Artists like Goethe, Bach and Beethoven were born in Germany. Across arenas like cultural, arts, sports, science and education, Germany is replete with famous attractions.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Prior home to Ludwig II, king of Bavaria from 1864 until 1886, the massive castle's foundation was erected beginning on September 5, 1869. Approximately 1.3 million people visit the castle each year with nearly 6,000 people visiting the castle daily during summer months. While at the castle, explore the guest and servant rooms, the king's apartment and state rooms, courtyards, throne hall, study and gardens. You can dine at the on-site café and buy historic books and trinkets from the gift shop. Entrance tickets are sold at the Hohenschwangau village which is within walking distance of the castle. Admission price for adults is 9 Euros. Admission is free for visitors 17 and younger. On Wednesdays, the castle offers guided tours for persons using wheelchairs or walkers. Dogs are not permitted in the castle.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Schlossverwaltung Neuschwanstein
Neuschwansteinstraße 20
D-87645 Schwangau
49 (0) 8362 939880
www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/palace/index.htm
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is one of the world's largest publicly celebrated festivals. Nearly seven million people visit the event each year. The celebration takes place all day in downtown Munich, and admission is free. Exhibit tents feature the popular beer, cheese, roasted duck and chicken, seafood, bakery and music tents. You can watch shooters in the crossbow competition that was first conducted in 1895, or even take a shot at the bull's eye yourself. Oktoberfest has a kid's section, live dancing, a parade and an amusement park. Because of the large number of people who attend Oktoberfest, it is best to travel to the event via a bus or one of the Bahn trains; parking at the event is nearly impossible. You can also call on an experienced taxi driver to take you to the festival.
Oktoberfest
The City of Munich
Department of Labor and Economic Development
Tourist Office
Sendllinger Street 1
D-80331 Munchen
49 (0) 8923 330302 / 318
www.oktoberfest.de/en
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
The Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site was established in 1965. Nearly eight million people visit the site each year. The memorial serves as a significant reminder of the horrors that occurred during Hitler's reign. Opened on March 22, 1933, after Hitler became Reich Chancellor, the camp was initially designed for political prisoners and anyone perceived to be a threat to the National Socialists. By 1944, more than 200,000 people had been imprisoned at the camp, and between 30,000 and 70,000 people had been murdered there. Testimonials from former camp prisoners, photographs of the facility's original architecture, religious memorials and plaques commemorating April 29, 1945, the day when American soldiers took over the camp and helped to free the prisoners are items that you will review at the site. You will walk through the Shunt Room, the Maintenance Building, Prisoner Baths, courtyard and bunker, Roll Call Square, the barracks, camp road and Crematorium. The memorial is open Tuesday through Sunday from a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is free, but you will pay a fee for the 2.5-hour guided tour. Groups and schools can sign up to attend a seminar that covers propaganda and reality, slave labor and survival, learning human rights and perspectives of the camp's survivors. Visitors should allow a half-day to tour the camp.
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
KZ-Gedenkstatte Dachau
Alte Romerstraße 75
D-85221 Dachau
49 (0) 8131 669970
www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/index-e.html
About the Author:
Rhonda Campbell is an entrepreneur, radio host and author. She has more than 17 years of business, human resources and project management experience and decades of book, newspaper, magazine, radio and business writing experience. Her works have appeared in leading periodicals like "Madame Noire," "Halogen TV," "The Network Journal," "Essence," "Your Church Magazine," "The Trenton Times," "Pittsburgh Quarterly" and "New Citizens Press."
