Imagine living in 19th-century Germany and needing to adjust to multiple time zones each time you crossed borders until one single time zone for Germany was implemented on 1 April 1893.
Germans currently observe Central European Time (MEZ), switching to daylight saving time at the end of April and back again at the start of October. Time expressions include the expression: es ist…” (it is…o’clock).
Harz National Park
Harz is an idyllic low mountain range in northern Germany that is perfect for unforgettable outdoor adventures. Beech trees and high-altitude spruces create an enthralling natural wilderness feel in Harz. Additionally, wild lynx roam the forests while an historic steam train travels its route. Legend says witches gather here each year on Walpurgis night to celebrate.
Harz mountains were formed and folded geologically during the Hercynian mountain-building phase of Carboniferous period some 350 to 250 million years ago, when geology folded them into place during Hercynian mountain building process. Later they were exposed and exposed by erosion. Subsequently exposed low mountain ranges are characterized by many valleys and gorges.
Harz National Park offers visitors a host of outdoor activities to enjoy, ranging from hiking and mountain biking to horseback riding and fishing. Furthermore, this historic region contains many impressive castle ruins like Wernigerode Castle (of which its remains can be toured), while visitors may stroll down its charming streets to witness history first-hand.
Harz mountains were once a popular spa destination in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, offering relaxation and health benefits to its visitors. Today many of these old quaint buildings have been renovated and converted into pensions or hotels that make for perfect accommodations when exploring this remarkable region.
The Brocken Mountain is the star attraction in any German park. Boasting an eerie atmosphere and being covered by mist nearly 300 days a year, this landmark stands as a living testament to German nature – so much so that Goethe used it as the setting for one of his plays Faust!
As you plan your visit to the Harz, consider staying at Bad Harzburg, Goslar or Wernigerode when booking accommodations for your stay. Each town boasts their own charm; however Bad Harzburg stands out as being more budget-friendly due to being situated directly near the entrance of its national park.
The Neckarsteig
The Neckar River flows through Germany’s scenic southwestern corner and offers plenty of historical towns, breathtaking landscapes, and informative nature trails to discover along its course. Since opening its 126-kilometer Neckarsteig hiking path in April 2012, visitors have plenty of sights and experiences from Heidelberg to Bad Wimpfen to take in.
This trail is suitable for hikers of all abilities. Most stages do not exceed 12 miles (20 kilometers), and its moderate altitude differences make the hike enjoyable even for casual walkers or families with active children. All stages can be reached via suburban railway or boat.
Mark Twain described in his 1879 travel essay, “A Tramp Abroad,” that one of the best ways to experience Germany’s natural beauty was via a raft journey on the Neckar river. Unfortunately, due to large barges plying this waterway today, modern day rafting may no longer be suitable as an experience on its banks.
Making the Neckar navigable was an undertaking undertaken by both Wurttemberg and Palatinate during their respective economic boom periods in the late 18th century. Prior to 1836, however, Neckarschiffergilde had attempted to keep control of the river monopolized. Finally in 1836 came Rheinschiffahrtsakte (“Mannheim Act”) which led to simplified regulations and tariffs which enabled significantly greater growth in Neckar navigation.
From 1840s through early 20th century, barrages were built in the Neckar valley to allow larger cargo ships to pass through. After 1935, work on upgrades slowed until 1943 when six out of seven planned barrages above Heilbronn had been completed and Stuttgart harbor opened under Otto Hirsch and Otto Konz from Wurttemberg Ministry of Internal Affairs respectively. This phase was spearheaded by Otto Hirsch.
Today, the Neckar River discharges an average of 145 cubic meters per second (5,100 cu ft/s) into the Rhine, making it Germany’s fourth-largest tributary and 10th-largest river. It was once part of Danube River network but through erosional retraction near Besigheim became part of Neckar tributary system.
Dresden’s Kurt Vonnegut Tour
Vonnegut’s unique writing style and worldview continue to draw a wide readership long after his death. Works such as Cat’s Cradle and Breakfast of Champions are still widely read today; many paperback collections even today contain copies. This tour visits some of the places Vonnegut lived and wrote; we also explore his themes which continue to resonate today in Germany.
Slaughterhouse-Five was Vonnegut’s semi-autobiographical novel inspired by his experiences as a POW in Dresden during its bombing. He describes a horrific scene where civilians died due to lack of food, air and water supplies; buildings burned with fire bombs spewing black smoke into the sky for three days; only “bizarre luck” kept him alive, forcing him to carry body after body out of inadequate shelters and onto mass kerosene funeral pyres for burials.
Vonnegut formed close bonds with his fellow internees such as Bernhard O’Hare and Gerhard Muller while serving in POW camps, leading him to dedicate the novel he wrote during this time to them and their mother in early 1945. In his letter of dedication he noted: “There’s nothing funny about watching your friends starve or carrying body after body out of tiny air-raid shelters to mass kerosene funeral pyres.
Dresden offers visitors the unique opportunity to tour the slaughterhouse area that inspired Billy Pilgrim. One of the highlights is walking into its basement which housed internees. While this unassuming concrete building may look boring at first glance, its inspiration prompted one of the most eye-opening war novels ever written – The War Novel of Billy Pilgrim by Steven Pressfield.
Guides share stories about Vonnegut’s life and work, explaining his ability to connect with readers with his humor and philosophy of life. In Slaughterhouse-Five, themes such as Vonnegut’s belief that time is circular rather than linear remain relevant today; such concepts form Billy Pilgrim’s journey through Tralfamadore. Additionally, this novel addresses humanity and respect amongst its characters.
Latz Park
After an abandoned coal-fired steel plant in Duisburg-Meiderich was abandoned in 1985, its surrounding area quickly became polluted with toxic waste. Instead of demolishing all structures and starting from scratch, landscape architect Peter Latz devised an ingenious solution allowing nature to reclaim as much space as possible while keeping as many industrial structures intact as possible – today known as Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord it stands out as one of the finest examples worldwide for innovative ways to manage industrial heritage sites.
This year’s completion of a public park set a precedent for reusing obsolete industrial areas. Both playful and serious elements combine in its design; their apparent contradictions only serve to add character. The book provides an intimate view into 12 years of planning and realisation through photos, sketches, plans and explanations.
Latz Park stands in contrast to New York’s High Line by honoring Latz’s industrial past rather than concealing it. Visitors are encouraged to explore its concrete bunkers, rusty blast furnaces and other derelict infrastructure, relax in lush green spaces or go swimming in former gas tanks that have now been transformed into swimming pools for scuba divers.
Latz asserts that his design for an industrial park should go beyond simply preserving or restoring past industries; rather it should also serve to inform visitors on the complex interrelations among nature, culture and industry. Furthermore, Latz notes his project is founded upon memory; artefacts left standing are more than mere monuments to an unappreciated past.
Latz’s approach is informed by his childhood in postwar Germany, when he first became interested in turning polluted landscapes into public parks for everyone’s enjoyment. Now welcoming over 500,000 annual visitors annually, the Landschaftspark Duisburg Nord stands as an example of how landscaping can bring new life and vitality into places synonymous with pollution and decay without completely altering their histories.