Germany is Europe’s largest nation, boasting forested mountains and urban centers alike. Additionally, this land of great music – from Bach to Beethoven – makes Germany one of the top tourist spots.
Ireland boasts numerous castles and palaces that stand as architectural gems, along with one of the world’s greatest bread producers and an extensive literary tradition.
Its History
Germany is one of Europe’s largest and most populous nations, boasting an extensive history filled with fascinating cities and sights. Furthermore, Germany boasts an advanced economy as well as being known for its high standard of living.
Before 1871, Germany was divided into duchies, states and city-states that were ruled by princes or kings. Otto von Bismarck spearheaded its unification and created an authoritarian constitution with an elected national parliament but vast powers for the emperor.
After Emperor Otto von Habsburg abdicated in 1918, Germany became a republic. Adolf Hitler came into power in 1933 promising to rebuild Germany as an imperial power – however this ultimately resulted in World War Two being lost by Germany with millions dying as well as many Jews being persecuted during this infamous conflict.
Germany began competing with other European nations for control over Africa and Asia colonies during the 19th century, leading to tensions which eventually culminated in World War I – the worst conflict ever to impact human history.
At this time, many Germans fled Germany for America or Switzerland with ideas that transformed religious belief and society itself. With the printing press enabling these ideas to spread rapidly and sparking Protestant Reformation–including Martin Luther’s 95 Theses on why Catholic Church needed reform–many ideas changed how people thought about religion and its role within society.
After World War II, Germany was divided between West and East by victorious powers into separate regions – which prevented it from ever unifying as one nation again – but its economy became so robust that many foreign workers found employment there. Since 1989 and the fall of the Berlin Wall that signaled an end to Cold War tensions, Germany has opened its borders and become an influential player on international politics and economics while remaining an influential cultural hub. Germany is widely considered to be the birthplace of automobiles and motorcycles, with companies like Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz producing some of the world’s most advanced cars. Germans take great pride in their vehicles and often enjoy driving as an enjoyable leisure activity.
Its Culture
Germany is widely recognized for its vibrant culture. A long and eventful history has left its mark, including some of the world’s greatest composers and writers calling Germany home. Additionally, Germany boasts an active film industry as well as leading technology development; not to mention being one of Europe’s premier tourist spots.
Germans possess a high sense of responsibility and regard for order. Punctuality is of great importance, which explains why German trains run perfectly on time. Additionally, Germans tend to be thrifty workers with strong work ethics who respect others’ privacy as much as their own; many are well educated individuals open to learning from experiences from various cultures.
Germany is well known for its culture, including music. Popular genres in Germany include Volksmusik and Oompah – these styles can often be heard at folk festivals and fairs throughout the country – featuring songs sung with lyrics written in regional dialects that are accompanied by instruments like accordions, guitars, flutes or accordeons. Furthermore, Germany boasts a wide array of modern musical genres from electronic beats to catchy pop tunes that is played throughout modern life.
Germany is predominantly Christian; however, smaller religious groups also coexist peacefully within its borders. Additionally, Germany is an extremely multicultural nation; one out of ten Germans is from an immigrant-rich background while nearly one-third of its population hails from outside its borders.
Even though Germany was divided after World War II, its cultural and artistic traditions remain uniquely German. This can be seen through how people use the adjective deutsch (“German”): writers and artists from Austria, Switzerland, Poland Romania as well as any other country who are generally recognized for their works being German are commonly referred to as deutsch regardless of citizenship or whether or not they hold passports from West or East Germany.
Its Cuisine
Germany’s cuisine reflects its varied history and culture, often featuring hearty flavors with robust aromas. You’ll find numerous regional specialities throughout Germany reflecting their geography and climate; northern coastal regions are well known for seafood-heavy fare while its southern regions specialize in meatier fare such as sausages or pork knuckles.
Bread is an integral component of German cuisine, with each region offering their own regionally specific variant. Popular types include spelt (Dinkelbrot), rye (Roggenbrot), wheat-rye blends (Weizenmischbrot), and bread with sunflower or linseed seeds or linseeds (Sonnenblumenkernbrot). Other food items that are commonly consumed include herring smoked fish, sausages, cheese and pickles as well as Apfelstrudel dessert which features layers of buttery pastry filled with apples and sugar – popular choices in Germany!
Herbs and spices play an essential part in German cuisine. Common examples include anise, bay leaves, borage, caraway seeds, chives, dill weed, fennel seed, juniper berries, marjoram parsley and paprika; peppercorns and salt are also commonly utilized.
Germany is well known for its diverse culinary heritage; however, due to the increase in immigration numbers it has also adopted international flavors from across the globe into its cuisine. One such international flavor that Germany has adopted is Doner kebab which may have originated in Berlin while dishes influenced by Italy, Turkey and Central Asia can also be found throughout its territory.
Lunch, traditionally eaten between noon and 2:00 pm, provides families and friends with an opportunity to come together over delicious food. After lunch comes Abendessen/Abendbrot (“evening bread”) which typically features salads, breads, hams, sausages or other seasonal produce such as soup.
Germany offers both meat-based dishes as well as vegetarian and vegan alternatives, including seasonal vegetables and fruits that have a prominent place in modern German cuisine. Furthermore, Germany leads in Biobewegung which promotes sustainable farming methods with organic ingredients.
Its Architecture
Germany has been home to humans for millennia, so it comes as no surprise that this Western European country boasts such an extensive variety of architecture styles. From city landmarks and Disney castles to traditional timbered German homes and Baltic brick homes – there is so much to experience and see throughout Germany!
The Reichstag Building in Berlin stands as an iconic example of German Neo-Renaissance architecture. Constructed in 1894 and damaged by both war and fire, its foundation was later strengthened through renovation efforts led by Norman Foster (including adding his signature glass dome). Today it serves as home for Germany’s parliament, making for one of Berlin’s must-see sites and is sure to impress any visitor.
Romanesque architecture became immensely popular from the 11th to 12th centuries and featured simple forms and thick walls. Cologne boasts 12 Romanesque churches as prime examples, along with cathedrals in Mainz and Worms; religious fervor drove this architectural trend as did new architectural techniques like pointed arches, vaulted roofs and spires introduced during this time.
Gothic architectural styles were popular from the 13th to 16th centuries throughout Europe and were heavily influenced by both Rome and Byzantium. An example in Cologne of this architectural movement can be found at its cathedral which boasts Gothic features like flying buttresses to support vaulted vaults and spires; during this period there was also an increase in religious power as well as secularisation of land use.
After the neoclassical period and brief era of neogothic revival, German architects adopted an eclectic style known as Historicism. This approach combined elements from historic styles or craftsmanship with more modern ideas like functionality, natural lighting and use of glass; often leading to striking and innovative works like Peter Behrens’ AEG Turbine Hall in Berlin and Walter Gropius’ Fagus Factory in Alfeld an der Leine.
Architecture students looking for university studies should investigate Germany, which offers an abundance of courses suitable for all study levels. Entry requirements into universities here is set by an Abitur exam; most higher education institutions however require students possess at least a Bachelor’s degree in an architectural subject before accepting them into admissions.