Cultural Heart of Germany

Cultural Heart
of Germany
www.culturalheartofgermany.de
Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt
Thuringia
Meissen
Anna Amalia Library Weimar
Halberstadt Cathedral
Three States. Thousands of Attractions.
Tourism Marketing Company
of Saxony
Investment and Marketing Corporation
of Saxony-Anhalt
Thuringia Tourist Board
Bautzner Straße 45-47, 01099 Dresden
phone 00 49 - 351 - 49 17 00
fax 00 49 - 351 - 496 93 06
info@sachsen-tour.de
www.visitsaxony.com
Am Alten Theater 6, 39104 Magdeburg
phone 00 49 - 391 - 567 70 80
fax 00 49 - 391 - 567 70 81
welcome@img-sachsen-anhalt.de
www.saxony-anhalt-tourism.eu
Postfach 900 407, 99107 Erfurt
phone 00 49 - 361 - 37 42 0
fax 00 49 - 361 - 374 22 99
service@thueringen-tourismus.de
www.thuringia-tourism.com
Bauhaus Dessau
Bach Monument in Arnstadt
contents
Introduction 2-3
cultural capitals between the past and the present
4-5
history-laden places
6-7
8-9
– filled with art and culture
palaces and gardens wherever you go
musical history to see and hear
experiencing crafts and traditions journeys through the land of christmas
a world of experience for activity vacations
Culinary Highlights
Regular Events
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
Map of Saxony – Saxony-Anhalt – Thuringia / Imprint 22-23
Incoming Agencies 24-25
Go on a voyage of discovery
into the Cultural Heart of germany
Cathedral Steps Festival in Erfurt
he federal states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and
Thuringia are the centerpieces of German history and culture – the Cultural Heart of Germany.
T
by the Middle Ages, such as Erfurt, Meissen and
Bautzen or the romantic town of half-timbered
houses, Quedlinburg.
UNIQUE LOCATIONS OF ART AND HISTORY
Whether in Magdeburg, the German birthplace
of the Holy Roman Empire, Wartburg Castle near
Eisenach, where the famous reformer Martin
Luther first translated the Bible into German,
or Dresden, where Elector Augustus the Strong
developed his impressive Baroque splendor, you
will find unique sights all around the region.
GREAT PERSONALITIES
Again and again, you will find yourself on the tracks
of famous personalities. Poets such as Johann
Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller and composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frederic Handel lived and worked in these three
states. It is no surprise that today this is still one of the
liveliest regions for theater and music in Germany.
You will be charmed by art treasures, Gothic cathedrals and imposing castles, impressed by gigantic industrial monuments and examples of modern
Bauhaus architecture, and fascinated by landscape
gardens like those around Dessau-Wörlitz.
TRADITIONAL ARTS AND CRAFTS
In many places, old crafts are still being nurtured.
Visitors to the Ore Mountains will be able to observe
master craftsmen carving a massive piece of wood
into delicate and ornate figures. Another ancient art
that is practiced here is glassblowing. In countless
workshops the master craftsmen demonstrate how
they create noble vases and fragile Christmas tree
baubles – using not only their talent but also their
powerful lungs. A special highlight for all visitors to
Furthermore, many towns invite you to stroll
around their lovingly restored historical centres.
While walking through quaint cobble-stoned
lanes, you will be getting to know towns shaped
About Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia
Wagner lane in Jena
Wernigerode town hall
the Cultural Heart is of course to be present at the
creation of “white gold” and its intricate decoration
by porcelain painters. Meissen Porcelain, from the
oldest porcelain factory in Europe, is world-famous.
ENJOYMENT WITH ALL THE SENSES
The Cultural Heart of Germany also symbolises joiede-vivre, which includes a good beer or one of the delicious wines from the Saxon Elblands or the SaaleUnstrut region, both of which have an excellent
reputation. The chefs of the region master the balancing act between hearty food and haute cuisine, and
the hotels and restaurants welcome you with the appropriate atmosphere to enjoy a delicious meal.
FASCINATING EXPERIENCES OF NATURE
And for those who want some peace and quiet after
spending time in lively towns, the scenic countryside of the region will provide fabulous tours.
Amongst the many attractions are the Harz area
with the Brocken, the mythical witches’ mountain,
the mountains of Saxon Switzerland with their
bizarre rock formations, and the Thuringian Forest
Bautzen, the world of towers
with the Rennsteig, Germany’s most famous
mountain path.
By the way, captivating hiking and cycling paths
for active and eventful tours exist in all the regions
of the Cultural Heart. And in many places nature
can be experienced enjoyably and nostalgically –
on one of the many steam-driven narrow-gauge
railways of the region.
Contact us and we’ll be happy to advise you.
NEW: this brochure not only recommends numerous events but also recommends various attractive itineraries.
The Cultural Heart of Germany
looks forward to welcoming you.
www.culturalheartofgermany.de
2|3
Church of Our Lady in Dresden
THE GREEN CITADEL ® OF MAGDEBURG
Orangery in Gera
T
he Elbe River flows through not only the 1200-year-old cathedral city of Magdeburg, which was home to Otto
the Great, the first German emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, but also Dresden, royal seat to the Elector of
Saxony and King of Poland, Augustus the Strong. In this city, architects und sculptors created the most important
works of the Baroque period, and this is where you will find the Church of Our Lady, the church destroyed in World
War II and rebuilt in 2005. Goethe created literary monuments to Leipzig by calling it ‘Little Paris’ and setting part
of his play ‘Faust’ in the traditional restaurant ‘Auerbach’s Cellar’. Many are fascinated by Thuringia’s nearly 1300year-old capital Erfurt and its excellently preserved medieval town center. Close by, the ‘boom town’ of Jena shows
signs of more recent history: the optical industry was founded here at the Zeiss factory.
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www.kulturfestival-begegnungen.de
MAGDEBURG
Lutherstadt Wittenberg
Wernigerode
Quedlinburg
saxony
HALLE
Nordhausen
The Festival focuses on music and theatre projects.
Special events are developed and venues chosen
that can fulfill the demands of the artists.
Dessau-Rosslau
Torgau
LEIPZIG
Mühlhausen
Weimar
Eisenach
ERFURT
Suhl
Meiningen
Jena
www.wittenberg.de
Meissen
Naumburg
DRESDEN
Colditz
Altenburg
Bautzen Görlitz
Freiberg
Pirna
Chemnitz
Gera
Seiffen
Saalfeld
Zwickau
thuringia
Cultural Capitals
The historical town festival ‘Luther’s Wedding’ commemorates the great Reformer every June.
www.jenaonline.de/kulturarena
From the beginning of July to the middle of August,
lovers of first class music from opera via pop to Jazz flock
to the annual „Kulturarena“ in Jena.
Cultural Capitals Between THE PAst And the Present
the cradle of an ancient empire Magdeburg is mainly known for its cathedral
which goes back to Emperor Otto the Great, the first emperor of the Holy Roman
Empire of the German Nation. The structure is the oldest and one of the largest
Gothic cathedrals in Germany. Just a few steps away, visitors can find a unique modern art building, one of the last by Hundertwasser: THE GREEN CITADEL ® OF
MAGDEBURG. Halle’s historic old town is Europe’s largest architectural memorial area. Also Europe’s longest half-timbered house, home to the Francke Foundation, can be found in the Saale town. Since 2008 the State Museum of Prehistory
has been home to the Nebra Sky Disk (picture), a 3600-year-old representation of the cosmos - the oldest in
the world.
baroque to bourgeoisie In Dresden, the first thing to see is the Church of Our
Lady with its imposing sandstone dome. Nearby are the Palace and Court Church, as
well as the Zwinger, masterpieces of late German Baroque. As you approach Leipzig
you can see from a distance the gigantic Monument to the Battle of the Nations. It
commemorates the victory over Napoleon in 1813. In the city center you can admire
one of the most beautiful Renaissance city halls in Germany, before refreshing yourselves in Auerbach’s Cellar, which already existed in Goethe’s time and inspired the
poet to write the scene ‘In Auerbach’s Cellar in Leipzig’ for his drama ‘Faust’. A trip
to Chemnitz is mostly a tour through the history of German industry: in the Industrial Museum you can
discover that the teabag was invented in Saxony. Villa Esche (picture) is located within the largest area of Art
Nouveau and Wilhelminian buildings still standing in Europe today and is an architectural monument of
world renown.
medieval and modern Gera is an attractive destination, especially for those inte-
rested in the modern, a fact which is reflected by interesting exhibitions and historical villas. Beneath the old part of the town is one of the largest complexes of historical cellars in Germany, which was used in the Middle Ages to store beer. Jena,
the high-tech and scientific center of Thuringia, has a lively cultural and bar scene,
one of the oldest planetariums of the world with the latest technology and spectacular presentations, Germany’s second-oldest Botanical Garden and other very interesting museums. In the Thuringian capital, Erfurt, the imposing ensemble of St
Mary’s Cathedral and St Severus’ Church towers over wonderful half-timbered buildings. The city features
one of Germany’s largest preserved medieval town centers. The Krämer Bridge (“Merchants’ Bridge”; picture) is Europe’s longest bridge to be built on, and indeed lived on. With its picturesque shops and charming
cafés, it is a very popular destination for visitors.
* On the traces of modernism 5-Day-Tour: Please contact us for your individual offer.
Suggested itinerary
- guided tours in the towns visited
- Halle: Visit of Moritzburg Castle with its
works of classical modernism
- Wangen: Visit of the „Nebra Ark“ (picture)
near the place of discovery of the
Nebra Sky Disk
- Chemnitz: Visit of the architectural monu-
ment Villa Esche and Museum Gunzenhauser with its modern art
- Gera: Visit of the Otto Dix Museum, the
Museum of Modern Art and the Schulenburg Villa (Art Nouveau)
- Jena: Visit of the Bauhaus Villa Auerbach
and the Zeiss Planetarium with show
www.culturalheartofgermany.de
4|5
Market place in Pirna
Goethe’s Garden House in Weimar
Goethe-Schiller-Denkmal
City centre of Quedlinburg
T
hose who want to explore historical towns, tight cobble-stoned alleys and romantic quarters in a region
of scenic landscapes will find what they are looking for in the Cultural Heart of Germany. Whilst taking
a walk through the towns of Görlitz, Gotha or Wernigerode, visitors can admire historical architectural monuments from nearly all ages, modern elegance and the lively markets of irresistibly charming small towns.
Visitors are offered unforgettable experiences with attractive events within their fortified walls. Every year
colourful town festivals, series of concerts, arts and crafts markets and medieval fairs attract multitudes of
visitors from near and far.
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www.viathea.de
Via Thea is an international festival of street theatre that
takes place every year in the border towns of Görlitz and
Zgorzelec.
Magdeburg
Wernigerode
Dessau-Rosslau
Lutherstadt Wittenberg
Quedlinburg
saxony
Halle
Nordhausen
www.quedlinburg.de
Torgau
Leipzig
Mühlhausen
Weimar
Gotha
Eisenach
Bautzen
Naumburg
Jena
ALTENBURG
Gera
Erfurt
Suhl
Meiningen
Meissen
Colditz
Saalfeld
Dresden
Freiberg
Pirna
Chemnitz Seiffen
Zwickau
thuringia
History-Laden Places
Görlitz
The ‘Emperor’s Spring’ in Quedlinburg reconstructs
the heyday of the Palatinate with historical plays and
an ‘Emperor’s Feast’.
www.altenburger-musikfestival.de
Every August the Altenburg music festival presents a
colourful range of musical highlights from opera to
swing, and from organ to percussion.
History-laden places – filled with art and culture
late gothic to art nouveau Making a trip to Görlitz is like accepting an invita-
tion to an open-air museum of over 4000 architectural monuments, from the late
Gothic to Art Nouveau. The unique sound of the ‘Sun Organ’ in the Church of St
Peter and Paul (picture) enchants every visitor to the town on both sides of the
German-Polish border. Another attraction in Lusatia is Bautzen. This 1000-year-old
town still has its original walls. St Peter’s Cathedral is eastern Germany’s only nondenominational church, and has been shared by both Catholics and Protestants
since 1542. Pirna was an inspiration for the artist Bernardo Bellotto, better known
as Canaletto, who captured the town’s medieval flair in his paintings, which can be seen in the Dresden State
Art Collections. Bellotto raised the town to the rank of world-famous cities like Rome and Venice.
playing cards and temples for muses The mighty castle in Altenburg, the
town famous for producing playing cards, awaits its visitors with the Museum of
Playing Cards. The precious collection of early Italian paintings in the Lindenau
Museum is also well worth seeing. One of the most outstanding cultural cities in
Germany is Weimar. It is characterized by 16 UNESCO World Heritage sites. The
homes of Goethe and Schiller are part of it as well as the Bauhaus Museum, the
German National Theater and the many wonderful castles and parks. In Gotha you
walk close to the history of the English royal family. Plus, you can see the oldest
standing Baroque theater (picture) in the world, which is located in Friedenstein Castle. The castle complex
from the early Baroque period, the biggest of its kind in Germany, adds to the impressive nature of the former royal seat.
the romanesque period and the fascination of half-timbered houses
The UNESCO World Heritage town of Quedlinburg fascinates by a gigantic number of half-timbered houses revealing six centuries of this architectural style, covering all epoques of styles. The collegiate church of St Servatius, consecrated in 1129,
is an impressing witness to Romanesque architecture and a popular stop on the
‘Romanesque Road’ which runs through Saxony-Anhalt in the shape of an Eight.
Well worth seeing is the famous cathedral treasure room, one of the most valuable
treasury of the Church of the Middle Ages. Wernigerode - the colourful town near
the Harz mountains - is world-famous for its half-timbered town hall, built in the 13th century, and its particularly precious decorative sculptures. Wernigerode Castle (picture) goes back to a fortress of the German
emperors of the Middle Ages. Two museum tours guide the visitor through more than 40 living spaces of
the German high nobility, some of which still feature the original furniture.
* Discovering architectural jewels 5-Day-Tour: Please contact us for your individual offer. Suggested itinerary
- guided tours of the towns visited
- Görlitz: Organ concert in the church
St Peter and Paul
- Weimar: Visit of the Goethe National
Museum, Goethe’s Garden House and
Bauhaus Museum
- Quedlinburg: Visit of the Cathedral treasures in St Servatius collegiate church
- ride with the Harz Mountains steam railway (picture) up to the Brocken mountain
www.culturalheartofgermany.de
6|7
Summer festival of the Garden Realm
Dessau-Wörlitz
UNESCOCastle
World Heritage Wartburg Castle near Eisenach
Moritzburg
Wartburg Castle in Eisenach
F
amous royal houses once demonstrated their power in their splendid courts in the ‘Cultural Heart of
Germany’. Today, this is a boon for visitors, who can discover the history of past centuries in magnificent
palaces and mighty fortresses, or relax in beautiful parks. Especially those in the former royal capitals bear
witness to the fact that the artists, as well as their royal clients, were always at the top of their league and were
able to hold their heads high in comparison with those from other countries. Many of these castles and palaces today house museums with collections that are well worth seeing. Others, in contrast, are today used
as exquisite restaurants or magnificent hotels. A stately atmosphere is offered to guests to dine and sleep, or
take part in conferences or parties, such as a dream wedding in a fairy-tale castle.
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www.moritzburgfestival.de
The Moritzburg Festival, directed by cellist Jan Vogler, is
one of the leading chamber music festivals in the world.
Magdeburg
Wernigerode
Dessau-ROSSLAU Lutherstadt Wittenberg
Wörlitz
Quedlinburg
ORANIENBAUM
Halle
Nordhausen
www.gartenreichsommer.de
saxony
Torgau
Leipzig
Mühlhausen
Naumburg
bad langensalza
Weimar
Altenburg
Jena
eisenach Erfurt
Suhl
Meiningen
Saalfeld
Moritzburg
colditz
Meissen
Freiberg
Gera
Chemnitz Seiffen
Zwickau
thuringia
Palaces and Gardens Bautzen
Görlitz
Dresden- PILLNITZ
Pirna
Enjoy ambitious and entertaining concerts with outstanding orchestras in the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm.
As well as the castles and the watersides and lakes in the
park create a unique scenery for the concerts.
www.tag-des-offenen-denkmals.de
Every second Sunday in September castles, palaces,
historical buildings and churches offer special tours
and insights that are not otherwise available to the
general public.
Palaces and Gardens wherever you go
the growth of splendor even before elector augustus the strong The
magnificent chinoiserie-style Baroque Castle of Pillnitz (picture) was originally
planned as a summer residence. The park’s main attraction is a gigantic 250-yearold Japanese camelia, which shelters in its own mobile house. Meissen, with
Albrechtsburg Castle, the first royal seat of the Wettin dynasty, is the cradle
of Saxony. The two towers of the purest Gothic cathedral in Germany rise in the
castle’s court. Moritzburg Castle is one of the first Renaissance buildings in Saxony.
Augustus the Strong used the castle as a hunting lodge and a splendid setting for
royal amusements. Inside, visitors can marvel at a very significant collection of hunting trophies and the
legendary Feather Room, for which over a million feathers were used. The Renaissance Colditz Castle in the
heart of Saxony was one of the most important prisoner-of-war camps for Allied officers during World War
II. The Escape Museum portrays this period and the 300 documented escape attempts.
germany’s best-known english landscape park Dessau-Rosslau is known not
only for the Bauhaus school of architecture and the masterpieces of important Bauhaus
teachers such as Gropius, Klee and Kandinsky, but also for the Dessau-Wörlitz
Garden Realm (picture), which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and made up of
a number of ‘garden dream’ parks. Mosigkau Castle and Park make up a well-preserved rococo ensemble with a precious gallery room. The classicist Georgium Castle with its extensive English Garden is home to the Anhalt Painting Gallery with
works by German and Dutch painters. Wörlitz Park with the first classicist stately
home built in Germany is the best-known of all the parks. This landscape park is crossed by lakes and canals
and is home to many park buildings. The rock island ‘Felseninsel Stein’ is unique with a replica of Vesuvius and
a villa dedicated to the British volcano explorer Hamilton. The Baroque Oranienbaum Castle has the longest
orangery in Europe and a Baroque park with an Anglo-Chinese garden.
medieval flair and landscaping style Weimar is nicknamed ‘the park with the
town’. The largest of its five parks, laid out in the style of an English landscape garden, stretches through the middle of the town. Here are artificial ruins and the only
Shakespeare monument on the European continent. A Rose Garden and a Japanese
Garden, show-houses and the largest ornamental flower-bed in Europe can be admired
in the ‘ega park’ in Erfurt. The little medieval spa town of Bad Langensalza attracts its
visitors with magnificent theme gardens and parks. Special sights to be seen are the Japanese Garden (picture) with an original Tea House, the Rose Garden and the little 18th
century Friederiken Castle. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site is the imposing 11th century Wartburg Castle
near Eisenach. Probably the most famous castle in all Germany, it is connected just as closely with the courtly culture of the Middle Ages as it is with the life of Martin Luther, who translated the Bible into German here.
* Royal dreams 4-Day-Tour: Please contact us for your individual offer.
Suggested itinerary
- Wörlitz: Guided tour of the castle
and the park with gondola tour, visit
of the Gothic House
- Oranienbaum: Guided tour of the Castle
- Colditz: guided tour of Colditz Castle
- Altenburg:
Guided
tour
of
the
castle complex (picture) with playing
cards museum
- Moritzburg: Visit of Moritzburg Castle hunting lodge of Augustus the Strong
- steam boat ride on the river Elbe and
visit of Pillnitz Castle and park with coffee
break
www.culturalheartofgermany.de
8|9
St. Thomas’ Church in Leipzig
Bach House in Eisenach
Handel Monument
Halle in Halle (Saale)
International
HandelinFestival
A
n important part of the great German history of music has its roots in this region. Handel, Bach and
Wagner were all born here and wrote many of their works in Leipzig, Arnstadt, Köthen and Dresden.
Music colleges in Leipzig and Dresden are named after Felix Mendelssohn and Carl Maria von Weber, and
the one in Weimar after Franz Liszt. With Dresden’s famous Semper Opera House, Leipzig’s Gewandhaus
Concert Hall and Halle’s Handel Hall, the region has world-class venues, and the local orchestras and choirs
nurture musical traditions in an exemplary way. This route takes visitors along the tracks of the great composers of the Baroque, Classical and Modern periods.
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Magdeburg
www.bach-leipzig.de
Wernigerode
Dessau-Rosslau
Lutherstadt Wittenberg
Köthen
Wörlitz
(Anhalt)
Quedlinburg
Ferropolis (Gräfenhainichen)
Nordhausen
Halle
Torgau
Naumburg
Wechmar
Weimar
Jena
Erfurt
Arnstadt
www.haendel2009.com
Meissen
Bautzen
Dresden
Bad Langensalza
eisenach
saxony
Leipzig
Weissenfels
Mühlhausen
Watch and hear the music of Johann Sebastian Bach at
the Leipzig Bach Festival.
Görlitz
Colditz
Altenburg
Freiberg Graupa
Gera
Chemnitz Seiffen
Zwickau
Meiningen
www.bachfestival.arnstadt.de
Every March, Bach’s works can be heard for three weeks
in the authentic settings of the oldest town in Thuringia.
thuringia
Musical History During the Handel Festival voices and music ring out
on Halle‘s streets and squares, along the banks of the
River Saale and in the opera house.
Musical history to see and hear
the musical metropolises of dresden and leipzig The Semper Opera House
in Dresden is one of the most magnificent opera houses. Richard Wagner became its musical director in 1843, and his opera ‘Tannhäuser’ was premiered here
in 1845. In his summer residence in Graupa is the only Wagner Museum in an authentic location. The journey continues to Leipzig, where Johann Sebastian Bach
and Felix Mendelssohn lived and worked. Mendelssohn is known as the decisive
factor in re-discovering the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The Mendelssohn
House (picture), the former residence of the composer, is the only authentic memorial to him in the world. The Bach Archives in St Thomas’ Churchyard with their unique collections are the
center of research into Bach. Bach worked at St Thomas’ Church for 27 years as choirmaster of St Thomas
Boys Choir. The Gewandhaus Orchestra, on the other hand, is the oldest civic orchestra in the world.
bach’s birthplace In the historical town of Eisenach at the foot of Wartburg Cast-
le, Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685. In a 600-year-old town house, visitors
find the oldest and largest museum in Germany dedicated to the great composer.
Here one can learn everything about Bach’s life and work and view the maestro’s
original manuscripts, his household goods and valuable instruments from his time.
A very special part of the tour is a concert with Baroque instruments. Several generations of the Bach family lived in Arnstadt, the oldest town in Thuringia, and it was
here that Johann Sebastian took up his first post as organist, in what is today called
the Bach Church (picture). However, the actual ancestral seat of the Bach family was in Wechmar near Gotha.
The Bach House, the oldest place in the world where members of the Bach family lived and worked, today is
home to a memorial. Bach lived and worked in the medieval town of Mühlhausen from 1707 to 1708.
home of handel The Handel House in the 1200-year-old cultural city of Halle
(Saale) gives detailed information on the life and work of the great composer, who
spent much of his life in London. The house in which the famous composer was born
also has an extensive collection of historical musical instruments. The annual Handel
Festival in June, with top-class concerts and performances of Handel operas, is a magnet for music-lovers. The international choir festival ‘Happy Birthday Handel’ takes
place every February with a performance of Handel’s Messiah, featuring singers from
all over the world. In Weißenfels and Köthen (picture), baroque music-lovers can experience the Central German Schütz Days and the Bach Festival. With the annual Kurt Weill Festival, a festival
of modern classical music, Dessau commemorates the composer of the Threepenny Opera, who was born in
this town. A special location for events is Ferropolis, the ‘iron town’ with festivals such as ‘MELT’.
* On the traces of Bach 4-Day-Tour: Please contact us for your individual offer.
Suggested itinerary
- Leipzig: Guided theme tour with visit of
Bach Museum, organ concert in St
Thomas church (picture), visit of the oldest
‚coffee temples‘ in Europe with coffee break
- Köthen: Guided tour ‚On the trails
of J. S. Bach‘ including castle with
Bach Memorial and church St Agnus
- Arnstadt: guided theme tour with visit of
Bach church with short organ concert
- Eisenach: guided theme tour with visit of
the Bach House with concert on original
instruments and visit of Wartburg Castle,
UNESCO World Heritage
www.culturalheartofgermany.de
10 | 11
Mountain Railway in Oberweissbach
Glassblower
Vineyard
A
special attraction of the region is the numerous narrow-gauge railways, each of them a unique technical
monument. They are as much part of the nurtured traditions as the ancient cultural landscapes – and
the arts and crafts that have been carried out for centuries. For example, in the Elbe Valley between Pirna and
Diesbar-Seusslitz, grapes have been grown for over 800 years. The resulting wines are the equals in quality
and taste of those from the Saale-Unstrut region. The art of beer-brewing in many places in the region is also
a tradition that has been honored for centuries. This is witnessed by the many delicious varieties of beer produced by the various breweries, both large and small. And the Cultural Heart is also known for its exquisite
souvenirs made from glass, porcelain and wood.
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SPECIAL TIPS
Magdeburg
derenburg
Dessau-Rosslau
Wernigerode
Quedlinburg
www.dixieland.de
Wörlitz
Torgau
Halle
nordhausen
Lutherstadt Wittenberg
The International Dixieland Festival in Dresden features
jazz and blues.
saxony
Leipzig
MEISSEN
Naumburg
Bad Langensalza
Erfurt Weimar
Eisenach
Jena
Gotha
Oberweissbach
Saalfeld
Suhl
Cursdorf
Meiningen
Sonneberg
Altenburg
Bautzen
Görlitz
Colditz
Dresden
Freiberg
Gera
Chemnitz Seiffen
Every year on Walpurgis Night, the witches fly off on their
broomsticks to meet the devils in the Harz Mountains.
Pirna
www.tff-rudolstadt.de
The first weekend in July sees Germany‘s biggest festival for world music, taking place in historic Rudolstadt,
with many famous artists from every continent.
ZWICKAU
thuringia
Crafts and Traditions
www.harzinfo.de
EXPERIENCING CRAFTS AND TRADITIONS
clear the way for tradition Visitors who are surprised by the bilingual signs
in Bautzen should know that the town of the towers is also the unofficial capital of
the Sorbs. The Sorbian Museum is located here, which is home to artistically decorated Easter eggs and the typical folk costumes. About 50 miles from here in Meissen,
European porcelain was first invented by J.F. Böttger in 1708. Its production can
still be watched step by step in the town’s Porcelain Manufactory (picture), and
afterwards visitors can choose from a selection of table accessories or even sculptures. Saxony was not only the producer of the first porcelain but also of the
first railway engine in Germany. The oldest working narrow-gauge railway in Germany, the Weisseritz
Valley Railway is an especially nostalgic experience. In Zwickau, on the other hand, cars have been
produced for over a century. Exhibits from the firms Horch, Audi, Wanderer and even Trabant are
displayed in the August Horch Museum.
all inclusive
– even magnificent views Visitors can follow the tracks of tradi-
tional crafts on the Thuringian Porcelain Route or the Toy Route. In factories and
demonstration workshops the master craftsmen are happy to have people looking
over their shoulders. Sonneberg is home to Germany’s first toy museum. Nearby
is the Oberweissbach Mountain and Schwarza Valley Railway, which provides an
unforgettable experience for all rail fans. The route leads through the picturesque
Schwarza Valley before the train masters the ascent to Cursdorf on the steepest funicular railway in the world. Rail fans will also enjoy the steam engine works in the
theater town of Meiningen, where iron horses are maintained and repaired. The Beer and Castle Route commemorates the century-old brewing tradition of the region. Bürgel near Jena is the home of the famous blueand-white ceramics (picture).
the harz mountains by steam The steam trains of the Harz narrow-gauge rail-
ways run on Europe’s longest historical rail network, which is over 80 miles long.
Ascending the Brocken Mountain (picture), visitors are on the trail of Goethe and
visit the original settings for his play ‘Faust’. A more diversified trip through the
Harz Mountains goes from Nordhausen to the half-timbered town Quedlinburg or
to the colourful town of Wernigerode. In the nearby glass factory of Derenburg, visitors can enter the eventful and secretive world of the ancient art of glass-blowing
and see how glass objects are created at the hand of skilled glassmakers. 30 April
marks the traditional celebration of Walpurgis Night in the Harz area with the mystical hustle and bustle of
witches and devils.
* Porcelain and steam fascination 5-Day-Tour: Please contact us for your individual offer.
Suggested itinerary
- Meissen: Guided tour of the Meissen
Porcelain Manufactory and lunch in the
traditional winery “Vincenz Richter”
- Rudolstadt: Visit to the oldest porcelain
manufactory in Thuringia
- Oberweissbach: ride on the world‘s steepest
cable railway up to the heights of the
Thuringian Forest incl. coffee and cake
- Nordhausen: short visit with tasting in
one of Germany‘s oldest corn destilleries
(picture)
- ride with the Harz narrow-gauge railway
up to the Brocken mountain
- Wernigerode: guided tour of town and castle
www.culturalheartofgermany.de
12 | 13
Christmas market in Erfurt
Striezel Market in Dresden
Christmas market in Magdeburg
T
raditional Christmas decorations were invented in Saxony and Thuringia and have ever since spread
throughout the world. For centuries, Christmas articles like pyramids, arches and nutcrackers have lovingly been made by hand in the Ore Mountains, while Christmas tree decorations made of coloured glass
were invented in the south of the Thuringian Forest 170 years ago. Visitors to Lauscha during Advent can
glass-blow their own tree decorations. The Dresden Stollen is the most famous Christmas cake in Germany.
All of this and much more is a good reason to take a long trip to the land that is the epitome of Christmas, to
have fun on some of the most picturesque Christmas markets and perhaps to buy a Christmas decoration or
two. But the pre-Christmas period is also a good opportunity for a romantic sleigh journey through the snow
or a musical tour of towns like Halle (Saale) and Bad Lauchstädt.
Stendal
saxony-anhalt
Magdeburg
SPECIAL TIPS
lutherstadt-wittenberg
Wernigerode
www.freiberg.de
Dessau-Rosslau
Wörlitz
Quedlinburg
Nordhausen
Halle
Visit Saxony’s oldest and most famous silver mine, featuring the miners’ Advent ‘Mettenschicht’ ceremony.
saxony
Torgau
Bad Lauchstädt
Leipzig
dRESDEN
Bad Langensalza
ERFURT WEIMAR
Gotha
EISENACH
Suhl
Jena
Saalfeld
LAUSCHA
Bautzen
Meissen
Naumburg
Colditz
Altenburg
Freiberg
Pirna
Gera
seiffen
Chemnitz
Zwickau
thuringia
Land of Christmas
Görlitz
www.quedlinburg.de
Experience the very special Christmas Calendar: Every
day until Christmas Eve one of the doors on the Schloss
Mountain will be opened and will reveal its secret.
www.erfurt-tourismus.de
The fascinating Erfurt Christmas Market puts you in
just the right mood.
journeys through the land of Christmas
the home of the nutcracker The Striezel Market in Dresden dates back to
1434, making it the oldest Christmas market in Germany. On the second Sunday in
Advent every year the ceremonial cutting of the world’s largest Stollen takes place
here. In the cathedral of the old mining town of Freiberg, you can experience Christmas recitals on the splendid organ built by the famous organ-builder Gottfried
Silbermann. Every year on the Saturday before the second Sunday in Advent, a traditional miners’ parade (picture) is held in the town. In the idyllic village of
Seiffen in the Ore Mountains there is a long tradition of woodworking – worldfamous Christmas ornaments like nutcrackers or little incense-smoking figures were invented here. Visitors
can still watch the masters carving the figures in demonstration workshops to this very day.
christmas trees and christmas tree baubles In Advent, Erfurt transforms
into a ‘Christmas town’. The Christmas fair in front of the Cathedral and St Severus’
Church is one of the most pleasant in all of Germany. Lauscha is where colored
glass Christmas decorations (picture) were invented. During the first two weekends in Advent original Thuringian Christmas decorations are sold here. Weimar
on the other hand, was home not only to Goethe and Schiller, but also to the first
public Christmas tree. It was set up here in 1816. For Advent, the town hall turns
into a giant Advent calendar. What is probably the most picturesque Christmas
fair can be found at Wartburg Castle near Eisenach. In the festive season, Thuringia’s most famous castle
is transformed into a historical Christmas village, full of medieval craftsmen, entertainers and musicians.
Historical Christmas fairs in many other castles and palaces in the whole of Thuringia are also becoming
more and more popular.
advent in half-timbered romanticism and a renaissance atmosphere In
Quedlinburg 1300 half-timbered houses create a unique scenery for the Christmas
fair (picture) at the foot of Quedlinburg castle. During “Advent in the courtyards”,
historical courtyards open their gates on two Advent weekends: decorated market
stalls let visitors rummage through art-and-craft objects of the region and let them
try festive delicacies. Lutherstadt-Wittenberg’s Advent courtyards, whether historical, alternative or magical, create their own romantic atmosphere in the surroundings of gorgeous town-houses and the church where Luther started the Reformation. Magdeburg’s Christmas fair is lively, colourful and magical. The enchanted forest is a particular treat for
the visitor with magical performances, the ginger bread factory, festive live music and medieval crafts.
* Discovering jolly traditions 6-Day-Tour : Please contact us for your individual offer.
Suggested itinerary
- Dresden: Guided tour incl. visit of the
Church of Our Lady with organ
concert and visit of the Striezel Market,
Germany‘s oldest Christmas market
- Freiberg: Guided tour with Cathedral, visit
of the Christmas market
- Seiffen: Visit of woodworking manufactory
with shopping and visit of the baroque village church (picture)
- Erfurt: Guided tour by historic tram with
Santa Claus, visit of the Christmas market
- Eisenach: Guided tour with visit of the
Bach House, visit of Wartburg Castle and
the historic Christmas market
www.culturalheartofgermany.de
14 | 15
Treetop trail in
Hainich National Park
Bastei Bridge
Saxon Switzerland
Cyclists on tour
T
he Cultural Heart of Germany is a veritable paradise for hiking and cycling. The region is criss-crossed by
thousands of miles of hiking and cycling trails. The magnificent landscape of the low mountain ranges
of the Harz, Thuringian Forest and Saxon Switzerland is always a great experience. Lower-lying areas, many
of them with captivating river landscapes, alternate with rugged rocks and imposing peaks. But cyclists who
prefer to ride less energetically without steep ascents are also in for such treats as the Elbe Cycle Path, which
runs through beautiful landscapes in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt and past four UNESCO World Heritage
Sites. Moreover, the Harz, Thuringian Forest and Saxon Switzerland areas are very suitable for mountain biking. In many regions, tours of the waterways, golf and riding are possible, as well as cross-country skiing
and other winter sports.
Stendal
saxony-anhalt
Magdeburg
HA
RZ
Nordhausen
Wernigerode
Lutherstadt-Wittenberg
Dessau-Rosslau Wörlitz
Quedlinburg
Halle
Torgau
saxony
Leipzig
Eisenach
Bad Langensalza
Gotha Erfurt Weimar
Jena
Altenburg
T
Suhl
Lauscha
Freiberg
Zwickau
Chemnitz
Hohenwarte
dam lake
ING
IAN F
OR E
Dresden
Pirna
Colditz
Gera
Saalfeld
HU
R
Bautzen
Meissen
Bleiloch
dam lake
ST
ORE
Seiffen
NS
TAI
N
MOU
cycling and hiking trails
Görlitz
N
SAXEORLAN
Z
T
I
W
S
D
Naumburg
thuringia
Activity vacations Rennsteig Hiking Trail
River Saale Cycle Path
Elbe Cycle Path
Harz Witches Way
A WORLD OF EXPERIENCE FOR ACTIVITY VACATIONS
transport close to nature
– in the saddle or in the heights Germany’s
longest and most famous hiking trail runs along the ridge of the Thuringian Forest:
the historic Rennsteig (picture), which is over 100 miles long and an El Dorado for
hikers. In the Hainich National Park, visitors can climb onto the roof of the forest,
following the Treetop Trail with its views into and out of the forest of up to 120 feet
in height. Germany’s largest area of reservoirs is located in the south-east of
Thuringia. In landscapes reminiscent of the fjords, there are countless opportunities to go on hiking tours, do water sports or take boat trips. The River Saale Cycle
Path attracts cyclists not just because of its wonderful landscape but also because of the nearby castles and
palaces, which radiate a special magic. And the Städtekette (Town Chain) Cycle Path connects the towns of
Eisenach, Gotha, Erfurt, Weimar, Jena, Gera and Altenburg, all of them steeped in history and tradition.
on the track of artists and craftsmen The Vogtland area is one of Germany’s
most beautiful mountainous areas. In addition to the natural beauty, it is also home
to the Göltzsch Valley Bridge, the largest brick bridge in the world, as well as a 150year-old spa tradition and lace from Plauen. The “Painters’ Way” in the Saxon
Switzerland National Park offers breathtaking panoramas over canyons and valleys,
and is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Germany, already inspiring painters
such as Caspar David Friedrich, Carl Gustav Carus and Ludwig Richter. On the 110
miles of the Elbe Cycle Path (picture) that pass through Saxony, fairy-tale palaces,
grand buildings, vineyards on the valley slopes and green riverbank meadows await cyclists between Schöna
and Torgau. Cyclists and hikers who need a short respite can enjoy a trip on the Elbe River on a ship from
the largest paddle steamer fleet in the world.
active in the worlds of nature and culture The Harz region can be disco-
vered close to nature through its extensive network of hiking and cycling trails (picture). The Harz Witches Way, which crosses the mountain range from west to east,
is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Germany. However, the Harz doesn’t
offer just dense forests and rapid rivers, but also a cultural landscape going back
1000 years. Among the jewels of the Romanesque Road are the cathedral treasuries
of Quedlinburg and Halberstadt, and special sights such as the palace gardens of
Wernigerode and the Europa-Rosarium Sangerhausen. The River Saale Cycle Path
runs through the northernmost wine area in Germany, Saale-Unstrut. Lovers of literature cycle here on the
trail of Goethe, Schiller, Novalis and Nietzsche and can look forward to another highlight: the picturesque
old town of Naumburg, with its cathedral and treasury.
Active Tours
We would be happy to customise a special nature and activity holiday in the Cultural Heart of Germany. Please contact us
with your wishes. We can also of course
offer you an extensive range of information packages and maps on this subject.
www.culturalheartofgermany.de
16 | 17
Chilled beer - simply delicious!
Wine princess
Thuringian Rostbratwurst
T
he Cultural Heart can be enjoyed in many ways. These include trying the gastronomic delicacies of
the region, which are often full of tradition. They include noble wines, enjoyable beers and exquisite
spirits, as well as delicious bakery produce, unique specialties and classic dishes of the region.
Wine
Insiders’ tips for wine connoisseurs are the wine-growing areas of Saxony and SaaleUnstrut. The latter is one of the oldest in Germany, the northernmost in Europe, and
has been producing wine for over a thousand years. On the slopes of the Elbe River
around Dresden, wine has been grown for 800 years. One of the smallest winegrowing areas in Germany, the vineyards are mostly tended by hand. Numerous
vineyards along the wine routes offer visitors the chance to taste their wine, and the
traditional Rotkäppchen sparkling wine can be enjoyed in Freyburg/Unstrut.
Original Halloren Kugeln
Original Halloren Kugeln chocolates get their name from the Halloren, the salt
workers who used to work in the city of Halle (Saale). A mix of cream and chocolate, they are said to symbolise the silver buttons on the men’s jackets, and are
produced in Halle (Saale), in the oldest working chocolate factory in Germany.
A chocolate room in the museum on the factory grounds is equipped completely
with chocolate utensils. Under the guidance of experienced chocolatiers, visitors
to the Praline Seminar can conjure their own delicacies from finest chocolate
and other exquisite ingredients.
Culinary Highlights
culinary highlights
Thuringian Rostbratwurst
The fried sausage is the epitome of German cuisine. Its regional variety, the
Thuringian Rostbratwurst, is the best of them all. The production goes back to
ancient traditions, with the oldest recipe dating from 1404. The sausage, also called
‘Roster’, contains finely minced pork, salt and pepper, cumin, marjoram and garlic.
It has to be charcoal-grilled and is served in a bun. 2006 even saw the opening
of the Thuringian Bratwurst Museum near Gotha.
Thuringian Dumplings
Mix a quantity of raw grated potatoes with a quantity of boiled and mashed potatoes and fill the mixture with croutons. Shape the mixture into balls and simmer
them in water for 20 minutes. The result is a delicious accompaniment to every
kind of roast. Thuringian dumplings are simple to make and go well with game
from the vast Thuringian Forest and the Harz Mountains. There are even seminars which teach the participants how to create the perfect Thuringian dumpling.
Beer
The region is one of the most famous beer areas in Germany. Numerous breweries,
large and small, bear witness to the century-old tradition of brewing. Arnstadt in
Thuringia was the home of the first wheat beer. Germany’s most popular dark beer comes
from Bad Köstritz near Gera. Hasseröder Premium Pils from Wernigerode is today
one of the great brands in Germany and the Hasseröder brewery one of the most modern production plants of its kind in Europe. And the first German beer to be brewed according to the original Pilsen style was and still is made in Radeberg, Saxony.
Dresden Stollen
Dresden Stollen is the German Christmas cake without equal. The cake consists of a heavy yeast dough with at least 3 lb of butter or margarine and 6 lb
of raisins, currants or sultanas to every 10 lb of flour. Every family used to have
their own recipe. The dough was prepared at home, shaped and then baked at
the local bakery.
Baumkuchen
The genuine Baumkuchen (or ‘Tree Cake’) from Salzwedel is a royal layered cake
baked according to the original recipe from 1807. Even today it is hand-prepared
and baked on a spit in front of an open fire. The bakery of the Salzwedel Baumkuchen Factory can be visited and after watching a guided tour, visitors are invited to a tasting. The Salzwedel ‘Baumkuchen’ can be enjoyed not only at Christmas but all through the year. The ‘tree cake’ is still produced traditionally in the
Altmark region.
Dresden Eierschecke
The Saxon has a sweet tooth and loves coffee and cake, ‘Kaffee und Kuchen’. There
is nowhere in Germany where the people eat so much of the latter than Saxony. A
specialty is Dresden Eierschecke, which tempts you with its three layers: on a yeast
dough is a rich layer of curd cheese, often with raisins or almonds, followed by a
lighter top layer made mainly of eggs.
www.culturalheartofgermany.de
18 | 19
REGULAR EVENTS
April–December
June
Series of concerts at Wartburg
Castle, Eisenach
This annual international series of
music features renowned artists.
The highlights are performances
of an opera by Richard Wagner
and the Advent concerts.
www.wartburg.de
Bach Festival Leipzig
Lovers of classical music and fans of
Bach from all over the world come
to the city of music to experience the
works of Johann Sebastian Bach in
an authentic atmosphere.
www.bach-leipzig.de
Merchants’ Bridge Festival and
New Orleans Jazz Festival, Erfurt
Thuringia’s biggest town festival
with a light entertainment program, medieval market, concerts,
and food and drink takes place on
the third weekend in June.
www.erfurt-tourismus.de
Concert at Wartburg Castle Eisenach
January–December
Concerts in the Church of Our Lady
The magnificent music program of
Dresden`s Church of Our Lady is
characterized by great variety and international stars of classical music.
www.frauenkirche-dresden.de
February
Kurt Weill Festival, Dessau-Rosslau
Dessau annually commemorates the
composer of The Threepenny Opera
with concerts and productions featuring international performers.
www.kurt-weill.de
March–April
Thuringian Bach Weeks, all over
Thuringia
An annual international festival in
original sites in Thuringia associated
with Bach. The program comprises
concerts, oratorios, ballet and family
music in original settings.
www.thueringer-bachwochen.de
April–May
Walpurgis Night, in the Harz
St Thomas Boys Choir, Leipzig
May–June
The Dresden Music Festival
Every Whitsuntide music lovers
from all over the world come
to Dresden to be captivated by
sparkling concerts in various
venues.
www.musikfestspiele.com
May–September
Summer Festival of the Garden
Realm Dessau-Wörlitz
The lakeside and castle concerts make a unique connection
between sound experiences and
gastronomic enjoyment in extraordinary settings.
www.gartenreichsommer.de
region and in castles and palaces
Walpurgis Night is a traditional fair
with the so-called Witches’ Fire. It
is celebrated in many places all over
the Harz region to drive out evil spirits and to celebrate the arrival of
spring.
www.harzinfo.de
Regular Events
International Handel Festival, Halle (Saale) and surrounding area
The festival centers in Handel’s
operas, but also offers the international audience novelties, rediscovered works and various styles of
interpreting and performing.
www.haendelfestspiele.halle.de
International Dixieland Festival
Dresden
Jazz bands from all over the world fill
the city with their rhythms for a whole
week, playing in concert halls and
clubs, on squares and in the streets.
www.dixieland.de
International Handel Festival, Halle
Luther’s Wedding Festival, Lutherstadt-Wittenberg
The old town becomes a stage for
traveling entertainers, musicians,
craftsmen and caterers. The highlight is provided by the great historical festival parade with over
2000 participants.
www.wittenberg.de
June–August
August–September
MDR Summer Music Festival
Faithful to its concept, the MDR
Summer Music Festival invites
its visitors to the loveliest venues in Central Germany, uniting the landscape atmospherically.
www.mdr.de/musiksommer
Mendelssohn Festival Leipzig
The festival takes place at historical venues such as the Mendelssohn House or the Gewandhaus
Concert Hall and commemorates
the founder of the first German
music college.
www.gewandhaus.de
July–August
Cathedral Steps Festival, Erfurt
An open-air experience in front of
the unique backdrop of St Mary’s
Cathedral and St Severus’ Church
in Erfurt. The cathedral steps are
transformed into a huge stage to
host an opera or musical.
www.domstufen.de
Ekhof Festival at Friedenstein
Castle, Gotha
Small but unique opera festival
in Europe’s oldest preserved Baroque theater with its original stage
technology.
www.gotha.de
Central German Heinrich Schütz
Days, Weissenfels
Every fall, lovers of Baroque music are welcomed in Weissenfels,
where at original venues works
of the Father of German Music,
Heinrich Schütz can be heard.
www.schuetztage.de
Moritzburg Festival
National and international artists present a varied range of
chamber music in the fairy-tale
setting of the Baroque hunting
lodge.
www.moritzburgfestival.de
Music Director of the Gewandhaus Leipzig
Riccardo Chailly
Luther – The Festival, Eisenach
Thuringia’s biggest medieval
festival with Luther play, a big
medieval market, entertainment program and a big festival
parade.
www.luther-das-fest.de
Onion Market Weimar
September–October
August
Village fair Luther‘s wedding,
Lutherstadt-Wittenberg
joyable wine festivals with pretty
vintners’ parades.
www.meissner-weinfest.de
www.weinfest-radebeul.de
www.winzervereinigung-freyburg.de
Art Festival, Weimar
This top-class festival with international artists, under the directorship of Nike Wagner, greatgranddaughter of Richard Wagner,
features concerts, readings and
ballet.
www.kunstfest-weimar.de
September
Wine Festivals in Meissen and
Radebeul (Saxony) and Freyburg
(Saxony-Anhalt)
In the fall, the vintners in Saxony
and Saxony-Anhalt welcome visitors to taste their new wines at en-
October
Onion Market, Weimar
Thuringia’s biggest fair takes
place on the second weekend in
October and for over 350 years
has centered on the onion: decorations, food and entertainment.
www.weimar.de
December
Christmas Markets in Saxony,
Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia
Numerous Christmas markets
with centuries of old traditions
and cozy flair welcome their visitors
to wander around and enjoy in the
pre-Christmas period.
www.culturalheartofgermany.de
www.culturalheartofgermany.de
20 | 21
S A X O N Y- A N H A LT
A 115
Stendal
Berlin
A 10
Tangermünde
Brandenburg
Hannover
Fran
Potsdam
A 10
A 10
Braunschweig
A2
A9
Hildesheim
Magdeburg
Wörlitz
Dessau-Rosslau
Köthen
Quedlinburg
AINS
LutherstadtWittenberg
Torgau
A9
ale
Sa
HAR
M O U ZN
T
e
Wernigerode
A 38
A 14
Halberstadt
B 6n
Elb
Goslar
BRANDENBURG
A 143
Heilbad
Nordhausen
Heiligenstadt A 38
Halle
Leipzig
Riesa
Merseburg
Mühlhausen
A 14
T H U R I N G I A Freyburg
Bad
Langensalza
Gotha
Eisenach
THU
RING
Meiningen
Jena
Gera
A4
Suhl
IAN FORE
ST
Freiberg
Chemnitz
Zwickau
A 71
A 73
A4
Dresden
Altenburg
Arnstadt
Schmalkalden
A 71
Colditz
Weimar
A4
Moritzburg
Meissen
Naumburg
Erfurt
S
A 13
A 38
A9
Rudolstadt
Plauen
Saalfeld
A 72
Pirna
Seiffen
N
MOU
E
R
O
TA
INS
A 17
Oberwiesenthal
Saale
A 71
A 73
Hof
Coburg
Schweinfurt
BAVARIA
Karlovy Vary
(Karlsbad)
Bayreuth
Bamberg
Map of Saxony – Saxony-Anhalt – Thuringia
CZECH REPUBLIC
Saxony –
Saxony-Anhalt –
Thuringia
300 metres
400 metres
500 metres
800 metres
2500 metres
Oslo
Stockho
Edinburgh
Copenhagen
Dublin
city
Birmingham
Autobahn
London
railway line
Den Haag
Berlin
river
Brussels
airport
nkfurt/Oder
500 km
Prague
Paris
1.000 km
Bern
Cottbus
POLAND
A 15
Görlitz
AXONY
a
C
Bautzen
A4
N A
XO RL
SA ITZE
SW
Rome
imprint
ND
Elbe
Zgorzelec
publisher: Tourism
Corporation of Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia Tourist Board
press date: January 2009
photo credits: saxony:
Lohse, Sylvio Dittrich, Ulf Dahl, TI Pirna/Füssel, Stadt Görlitz, Archiv TMGS, Gert
Mothes, Benjamin Ealovega, TV Elbland, Lothar Sprenger, intentionPR/Judith
Spancken, TV Sächsische Schweiz e.V./S. Dittrich, Heimrich & Hannot GmbH,
LTM/Bach-Archiv Leipzig, Jörg Clemen, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Mendelssohn-Haus
Leipzig, LTM/Baumann
saxony-anhalt:
Company
of
Saxony,
Investment
and
Marketing
DMG/Sylvio Dittrich, DMG/SDG, Robert Witsen, Schlösserland Sachsen,
Archiv Investment and Marketing Corporation of Saxony-Anhalt,
Wernigerode
halt Juraj Lipták, Collection HSB, Kulturstiftung DessauWörlitz/ Heinz Fräßdorf,
Köthen Kultur und Marketing GmbH/ Fritzsche, Andreas Lander, Quedlin-
burg-Tourismus-Marketing
Liberec
(Reichenberg)
Prague
Marketing
MMKT
GmbH,
GmbH/Jürgen
LDA
Meusel,
Sachsen-An-
Hasseröder
GmbH, Erste Salzwedeler Baumkuchenfabrik Oskar Hennig, TourismusRegion
Wittenberg e.V.
thuringia:
GmbH,
Brauerei, Landesweingut Kloster Pforta GmbH, Heimrich & Hannot
Tourismus
Archiv Thüringer Tourismus GmbH, Altenburger TourismusInforma-
tion, Bachhaus Eisenach/Neue Bachgesellschaft e.V., Echte Nordhäuser Traditions-
brennerei, Erfurt Tourismus GmbH/B. Neumann, Farbglashütte Lauscha, Gotha-
Information, Krebs Glas Lauscha, Oberhof Tourismus GmbH, Oberweißbacher
Berg- und Schwarzatalbahnen GmbH, Stadtmarketing Arnstadt GmbH, STERN-
EVENT GmbH Jena, Theater Erfurt/L. Edelhoff, Thüringer Allgemeine/H.-P. Sta-
dermann, Wartburg-Stiftung Eisenach, weimar GmbH/M. Schuck, A. Liebich,
T. Babovic, J. Fricke, R. Schübel, T. Stephan
design & layout:
Heimrich & Hannot GmbH
translation: FairWell Travel Consulting
printing company:
Industriedruck GmbH Dresden
please note: All the information has been reseached with the greatest possible care. However,
the publisher assumes no liability for the information provided.
www.culturalheartofgermany.de
22 | 23
Discover 1000 years of German
history, priceless European art
and most tasty traditions. Fly
directly from London to lovely
Altenburg and explore from
there lively Erfurt, splendid
1
Altenburg Castle
4
Dresden or arty Weimar.
Farmer’s market
2
5
Leipzig-Altenburg Airport
Tea time in the park
Altenburg Tourist Office for
Stefan Brendgen [ 1 , 4 , 5
]
]
Lindenau-Museum [ 3 ]
Stadtverwaltung Altenburg [ 2
individual travel and group tours
www.altenburg-tourismus.de
www.leipzig-altenburg-airport.de
welcome
We´ll show you
www.ryanair.com
3
Lindenau-Museum, Sandro Botticelli
the Cultural Heart of Germany
Our country is beautiful – you will be surprised!
Nebra Sky Disc
We are your partner for your group travels
N accommodation from hostels up to 5-star-hotels
N transportation – whether by bus, train or ship
N city- and travel-guides
N detailed travel descriptions
N organisation of congresses and events
Contact us:
Vetter Touristik
Reiseverkehrs GmbH
phone 00 49 - 345 - 124 00 40
fax 00 49 - 345 - 131 73 13
hal@vetter-touristik.de www.vetter-touristik.de
TOP Reisen GmbH
phone 00 49 - 39 21 - 91 91 91
fax 00 49 - 39 21 - 91 91 19
top@topreisen.de www.topreisen.de
Leipzig – Music is in the Air
the
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Leipzig is always worth a journey, especially when you combine your visit with partaking in events
related to the musical heritage of the city. Experience the music of composers who established
Leipzig‘s fame as a city of music in the original venues.
–
–
–
–
2 nights/breakfast in one of our partner hotels
ticket for the public city sightseeing tour
We can also book a concert ticket for you!
coffee and cake (1 cup of coffee and 1 piece of cake per person
inc.) in the Panorama Tower Restaurant, 120 m above the city,
and visit to the look-out platform on top of the City High-Rise
– musical surprise treat and tourist city map
For further information and events we will gladly send you
our brochure “Leipzig, City of Music – A Musical Tour”.
Our contact details: www.leipzig-cityofmusic.com
Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH
09.01.2009
17:04 Uhr
SeiteLeipzig
1
Richard-Wagner-Str.
1, D-04109
Tel. +49 (0)341 7104-260, info@ltm-leipzig.de
from
119
price per person in a double room, single room
surcharge from € 35, plus ticket price,
Offer valid: all year, depending on the current
events programme, subject to availability and
subject to price increases by our service providers,
Closing date: 4 weeks before arrival
Leipzig Tourismus
und Marketing GmbH
A u g u s t u s To u r s – Y o u r S p e c i a l i s t f o r c u s t o m i s e d
Q u a l i t y To u r s i n t h e C u l t u r a l H e a r t o f G e r m a n y
AugustusTours is a well-established tour operator in Dresden which is known for its quality in
Germany:
• city and study tours on architecture, music,
industrial heritage and history
• garden and palaces tours
• steam train journeys
• cycling holidays along the Elbe, Spree, Saale,
Oder and Neisse rivers
• walking holidays in the Saxon Switzerland
National Park
With our expertise, our knowledge of the region
and our wealth of ideas we will make sure that
you and your customer will have a memorable
holiday.
CITY AND STUDY TOURS | WALKING HOLIDAYS | CYCLING HOLIDAYS
AugustusTours
Turnerweg 6 | 01097 Dresden | Tel. +49 (0)351 563480 | Fax +49 (0)351 5634811
info@augustustours.de | www.augustustours.de
€
The Thuringia Ticket
Up to 5 people. 1 day. £27.
Explore the heart of Germany:
The Harz Mountains, classical Weimar and the historic
city of Dresden.
All destinations are easily accessible.
• The Thuringia Ticket covers the three states Thuringia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.
• The ticket is valid from Monday to Friday from 9am until 3am the following day.
• Also valid on weekends as well as public holidays from midnight until 3am the following day.
• The ticket is also available for single travellers at a price of only £19.
• To purchase your ticket to Germany, call our UK Booking Centre on 08718 80 80 66.
• For more information on rail travel throughout Germany and Europe visit our website www.bahn.co.uk
Prices correct at the time of publication (December 2008)