Travel Blog » Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg

Baden-Württemberg Travel Blogs

Background: As Europe's largest economy and most populous nation, Germany remains a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages up to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.

Germany

Map of Germany

Germany's Flag

Recommended Books:

Hostels in Germany
Latest Baden-Württemberg Blog Entries
Baden-Württemberg Photos

By Magicleaf
October 11th 2008

Heidelberg

Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg » Heidelberg

Heidelberg

It was a bit of "culture shock "when I arrived at Heidelberg. Baden-Baden was elegant and clean. Heidelberg was chaotic, not so elegant and not so clean. Nevertheless, it definitely has its charm and beauty that attract so many visitors yearly. Heidelberg Schloss, landmark of Heidelberg, sits on a hill overlooking the Neckar river. I was fascinated by this majestic ruin and its eventful history. I will just let mark Twain describe its beauty. A ruin must be rightly situated, to be effective. This one could not have been better placed. It stands upon a commanding elevation, it is [View Full Entry]

By Magicleaf
October 11th 2008

Schloss Schwetzingen Garden

Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg

Schwetzingen Garden

We spend an afternoon visiting Schloss Schwetzingen, the summer residence of Elector Carl Theodor (1724-1799). (I would love to have a summer residence with beautiful garden like this, too!) The garden design uniquely reflected both the French formal style and English natural style. Several weddings were going on in this afternoon. We watched hundreds of red balloons released into the blue sky to celebrate love. It was beautiful and romantic................. but probably not so green for the planet. [View Full Entry]

By mnmhull
October 9th 2008

New photo album pictures!

Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg » Mannheim

So our photo album isn't COMPLETELY updated but there are a lot more pictures on there than what used to be. I'm still working on adding the rest and, of course, putting them in order and captioning them (that might take a while so don't hold your breath there...you're lucky they're online!) but you can at least see what I've added. Until I get them captioned, if you're curious what a certain picture is of, please just email me and ask. Here's the link to the photo album http://mnmhull.myphotoalbum.com I'm also working (slowly but surely) on updating the entries in the [View Full Entry]

By Matt in Deutschland
October 9th 2008

Final Days in Radolfzell

Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg » Radolfzell

Wine and Conversation
Here is a night I had wine with my host Oma and a Spanish girl that was also living in the house.

My last week in Radolfzell was bittersweet. I knew that I would be moving on and I would be able to see a new part of Germany and that was exciting, but I also knew that I was going to miss the people I had met and become so close with. The last week was filled with finishing up language classes and getting things ready for the move. The language school was a really great place to get my German up to speed and the small town was also very nice for starting my year in Germany. The living situation was [View Full Entry]

By Paul and Sara
October 9th 2008

Rhein and Rain

Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg

Nuclear Towers in the Distance
Mysteriously beautiful

After another wonderful hotel breakfast we made our way out of Mannheim and on towards Baden-Baden. Though it would take us a few days to get there. Day one out of Mannheim took us along dyke paths and muddy forest roads. We rode through on and off rain showers as we navigated the bike path signs southward. The riding was relatively uneventful. We rode through the somewhat boring, flat river valley mostly without any interesting scenery. The forests were pretty, and the distant hills of the Schwarzwald were nice to see when they showed themselves. The views were mostly uninspiring. We [View Full Entry]

By Paul and Sara
October 9th 2008

Baden-Baden: We might just live here...

Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg » Baden-Baden

Little Bridge
A typical bridge from park to mansion in Baden-Baden.

There´s a quote in the center of Baden Baden by Bill Clinton that reads, "Baden-Baden is so nice, you have to say it twice." Its a cute quote, but it doesnt quite convey just how "nice" it is here. Let me explain why this place should be re-named: Baden-baden-baden-baden. First of all, why did we decided to bike out of our way to Baden-baden? Well, of course, after viewing Rick Steves Travel Show in which he raved about Baden-baden´s Roman-Irish bath house spa. And since this city inspired writers like Mark Twain and Dostoevsky, we had high expectations for this city. [View Full Entry]

By Magicleaf
October 8th 2008

Black Forest: Triberg & Gengenbach

Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg » Black Forest

Triberg

I have train narcolepsy. Mysteriously, I have always managed to wake up right before my destinations. When I opened my sleepy eyes today, I have arrived the capital of cuckoo clock, Triberg. Triberg is also the capital of tourism in Black Forest region. We were fortunate enough to escape bus loads of people. (The advantages of traveling during off peak season.) The waterfall was beautiful but not spectacular. Most visitors returned to the town after seeing the waterfall. But, we just kept walking and walking into the forest until we had the entire trail to ourselves. The walk was quit [View Full Entry]

By Magicleaf
October 7th 2008

R&R in Baden-Baden

Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg » Baden-Baden

Trikhalle

If there were a place that I can be stranded for few days during this trip, I wold pick Baden-Baden with no second thoughts. I love its elegant streets with unique boutique shops (perfect for window shopping). It has a very classy building, Kurhaus, that housed its famous casino. The building was inspired by Palace of Versailles. Its interior decor is also very elegant, quite different from those neon lights in Vegas. Trinkhalle has a long entrance hall decorated with nymphs and romantic legends about the Black Forest. This is where we sampled Baden-Baden's rich mineral water. Oh, boy [View Full Entry]

By Katha Turbostern
October 5th 2008

A short trip to Tegelberg

Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg » Weinstadt

Tegelberg 1
View from the north ramp towards the cable car and valley

English After coming home from Frankfurt last week, I was struggling with a cold, so I could not go flying last weekend in spite of the beautiful weather. At least I wanted to be out in the sunshine, so we went for a long walk on the Schwäbische Alb and watched some sailplanes that were being towed up by a winch last Sunday. On Wednesday, I went to the Volksfest with my Mum, that is the version of the Oktoberfest that takes place in Stuttgart. There are beer tents, and you can ride many different carousels and stuff. There is a [View Full Entry]

By Nicholai
October 5th 2008

First days in Germany

Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg » Ulm

Sorry to have been slacking with the blog lately, with Oktoberfest, meeting with friends and train schedules keeping me busy, I haven't had too much time to keep this updated. As well, it takes about 15 minutes to upload each individual picture so I'm sorry for the lack of photos. Anyway! The trip so far has been wonderful. Besides sitting in Heathrow for 8 hours and paying 20$ (9.5 pounds) for a hamburger) I have to say that Europe started off just perfect. Wolfgang was at the airport to greet me and had a room and cot already set up by [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg