Changes in these parameters can cause the affected site to be removed from this list. A simple example is the Dresden Elbe Valley that was deleted from the list due to the building of a 4-lane bridge in the center of the cultural landscape.

According to UNESCO, this structure tampered with the valley’s inscribed outstanding universal value. However, there is no need to panic, since there are many other world heritage sites in Germany.

Lubeck old town is on UNESCO World Heritage List

Boasting of masterpieces from the Staufian, Ottonian, Carolingian, and late Classical period, the Aachen Cathedral is a prime example of one such site. While on the subject of cathedrals, it would be wise to add the Speyer Cathedral to your list too. Construction of this cathedral, dedicated to St. Mary, the patron saint of Speyer, begun in the year 1030.

It is regarded as one of the finest Romanesque monuments.

Then there is the Wurzburg Residenz, the construction of which lasted from 1720 to 1744. Do not miss the spectacular frescoes, painted by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo along with assistance from his son, Domenico. Though you might have viewed different churches in Germany, there is a huge difference with the Pilgrimage Church of Wies. Those who love the Bavarian Rococo style of architecture should not miss this masterpiece by Dominikus Zimmermann, constructed between the years 1745-1754.

When you visit Bruhl, you should spend some time checking out the Castles of Augustuburg and Falkenlust, which are arguably amongst the earliest examples of Rococo architecture in eighteenth century Germany. Lovers of the Romanesque style of architecture should pay a visit to the St. Mary’s Cathedral in Hildesheim and check out the works of art it features. While in Hildenshiem, you should also check out the Church of St. Michael, whose architecture is of the early Romanesque style.

Cologne Cathedral, UNESCO World Heritage Site

There are many more sites in addition to the ones mentioned above and they are mentioned below:

• Roman Monuments, Cathedral and Liebfrauen Church in Trier
• Frontiers of the Roman Empire
• Hanseatic City of Lubeck
• Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin
• Abbey and Altenmunster of Lorch
• Mines of Rammelsberg
• The historic towns of Golsar and Bamberg
• The Maulbronn Monsatery complex
• The Collegiate Church, castle and old town of Quedlinburg
• Messel pit fossil site
• Volklingen Ironworks
• The Bauhaus & its sites in Dessau and Weimar
• Cologne Cathedral
• Martin Luther Memorials in Wittenburg and Eisleben
• Classical Weimar
• Museum Island
• Wartburg Castle
• Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Worlitz
• Monastic Island of Reichenau
• Zollverin Coal Mine Industrial Complex
• Upper Middle Rhine Valley
• Historic Centers of Straslund and Wismar
• Town Hall and Roland on the Marketplace of Bremen
• Muskauer Park / Park Muzakowski
• Old town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof
• Berlin Modernism Housing Estates
• The Wadden Sea

Wismar, old harbor

Located in the center of the city, the market place occupies around 10,000 square meters. Roam around the same a bit and feast your eyes on the buildings that range in style from the North German Gothic dating back to the fourteenth century to the Romanesque revival of the nineteenth century.

It is important that you do not miss to see the elaborate wrought iron fountain, the Wasserkunst, which is the focal point of the square as was imported from Holland in the year 1602.

Wismar, Nikolaikirche

Those who have a passion for architecture will love to view the Town Hall. It is located on the northern side of the square, is of neoclassical style, and was built between 1817-1819. Tourists will love to view another dominating building, the Old Swede (Alter Schwede), which is situated in the square and was constructed around 1380.

There are four churches too including the church of St. Nicholas. Built out of red brick, it is considered as one of the largest of churches in Europe.

Keep your eyes peeled for a 80 meter high church tower. It is the only remnant of the St. Mary church, a brick Gothic church that was constructed during the 1st half of the thirteenth century. The rest of the church was heavily damaged during the course of the Second World War.

Wismar, Wassertor, old city gate at the harbor

Visitors should not miss out on the fish market and old buildings located in the seafront area. Kids will love Wismar’s zoological garden that also boasts of a children’s tram. Do not forget to visit the traffic free shopping zones to pick up some souvenirs.

Although the museum was originally named after Emperor Fredrick III, its name was later changed on in the year 1956 to reflect the name of its initial curator, Wilhelm von Bode, who looked after its collection from the year 1872 to 1929. He was also responsible in enlarging and developing the museum in the capacity of a director of the Berlin museums in the years 1906 to 1920.

Berlin Bode Museum, Museum island

The construction of the building began in the year 1897 and it is a classic example of the Neo-Baroque school of architecture. Visitors are recommended to check out the bronze cast of the statue of Schluter. One should also not miss viewing the great dome over the stairwell. This is also the perfect opportunity to check out the intricate staircase. This museum is famous for its exhibits of sculptures like the Dancer by Antonio Canova, Adam and Eve by Kren, and A Fountain by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

This museum is also a part of the other museums that are situated in Museum Island (Museumsinsel)and its collections belong to the Berlin State Museums (Staatliche Museum zu Berlin). It is also a UNESCO designated world heritage site.

Berlin, Alte Nationalgalerie, Museum island

Though it had been planned for many years starting from the year 1815, the actual establishing of this museum took place in the year 1861, helped by the donations of 262 German and foreign paintings that were donated to the museum by Johann Heinrich Wagener.

The sheer shape of the building, which is shaped like a Roman Temple will awe visitors. Visitors to this museum can find works of famous artists like Karl Blechen, Karl Friedrish Schinkel, Claude Mones, Edouard Monet, and Casper David Friedrich, amongst others. Tourists should not miss out on the double statue of Friedericke of Prussia and princess Louise.

Also known in the English language by its French name of Aix-la-Chapelle, Aachen is located in the extreme western part of Germany and has The Netherlands and Belgium as its neighbors. Charlemagne loved to reside in this city, which was also the coronation place of the kings of Germany. One of the best of German universities, the RWTH Aachen University, is located in the city that ranked eighth in cities in Germany as far as innovation is concerned.

Aachen is also famous for its focus on diverse fields like information technology, engineering, science, and other related sectors. Apart from the university, tourists are enthralled by other sites too. The nearest airports are Maastricht Aachen Airport, the Dusseldorf International Airport, and the Cologne Bonn Airport. Various land routes including the autobahn A4 connect Aachen with the rest of the country. It is connected via rail with the rest of the country through its Hauptbahnhof railway station that was constructed in 1841 and replaced in 1905, bringing it quite closer to the center of the city.

Aachen cathedral, Imperial Cathedral Kaiserdom

Aachen Tourist Attractions:

The Aachen Cathedral: Often called as the `Imperial Cathedral,’ the Aachen Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church that is also northern Europe’s oldest cathedral. During the middle ages, it was also referred to as the `Royal Church of St. Mary at Aachen.’ This church is also famous for the fact that it is here where the coronation of 12 German queens and 30 kings were held. Charles the Great started the construction of this cathedral in the year 792 and Pope Leo III consecrated it in the year 805 in honor of the Virgin Mary. Tourists should not miss viewing the cathedral treasury that displays various sacral masterpieces.

Aachen University: With a student strength of 33,000 and with more than 101 different study programs available, the Aachen University has made a name for itself in Germany. Its students have excelled in the field of science and engineering including electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, computer science, and chemistry. It is considered as one of the best in its class as far as computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and industrial engineering are concerned.

The Couven Museum: Tourists who are interested into understanding more about the lifestyle of people in the eighteenth and the nineteenth century should visit the Couven Museum. They will be enthralled by the enthralling variety of high grade furniture on display along with Italian stucco work and fine chimney pieces. The Aachen-Liège baroque and Rococo style side by side form a pleasant group. Chocolate lovers are advised to check out the Alder-Apotheke where chocolate was produced for the first time in the year 1857.

Aachen cathedral

Aachen Festivals:

A trip to Aachen is considered incomplete until the visitor has witnessed one of its festivals. The maximum number of events takes place during Christmas when visitors from neighboring countries like The Netherlands and Belgium visit Aachen. It is during this period that visitors discover various types of traditional food and handicrafts put up for sale in the historical center of the town. Enjoy the popular potato fritters while viewing live entertainment in the form of music and dancing.

Quedlinburg is located in the district of Harz, in the north of Harz Mountains and in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It was set on the UNESCO world heritage list in 1994. Beautiful half-timbered buildings of Quedlinburg, from at least five different centuries attract tourists from all over the world. Equally interesting are the amazing Jugendstil buildings around the outer periphery of the old town. In fact Quedlinburg is amongst the best-preserved renaissance and medieval towns in Europe.

A humid continental climate prevails in the town, with snowfall occurring almost every winter. The hottest months in Quedlinburg are July and August.

Quedlinburg historic old town

Quedlinburg Tourist Attractions

Collegiate Church of St. Servatius: To experience the beauty of High Romanesque church architecture of Germany, this three-naved collegiate church is a must visit. The friezes and capitals in the middle nave were made by north Italian sculptors. In the crypt lie buried Heinrich I and his wife. In the north transept is a small room wherein you shall find a treasure vault, which encloses the cathedral treasures.

St. Wiperti Church: Located in the southwest of Castle Hill is the Romanesque Church of St. Wiperti along with its famous crypt. The circular crypt and the chancel, the walls decorated with mushroom-shaped Ottonian capitals and alcoves are examples of original 10th century structure.

Market square and town hall: The market place happens to be the heart of the old town. The area got a makeover in the 1970s, with the building and the square getting the much required restoration work. The Renaissance Rathaus (town hall) offers daily guided tours.

Castle Museum: This museum in the Renaissance Castle speaks the story of the imperial palace of Heinrich I, the secular women seminary and much more that was liable to the empire. The objects on display, that is sure to leave anyone spellbound, are the gold disc brooches from Gross-Orden, the Bronze Age hoard from Lehof rock, and the Raubgrafenkasten, a wooden box which is said to have imprisoned Albrecht II of Regenstein.

Must Visit: There are other places that are sure to get you equally delighted, including, Klopstock Museum, Museum of Half-Timbering, Museum of Arts, Crafts and Stained Glass, and Lyonel Feininger Gallery.

Quedlinburg Events and Festivals

The Quedlinburg Summer of Music is a musical festival, in which more than 25 concerts take place, each year, from May to October. There is a different theme decided for each year with symphonic pieces, baroque concerts and experimental music. The Christmas market is sure to get fresh the childhood memories of Christmas.

Quedlinburg old town

Quedlinburg Transport, Food and Lodging

The airports nearest to Quedlinburg are Leipzig Halle Airport and Hannover. Yet closer is the Magdeburg-Cochstedt, but this is served only by business jets and small private planes. There are many restaurants in Quedlinburg, where you can choose to have the cuisine of your choice. Amongst the best restaurants that you can dine at are Munzenberger Klause, Benedikt Inh. T. Schiker, Prinz Heinrich, Bali Sandinawa and Ratskeller.

The hotels in Quedlinburg provide you with great services, some of the hotels that you can choose to stay in are Family Club Harz, Best Western Grand City Hotel Quedlinburg and Quedlinburg Hof.

The palace of Würzburg Residence had been designed by many of the leading Baroque architects. It is one of the renowned Baroque palaces spotted in Europe, as it finds a place in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Würzburg Residence had originally been designed for Philipp Franz von Schönborn, prince-bishop, with the young architect Balthasar Neumann playing a major role in the designing process. It took about sixty years for the palace to get constructed, and the shell pertaining to the palace had been built during the period 1720 to 1744, as the interiors had got finished during 1780.

Würzburg Residence

The world famous staircase of the Würzburg Residence by Neumann that was roofed by that of an unsupported vault got decorated by the Venetian Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in the year 1752/53 with that of a ceiling fresco that represents the four continents. The painting that measures 18 x 30 meters finds a place in the largest of frescoes created, and the magnificent rooms gets initiated with the vestibule, as it also comprises of the White Hall as well as the Imperial Hall. The vaulting pertaining to these rooms had even escaped the fire of 1945. Restoration of the Würzburg Residence had got completed by 1987, as the Mirror cabinet also got included.

Visitors get dumbfounded by the 40 rooms at the palace, as the exquisite collection related to tapestries, furniture, paintings as well as the treasures of the 18th century is worth the exploration. From the Residenz Square, the court chapel can be entered, and the State Gallery unveils Venetian art forms belonging to the 17th and the 18th centuries. The Würzburg Court Garden offers a delightful walk for the art as well as the nature lovers.

Würzburg Residence Gartenfront

Welcome to the island of museums. Enjoy your visit and check out the group of five museums that were constructed over a period of 106 years, stretching from 1824 to 1930. UNESCO awarded it the world heritage status in the year 1999. Situated on a small island in the Spree River of Berlin, this collection of museums is considered something unique because it demonstrates the evolution of the modern museum during the course of the twentieth century.

Berlin Bode Museum, Museum island

Do not talk loudly within the museum lest you disturb the tranquility of its artifacts which tell the story of 6,000 years of human artistic activities.

Amongst is varied collections are the private collection of the Prussian royal family. The first of the five museums, which incidentally is the oldest museum of Germany, is a neoclassical masterpiece by Karl Friedrich Schinkel.

The credit for developing this area and also the credit for the construction of the other four museums goes to King Friedrich Wilhelm. A massive renovation of this group of museums has been taking place since 1999 and it aims to change the site into a up to date cultural location by the year 2015.

Berlin Altes Museum in Museumsinsel

Those interested in taking a virtual view of the island should visit the media room of the Pergamon Museum.

Construction on this Gothic masterpiece started in 1248 and was not completed until 1880. The cathedral was built over seven successive centuries, often with sons taking over where their father’s left off.

Cologne Cathedral

The exceptional cathedral is a testament to the endurance and strength of Christianity in Europe. The UNESCO committee chose the cathedral for its value as an exceptional work of creative human genius.

It was the scene in 1207 of the Sängerkrieg, a contest of minnesingers in which Heinrich von Ofterdingen, Wolfram von Eschenbach, and Walther von der Vogelweide, among others, took part and which Richard Wagner used (with some poetic license) as the setting for a famous scene in the opera Tannhäuser.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary lived in Wartburg until 1227. In 1521, Martin Luther was brought to the castle for his protection by the elector of Saxony, and there he completed his translation of the New Testament. In 1817 the first general assembly of the Burschenschaften, the nationalist German student organizations, met at Wartburg castle.

The Romanesque Palace or Great Hall is the oldest part of the castle and architecturally is the most impressive of the buildings. Besides the chapel, it contains the Sängersaal or Hall of the Minstrels and the Festsaal or the Feast or Festival Hall.The Knights’ House on the western side of the drawbridge is half-timbered, and dates back to the 15th century.

The castle has two towers. The South Tower was originally erected in 1318 and it is the only tower preserved of the medieval castle. The castle keep was finished in 1859, incorporating the foundations of its medieval predecessor.
The Rüstkammer, (the armory of the Wartburg castle, used to contain a magnificent collection of about 800 pieces of armors.

In 1999 UNESCO added Wartburg Castle to the World Heritage List.
(photo: Robert Scarth, Ingo2802)