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News
from: Historic Highlights of Germany
www.hhog.de
Source: Jim Johnson
ABOVE: A Danube excursion boat from Regensburg
to Walhalla.
Mozart's birthday party, sand castles, wine and more:
Historic Highlights of Germany for summer travelers
1. Augsburg: "Germany's Mozart City" throws composer a 250th birthday
celebration
Known as the "German Mozart City" for its many connections to the famed
composer and musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Augsburg will celebrate his 250th
birthday in 2006 with a number of exciting events and attractions. Festivities
will include the 55th German Mozart Festival, the 6th International Violin
Competition Leopold Mozart, a newly designed Mozart House, the re-opening of the
small Golden Hall, and the extravagant renovation of the Rococo Hall in the
Schaezler Palace."
Generations of the Mozart family lived in and around Augsburg for half a
millennium. Leopold Mozart, the father, educator, music teacher and manager of
Wolfgang Amadeus, was born in Augsburg. After the family left the city, father
and son returned many times for visits and to performances. It was during a 1777
visit that Wolfgang Amadeus experienced a love affair with his cousin, Maria
Anna Thekla Mozart, and the famous "Bäsle letters" were written to her. A
monument honoring both Mozart men now stands at the former bishop's residence,
the Fronhof.
2. Other major musical events in Germany's historic cities
Würzburg Mozart Festival - June 2 - July 2 - Thousands of visitors come to
this event every year to enjoy its unique atmosphere. Internationally renowned
chamber and symphony orchestras partner with well-known artists to perform
Mozart's masterpieces. Held in the festively illuminated Court Gardens of the
Residence and the palaces of Werneck and Veitshöchheim, the open air concerts
are famous for their romantic ambiance. Go to
www.mozartfest-wuerzburg.de for
more information. (German language site)
Koblenz events and festivals:
. International Music Days - March 10-May 14 . Mozart Concert at the
Rhein-Mosel-Hall - June 7-8 . Koblenz Mendelssohn Days - September 22-24 -
Koblenz dedicates these musical days to the composer Felix Mendelssohn and his
sister Fanny. Visit
www.mendelssohn-koblenz.de for more information. (German language site)
3. "Germany Off the Beaten Track" tour features four Historic Highlights
cities
Nonstop Travel of Torrance, California, has developed a custom guided program
of southern Germany featuring "Rhine in Flames." The tour, from August 3-13,
2006, features four of Germany's Historic Highlights cities - Regensburg,
Freiburg, Heidelberg and Koblenz - as well as Munich and Rothenburg.
The tour begins with two nights in Munich followed by a two-night visit to
Regensburg. There guests will enjoy sightseeing tours as well as morning mass
with the Regensburger Domspatzen (choirboys) and a cruise along the Danube to
Walhalla, a monument based on the Parthenon in Athens and home of the German
Hall of Fame.
The tour stops in Rothenburg en route to Ulm, the city with the tallest
church spire in the world. The next stop is two days in Freiburg, where
highlights include a walking tour, evening wine fair, and bus tour through the
Black Forest.
The next destination is Heidelberg, Germany's most romantic city, with an
overnight stay at the 16th-century Hotel zum Ritter. Then it's on to Koblenz,
the city where the Rhine and Mosel meet.
The crowning event for the tour is the annual "Rhine in Flames." An evening
dinner cruise along the Rhine with a special firework spectacle adds the
finishing touch to this tour through southern Germany.
The 11-day tour costs $1449 exclusive of air fare. Visit
www.nonstoptravel.net or contact
Christiane at christiane@nonstoptravel.net or 800-949-6362.
4. Heidelberg's award-winning wine
Founded in 1707, the family-owned Seeger Winery near Heidelberg recently
received the German Award for the best red wine in the category of red burgundy
for its 2003 Heidelberger Herrenberg. It is the second time that the Seeger
family has topped the list in Vinum magazine.
Situated in the heart of Germany's largest wine-growing region, Heidelberg
has a long tradition of wine production. Today its local wines regularly receive
national awards, and its castle's giant wine barrel has even become renowned as
the world's largest.
Tasting sessions for Heidelberg wines can be arranged through the Heidelberg
Convention and Visitors Bureau at
www.cvb-heidelberg.de.
Get more information on the Seeger Winery at
www.seegerweingut.de. (German language
site)
5. Rostock and Warnemünde: Experience the charms of the Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a relaxing retreat at any time of year. It is a mecca for
swimming, sunbathing, and surfing in the summer with its kilometres of fine
white sand stretching from cliffs in the west to Rostock Heath in the east. Many
visitors prefer the cooler seasons and travel to the coast seeking the health
benefits of Warnemünde and Rostock's excellent water quality and mild winter
climate.
Lovers of all things nautical will get their fill of sea and ships in Rostock
and Warnemünde. The Port of Rostock sends off ferries bound for Sweden, Denmark,
Russia, Estonia, Latvia and Finland. There are the freighters from all over the
globe alongside the high-speed crafts of the German Navy. Cruise liners also add
to the maritime atmosphere of these unique towns. Docking at Warnemünde Cruise
Center from April through September, these ships offer Baltic cruises to
visitors.
Deep-sea fishermen can make use of the trawlers available for fishing trips,
making temporary fishing licenses for tourists very popular. Passenger vessels
at Warnemünde's Alter Strom take visitors on sea or harbour tours. Other boats
cruise along the Warnow River to Rostock city harbour or to resorts. Available
daily during the tourist season, all of these cruises feature the backdrop of
the port with its giant ferries and modern shipyards.
Top-notch sailing and other seafaring adventures make the Warnemünde Week the
highlight of every summer for this town. The 69th annual festivities will be
held this year from July 1-9. More than 2,500 sportsmen of the sea are expected
to come to the Baltic Sea and the Warnow River from all over the globe for one
of Germany's largest international sailing events.
The 16th Hanse Sail will take place the following month from August 10-13.
Traditional sailing vessels and windjammers will converge upon the Rostock coast
as the focus of one of the largest maritime festivals in the Baltic region. The
unique nautical atmosphere at Rostock city harbour and Warnemünde brings more
than a million visitors every August to this event. Day trips as well as
multiple-day trips are available for the more adventurous tourist to explore the
area by sea or even air. For those who aren't so adventuresome, there is a
market mile of music and entertainment, exhibitions, fireworks, and the beaches.
6. Website of Potsdam Tourism Service now available in English
Most of Potsdam's tourism website (www.potsdam-tourism.com
) is now available in the English language. Under the motto of "Potsdam -
Splendid Palaces and Idyllic Landscapes," the site allows users to familiarize
themselves with the town and plan their visit around special offers and
services. It provides suggestions for trips, descriptions of tourist highlights,
an event calendar and more. Hotel stays can be booked directly on the website,
and restaurant tips offer suggestions for a culinary exploration of the city.
Business and group travellers can also view and book offers with the
appropriate forms obtainable on the website. A map of the town, directions for
travelling to Potsdam, and a brochure ordering service are available.
7. Trier: The sportslovers' city
Tennis legends Boris Becker, Michael Stich, Henri Leconte and Charly Steeb
will meet on March 9 for the Trier Tennis Classics. Singles and doubles matches
will be played in the Trier Arena.
Tennis players will make way for soccer fans on May 18 as Germany's oldest
city displays the original Soccer World Cup. After its extensive world tour,
this most coveted of trophies will be exhibited in Trier's Viehmarkt.
Visit www.trier-today.de to check out
all the best sports events in Trier.
8. Sand World 2006: Travemünde draws crowds with an unusual art form
The shoreline of Travemünde will be transformed with giant works of art in a
very unusual medium this summer during Germany's fifth annual sand sculpture
festival, Sand World 2006. From July 7-September 3, guests of the seaside resort
can explore the fascinating world of sand sculpture as they watch sculptors
carve their creations or view the completed pieces.
Nearly 75 sculptors, or "carvers," will come from all over the world to shape
these whimsical works from approximately 9,000 tons of sand, some with heights
of up to 11 meters. During the first three days of the festival, visitors will
have the unique opportunity to watch the sculptors hard at work on the beach in
Travemünde.
The family-friendly program will include sand sculpting workshops, audio
guided tours, and a large "Kids World" area. Evening entertainment in Travemünde
will feature live music from jazz to classical, several "chill out zones,"
movies, and restaurants with beach terraces and international cuisine.
Get more information at www.sandworld.de.
For more about travel in 13
German cities that have been chosen for their special charm, architectural
brilliance, and historic character, visit Historic Highlights of Germany
at www.hhog.de.
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