An outstanding work by Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius awaits architecture enthusiasts in Alfeld in the Weser Uplands. The Fagus Factory, built in 1911 and home to a shoe last factory, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2011. The Fagus-Gropius exhibition offers an interesting insight into this living glass and steel monument and provides visitors with fascinating information about the building. Factory tours also deliver a more in-depth insight into the architecture and production.
The region around Goslar in the Harz Mountains is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Rammelsberg Mine, which was closed in 1988, is now a museum and visitor mine offering a unique glimpse into the history of mining. The Old Town of Goslar earned its UNESCO status due to its 1,500 exceptionally well-preserved half-timbered houses from different eras. Completing the ensemble is the Upper Harz Water Management System, a historic network of ponds and ditches, originally created by monks and later expanded by miners, and used as a water supplier and storage system.
Hildesheim is known for its rich cultural history and impressive architecture. In 1985, two Hildesheim churches and their art treasures were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. St. Mary’s Cathedral (Mariendom) is remarkable for its bronze castings, cathedral treasure, and the historic rosebush in the cloister courtyard. St. Michael’s Church is considered one of the most beautiful early Romanesque churches in Germany. Both monuments are outstanding examples of sacred architecture.
When you walk through Schwerin, you breathe history. After all, it is the oldest city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. And it is a beauty, with a total of twelve lakes and plenty of culture. Schwerin Castle, the centrepiece of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands in the middle of one of Germany’s largest lakes and is surrounded by a further 37 magnificent buildings, which together form a unique work of art. These historic buildings include three historic court purveyors who still maintain traditions, live history and fortunately invite you to visit them.
Bremen’s Town Hall and Roland, apart from the Town Musicians, are two of Bremen’s most famous sights that should not be missing on any bucket list for the Hanseatic city. The duo is beautifully presented on the north-east side of the market square and attracts numerous visitors every day. No wonder, after all, the ensemble is absolutely unique. That’s why it has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a cultural monument since 2004, and rightly so. A notable detail: Bremen’s town hall is the only town hall in the world to receive this honour.
Even during a stroll through the city or a guided tour through the alleys of Stralsund, one recognizes the versatility of the “city by the sea”. The UNESCO World Heritage city can score with many architectural highlights, such as the Knieper and Kütertor, or impress with the historic brick giants St. Nikolai, St. Marien and St. Jakobi.
The Stubnitz beech forest in the Jasmund National Park on the island of Rügen and the Serrahn beech forests in the Müritz National Park have been part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site “Ancient Beech Forests of Germany” since 2011. Some of the beech trees in the Serrahn beech forests in Müritz National Park are more than 200 years old. The beech forest in the Jasmund National Park on the island of Rügen is the largest contiguous beech forest on the Baltic Sea coast.
The important Viking settlement of Haithabu and the Danewerk border fortification system on the Schlei, which is at least a thousand years old, have also been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The settlement of Haithabu on the Schlei was a very influential trading centre in northern Europe from the 9th to the middle of the 11th century. You can allow yourself to be transported back to the colourful hustle and bustle of the Vikings 1000 years ago. Marvel at the reconstruction of the imposing wooden houses in the outdoor area and the numerous artefacts found here in the Viking Museum Haithabu.
The Wadden Sea Natural World Heritage Site extends along the entire North Sea coast. Schleswig-Holstein’s section of the Wadden Sea reaches from the mouth of the River Elbe up to the Danish border by the island of Sylt. This North Sea coastline, some 450 kilometres in length, is the largest cohesive tidal flats landscape in the world. The Wadden Sea consists of tidal mudflats, natural channels, dunes and salt marshes which together create a fantastic and absolutely unique natural spectacle. Twice a day, the tide recedes, flowing out through the channels and leaving the mudflats exposed until the sea covers them again. The Wadden region is home to an incredibly rich flora and fauna, no less than 250 species of animals and plants can be found only here.. It is an impressive and matchless natural spectacle where the local plants and animals show unique adaptability. It is the place where the sky and the earth share the same stage!
Visitors can walk across the seabed in the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site. Due to the ebb and flow of the tide, the seabed dries out every six hours, opening up this unique natural area to hikers and nature lovers. In the Wadden Sea, visitors have unusual, exciting views of the mainland and the East Frisian, the sea and the wildlife. There are few limits to the possible hiking trails and there are numerous tours along the North Sea coast: Wadden Sea hikes for children, from the mainland to the islands and Halligen and even 7-hour hikes.
Lübeck, the undisputed queen of the Hanseatic League, was founded in 1143 as the first “Western city on the Baltic coast” and was a shining example for the Hanseatic cities in the Baltic region. The medieval Old Town is one of the most important examples of brick Gothic architecture and is a reminder of its great past as an early centre of world trade. In 1987, the historic Old Town of Lübeck was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Seven church towers have characterized the Old Town island surrounded by water since the Middle Ages. For centuries, the city’s name was synonymous with freedom, justice and prosperity. And even today, the rich substance of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classicist architectural monuments, the alleys and paths, churches and monasteries, town houses, craft courtyards and fortifications bear witness to Lübeck’s heyday.
In 2015, the “Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus” was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, recognized as one of the world’s 1,200 “masterpieces of human creativity with universal value.” A visit to Hamburg wouldn’t be complete without exploring the stunning architecture and rich history of these iconic areas. Discover the many corners and alleys of the Speicherstadt on foot with a guided tour, or admire its architectural splendor from the water on a canal boat trip.
The Middle Ages are alive. There is no doubt about that in Wismar. Over many hundreds of years, the city’s layout has remained virtually unchanged. Since 2002, this treasure trove of history has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the scenery between patrician houses, warehouses and Kontoren you will feel back in the Hanseatic era. Or you can hear the infamous stories of the city told by Klaus Störtebeker himself.
