Seven Wonders of Germany

The Wadden Sea Mud Flats is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is part of the northern coast of Germany. The flats are home to more than 3,200 species, which include crabs, seals, birds, starfish and mussels. What makes it interesting is that the Mud Flats are actually flooded twice a day.

The Black Forest is located in southwestern Germany and has a total of 4,600 square miles. Its German name is actually Schwarzwald, which means Black Forest. The Romans named it that way because conifers or the Pinophyta plants were so thick in the forest that there was almost no sunlight seen in the area anymore.

The Teutoburg Forest consists of forested hills in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Wetphalia, Germany. The forest is believed to be the place where a decisive battle between the Germanic tribes and the Roman Empire happened in 9AD.  The Forest is divided into two parks-Eggegebirge and Terravita.

The Breitachklamm Gorge is canyon that can give you two kinds of beauty, depending on the season. Green trees and flowing waterfalls in the summer or blanketed with icicles in the winter.  The Breitachklamm Gorge was naturally created and formed by the Breitach River some thousands of years ago.

The Bavarian Alps are located in the Eastern part of the Alps. This mountain range extends for 70 miles (110 km). Its highest point is the Zugspite that goes as high as 9,718 feet or 2,962 meters.  Spectacular beauty changes with the seasons creating some of the most picturesque scenes.

The Berlin Wall is full of history. The wall was built in 1961 to cut-off access to West Berlin from its surrounding East Germany neighbors. The Berlin Wall was actually full of controversies, as it was labeled once as the Wall of Shame and the Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart. The wall was more than 88 miles (143 km) long.

Dresden Frauenkirche is a Lutheran Church located in Dresden, which is the capital of Saxony. The church was originally built as a Roman Catholic Church. But during the reformation, it was changed to Protestant. The Frauenkirche has one the biggest domes in Europe. Destroyed during WW II,  it was rebuilt after Germany was reunified.

Also known as the Holsten Gate, the Holstentor is a city gate that marks off Lübeck’s western boundary. This is Lübeck’s only remaining city gate, and is one of the few remaining relics of its medieval city. The arched entrance and its two round towers are made of brick Gothic and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This Roman Catholic Church is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. The Church’s construction began in 1248 but was stopped in 1473, which left the church unfinished. The work only continued and was finished in the 19th century. The church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Neuschwanstein Castle, translated New Swanstone Castle, is a 19th century Romanesque revival palace.   Furnished with towers, turrets, balconies, sculptures, and pinnacles, the castle reaches a height of 148 feet (90 m). There are over 220 interior rooms with the second largest room being the Throne Room, which measures 43 feet in height, 39 feet wide, and 66 feet long.

Moritzburg Castle, located in Moritzburg, features four towers while sitting on a man-made island.  Built between 1542 and 1546, Moritzburg Castle is a Baroque palace built as a hunting retreat for the Duke of Saxony.  Dedicated to hunting, the trophy room features 71 different red deer antlers, creating one of the grandest collections from around the world.

Charlottenburg Palace is the largest surviving royal palace in Berlin. Built at the close of the 17th   century, the palace features baroque and rococo design while showcasing a large formal garden that includes a belvedere, mausoleum, pavillion and theater. The Porcelain Room exhibits thousands of porcelain objects.

Reichstag, located in Berlin, was established to hold the Imperial Diet.  Completed in 1894, it served in that capacity until damaged from a fire in 1933.  Full restoration occurred between 1990 and 1999 as part of the German reunification.  The large glass dome at the center of the building features a 360° view of the surrounding Berlin cityscape.