Quedlinburg, which enjoys an idyllic location on the Romanesque Route, was an important royal and imperial town in the Middle Ages. With its historical layout and over 1,300 timber-framed houses from a period spanning six centuries, Quedlinburg is a fine example of a beautifully preserved medieval town. It also boasts a wealth of art nouveau architecture.

The Collegiate Church of St. Servatius, burial site of the first German king, Henry the Fowler, and his wife Mathilde, is an architectural masterpiece of the Romanesque and houses one of Germany's foremost collections of ecclesiastical treasure. The triple-naved basilica, built between 1070 and 1129, was once the church for the local Damenstift, or chapter of unmarried noblewomen. Today, the church is a tourist attraction and performance venue for the Quedlinburg Summer of Music. High up on Castle Hill, it is the town's most prominent – in both senses of the word – building and just one of the many that have made Quedlinburg, which lies in the Harz region of Saxony-Anhalt, a multifaceted medieval townscape. For a walk, you could start at the market square with its impressive Renaissance town hall and Roland statue. Then make your way to Münzenberg hill with its Romanesque Church of St. Mary, through the historical abbey garden and into Brühl Park. All these first-rate attractions are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. But it's at Christmas time that Quedlinburg is especially alluring. The Christmas market in front of the Rathaus lures shoppers with its festive wares, and the inner courtyards that for the rest of the year lie hidden, like Sleeping Beauty, behind thick stone walls, are thrown open to create a Christmas wonderland. If you prefer to spend Christmas at home, then for the rest of the year Harz's narrow-gauge railway offers excursions into Quedlinburg's beautiful surroundings – to Mount Brocken, for example, or the pretty little town of Wernigerode.

For centuries, Weimar in Thuringia was at the centre of intellectual life in Germany: the city experienced its heyday in the early 19th century when it was home to no fewer than three of Europe's leading intellectuals – Goethe, Schiller and Herder. The Classical Weimar ensemble is testimony to the enlightened, courtly but also civic culture of the period around 1800.

A new era of tolerance, education for the masses and Humanist views: Weimar became a focal point of European intellectual thought and Weimar Classicism became a part of World Cultural Heritage. Important reminders of Classical Weimar include the baroque house on Frauenplan that was Goethe's home for almost 50 years. Today, the house looks largely as it did during the final years of his life. Diagonally opposite is the Schwanenbräu inn where the great master liked to indulge in a beer – and it's still open for business today. Goethe's summer house in the park on the river Ilm was a gift from Duke Carl August to tie the poet to Weimar – and it was always to remain his sanctuary in the midst of nature.
The name of Friedrich Schiller is also inextricably linked with Weimar. The writer spent the final years of his life in a town house on what was then the Weimar esplanade. Nowadays the house is furnished with period furniture, some of which is original, while the permanent exhibition 'Schiller in Thuringia' gives an insight into his life and work.
The philosopher and theologian Johann Gottfried Herder came to Weimar at the insistence of Goethe. The garden of his home and the town church in which he worked as a priest can still be visited in Weimar today.
With literary works spanning the 9th to the 21st century, the Duchess Anna Amalia library is a veritable temple to learning. At its heart is the famous Rococo Hall, which is now once again open to visitors in restricted numbers following a devastating fire in 2004.
People come in their droves every year for 'Weimar Summer': with theatre, open-air concerts, film screenings and much more, it offers another highlight nearly every day. The famous onion market in October, which attracts around 300,000 visitors, is the biggest Volksfest not only in Weimar but also in the whole of Thuringia.

Every year, it dazzles many thousands of visitors with its glittering collection of exquisitely crafted jewellery and gold. A visit to the Green Vault does require some planning, however, as it only has capacity for 100 people per hour. Tickets are valid for specific time slots only, which means that everyone can admire the exhibits at their leisure without having to fight the crowds.

The Royal Gardens at Herrenhausen are among the finest in Europe. Electress Sophie von Hannover was the mastermind behind these splendid gardens. She had the country estate and summer retreat of Herrenhausen laid out in the beautiful baroque style favoured by the House of Orange.

Hannover in Lower Saxony is home to one of Europe's most beautiful parks – Electress Sophie of Hannover's Royal Gardens at Herrenhausen. Work on the Great Garden, the baroque centrepiece, began in 1666. It was laid out in its present form under Electress Sophie of Hannover between 1696 and 1714. The ornamental box trees in the parterre and 30,000 summer flowers present a picture of neat, ordered nature. Snow-white sandstone sculptures add gravitas to the plantings: a club-swinging Hercules guards the central axis while Venus and a cherub keep an eye on proceedings. The baroque garden boasts many other rarities and superlatives, including the grand cascade from around 1670 – one of the gardens' oldest surviving structures – and the tallest garden fountain in Europe at 82 metres. The garden is also home to Germany's first garden theatre. With its gilded figures, this is as spectacular a setting today as it was in Electress Sophie's day. The Berggarten has prairie and fenland areas, glasshouses with orchids, a rainforest, cacti, a tropical conservatory and rare old trees such as a cucumber magnolia from 1794. Another highlight is the grotto from 1676 in the north-west of the Great Garden. Its restoration for EXPO 2000 gave it a second lease of life, and it was redesigned by the artist Niki de Saint-Phalle between 2001 and 2003. The orangery from 1720 and the Wilhelm Busch Museum with its collection of 2,000 drawings are also worth a visit. Other destinations for days out in the region include the magnificent Guelph palace, now the main building for Hannover University, Hannover Zoo and St. Michael's Church in Hildesheim, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985.

The 116-metre tower of this impressive red sandstone construction is clearly visible from afar and is often referred to as "the most beautiful spire in Christendom". Inside the church are a number of medieval works of art: altars, stained glass and sculptures, including many images and sculptures of the Virgin Mary to whom the minster is dedicated and the patron saints of the town, George, Lambert and Alexander.

The summer capital of Europe during the belle époque and a rendezvous for the rich and the beautiful, Baden-Baden today is famous worldwide as a spa town with a cultural tradition and a top-class reputation for healthcare. Glittering festivals and unrivalled elegance make it a byword for exclusivity, elegance and luxury living. Baden-Baden excels in everything it does, whether it's cures or culture.

Situated in beautiful countryside on the fringes of the Black Forest, Baden-Baden provides the most stylish setting imaginable for a cultural or health-related break. Baden-Baden's hot springs well up from a depth of 2,000 metres, supplying the town's twelve thermal spas, for example the modern Caracalla Therme and the historical Roman-Irish Friedrichsbad. The water, which reaches temperatures of up to 68°C, is used to treat a wide range of conditions, including cardiovascular problems, rheumatism, joint complaints, metabolic disorders and respiratory ailments. But even if you're fighting fit, Baden-Baden's waters will work wonders for your health and wellbeing. The same can be said of the deluxe hotels and the magnificent Lichtentaler Allee park with its 3km tree-lined avenue. The alabaster-white Kurhaus is a Baden-Baden landmark and one of the world's most beautiful casinos, while the Festspielhaus – Europe's second largest opera house and concert hall – provides a splendid venue for the festival held in honour of Herbert von Karajan every Whitsun. Lichtentaler Allee park is also home to the fascinating Frieder Burda Museum, which was designed by Richard Meier and opened in 2004. Regarded as one of the best collections of modern art in the world, the permanent exhibition includes such well-known names as Georg Baselitz, Max Beckmann, Anselm Kiefer, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Willem de Kooning, Markus Lüpertz, Pablo Picasso, Sigmar Polke, Jackson Pollock and Gerhard Richter. Other notable institutions are the Baden-Baden Museum, Fabergé Museum and Baden-Baden State Art Gallery as well as the theatre and philharmonic orchestra. Attracting people from all over the world, the famous horse races at the Iffezheim racecourse have been annual society events since 1858. Whatever the time of year, the beautiful old quarter is ideal for a leisurely shopping spree. Award-winning restaurants offer international specialities and refined local cuisine. Wine lovers will also appreciate the nearby wine region where, against a sweeping backdrop of vineyards, cosy inns and exquisite restaurants offer a culinary voyage of great distinction. And it must be clear by now that Baden-Baden is a destination of great distinction.

From modest hunting lodge to sprawling, three-winged palace. Few European regents were able to realise their absolutist dreams in as literal and grandiose a way as the rulers of Ludwigsburg.

In the 18th century the Palace of Versailles was the ideal to which every European ruler aspired. Duke Eberhard Ludwig had his modest hunting lodge converted into a palace from 1704. Between 1724 and 1733 it received the ultimate mark of prestige in the form of a fourth wing. This made it the largest baroque palace in Germany and one of the biggest anywhere in Europe. Inside the palace, suites of luxurious banqueting halls and apartments faithfully reflect the styles of three different periods. Dating from the baroque period are the toilet chamber, the staircase, the exquisite palace church and the games and hunting pavilion with its magnificent stucco marble. The young Duke Carl Eugen later changed the interior to suit his own taste, as the heavy ostentation of the Eberhard Ludwig era gave way to a lighter rococo style. Several rooms at Ludwigsburg Palace were then modernised in the linear classical and French Empire style by Friedrich I, the first King of Württemberg. Parts of the original baroque gardens were transformed into an English landscaped garden – the combination of strict symmetry and lavish floral planting is still very striking today. In a slightly raised position on the edge of the gardens is the 'Favorite' hunting lodge. This beautiful building is idyllically located amid 72 hectares of parkland and former hunting grounds – ideal for a leisurely stroll. Nearby attractions: The German Half-Timbered Houses Route runs for an incredible 2,000 kilometres throughout Germany offering a wealth of medieval charm. Pretty little towns steeped in history set the scene for captivating strolls down narrow, winding lanes. The Württemberg Wine Route has much to offer in the way of scenery, with miles and miles of walks through vineyards and glorious countryside. Close by is the medieval town of Marbach, the birthplace of Friedrich Schiller, which has a permanent exhibition displaying documents, portraits, everyday objects and personal effects belonging to Schiller and his family.

Leipzig's key role in setting the rhythm for the peaceful revolution of 1989 is testament to the city's musical endowment. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Leipzig was labelled 'City of Heroes' – a title which could also be in reference to the many great musicians, kapellmeister and composers who are arguably more popular and more prominent here than anywhere else in the world.

Leipzig clearly has a special relationship with music. In fact, it's a distinctive feature of the city's heritage. Since 1254, when the St. Thomas choir, one of the world's oldest boys' choirs, was first documented, music has struck a chord with the people of Leipzig and inspired some its finest historical buildings. The Gewandhaus concert hall, for instance, is home to the Gewandhaus Orchestra (founded in 1743) and was led for many years by eminent conductor Kurt Masur, a key player in the peaceful revolution. The concert hall also houses an impressive organ, whose 6,638 pipes provide an unforgettable aural experience. Then there's the magnificent opera house, one of the oldest music theatres in Europe, famed for its repertoire from baroque to contemporary. The impact of certain former Leipzig residents is still felt today. For example, Johann Sebastian Bach, the most famous cantor of St. Thomas Church, as well as Leipzig-born composer Richard Wagner and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, who established the first German music conservatory here in 1843. Add to that list Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck, who enchanted the city both as musicians and as lovers. The people of Leipzig themselves have a long-standing love affair with one of the oldest coffee houses in Europe: Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum has been a favourite haunt of great minds and great talents since 1711. Bach, Schumann, Liszt, Grieg and Wagner have all graced it with their presence over the centuries, as have Goethe and Lessing and even Napoleon and Augustus the Strong. A sure sign that Leipzig was, and still is, an appealing city for people from all walks of life – and not just the reserve of musicians and composers.

A truly unmissable Bavarian experience awaits at the famous Hofbräuhaus beer hall at Am Platzl in the old quarter. Originally a brewery, today it is an internationally acclaimed 'beer temple'. Locals can be seen dressed in traditional costume, drinking Munich beer from the famous Mass, a one-litre tankard, and enjoying traditional hearty specialities served up with a good dose of Bavarian hospitality. Probably the largest beer hall in the world serving some 30,000 guests every day, it is always noisy and full of beer-fuelled cheer.

Dresden's Zwinger Palace is famous around the world for its beautiful baroque architecture. It was built in 1709 during the reign of Augustus the Strong. The remarkable sculptures adorning the gallery walls are by various artists and help make this one of the main attractions in Saxony's regional capital.

The Zwinger Palace in Dresden was built in 1709. It was originally an open area surrounded by wooden buildings which was used by the Saxon nobility for tournaments and other courtly pursuits. The sandstone palace was built between 1710 and 1719 by Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann, under Elector Augustus the Strong. Its pavilions and galleries on the side of the ramparts were used as an orangery. The Crown Gate, the most photographed part of the Zwinger, is decorated with gods from Greek mythology. Next to the Rampart Pavilion is the Nymphaeum, one of the finest baroque fountains in Germany. Today, various museums are to be found inside the Zwinger Palace. The Dresden porcelain collection is one of the largest ceramics collections in the world. Another highlight is the armoury with its exquisite collection of weapons, suits of armour and ceremonial garments. It's also well worth visiting the Semper Gallery, which was built between 1847 and 1854 to plans by Gottfried Semper. To this day, the gallery contains the world's most important collection of paintings dating from the baroque to the Renaissance period, including the famous Sistine Madonna by Raphael. Another near neighbour to Zwinger Palace is the Church of Our Lady. First erected between 1726 to 1743, this baroque masterpiece was destroyed during the Second World War before being rebuilt from 1994 to 2005, thanks to a combination of public funds and donations. In architectural terms, it is one of the finest church buildings in Europe from this period. Still in Dresden, Grosser Garten park covers a total area of 147 hectares and is perfect for leisurely strolls and breaks from the hustle and bustle.

Würzburg Residenz Palace is generally considered the purest and most remarkable of all baroque palaces in Germany. Built between 1740 and 1770 and enhanced by the magnificent gardens between 1765 and 1780, it exemplifies a glittering era and is one of the most spectacular royal palaces in Europe.

The Würzburg court architect Balthasar Neumann, who was given overall responsibility for the enormous construction project, had an unenviable role. He had to keep many sensitive artists happy and motivated to give their best: these included the leading architects of Germany and France, such as Lucas von Hildebrandt, Maximilian von Welsch, Robert de Cotte and Germain Boffrand. The Italian Antonio Bossi, a gifted decorative artist known as the 'ornamental genius' of Würzburg Palace, and star sculptors such as Johann Wolfgang van der Auvera and Georg Adam Guthmann from Munich were among those who worked on the detailed interior decor. And Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, no less than the greatest fresco painter of the 18th century, was responsible for the wall paintings. They all created timeless works of art in the vestibule, staircase, While Hall and Imperial Hall – the mirrored hall, for example, is for many the most perfect example of a room ensemble in the rococo style. Working in creative collaboration, these artists of different nationality and language produced what became known as Würzburg rococo, the most Italianate of all variations on this style in Germany. Also part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, the court gardens are no less opulent in their beauty than the palace itself. Another highlight not to be missed in Würzburg: from the Marienberg Citadel, you can enjoy incredible panoramic views across the city and its wonderful surrounding countryside where the famous Franconian wine is produced.

It is one of the most beautiful town halls in Germany: the magnificent facade is a textbook example of the Weser Renaissance architecture typical of northern Germany. Along with the Roland statue, the city's very own 'statue of liberty', it still stands as a reminder of the pride that the locals have for their city, their freedom and their sovereignty.

Once inside the town hall, you simply must take a look in the Upper Hall. In this exquisite room, the lovingly crafted model ships dating from the 16th to the 18th century reflect the importance of shipping for the city. Other special attractions include the adjoining Golden Chamber with its art nouveau features. A gem of a different kind can be found below ground: the historical Ratskeller – Germany's oldest wine cellar. Writers such as Wilhelm Hauff and Heinrich Heine used to come here for inspiration, and today's visitors can still sample from the largest collection of German wines in the country.
Back on the market square, you can stand eye to eye with Sir Roland – or rather eye to knee. Because at five and a half metres in height (10.21 metres including the base and baldachin), this is the tallest free-standing sculpture of the German Middle Ages. It represents Hanseatic freedom and also served a much more practical purpose: as the distance between the knees is exactly one Bremen 'elle', a historical unit of measurement, it is thought that the pragmatic Bremen merchants used it to measure out their material. Today, it is customary to touch Roland's pointed knees before setting off on a stroll through the lanes of Bremen old town.

The 100-year-old Speicherstadt, the world's largest warehouse complex, is situated between the Deichtor Halls and Baumwall. It is a very pretty quarter – not at all the kind of place visitors expect to find in an international port – with its Wilhelminian brick Gothic buildings, unusual gables, little towers and winding lanes. Behind the thick walls, high-value goods such as coffee, tea, cocoa, spices, tobacco and now computers are stored in a temperature-controlled environment. This is also the location of the world's largest Oriental carpet store. The Speicherstadt is one of the main attractions on the great harbour tour.

Situated in the far eastern corner of Germany, south-east of Dresden, Saxon Switzerland National Park protects more than 36,000 hectares of the Elbe Sandstone Massif, sculpted over the course of millennia by the Elbe river– the perfect place for a journey of discovery all the way back to the Cretaceous period.

The most photographed building in Germany, Neuschwanstein Castle, is also one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. Nestled among the breathtaking beauty of the Bavarian Alps near the town of Fussen, this fairy-tale castle served as the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Constructed in the late 1800s, Neuschwanstein was never built for defense purposes as most castles. Instead, this castle was created as a fanciful retreat for Ludwig II of Bavaria. Dazzling chandeliers and beautiful paintings adorn every room in the castle while the third floor is devoted to Ludwig’s fascination of swan scenes from operas by the famous composer Richard Wagner, whom Ludwig deeply admired.

Sitting atop Mount Hohenzollern, the castle had its beginnings in the 11th century. The original castle was destroyed over the centuries with only the chapel remaining. The present castle was built in the mid-19th century by King Frederick William IV of Prussia. Located 50 km (30 miles) south of Stuttgart, the castle is the ancestral home of the Hohenzollern family, from which emperors and kings have emerged. Today the castle is a museum unlike any other. It is filled with treasures including the crown worn by Prussian kings and a uniform worn by Frederick the Great. One of the most visited castles in Germany, it is privately owned.

Burg Eltz Castle is situated near the Moselle River between Koblenz and Trier. It has been the ancestral home of the Rübenach, Rodendorf and Kempenich families since it was built in the 12th century; the castle still boasts some of the original furnishings. The castle sits on a huge rock in the middle of a forest. Its medieval architecture is unique; also contributing to the uniqueness is the fact that it has never been touched by war. Its armory, filled with gold and silver artifacts, as well as porcelain and jewelry, is considered one of the best in Europe. The castle’s exterior was featured in the 1979 movie, “The Ninth Configuration”.

Maximillian II, father of Ludwig II, discovered Hohenschwangau Castle when he was still the Crown Prince. The vicinity in which he found it pleased him immensely. In spite of it being in ruins, he bought the castle and had it renovated. When the work was complete, Maximillian used it as a hunting lodge, and for a summer palace. Ludwig II reigned after Maximillian died in 1864. He never married, so his mother remained at this home for the rest of her life. It is located in the village of Hohenschwangau near the town of Füssen.

Heidelbeg castle is located 80 meters (260 ft) up the northern part of a hillside, and dominates the view of the old center of Heidelberg. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps. It has had a long and turbulent history since the earliest castle structure was built in the 13th century. Having been totally destroyed during the Thirty Years War, and later by the French in the 17th century, the castle was struck by lightning in 1764 and even its stones were taken to build new houses in Heidelberg. All the subsequent rebuilding has led to a variety of architectural styles which adds to the castle’s charm.

Schwerin Castle sits on an island in the main lake at Schwerin, where a castle reportedly stood as early as the 10th century. For many centuries, it was home to the grand dukes of Mecklenburg. In the 20th century, it was a college for kindergarten teachers and a museum. Today the castle serves as a museum and as a government building for the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament. Visitors with an interest in the paranormal will want to look for Petermännchen, the resident ghost who has been spotted wearing 17th century garb. The castle, with its many towers and turrets, is considered a prime example of Europe’s historicist architecture.