Germany - Useful information for your trip

Germany is a country member of the European Union situated in west central Europe. A good part of its territory is characterized by the influence of Atlantic winds coming from the west. Winters are mitigated by these wet winds and summers are usually cool, windy, often with the presence of thunderstorms and very dry in the centre.

Germany is famous in history for its role in both World Wars. It was defeated in the first by a powerful alliance. In June 1919 Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles; a treaty that was perceived by the Germans as a humiliating continuation of war. Germany deeply suffered from the effects of the first after-war and of the strong conditions dictated by the Treaty of Versailles, there were lots of insurrections which led to continual political murders. It was the moment, in 1933, in which the president of the Reich appointed Adolf Hitler as the chancellor. Hitler immediately started his campaign based on nationalist ideas of Germany's greatness. The World War II, a blitzkrieg, saw Germany as the growing protagonist. The history of this war is sadly known for the Nazi genocide that led to the death of millions of people, especially Jews, in German concentration camps. Since they lost also the World War II, the areas of Germany were shared among different countries. The most important division was that of Berlin, current capital, that was divided into East Berlin and West Berlin by a wall. The western part, governed by Usa, France and United Kingdom enjoyed a prolonged economic growth which started in the 50s, but we cannot say the same of the Eastern part, governed by the URSS. The wall fell in 1989 and it was one of the most important historical events ever.

Germany is today a Federal parliamentary constitutional republic with Berlin as its capital. Berlin is one of the most important political, cultural, scientific, exhibition and media centres of Europe. Germany has the biggest national economy in Europe. Since the industrial revolution the country has been an economic, innovative and beneficiary engine of the growing globalization. As in the majority of industrialised countries, the principal economic sector is the tertiary, with tourism, trade, banks, insurances that contributes to 72% of GDP. 

German culture is one of the most beautiful in the world. In literature there are writers like Friedrich Schiller and Herman Hesse and in music there is the most beautiful classical music ever with musicians like Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwing van Beethoven, Richard Wagner, George Friedrich Handel, Robert Shumann and Richard Strauss. 

While visiting Berlin an interesting attraction is the museum island, north of the Spree, in the centre of Berlin. So called for the large number of museums of international importance, is one of the main tourist destinations. Other attractions of the capital are the remains of the wall and the Brandenburg Gate. Moving away from the cities you can visit the beautiful castles of Bavaria and picturesque towns. Millions of tourists visit Germany every year also for the Oktoberfest, in the last two weekends of September. It is the most famous event in Munich and it is a beer fair.