Beach near List, Sylt
Sylt
The island of Sylt is Germany's most northern point, lying off
the northwestern coast in the North Sea. The island boasts some
lovely sandy beaches and stunning views, and its main town,
Westerland, has become a popular seaside resort. The island also
has miles of bicycle paths meandering through pine forests. The
island offers plenty of entertainment for tourists, including
shops, spas and exclusive restaurants. Trains arrive several times
a day from Hamburg. The island is connected to the mainland by the
six-mile (10km) long Hindenburgdamm bridge.
Hameln
Hameln, the famous town of the Pied Piper tale told to children
around the world, is a popular tourist destination in Lower Saxony,
northern Germany, lying beside the River Weser. The old town centre
has been reconstructed with several Renaissance buildings, and some
wood-frame historic buildings, all adding to the fairytale
atmosphere that brings alive the legend of the piper who offered to
rid the town of rats, and ended up stealing all the children. A
short musical version of the story is performed each Wednesday in
the old town between May and September at 4.30pm. The Pied Piper
himself conducts tours around the town!
E-mail: touristinfo@hameln.de;
Website: www.hameln.de/tourismus/rattenfaenger/rf_sage_gb.htm
Lübeck Town Hall © Torstein Frogner
Lübeck
Lübeck lies 41 miles (66km) north east of Hamburg, close to
the Baltic coast. Not only is this historic town the home of a
couple of noted Nobel Prize winners, but as a living monument to
the wealthy Hanseatic merchants of the 13th century, it sports some
architectural treasures that have ensured its status as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. The town's famous sons were Willy Brandt, the
West German chancellor who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1971, and
Thomas Mann, whose novel Buddenbrooks won the Nobel Prize
for Literature in 1929. As far as the architecture goes, the town
is known for its steeples and spires, high-gabled houses, strong
towers and massive gates. The town is also billed as the world
capital of marzipan, having been the spot where this delightful
confection was first devised (there is a legend attached, of
course). Samples of marzipan are freely available in
Lübeck.
Website: www.luebeck-tourism.de
