Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

 

Enchanting Germany -  experience it now

“After all, you don’t travel to arrive, but to travel” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 

There simply is no way to tour Europe & not be awestruck by its natural beauty, epic History & dazzling Artistic & Culinary diversity. An intricate jigsaw of Landscapes, Cultures, Art & Architecture, Europe retains time-honoured traditions while constantly evolving to incorporate inspired new trends. Start your day in blissful Italy, an afternoon can be spent in quiet London with some of its beautiful tourist attractions & a starry night in Paris.

 

& Deutschland, blessed with some of Europe's most high-powered sights, has always marched to a different drummer - Lederhosen, Oktoberfest, Polka Dancing. Jagged Alps, flower-filled Meadows, rolling hills of Forests & Farms & mighty Rivers - dotted all over with Castles & Churches of every variety. Come……experience Germany with us…

 

Europe’s almost unmanageable wealth of attractions is its biggest single draw: the birthplace of Democracy in Athens, the Renaissance Art of Florence, the graceful Canals of Venice, the Napoleonic splendour of Paris & the multi-layered historical & cultural canvas of London. Less obvious but no less impressive attractions include Moorish Palaces in Andalucia, the fascinating East-meets-West brew of Istanbul, the majesty of meticulously restored imperial Palaces in Russia's former Capital St. Petersburg & the ongoing project of Gaudí's La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

 

Despite its population density Europe maintains spectacular natural scenery: rugged Scottish Highlands with Glens & Lochs; Norway's fabulous Fjords, seemingly chipped to jagged perfection by giants; the vine-raked Valleys of the Loire; and the steppe-like plains of central Spain.

 

Looking for Beaches, a circuit of the Mediterranean's northern coast reveals one gem after another. Or strike out to lesser known, yet beautiful coastal regions such as the Baltic & Black Seas. Mountain lovers should head to the Alps marching across central Europe taking in France, Switzerland, Austria, northern Italy & tiny Liechtenstein.

 

Cheers! Salud! Prost! Cin cin! A votre sante! Europe has some of the best Nightlife in the world. Globally famous DJs keep the party going in London, Berlin & Paris, all of which also offer top-class entertainment, especially Theatre & live Music. Other key locations for high-energy Nightlife include Moscow, Belgrade, Budapest & Madrid, while those hankering for something cosier can add Dublin's Pubs or Vienna's Cafes to their itinerary.

 

Once you have ticked off the great Museums, panoramic vistas & energetic Nightlife, what is left? A chance to indulge in a culinary adventure to beat all others. Who wouldn't want to snack on Pizza in Naples, Souvlaki in Santorini or even Haggis in Scotland? But did you also know that Britain has some of the best Indian Restaurants in the world; that Turkey's Doner Kebab is a key part of contemporary German food culture; and that in the Netherlands you can gorge on an Indonesian Rijsttafel (rice table)? Europe's diversity and global reach is its trump card.

 

From the thrill of fresh powder on the mountain top to the peace of a twilight stroll through a gorgeous medieval town, Europe is a place that stimulates your sense of curiosity. Through shared history, cultural diversity & natural beauty, this Continent, where travel is free-flowing & adventures are limitless, inspires connections, experiences & memories that stretch beyond borders. Whether you wish for the serenity of a quiet trip in the countryside or the excitement of a multiplicity of Festivals, from Parades attended by thousands to Concerts in an ancient Amphitheatre, it is all here in Europe, waiting just for you.

 

And now, let us move to Deutschland in Western Europe.

 

Bewitching Scenery   | Gastro Delights   | High on History

Talking abut Germany, with a terrain of vast forests, rivers & mountain ranges and 2 millennia of history. Berlin, its Capital, is home to thriving art & nightlife scenes, iconic Brandenburg Gate & many sites relating to WWII. Munich is known for its Oktoberfest & cavernous Beer Halls, including 16^th century Hofbrauhaus. Frankfurt, with its Skyscrapers, houses the European Central Bank.

 

Few countries have had as much impact on the world as Germany, which has given us the Hanseatic League, the Reformation & yes, Hitler & the Holocaust, but also the Printing Press, the Automobile, Aspirin & MP3 technology. It is the birthplace of Martin Luther, Albert Einstein & Karl Marx. Goethe, Beethoven, the Brothers Grimm & other heavyweights who, each in their own way, have left their mark on human history. You can stand in a Roman Amphitheatre, sleep in a medieval Castle & walk along remnants of the Berlin Wall - in Germany the past is very much present wherever you go.

 

You will encounter history in towns where streets were laid out long before Columbus set sail, & in Castles that loom above prim, idyllic half-timbered Villages where Flower Boxes billow with crimson Geraniums. The great cities - Berlin, Munich & Hamburg among them - come in more flavours than a jar of jelly beans but will all wow you with a cultural kaleidoscope that spans the arc from Art Museums & high-brow Opera to naughty Cabaret & underground Clubs. And wherever you go, Romanesque, Gothic & baroque classics rub rafters with architectural creations from modern masters such as Daniel Libeskind, David Chipperfield & Frank Gehry.

 

Germany’s appeal is really no great mystery. There is something undeniably artistic in the way Germany's scenery unfolds - the corrugated, dune-fringed Coasts of the north; the moody Forests, romantic river Valleys & miles of vast neatly tended Vineyards of the centre & the off-the-charts splendour of the Alps, carved into rugged glory by Glaciers & the elements. All are integral parts of a magical natural matrix that are not just scenic but the stuff of legend, places that have inspired fairy tales & where much of Western history has been played out. Get off the Highway & into the great outdoors to soak up the epic landscapes that makes each delicious, slow, winding mile so precious.

 

The Germans more than anyone appreciate the soothing tonic of a hike in the Black Forest or a stroll on North Sea Dunes & just seeing these storied lands from a Train window can be good for the soul. The cities are treasure-troves - not just of great Art & History but of Culture, sophisticated Lifestyles & from ever-changing Berlin to old-world Baden-Baden, cutting-edge architecture.

 

Germany is a country where the Arts are part of life. The caliber of Museums & the Collections they hold can be breathtaking. Germany has a long-established musical tradition (think Bach, Beethoven & Brahms) & is famed for the excellence of its Music. So, if you enjoy great Art & Music, you will never be lacking for things to see & do in Germany. That goes for every kind of music, including Jazz, Pop, Rap, Hip-hop, Indie & every other genre.

 

A country’s cultural character & heritage are also reflected in its Architecture & Germany is fascinating on that front, too. The country’s visible architectural legacy spans some 1,800 years, from Roman-era Walls to Ludwig’s 19^th century “fairy-tale Castles” in Bavaria & the corporate Skyscrapers that define Frankfurt’s skyline. Less grandiosely, you will find half-timbered Inns, Bavarian Chalets, ruined Castles & an imposing Rathaus (Town Hall) in just about every town or city you visit.

 

But this architectural heritage can also reflect the ominous side of Germany’s Nazi past: the remains of Albert Speer’s giant Nazi Stadium in Nuremberg, the grim prison buildings at Dachau, the ruined Kaiser-Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin and the numerous Memorials & Documentation Centers that serve as reminders of the Holocaust. The Nazis excelled at destruction, but after the war, the Germans excelled at rebuilding - not just new buildings, but exact reproductions of many great Palaces & Churches. The Frauenkirche in Dresden is perhaps the country’s greatest postwar rebuilding feat.

 

But maybe you are less interested in Museums, Music & Architecture and want to explore the countryside. Germany has many fabled landscapes. If you are an active traveler who is interested in Hiking, Biking, Skiing, or Swimming, you can head to the Black Forest, the Bavarian Alps, or the Bodensee (Lake Constance).

 

Food - well, don’t write off the Cuisine as just a lot of heaping plates of wurst & sauerkraut & schnitzel with noodles. Experiencing Germany through its food & drink will add a rich layer to your memories (& possibly your belly!). You will quickly discover that the local food is so much more than sausages & pretzels & roast pork. Beyond the cliches awaits a cornucopia of regional & seasonal palate-teasers. These traditional dishes are delicious & one of the pleasures of traveling in Germany is discovering time -honored regional favorites. Share the German's obsession with white asparagus in springtime, chanterelle mushrooms in summer & game in autumn. In the half-timbered Villages, you can enjoy a Strudel at the Bakery or not only sip the Stein of famous foamy Beer but also world-class Wines, most notably the noble Riesling, while men in Lederhosen play oompah music.

 

So, what about the people? Everyone seems to have an opinion about the “German character” except for the Germans themselves. The militaristic Nazi past that continues to haunt Germany has given rise to many stereotypes. But if you connect with just one German person on your trip, chances are that all the stereotypes you have heard about will crumble to dust. Germany today is the most pacifistic country in Europe, sometimes to the annoyance of its neighbors & Allies. Overall, it has one of the world’s highest levels of educational attainment & technological achievement. The Germans have their rules & ways of doing things, which sometimes seem stiff & bureaucratic, but clearly they are doing something right.

 

Good for the kids, good for the grown-ups, good for the whole family. A journey through the amazing kaleidoscope that is Germany will allow you to enjoy this “Strong Man” of Europe, also famous for being the birthplace of world-famous Inventors, Scientists, Explorers & Composers.

 

And don't overlook the "real" Germany of today - a world of high-tech Trains, gleaming Cities, social efficiency & world-class Museums celebrating many of history's greatest cultural achievements. Prepare for a roller coaster of feasts, treats & temptations as you take in the soul-stirring spectacular scenery, spirit-lifting culture, big-city beauties, romantic Palaces & half-timbered towns. It is Europe at its most exotic.

 

A unique experience is just the beginning……. Take the plunge now & yep….the iconic Deutschland is waiting. Spectacular & surreal. A warm welcome awaits you and The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery.

 

Come…be inspired & discover the World…

 

 

We are in the process of updating our Offerings of experiential journeys to Germany. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore more options & we will be happy to customise & offer suggestions based on your personal preferences……