Elbe Tourist Guide

The Elbe - Berlin to Prague / Hamburg: Berlin has seen a
lot of changes since the unification of Germany and its restoration
as the country's capital city. From 1961 to 1989 the city was
divided by the Berlin Wall - remnants of the concrete
structure can be seen at various locations ? but now the city has
been transformed by investment in modern architecture and commerce.
Check out the Reichstag, the 19th Century parliament building is
topped with a modern glass dome, or Potsdammerplatz a glass
structure that has become a popular retail and entertainment
complex. The Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of Berlin, lies at the
western end of Unter Den Linden, a tree-lined boulevard leading to
the Tiergarten ? one of Berlin's green spaces.
Berlin / Potsdam
Berlin has seen a lot of changes since the unification of
Germany and its restoration as the country's capital city. From
1961 to 1989 the city was divided by the Berlin Wall - remnants of
the concrete structure can be seen at various locations - but now
the city has been transformed by investment in modern architecture
and commerce. Check out the Reichstag, the 19th Century parliament
building is topped with a modern glass dome, or Potsdammerplatz a
glass structure that has become a popular retail and entertainment
complex. The Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of Berlin, lies at the
western end of Unter Den Linden, a tree-lined boulevard leading to
the Tiergarten - one of Berlin's green spaces.
Potsdam, to the southwest of Berlin, is a city of lakes, rivers,
parks and palaces. It's the start point for river cruises and
as one of Germany's most splendid cities, well worth exploring
before embarking. The main river among several waterways in
the city is the Havel, which flows into the Rhine. The city is
steeped in European tradition. The Alexandrowka, the Dutch quarter
and the Weaver's Quarter form the historic sections of the city.
Potsdam was the residence of the Prussian royal family and is rich
in grand houses built for the nobility. The Sanssouci, the summer
palace of Frederick the Great, is the most impressive and is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Magdeburg
Magdeburg was one of the most important cities of Europe in
Medieval times and has a history of maritime trade because the
River Elbe gives it access to the North Sea. The city is also
associated with Martin Luther who preached here and became a
stronghold of Protestant Christianity. The Cathedral is Magdeburg's
most impressive building, the first Gothic-style church in Germany
when it was completed in 1520. It was damaged in the Second World
War and restored in 1955. The Town Hall in the market square
is Renaissance style and has been renovated. The Monastery of Our
Lady, built in the 11th century, is now a museum of modern art. The
city is an important center for transport, business and for
scientific research, and has a bustling modern downtown. It has a
major river port at the intersection of the River Elbe, the
Mittelland Canal and the Elbe-Havel Canal.
Tangermunde
A charming little town on the banks of the Elbe, with an almost
complete set of town walls with fortified gates, and numerous
half-timbered houses.
Bleckede
The castle in Bleckhede is located in a nature reserve beside
the Elbe River and has been renovated and turned into a working
arts centre and studio complex for young painters. There are
regular exhibitions open to the public.
Lauenburg
Located on the northern bank of the Elbe east of Hamburg,
Lauenburg has well-preserved buildings dating from the 17th Century
and a church built in the 13th Century. The old castle has been
largely replaced by modern offices but the site has a marvellous
view over the Elbe river and surrounding landscape. The
Palmschleuse is a historic river lock believed to be the oldest
lock in Europe.
Hamburg
Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany after Berlin and
one of the top European cities for tourist visits. It's a major
port of call for cruise ships and a culturally diverse city with a
vibrant nightlife. The Harbour Promenade and the old Warehouse
District are popular points of interest on a city tour along with
the City Hall, the Art Gallery and the Gallery of Contemporary Arts
and the Reeperbahn renowned for bars and clubs and once known as
the city's Red Light district. Hamburg has many landmark churches,
notably the church of St Michaelis which features on the €2 coin
minted in 2008. Music plays a big part in the life of the city,
from Opera to rock to major stage musicals. A visit to
Hamburg would not be complete without a canal boat tour of the city
from Landungsbrücken in the harbour. Hamburg has no less than 2,500
bridges over its city waterways - more than Venice and Amsterdam
combined.
Wittenberg
Wittenberg is a pleasant German town located between Leipzig and
Berlin, on the River Elbe. It's the town most associated with
Martin Luther and the Protestant reformation, and a popular
stop-over for pilgrims and history buffs. The Castle Church is
where he nailed to the door his 95 Theses against the Catholic
Church in 1517. The church contains the tomb of the reformer. The
original wooden doors of the church were destroyed in 1760 and have
been replaced by bronze doors decorated with Luther's text in
Latin. Luther's home in the former monastery where he served as a
monk, is now a museum dedicated to the Reformation. The Luther
sites of Wittenberg are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage
Site.
Dresden
Located on both sides of the Elbe river, Dresden is the capital
of Saxony and emerged from 40 years of post-war Communist rule to
become an economic and cultural center of eastern Germany. The
inner city of Dresden was bombed to destruction in World War II but
has been rebuilt and its grand buildings have been restored
according to original plans preserved in the city archives. The
result is a wonderful scene of Baroque grandeur from a bygone age
that was actually constructed in the second half of the 20th
century.
Restored city landmarks include the Zwinger Palace, the Opera
House and overlooking the river, Brühl's Terrace.
Reconstruction of Dresden's protestant cathedral, the Frauenkirche
- Our Lady's Church - was completed only in 2005. The distinctive
domed church dominates the Dresden skyline. The Dresden Elbe Valley
is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in recognition of the
stunning beauty of the landscape, which includes Pillnitz with its
castle, parkland and vineyards. A landmark of Dresden is the
Blue Wonder bridge across the Elbe River, a masterpiece of 19th
century engineering, which links two areas of the city renowned for
aristocratic grand villas and once the most expensive place to live
in Europe.
Königstein
Königstein is best known for its hilltop fortress which has been
a home for kings and dukes, a prison, a military garrison and a
site for the creation of European porcelain. The fortress has a
commanding view of the town and the Elbe Valley, and its
construction includes elements of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and
19th century architecture. Permanent exhibitions depict the
history of the castle and several galleries house temporary
displays of paintings and sculptures.
Zernoseky
The hillsides beside the Elbe River around this sleepy little
Czech town are covered with terraced vineyards. The local chateau
offers wine tasting in cellars built by monks in the 13th
century.
Leitmeritz
Built on the right bank of the Elbe, this German-speaking Czech
city has a historic cathedral and bishops' palace and a town hall
with a 15th century bell tower. The region is an important
agricultural area producing fruit and hops and the finest Czech
beer.
Melnik
One of the main river ports of the Czech Republic, Melnik is a
center of wine production, set in heart of the country's most
important agricultural area, where the Elbe and the Vltara Rivers
come together. The main landmark of the city is its
Renaissance-style castle, which has extensive wine cellars. Melnik
Square is one of the most important historic sites, lined with
Gothic and Baroque houses and the Renaissance City Hall.
Prague
Prague is a much-loved and popular destination for visitors to
eastern Europe. Prague Castle, the most visited historic site in
the city, has its origins in the 9th Century and is still the
official residence of the President of the Czech Republic. The
castle has three courtyards, a picture gallery, the Imperial
Stables and riding school, a toy museum, palaces, monasteries and
churches - most notably St Vitus Cathedral. On the slopes below the
castle is Lesser Town, where the main landmark is the Charles
Bridge, a favorite meeting place for visitors and locals. Wenceslas
Square in the New Town is well known for its ancient animated clock
which puts on a show every hour.
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