The legacy of WWII means that Germany can be a difficult place to travel through. Unlike France or Italy, German cities are generally not worth visiting, and the few surviving destinations are overwhelmed by tourists. The Allied bombing raids spared nothing, and every German city and most of its large towns were reduced to ash. Most do not have any old-town other than a couple of reconstructed buildings. So where do you go?
The beauty of Germany lies not in its urban centers but in its cultural and natural landscapes. Romantic castle ruins, fairy-tale villages, and resplendent palace gardens abound in endless quantity. Germany was not a centralized state until the 20th century, and the rich history of regional identities makes Germany’s many towns and villages the high point of any trip. The map below will help you find the best ones to visit.
