With a history as troubled and complex as Germany’s, there are few places in Europe that can claim to being as intriguing. In 2007 I visited Frankfurt, Aachen, Ulm, Stuttgart, Munich, and Dresden over the course of two weeks and got a brief glimpse into the complex country. The blend of classic, centuries-old buildings with ultra-modern, cutting edge architecture makes every street interesting. While Germany may have reunited 20 years ago, the east-west division is still readily apparent on the streets, with former East Germany still emerging from its Soviet influences. As with much of Europe, immigration and multiculturalism issues have been mounting, and just as it has in the past, Germany isn’t shying away from controversy.
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- Stuttgart Night
The city of Stuttgart as seen while swaying in the wind atop the world's first concrete TV Tower.
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- Ulm Münster
The tallest church in the world, and the tallest building in the world from 1890 to 1901, the Munster was one of the only buildings in Ulm that was not destroyed during World War II.
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- Orange
Despite being completely leveled during WWII, Dresden was lovingly rebuilt and retains an appearance of being much older than it really is.
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- Streets of Aachen
Aachen is the westernmost city in Germany, boasting a lively atmosphere thanks to its large population of students at RWTH University.
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- Pillnitz Palace
A large collection of palatial buildings and landscaped gardens, Pillnitz is unique due to its strong Chinese influences.
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- Dresden Frauenkirche
The Dresden Frauenkirche was one of the many casualities when Dresden was firebombed during the Second World War, and laid in ruins until 1993. It was then reconstructed using as much of the original materials and plans as possible, and was officially completed in 2005.
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- Residenzschloss Dresden
The Royal Castle of Dresden is one of the many amazing feats of restoration from the war that remains ongoing.
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- Canopy
Lush foliage abounds in the landscaped gardens around Pillnitz Palace, near Dresden.
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- Mercedes Benz Museum
Opened in 2006, Stuttgart's Mercedes Benz Museum is architecturally fascinating both inside and out, and is a highlight just as much as the vehicles it houses.
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- Mercedes Benz Museum 2
Stuttgart is the international headquarters for Mercedes-Benz and Daimler AG.
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