Cochem is known for its beautiful castle, Reichsburg Cochem, literally ‘Cochem Imperial Castle’.
The landscapes of Germany are at once charming, bewitching, and staggeringly pretty: alpine peaks, mysterious forests, white Rococo churches, villages lined with timbered houses, and castles that seem almost too majestic to be real. From the mountains to the cities, and everywhere in between, here are some of the most beautiful sites in Germany.
Rakotzbrücke Devil’s Bridge
Gablenz, Germany
Rakotzbrücke (Rakotz Bridge), Gablenz, Saxony
Hidden in Kromlau’s Rhododendron Park, Rakotzbrücke is a 19th-century bridge that creates a perfect stone circle when reflected in the waters below it. Rakotzbrücke is often referred to as “Devil’s Bridge,” since the structure seems so impossible that it must have been built by, well, the devil.
Baroque Benedictine monastery, founded in 1093 & expanded in 1714, featuring a rococo library.
Wiblingen Abbey, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg
This former Benedictine abbey, founded in 1093, is best known for its exquisite Rococo library, with statues, columns, and sweeping ceiling fresco.
Lake Königssee, Berchtesgadener Land, Bavaria
Lake Königssee, Berchtesgadener Land, Bavaria
In the Berchtesgaden Alps near the Austrian border (about 18 miles south of Salzburg), Königssee is an alpine lake with crystal-clear water, quiet boat rides, and charming St. Bartholomä church with its (very German) adjacent beer garden.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a town in the district of Ansbach of Mittelfranken (Middle Franconia), the Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Franconia, Bavaria
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, well-known for its preserved medieval old town, draws millions of tourists each year with its made-for-Instagram multicolored facades.
The impressive landscape of the Bastei not only attracted tourists, but also inspired numerous artists.
Bastei Bridge, Elbe River, Saxon Switzerland
More than 600 feet above the Elbe River, the Bastei Bridge is one of the most famous (and most scenic) features in Saxon Switzerland National Park.
The castle combines elements from several different architectural styles, including Romanesque, Gothic, and Byzantine.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau, Bavaria
Built in 1886, Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular castles in all of Europe—and not just because it served as inspiration for Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. The majestic structure has a clifftop location and ornate rooms that attract 1.4 million visitors every year.
Top of Germany: At 2,962 metres, the Zugspitze is Germany’s highest mountain. Zugspitze is home to one of Germany’s last glaciers.
Zugspitze, Wetterstein Mountains, Bavaria
Zugspitze is the highest peak in Germany, with an altitude of over 9,700 feet. Cable cars will take you to the summit, where you can enjoy restaurants, a beer garden, and some of the best views of the Alps.
The sanctuary of Wies, near Steingaden in Bavaria, is a pilgrimage church extraordinarily well-preserved in the beautiful setting of an Alpine valley.
Pilgrimage Church of Wies, Steingaden, Bavaria
With its bright colors and exuberant frescoes, the UNESCO-listed Church of Wies is a masterpiece of Rococo architecture—with the added bonus of a scenic Alpine setting.
Sylt is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfriesland district, Schleswig-Holstein, well known for the distinctive shape of its shoreline.
Sylt, Frisian Islands, North Sea
This skinny island seven miles out into the North Sea is like a whole other country, with rolling heathered dunes, unique bio-diversity, beach saunas, and the surrounding Wadden Sea.
It is a renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996.
Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia
Germany’s largest Gothic church took more than seven centuries to construct, and it’s hard to argue the remarkable behemoth wasn’t worth the time and effort. The cathedral’s major attractions are its dual spires, stained glass murals, and Shrine of the Three Kings, which is said to hold the remains of the Three Wise Men.
The bridge connects to legs 19 and 20 of the Saar-Hunsrück-Steig, a 410 kilometer long premium hiking trail between the towns of Perl.
With a length of 1,180 feet and height of 330 feet, this bridge is not exactly for the weak of heart. But its stunning Hunsrück setting might inspire you to face your fears.
The Munich Residence served as the seat of government and residence of the Bavarian dukes, electors and kings from 1508 to 1918.
Residenz Munchen, Munich
The former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs has served as a museum since 1920, showcasing art collections, exquisite decorations and furnishings, and lavish playgrounds of the royals (like the Cuvilliés Theatre, pictured).
Rügen is Germany’s largest island. It is located off the Pomeranian coast in the Baltic Sea and belongs to the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Rügen Island, Baltic Sea
Germany’s largest island, Rügen has Baltic beaches, chalk-white cliffs, and a number of luxurious seaside resorts.
Görlitz is a town in the German state of Saxony. It is on the river Lusatian Neisse and is the largest town in Upper Lusatia as well as the second-largest
Görlitz, Saxony
Having been featured in Hollywood films The Reader, Inglourious Basterds, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and more, this small city—the most easterly town in Germany—is well known for its beauty.
Harz National Park stretches from a low mountain range near Herzberg in the southern part of the mountains.
Harz National Park, Lower Saxony
Harz National Park is located within Germany’s most northern mountain range, and is one of the country’s most popular areas for outdoor activities like walking and skiing.
Bamberg is a town in Upper Franconia district in Bavaria, Germany, on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main.
Bamberg, Upper Franconia, Bavaria
This picturesque town in northern Bavaria is known for its architecture (a large part of it has been designated a World Heritage site since 1993) and its Romanesque Bamberg Cathedral, which dates back to the 11th century.
Lake Schrecksee is the highest alpine lake in Germany. Hike Lake Schrecksee in the Bavarian Alps.
Lake Schrecksee, Bavarian Alps
With an elevation of 5,949 feet, Schrecksee is Germany’s highest alpine lake. Hiking up here will take about seven to eight hours, but the views are worth it. (Austria, whose border is some 1,000 feet away, is visible.)
Herzlich Willkommen auf Schloss Lichtenstein, dem romantischen Märchenschloss am Traufe der Schwäbischen Alb.
Lichtenstein Castle, Baden-Württemberg
This so-called “Fairy tale castle of Württemberg” was built on the edge of a cliff and overlooks the Echaz valley.
Lichtenstein Castle is a privately owned Gothic Revival castle located in the Swabian Jura of southern Germany. It was designed by Carl Alexander Heideloff and its name means “shining stone” or “bright stone”. The castle overlooks the Echaz valley near Honau, Reutlingen, in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
Museum Island and its buildings. Berlin’s Museum Island is a grand work of art: five world-famous museum buildings from the time of the Prussian rulers.
Museum Island, Berlin
An ensemble of five museums, Museum Island is actually on another island, Spree, in the Mitte district. Built between 1824 and 1930, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.
At Mettlach the Saar passes the well-known Saar loop. The lower Saar in Rhineland-Palatinate is a winegrowing region of some importance.
“Saar Loop” at Mettlach, Saar River
Talk about being Instagram famous. This hairpin, 180-degree bend of the river Saar is one of the most famous sights in the German state of Saarland.
Der Dresdner Zwinger in Dresden ist eines der bekanntesten Barockbauwerke Deutschlands. Er beherbergt Museen von Weltruf und ist Bühne für Musik- und ..
Zwinger Palace, Dresden
Once the festival arena of the Dresden Court, the Baroque Zwinger Palace today houses an Old Masters gallery, the Dresden porcelain collection, and the Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments.
Mosel Valley, between Eifel and Hunsrück mountains. The Moselle valley (Moseltal) is largely in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Mosel Valley, between Eifel and Hunsrück mountains
Along the 121-mile German section of the Mosel River, visitors will find medieval villages, steep, terraced vineyards, and traditional German taverns.
Erfahren Sie alles über den Blautopf Blaubeuren und seine Umgebung. Vom weit verzweigten Höhlensystem über die historische Hammerschmiede bis zu aktuellen
Blautopf, Blaubeuren, Baden-Wurttemberg
Meaning “blue pot,” Blautopf is a spring that feeds into the River Blau. Pretty as it is, it’s just for looking: Swimming and diving here are restricted to all but a few organizations.
Tüchersfeld is a church village in the Püttlach valley in Franconian Switzerland and belongs to the town of Pottenstein.
Tüchersfeld, Pottenstein, Bavaria
This Bavarian village in the Püttlach valley is postcard-perfect, so much so that it’s previously been featured on Germany postage stamps.
The moment when you enter the Partnach Gorge and you find yourself surrounded by massive rock faces hardly compares to anything else.
Partnach Gorge, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria
At 2,305 feet long with walls that rise to 263 feet at their highest, this gorge—about an hour south of Munich—is one of the country’s most popular hiking spots.
