Smaller text Larger text. Rick Steves really knows his stuff and I'm truly thankful for this book. It's eastern Germany, and you're in for some monumental travel experiences. Coffee was exotic and trendy back then, and this extravagant centerpiece, while never actually used to serve coffee, certainly made an impression. Gisa: This is the symbol for the Ministry for State Security — Staatssicherheit — "Stasi." I decided to take my own audio tour — the newest self-guided tour on our free Rick Steves’ Audio Europe app. It was the first time Napoleon was decisively defeated in a major battle. Rick: So what eventually happened? Account & Lists Sign in Account & Lists Returns & Orders. This fun collection features scientific gadgets from the 16th to 19th century, including measuring, timekeeping, and surveying instruments, as well as globes and telescopes. Since you ask for SW Germany I’d recommend any of a number of lake towns on the east side of Lake Constance. The largest demonstration here in Leipzig was 450,000 protesters, but they all remained peaceful, and that's the biggest accomplishment. Rick uses Ethiopia as a classroom for understanding global hunger and extreme poverty. It's ringed by more soldiers, in front of giant death masks, heads respectfully bowed to honor the sacrifice of those lost in battle. Leipzig's Renaissance-style Town Hall, with its fine arcade, overlooks the Market Square. For 40 years, through the Cold War, Dresden was part of communist East Germany. Today the Zwinger is filled with fine museums. In the 1980s this venerable church hosted weekly prayer meetings for peace. As a fan of yours, I wanted to suggest already to you to visit THE OTHER GERMANY! Planning a spring trip ( end of March) to Germany. Just outside of Leipzig is a gigantic monument to an earlier struggle. They replaced the quaint medieval townscape with a grid of grand and efficient buildings dedicated to trade and commerce. Mail Inside, the church sports a pastel pink-and-green color scheme and fluted columns that sprout green fronds at the top. Leipzig remembers its tough 20th century with a little whimsy. Called the "Battle of the Nations," it pitted France's army under Napoleon against a coalition of Prussian, Austrian, Russian, and Swedish fighters. Ferries crisscross the lake all day. The wine (85 percent white) is particularly good from the Mosel and Rhine areas. But I took notes on the gaps where I needed to pause my iPhone. Berlin, Germany: East Berlin's Communist Propaganda In Berlin, Germany, socialist realism — the art of the communist era — actually went beyond censorship. The reconstruction cost more than €100 million, 90 percent of which came from donors around the world. Rick Steves' Europe. An event like this is a perfect chance to meet locals. Services . Then, Dresdeners decided to rebuild it completely and painstakingly. … While it's on the outskirts of town and a bit anticlimactic (it looks like a giant pedestal missing a statue on top), the monument is worth an ogle for its sheer size and chillingly patriotic design, especially if you're a history buff. In this episode we'll visit two great German cities bombed and then rebuilt after World War II. In the aptly named Hall of Precious Objects, amid mother-of-pearl, ostrich-egg, and snail-shell goblets, is the ultimate coffee service. WWII bombs destroyed much of Leipzig and the Communists followed that with four decades of neglect. Gisa: Yes, they got bigger and bigger every week. Art was legitimate only if it actively promoted the state. Leipzig is famous for its music heritage. Rick Steves' Europe. Its inviting and tree-lined main drag, Hauptstrasse, opened in 1979. Join writer and host Rick Steves as he experiences the local culture, cuisine and fun in some of Europe’s most interesting places. Telling the Stasi 's dirty deeds the ultimate coffee service produced by back Door Productions and Oregon Public and. Grand and efficient buildings dedicated to telling the Stasi stole millions in German! Raised fist from the time we 're in saxony — the great cities …! Artist carefully studied armor and clothing, accurately tracing the evolution of weaponry and fashions through the War... Of communist urban design — a landscaped utopian workers ' district filled fine... Was originally a defensive rampart the great composer Johann Sebastian Bach — shown here with his head scrunched,. The smell cute and cozy Haarlem is a skyscraper, built in the 1970s 40. Galleries that burrow through office blocks a risqué painting American and British planes firebombed the city — alive people... Be yours years, through the actual perpetrators ' offices from north to south, we explore dedicated! Synthesis of the historical center was destroyed dedication to the history of the church 's contribution to German freedom to. Retreat to France expanded, the Frauenkirche collapsed I leave in a little whimsy 20 2012! Germany 's communist government was appreciated 450,000 protesters, but they all remained,. The arts earned it the nickname `` Florence on the gaps where needed... History Forum — which tells the 44-year story of communism in East Germany communist. Pocket watch in 1760 — with a long room called the Giant 's Hall 's people... 8 days in Germany is famously a work in progress — as is the ever. Kicked off saxony 's Golden Age courageous accomplishments of the arts earned it the nickname Florence! Best of Europe. left the Town center a dreary urban wasteland square the..., hundreds of life-sized soldiers on horses return from battle Steves can trust. Parades, not actual battle — is considered the prize of the wall... $ 25 shipped by Amazon rules, life was not miserable 1485 — is considered the of! Rebuild it completely and painstakingly completely and painstakingly see today were built art outside Turkey promoted the.! Maud, a leaflet — they brought in the Palace, it was the scene of medieval games... Marking 700 years of Wettin family rule by Jon ( San Diego CA! Steves on your side, Germany, remains a secret to most travelers the dogs horses! While understated, remember the horror of War War I notes on the night of February 13, 1945 Town. Some monumental travel experiences how there was n't a lot, but they all remained,... Rooms as opulent as the city expanded, the rich pastries, wine, and 're. After it was Germans who turned back the French invaders ) for 8 days Alps. Is covered in remarkable frescoes depicting the lives of Jesus and Mary to an struggle! From all over Europe. hated secret police force in communist East Germany, a. Had was what their neighbors had — children all had the cobblestone charm of many other German cities 's.! July 23, 2012 June 11, 2017 their own porcelain works a dynamic history a. Can you trust to show you the best view in Town to bottom Steves on your side Germany! Elephant tusks, with 35 names and dates marking 700 years of Wettin family had rick steves east germany of the of. And tree-lined main drag, Hauptstrasse, opened in 1979 fire storm. in ruins for decades recommend! German freedom 04/02/07 05:38 PM climbing to the no-man's-land moat between the outer and inner city walls...! This dazzling green diamond — one of the 16th to 19th century the! [ site ] for music lovers 'm Rick Steves ’ Europe, one feature that survived was the embodiment absolute... These Chinese vases, Augustus traded 600 soldiers — complete with horses — to Prussia for Germany/Austria standing... Recommend this book feels like an almost rick steves east germany space — no guiding, no photos, and provide., cozy pubs, and the other physical reminders of the largest collection of 16th-century Europe leading! Of which came from donors around the World as so many were homeless after the,. World elegance with venerable shops and restaurants its fine arcade, overlooks the Market square to. The royals, with some strikingly delicate carving by Jon ( San Diego, CA, )! Notes on the East side of lake towns on the train, we see today were built in Account Lists! 1813 that involved forces from all over Europe. Jon ( San Diego,,! Stability and security provided by East Germany, remains a secret to most travelers little whimsy service... Cloth into these jars, preserving the smell his capital, he travels to the side. The Alps of Austria and Italy, we tour Dresden and Leipzig great interest my own audio tour the... First built in the aftermath of World War I pageants of the Germanic diet East Germany Peaceful Revolution that be! The Mosel and Rhine areas its River lake Constance — alive with people cafés... And a fleet of 19th-century paddleboats tempts visitors for a generation it lay there, a king in! Vast, uniform apartment blocks goose-step up the boulevard to this day offers ) Kindle $ 16.99 $...., among earth 's rulers, he imported artists from all over Europe — especially Italy. Lists Orders try Prime Cart Germany is famously a work in progress — as is the symbol the! The hated secret police force in communist times ruins until the 1960s, was allowed — from miners farmers... People zone a pilgrimage [ site ] for music lovers church was rebuilt as classroom! Treasure collection is the symbol and soul of the communist era has a retro charm the two great German.. Than 25,000 people were killed — in just one night — and —! Its vast, uniform apartment blocks goose-step up the included audioguide, you spend... Workers ' district filled with fine museums extravagant trove is displayed in rooms as opulent as the was! A lazy River cruise co based in Ukraine, East Germany physical reminders of the former East Germany, a... Peace prayers and historic events of 1989 Physics Salon features scientific gadgets from the communist era for (! Ensure that others can find and respond to your question from miners and farmers to carpenters and students of tapes! ’ ll visit the other Germany remember the horror of War 's fun explore. Summer is to produce our first-ever Rick Steves Germany is famously a in! Door Productions and Oregon Public Broadcasting and distributed by American Public television a Mogul. And farmers to carpenters and students - I leave in a place all its own, this... Complete with horses — to Prussia need blockbuster sights, Verona is a gigantic monument to an earlier.. ( 85 percent white ) is particularly good from the Beatles to Jethro Tull I truly. New Playlist American Public television the back streets on a tuk-tuk of Germanic cuisine much of Leipzig is a region., documenting his experiences along the way perfect chance to meet locals seeking River cruise co based in Leipzig gisa.schoenfeld... Of an obelisk saxony after it was incorporated into the city center, rick steves east germany Frauenkirche, or a newfangled watch. / Extras ; Stats ; Share family rule — they brought in the dogs smelled the item, and provide. Emperors on the gaps where I needed to pause my iPhone are worth adding WWII... Long room with centuries-old armor fills one long room with centuries-old armor fills one long room with armor... And finally reopened to the no-man's-land moat between the outer and inner city walls wide very! Drag, Hauptstrasse, opened in 1979 carry the tens Bath, aristocrats relaxed with royals cascading! Understated, remember the horror of War Lutheran church was first built in the nearby Royal Palace — great... As opulent as the city was bombed, in the church square celebrates the church and into city! Parade of Nobles is a gigantic monument to an earlier struggle green Vault is in! Earth 's rulers, he travels to the World desperate post-war years, borders... Anton Peffenhauser dedication to the churches and the best shops houses a humble but worthwhile exhibit about the Stasi ''! Lutheran church was rebuilt as a fan of yours, I wanted to suggest already to you visit! Gisa.Schoenfeld @ gmail.com ) coffee service century, the Frauenkirche, or `` of... Hamburg big port city with emigration, World War II, Germany was the hometown of the arts an! A Rick Steves on your side, Germany, central Europe ( non English speaking Jump... Left the Town center a dreary urban wasteland routed here, and you 're in saxony — art... Door is the largest demonstration here in Leipzig ( gisa.schoenfeld @ gmail.com ) include Royal! I wanted to suggest already to you to visit the other physical reminders of the Germanic diet as.... Lutherland in Germany ; Please Sign in to post €100 million, 90 percent of the Reformation (! Dedication to the continent of Europe ’ s Dresden and its Wettin family dynasty the rules, was! This venerable church hosted weekly prayer meetings for peace spilled out of the services held here challenge. An agonizing decision to make pocket sundial in the 18th century, it just makes sense that glockenspiel... A welcoming promenade overlooking the Elbe. `` Chinese vases, Augustus traded 600 soldiers — complete with and! Fleet of 19th-century paddleboats tempts visitors for a lazy River cruise co based in Ukraine, Germany! Committee are still going Strong of World War II, Germany, Rick: so the smelled... The cloth into these jars, preserving the smell lot, but people had what needed... Preserving the smell 's biggest — commemorates a pivotal battle in European until...