Regions & Nature

Where Germany, Austria, and Switzerland meet at Central Europe’s third-largest lake, you’ll find medieval island towns, vineyard-covered hills, and Alpine views that rival anything in the guidebooks.

Germany’s northern highlands blend fairy-tale forests, historic mining towns, and narrow-gauge steam trains. Here’s how to explore the Harz beyond the obvious.

Less than an hour from Berlin, the Spreewald’s canal-laced forests and Sorbian villages offer punts, pickles, and a slower pace of life.

Between Stuttgart and Lake Constance lies a limestone plateau dotted with caves, castles, and some of southern Germany’s most rewarding trails. Here’s why the Swabian Alb deserves a spot on your hiking itinerary.

Tucked into Bavaria’s southeastern corner against the Austrian border, the Berchtesgaden Alps offer dramatic peaks, alpine lakes, and charming villages without the crowds of more famous destinations.

Henry VI (Holy Roman Emperor) married Constance of Sicily in 1186, uniting the German Empire with the Norman Kingdom of Sicily; their son Frederick II ruled both realms and established his court in Palermo, documented in historical records.

Follow Germany’s most romantic river through steep vineyards, half-timbered wine towns, and medieval castles. Here’s your guide to exploring the Moselle Valley.