Germany: Travel Destinations and Summer Events

By Jim Johnson - Summer's around the corner and if you haven't yet figured out where to wander, consider Germany. Augsburg, Germany is throwing Mozart a 250th birthday celebration! Known as the "German Mozart City" for its many connections to the famed composer and musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Augsburg will celebrate his birthday in 2006 with a number of exciting events and attractions. Festivities will include the 55th German Mozart Festival, the 6th International Violin Competition Leopold Mozart, a newly designed Mozart House, the re-opening of the small Golden Hall, and the extravagant renovation of the Rococo Hall in the Schaezler Palace. Generations of the Mozart family lived in and around Augsburg for half a millennium. Leopold Mozart, the father, educator, music teacher and manager of Wolfgang Amadeus, was born in Augsburg. After the family left the city, father and son returned many times for visits and to performances. It was during a 1777 visit that Wolfgang Amadeus experienced a love affair with his cousin, Maria Anna Thekla Mozart, and the famous "Bäsle letters" were written to her. A monument honoring both Mozart men now stands at the former bishop's residence, the Fronhof. Highlights of the 2006 Mozart celebration events:

• German Mozart Festival - May 12-28 - The "Deutsche Mozartfest" takes place in Augsburg every three years and returns to the city this year. The Augsburg Mozart Festival, or the "Augsburger Mozartfest," occurs in the years between the German Mozart Festivals.
• International Violin Competition Leopold Mozart - May 17-28 - Taking place every four years, this competition features the most talented young violinists in the world.
• Mozart Concerts at the Fronhof - July 21-23 - Open air performances ranging from classical to jazz are presented at the former bishop's residence.
• The Long Night of Mozart - May 20 - A highlight of the festivities, performances will be given at several authentic venues in the heart of the city and along the Maximilianstrasse. With more than a hundred offerings of music and literature in one night, visitors are invited to stroll the impressive city center and discover Mozart's roots.
• Mozart's World Exhibition - May 16-October 30 - Manuscripts, portraits, instruments, prints of compositions and more will be on display at the Schaezler Palace to help visitors better understand and envision the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A special highlight will be a performance of the personal violin of his father and teacher, Leopold Mozart, on May 16.

Other major musical events in Germany's historic cities:

• Würzburg Mozart Festival - June 2 - July 2 - Thousands of visitors come to this event every year to enjoy its unique atmosphere. Internationally renowned chamber and symphony orchestras partner with well-known artists to perform Mozart's masterpieces. Held in the festively illuminated Court Gardens of the Residence and the palaces of Werneck and Veitshöchheim, the open air concerts are famous for their romantic ambiance. (German language site)

Koblenz events and festivals: International Music Days - March 10-May 14 . Mozart Concert at the Rhein-Mosel-Hall - June 7-8 . Koblenz Mendelssohn Days - September 22-24 - Koblenz dedicates these musical days to the composer Felix Mendelssohn and his sister Fanny. (German language site) "Germany Off the Beaten Track" tour features four Historic Highlights cities:

• Nonstop Travel of Torrance, California, has developed a custom guided program of southern Germany featuring "Rhine in Flames." The tour, from August 3-13, 2006, features four of Germany's Historic Highlights cities - Regensburg, Freiburg, Heidelberg and Koblenz - as well as Munich and Rothenburg.
• The tour begins with two nights in Munich followed by a two-night visit to Regensburg. There guests will enjoy sightseeing tours as well as morning mass with the Regensburger Domspatzen (choirboys) and a cruise along the Danube to Walhalla, a monument based on the Parthenon in Athens and home of the German Hall of Fame.
• The tour stops in Rothenburg en route to Ulm, the city with the tallest church spire in the world. The next stop is two days in Freiburg, where highlights include a walking tour, evening wine fair, and bus tour through the Black Forest.
• The next destination is Heidelberg, Germany's most romantic city, with an overnight stay at the 16th-century Hotel zum Ritter. Then it's on to Koblenz, the city where the Rhine and Mosel meet.
• The crowning event for the tour is the annual "Rhine in Flames." An evening dinner cruise along the Rhine with a special firework spectacle adds the finishing touch to this tour through southern Germany.
• The 11-day tour costs $1449 exclusive of air fare. Visit www.nonstoptravel.net or contact Christiane at christiane@nonstoptravel.net or 800-949-6362.

Heidelberg's award-winning wine: Founded in 1707, the family-owned Seeger Winery near Heidelberg recently received the German Award for the best red wine in the category of red burgundy for its 2003 Heidelberger Herrenberg. It is the second time that the Seeger family has topped the list in Vinum magazine. Situated in the heart of Germany's largest wine-growing region, Heidelberg has a long tradition of wine production. Today its local wines regularly receive national awards, and its castle's giant wine barrel has even become renowned as the world's largest. Tasting sessions for Heidelberg wines can be arranged through the Heidelberg Convention and Visitors Bureau. You can get more information on the Seeger Winery at www.seegerweingut.de. (German language site) Rostock and Warnemünde: Experience the charms of the Baltic Sea: The Baltic Sea is a relaxing retreat at any time of year. It is a mecca for swimming, sunbathing, and surfing in the summer with its kilometres of fine white sand stretching from cliffs in the west to Rostock Heath in the east. Many visitors prefer the cooler seasons and travel to the coast seeking the health benefits of Warnemünde and Rostock's excellent water quality and mild winter climate. Lovers of all things nautical will get their fill of sea and ships in Rostock and Warnemünde. The Port of Rostock sends off ferries bound for Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Estonia, Latvia and Finland. There are the freighters from all over the globe alongside the high-speed crafts of the German Navy. Cruise liners also add to the maritime atmosphere of these unique towns. Docking at Warnemünde Cruise Center from April through September, these ships offer Baltic cruises to visitors. Deep-sea fishermen can make use of the trawlers available for fishing trips, making temporary fishing licenses for tourists very popular. Passenger vessels at Warnemünde's Alter Strom take visitors on sea or harbour tours. Other boats cruise along the Warnow River to Rostock city harbour or to resorts. Available daily during the tourist season, all of these cruises feature the backdrop of the port with its giant ferries and modern shipyards. Top-notch sailing and other seafaring adventures make the Warnemünde Week the highlight of every summer for this town. The 69th annual festivities will be held this year from July 1-9. More than 2,500 sportsmen of the sea are expected to come to the Baltic Sea and the Warnow River from all over the globe for one of Germany's largest international sailing events. The 16th Hanse Sail will take place the following month from August 10-13. Traditional sailing vessels and windjammers will converge upon the Rostock coast as the focus of one of the largest maritime festivals in the Baltic region. The unique nautical atmosphere at Rostock city harbour and Warnemünde brings more than a million visitors every August to this event. Day trips as well as multiple-day trips are available for the more adventurous tourist to explore the area by sea or even air. For those who aren't so adventuresome, there is a market mile of music and entertainment, exhibitions, fireworks, and the beaches. Visit www.luebeck-tourism.de for more information on the attractions and events in Warnemünde and Rostock. In addition, most of Potsdam's tourism website, www.potsdam-tourism.com, is now available in English. Under the motto of "Potsdam - Splendid Palaces and Idyllic Landscapes," the site allows users to familiarize themselves with the town and plan their visit around special offers and services. It provides suggestions for trips, descriptions of tourist highlights, an event calendar and more. Hotel stays can be booked directly on the website, and restaurant tips offer suggestions for a culinary exploration of the city. Business and group travellers can also view and book offers with the appropriate forms obtainable on the website. A map of the town, directions for travelling to Potsdam, and a brochure ordering service are available. Trier, The sportslovers' city: Tennis legends Boris Becker, Michael Stich, Henri Leconte and Charly Steeb will meet on March 9 for the Trier Tennis Classics. Singles and doubles matches will be played in the Trier Arena. Tennis players will make way for soccer fans on May 18 as Germany's oldest city displays the original Soccer World Cup. After its extensive world tour, this most coveted of trophies will be exhibited in Trier's Viehmarkt. Visit www.trier-today.de to check out all the best sports events in Trier. Sand World 2006: Travemünde draws crowds with an unusual art form The shoreline of Travemünde will be transformed with giant works of art in a very unusual medium this summer during Germany's fifth annual sand sculpture festival, Sand World 2006. From July 7-September 3, guests of the seaside resort can explore the fascinating world of sand sculpture as they watch sculptors carve their creations or view the completed pieces. Nearly 75 sculptors, or "carvers," will come from all over the world to shape these whimsical works from approximately 9,000 tons of sand, some with heights of up to 11 meters. During the first three days of the festival, visitors will have the unique opportunity to watch the sculptors hard at work on the beach in Travemünde. The family-friendly program will include sand sculpting workshops, audio guided tours, and a large "Kids World" area. Evening entertainment in Travemünde will feature live music from jazz to classical, several "chill out zones," movies, and restaurants with beach terraces and international cuisine.