Germany is one of Europe’s most fascinating countries - a place where medieval castles stand beside … (More)
Featured Stories
Schloss Braunfels
Castle Braunfels is located on a basalt rock west of the health resort Braunfels in the Central Hessian Lahn-Dill-Kreis. The castle soars 100 m (328 ft) above the Lahn valley. It has been the seat of the Counts of Solms since the 13th century and is still owned by the counts of Oppersdorff and Solms-Braunfels […]
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel (born Georg Friedrich Händel on February 23, 1685 – died on April 14, 1759) was a German, later British, baroque composer who spent the bulk of his career in London, becoming well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Although born in Halle, Germany, to German parents, he spent the […]
Krustenbraten – Crusted Pork Roast
Pork roast is the staple of German cuisine. If the skin and the underlying fat is included in the cut, it is called Krustenbraten, where the skin is made into a crispy crust. The roast is served with vegetables of the season, a salad and dumplings (bread or potato) or red cabbage. Ingredients: 1.5 kg […]
Mutzenmandeln – Traditional German Recipe
Few traditional German recipes capture the festive spirit quite like Mutzenmandeln. These small, almond-shaped pastries, fried until golden and dusted with powdered sugar, are a cherished treat during the Christmas and Carnival seasons. Their name literally means “almond fritters” though they rarely contain actual almonds – the name refers instead to their shape, which resembles […]
May 26 in German History
May 26, 1799 Birth of August Kopisch in Breslau, Germany (now in Poland). Kopisch was a painter and poet. Two of his books of poetry are Gedichte (1836) and Allerlei Geister (1848). Allerlei Geister was based on legends and fairy tales. Kopisch studied painting and archaeology in Italy (1823–28) and in 1826 rediscovered, with Ernst […]
September 28 in German History
September 28, 1811 Birth of Friedrich Hecker in Eichtersheim, Germany. He was a liberal politician who was involved in several actions attempting to eliminate the monarchy and establish a republic. Under political pressure he fled to the United States where he served as a colonel in the Union Army in the Civil War. September 28, […]
August 23 in German History
August 23, 1773 Birth of Jakob Friedrich Fries in Barby, Germany. Fries was a professor of philosophy at the Universities of Heidelberg and Jena. In Neue oder anthropologische Kritik der Vernunft he attempted to provide a foundation of psychological analysis to the critical theory of Kant. August 23, 1829 Birth of Moritz Benedikt Cantor in […]
Schultüte (School Cone)
A “Schultüte” (or School Cone, even though the word “Tüte” translates more as “bag” from German), is a paper or plastic bag in form of a big cone. When children in Germany, Czech Republic, close to the borders with Germany, parts of Poland (Greater Poland, Upper Silesia, Warmia), Austria, and parts of Switzerland set off […]
May 2 in German History
May 2, 1507 Martin Luther is consecrated a priest at the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt, Germany. May 2, 1601 Birth of Athanasius Kircher (1601-1680) in Geisa, Germany. Kircher studied in Fulda, Paderborn, Cologne and Koblenz. In 1628 he was ordained a Jesuit priest in Mainz. In 1634 he moved to Rome and took up the […]
Read More
Green Party of Germany
In the early years of the FRG, several minor parties representing a range of political views from the neo-Nazi right to the communist left played a role in the political system. Support for these … [Read More...]
Schweineschnitzel (German Pork Schnitzel)
Schnitzel is the quintessential German dish. Every tourist to Germany has had Schnitzel and most fall in love with it. Some people associate Schnitzel with Wienerschnitzel. “Wienerschnitzel” is … [Read More...]
Brötchen – How to Make German Bread Rolls
Brötchen are the heart and soul of the German breakfast table. These small, crusty rolls are as essential to German life as coffee or butter. Whether picked up fresh from the local bakery at dawn or … [Read More...]
Grünkohleintopf – Kale Stew with Smoked Meat and Sausages
Ingredients: 1 – 1.3 kg of kale, washed, stems and ribs removed 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 medium yellow onions, peeled and chopped 2 tablespoons rolled oats 450 g smoked pork … [Read More...]
German Swear Words and Their Surprisingly Creative Origins
The world loves to joke about how serious Germans are, but listen closely in a traffic jam, a Bundesliga match, or a Berlin late night Späti and you will hear a very lively lexicon of German swear … [Read More...]
July 7 in German History
July 7, 1720 Maria Bach (wife of J. S. Bach) dies in Köthen, Germany. Maria Bach was the first wife of Johann Sebastian Bach. July 7, 1860 Birth of Gustav Mahler in Kaliste, Bohemia. Mahler … [Read More...]
German Sausage Soup Recipe
Ingredients: 500-700 g sausage (kielbasa or bratwurst types) 1 large onion, diced 2 large carrots, diced 3-4 celery ribs, sliced 1 large turnip, diced 0.5 kg ground tomatoes (or 1 can diced … [Read More...]
Heringssalat – Traditional German Herring Salad Recipe
Tangy, creamy, and full of flavor - Heringssalat, or German herring salad, is a traditional dish especially popular during festive seasons like Christmas, New Year's, and Karneval. Combining marinated … [Read More...]
What to Expect at a German Village Fest (Dorf Fest)
Imagine wandering through a quaint German village under a canopy of summer skies, where the air is filled with the aroma of sizzling sausages and the sound of brass bands echoing off cobblestone … [Read More...]
September 8 in German History
September 8, 801 St. Ansgar was born on September 8, 801 in Corbie (in modern France). In 823 he became a teacher in the newly founded monastery in Corvey in Westphalia (modern Germany). In 829 he … [Read More...]