Germany is a European country that is in its entirety filled with cultural history and picturesque landscapes. The amalgamation of modernity in the cities and the heritage in the historical towns of Germany makes it special, both for locals and tourists. The country is famous for its beer, love for sports and monumental importance, but there is so much more about this country that will surely be interesting to know. So, here are 45 exciting and informative facts about Germany that will make you discover the country in a better way.
1. Most Populous Country in the European Union
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Germany has a population of 83 million making it the most populous country in the European Union and beating the second most populous country, France by double. It is also the seventh most populous country in the world.
2. Home to the Longest Autobahn in the World
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With a stretch of 7,000 miles, the longest Autobahn or highway in the world is situated in Germany which provides a unique driving experience.
3. Country of Castles
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From small castles to majestic palaces, Germany is known to have more than 25,000 castles each having different historical importance. Some of the popular castles in the country include Burg Eltz, Heidelberg Castle & Neuschwanstein Castle.
4. Germany Invented More than 300 Types of Bread
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The immense love of Germans for their bread is visible in the variety of bread the country has to offer. Each region of Germany has a specific bread type, mostly in dense and chewy texture. Some of the bread delicacies of Germany include sourdough, pumpernickel, and pretzels.
5. Germany Has over 1,500 Different Kinds of Sausages
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Popular for the types of sausages available, Germany has developed more than 1,500 types of sausages that come with distinct flavours. Be it the well-known bratwurst or the lesser-known weisswurst and bockwurst, every foodie will get some delicious sausages in Germany.
6. World’s Highest Number of Aquariums and Zoos
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With over 400 zoos and aquariums across the entire country, Germany is considered to have the highest number of facilities acting as home to varied animals and birds.
7. Host to the World’s Largest Beer Festival - Oktoberfest
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Germany organizes the largest beer festival in the world in Munich every year. The festival is popular with the name Oktoberfest and features a wide range of German beers, music and food.
8. Germany is a Country with the World’s Largest Wine Barrel
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The world’s largest wine barrel, Heidelberg Tun, is present in the city of Heidelberg of Germany. Built-in the 18th century, the wine barrel can store over 58,000 gallons of wine.
9. Home to the World’s Largest Outdoor Gallery
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World’s largest outdoor gallery, East Side gallery has more than 100 murals having different themes, from political to social messages, and is situated in the capital of Germany.
10. Oktoberfest Does Not Happen in October
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The annual beer festival, Oktoberfest, is not organized in October, but in September which is way contrary to its name. It is the largest beer festival in the world and witnesses huge crowds every year for its beer, music, food and ambience.
11. The First Printed Book in the World was Made in Germany
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Printed in the 15th century by the name of Gutenberg Bible, Germany was the inventor of the world’s first printed book that revolutionized the printing world leading to the mass production of books.
12. The Country with the Most Nobel Laureates in Physics
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Germany is the country that has given the most Nobel Laureates in Physics over the years. The most famous Physicists like Max Planck and Albert Einstein are from Germany.
13. Germany is Home to World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock
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As everybody knows that Germany is very popular for its Cuckoo Clocks, it is also home to the largest Cuckoo clock in the world, situated in Schonach. With a length of 60 feet and a weight of 14 tons, the Cuckoo Clock is also one of the major tourist attractions of the country.
14. Germany’s Harz Mountains Organize the Unique Witch Festival
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Located in central Germany, Harz Mountains organizes a festival known as Walpurgisnacht festival that celebrates the spring and witches. Germans celebrate this festival by dancing, singing and enjoying around a bonfire.
15. Germany Features the World’s Oldest Zoo
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The Berlin Zoo was founded in 1844 and is the oldest zoo in the world that features more than 20,000 animals including pandas, elephants, and gorillas.
16. Germany is Popular for Its Spa Culture
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Germany has a long tradition of spa culture where it offers a wide range of treatments and therapies, like hydrotherapy, aromatherapy and many more as per the traditional method. A trip to Germany is incomplete without a spa session for relaxation and rejuvenation.
17. World’s Tallest Cathedral is in Germany
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Home to the tallest Cathedral in the world, Germany houses the Ulm Minster which stands at a height of 530 feet. Visitors can climb 768 steps to the top of the cathedral for enjoying the stunning city views and surrounding countryside.
18. Germany Published the First Printed Newspaper
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Germany has always been a revolution in the printing world and is the birthplace of the first printed newspaper. In 1605, the first printed newspaper, Avisa Relation oder Zeitung was published in Augsburg city of Germany.
19. Germans are Fascinated by Their Christmas Markets
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Germany celebrates Christmas with full zeal and one of the most important parts of these celebrations is their Christmas markets. Multiple markets in different cities in Germany are set up with handmade stalls, food, drinks, music and wine. Gingerbread is another thing that all the Christmas markets are famous for. If you get a chance, plan your trip around Christmas to experience the razzmatazz of Germany’s Christmas Market.
20. Germany's Most Loved Street Food is Currywurst
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Originating in 1949, Currywurst is the most popular street food in Germany that has sliced sausages topped with curry sauce and served with French Fries and bread. Now, the dish is available in many forms and is available at every nook in Germany.
21. Brewery culture is Extremely Popular in Germany
Germany’s beer culture is popular all over the world as Germans keep strict control on the quality and purity of the beer, for which they even have brewery laws. Home to over 2000 breweries, Germany brews Pilsner, Weissbier, Kolsch and another popular styles of beer.
22. The Berlin Wall Was Only Present for 28 Years
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Divided by East and West Germany, Berlin Wall has been a significant landmark of German history and lived only for 28 years. The wall was present from 1961 to 1989, after which it was destroyed in the war. Visitors can still see the remnants, museums and memorials depicting the history of the wall.
23. The Black Forest is Situated in Germany
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The popular Black Forest, which is a massive and dense wooded mountain, is situated in the southwestern part of Germany. There are varieties of adventurous activities like hiking, biking and skiing that can be enjoyed in the Black Forest. The popular Black Forest Cake is also extremely popular around the place and worth trying.
24. Germans Love the Concept of Recycling
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Germany is the world’s leading country in terms of recycling with a complex yet effective waste management system. There is a strict rule of separating the garbage into different categories that have helped Germany reduce its waste output significantly.
25. Germany Revolutionized the Automobile Industry
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Germany is the birthplace of some of the world’s most famous car brands, like BMW, Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen. Even the first gasoline-powered automobile was invented in Germany by Karl Benz in 1885.
26. The German Language Consists of Long Words
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The German language is known for its long and complicated words that are not only challenging to pronounce but difficult to recall by non-native speakers. The longest word "Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft" is also a German word that translates to “Association for subordinate officials of the head office management of the Danube steamboat electrical services”. There are quite a few other words that are intriguing for travellers.
27. Germany is Home to More Than 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
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Germany is home to over 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Berlin Modernism Housing Estates, Wadden Sea National Park, Cathedral of Cologne and many more that respectively hold a huge historical and cultural importance.
28. There is No Speed Limit on German Autobahn
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The longest highway, the German Autobahn does not have any official speed limit which makes it unique among driving enthusiasts. There are a few places on the highway with speed limits, but most of the area is no speed limit area.
29. Europe’s Largest Urban Forest is in Germany
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The Grunewald Forest, the largest Urban forest in Europe is on the outskirts of Berlin and covers a massive area of 7,000 acres. Away from the city’s hustle, this forest is a peaceful retreat with hiking trails, natural scenery and bike paths.
30. Germany is the Largest Producer of Asparagus in the World
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Germany produces over 70,000 tons of Asparagus every year which is more than any other country in the world. A delicacy in Germany, white asparagus is used in traditional German food like asparagus soup, asparagus hollandaise sauce, etc.
31. Country of Forests and Woodlands
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Germany is extensively covered by verdant greenery with 33% of the land covered in woodlands and forests. With the area of 1,00,000 square kilometers of land under the forestry, Gespensterwald, Black Forest, Zauberwald and many others forests are must visit in the country.
32. Berlin is a City of Museums & Galleries
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Yes, you heard it right. The capital of Germany houses over 180 museums and galleries which is even more than the rainy days in a year. Some of the most popular museums in Berlin are Pergamon Museum, the Jewish Museum, and the Museum Island.
33. The Oldest Brewery in the World is in Germany
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The love for beer in Germany is quite visible with the quality of beer, the number of breweries and the beer culture of the country. But, do you know that Germany is also the home to the oldest brewery in the world? The Weihenstephan Abbey Brewery situated in Bavaria was started in 1040 and has been producing beer by traditional method since then.
34. Advent Wreath is a Unique Christmas Tradition in Germany
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One of Germany’s popular Christmas traditions is the Advent Wreath which is not unique but holds huge historical importance as well. The German wreath tradition consists of four candles, with one candle lit each Sunday in the lead-up to Christmas.
35. Germany Hosts the World’s Largest Wine Festival
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The annual wine festival of Germany, Wurstmarkt festival is the world’s largest wine festival that attracts more than 6,00,000 visitors every year.
36. Germany Has the World’s Longest Network of Hiking Trails.
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Covering over 2,00,000 kilometers, Germany is the country with the longest network of hiking trails that are well-maintained and accessible to hikers. The popular trails are Rennsteig in the Thuringian Forest and Westweg in the Black Forest area.
37. Germany is the Inventor of the Christmas Tree Tradition
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The tradition of the Christmas tree started in the 16th century in Germany when Martin Luther lit candles to decorate a tree to symbolize the stars shining above Bethlehem. This tradition became popular after that in Germany, followed by Europe, North America and eventually the entire world.
38. Germany Has a ‘Dwarf City’
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Zwergenstadt, the dwarf city, is a miniature land in the city of Dresden of Germany that has fantastic models of landscapes, inhabitants and buildings at 1:25 scale. With a population of 13,000 hand-painted figurines of humans, animals and dwarfs, the city is worth exploring.
39. Germany Has the Second-highest Number of Michelin-starred Restaurants in the World
Germany is a country with 314 restaurants with Michelin stars which is the second highest after France.
40. Germany Has the World’s Largest Science Fiction Museum
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The Science Fiction Museum in Berlin is the largest museum with 12,000 exhibits showcasing the literature, films and historical evolution of science fiction.
41. Germany is Home to the World’s Largest Wind Turbine
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Located in the town of Emden, the Enercon E-126 wind turbine is the largest in the world with a height of 135 meters and a rotor diameter of 126 meters.
42. Germany Has Developed a Unique and Effective Method of Recycling Plastic Bottles.
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Germany started a system of “pfand” where customers pay a deposit on plastic bottles when they purchase them. At the time of the return of bottles, the bottles are sorted by colour and material to create new bottles that reduce wastage.
43. Germany is Home to the World’s Largest Indoor Water Park
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Located in Krausnick, Tropical Islands Resort is the world’s largest indoor water park featuring a variety of water rides, pools and slides in addition to tropical rainforest and beach area.
44. Germany Has the World’s Highest Number of Registered Dogs
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Germany is a country with a lot of dog lovers with over 9 million registered dogs which is the highest number in the world.
45. The Oldest Surviving Church is in Germany
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Located in Hildesheim, St. Michael’s Church is the oldest surviving church in Germany that is as old as 1,000 years. The church is also a part of the UNESCO World Heritage site and features Romanesque architecture and unique historical artefacts.
These intriguing facts about this fascinating country made it much more than just beer, castles and soccer. With the rich history and culture of this place, it offers you various activities, attractions and events. So, don’t wait and visit this place to dive into the actual flavours of Germany.
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