États et régions allemands

Highlights Across Germany’s 16 States

From the white‑sand beaches of Sylt in Schleswig‑Holstein to the glacier‑capped Zugspitze in Bavaria, Germany’s regions span rugged coastlines, river‑carved wine valleys, dense evergreen forests, and lofty Alpine peaks.

Journey south‑west to Baden‑Württemberg’s Black Forest where cuckoo‑clock villages sit beside biosphere reserves, or cruise the UNESCO‑listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley between Hesse and Rhineland‑Palatinate, dotted with hilltop castles and terraced vineyards.

In the east, Saxony and Brandenburg offer baroque splendour in Dresden, palaces in Potsdam, and easy rail links to Berlin’s cosmopolitan culture scene, while North Rhine‑Westphalia dazzles with industrial heritage routes and vibrant Düsseldorf‑Cologne city breaks.

Regional Traditions and Folklore

Many regions have unique traditions. For example, Thuringia is the birthplace of the Gartenzwerg (garden gnome), a charming and iconic figure in German folklore.