Guide to Germany
Must See Germany
- Aachen Dom
- Black Forest
- Brandenburg Gate
- Füssen
- Goethe Haus
- Harz Mountains
- Lübeck
- Leipzig
- North Frisian Islands
- Rhine Valley
- Romantic Road
- Schloss Hohenschwangau
- Schloss Linderhof
- Schloss Neuschwanstein
- Stasi Museum
- Tübingen
- Weimar
Places in Germany
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The Harz Mountains rise picturesquely from the North German plain, a quick train ride from the tourist centres in the south. They don't have the peaks and valleys of the Alps, but they offer a great all-seasons sports getaway without some of the Alpine tackiness and tourism.
The Harz area is well organised for hikers, but not to the detriment of its beauty. The area is popular for cycle touring, although pedal pushers must share some of the winding mountain roads with petrol heads, so check maps before heading off. Downhill skiiers will find the Harz Mountains relatively uninspiring, but cross-country skiing is a local passion that's shared by many visitors to the region. Travelling around on the steam trains here is also fun. Nearby are the historical towns of Goslar, Quedlinburg and Wernigerode, with their half-timbered houses.