ADVENTURES IN TRAVEL & DINING
Germany
GERMANY’S MANY DIVERSE EXPERIENCES PLACE HIGH AMONGST EUROPEAN AND WORLD TOURIST DESTINATIONS
BY ELAINE & SCOTT HARRIS
Calling all travelers! Germany awaits those eager to explore culture, nature, and the culinary arts. We were privileged to travel to Essen, Germany, to join top representatives of the international travel industry and media from 36 countries and attend the 49th Germany Travel MartTM (GTM) organized by the German National Tourist Board (GNTB). The GTM is the most important sales event for incoming German tourism and is held annually as a Green Meeting by the GNTB in cooperation with changing areas and cities. For three days, attendees took a deep dive to discover Germany’s latest trends, developments, and tourism products. They traveled to nearby Dusseldorf and Cologne to immerse themselves in the region.
Essen is in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The ninth-largest city in Germany, with a population of around 590,000 people, has a long history of being the center of coal and steel production for decades. Today, the city has undergone a significant economic and cultural transformation, focusing on promoting sustainable development, innovation, and creativity.
Our home base was The ATLANTIC Congress Hotel, the event hot spot for the Ruhr Metropolis of Essen. It offers 248 stylish rooms and suites, 1,200 m² of updated conference space, fantastic cuisine, and a unique rooftop terrace offering guests a modern place to stay in Essen. Restaurant CUXX, located near the lobby, is innovative and down to earth, serving high-quality, fresh, regional dishes prepared creatively and passionately.
Germany has excelled coming out of two years of a global chaotic time. International tourism increased in 2022 to 917 million arrivals (101.6%). It was also Europe’s second most popular destination, with 46.5 million trips in 2022. (Second only to Spain with 63.2 million) International markets have also started to get back on track, with the United States leading the way with 2,522,000 trips in 2022. Of course, this also led to a 119% increase in hotel stays. Culture is significant to Germany, and it shows the county is ranked first among Europeans as a cultural destination. With the country’s historic buildings, culture, vibrant city life, and focus on sustainability, it’s certainly no surprise this ancient culture is thriving in 2023 and beyond.
Exploring Essen, we found it to be very diverse in its offerings. The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex is a must-stop, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, unique event space, art museum, and houses various restaurant venues. Nearby the Museum Folkwang showcases a wide range of art from different periods, including Picasso, Renoir, Monet, Gauguin, and Van Gough, and is worth a half-day visit at the very least.
Pro Tip: Enjoy lunch at restaurant Eolola for authentic regional cuisine inside the museum Folkwang.
One can enjoy numerous hiking trails and the Grugapark, a large park with gardens, lakes, and recreational facilities. When dining in Essen, you will find various options to suit all tastes and budgets, ranging from traditional German cuisine to international dishes.
Pro Tip: For a Michelin Experience, Kettner’s Kamota, curated by Chef Jurgen Kettner, brings together “New Austrian meets Asia” with a brilliant menu bringing flavors of his native Austria and Asian Influences that earned him a Michelin Star.
A quick train ride will find you in Cologne (Köln in German), the fourth largest city in Germany, with a population of over 1 million people in the metropolitan area. This ancient city is a major cultural and economic center known for its historical landmarks, museums, and vibrant nightlife. The town is situated on the Rhine River and is home to the famous Cologne Cathedral, a towering Gothic structure that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the largest and most famous cathedrals in the world.
The cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, with its soaring spires and intricate stone carvings. It is an important symbol of Christianity in Germany and a cultural and architectural treasure. Construction of the cathedral began in 1248 and was completed in 1880, spanning over six centuries.
The cathedral is also home to several important religious relics, including the Shrine of the Three Kings, which is said to contain the remains of the Magi who visited the infant Jesus. The cathedral attracts millions of visitors annually, who admire its beauty and rich history.
It’s all about the beer culture here, as it is home to several breweries and hosts a large annual beer festival called Oktoberfest. The city is also famous for its Christmas markets, which attract visitors worldwide during the holiday season.
An easy day trip from Essen, explore Düsseldorf, located on the banks of the historic Rhine River. It is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia and has a population of around 600,000 people, making it the seventh largest city in Germany.
The city is renowned globally for its fashion industry, art scene, and nightlife. Additionally, it is home to many museums, galleries, and theaters, including the famous Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen and the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. The city is also renowned for its annual carnival celebrations, which attract visitors from all over the world. It is also the economic center of Germany, with a strong focus on the banking and finance sectors. The city is home to the headquarters of several major companies, including Henkel, Metro AG, and E.ON. Because of its location in the center of Europe, its excellent transportation links, with a major airport and several train stations connecting it to other parts of Germany and Europe, make it the Hub of Europe.
Walking around Dusseldorf, we were astounded to find Düsseldorf is home to a significant Japanese community. After the Second World War, Japan’s expertise in manufacturing and engineering was sought after, and in the 1950s, Mitsubishi, the Japanese car company, set up manufacturing in the surrounding area. As a result, the city has many Japanese businesses and cultural institutions. Little Tokyo, located in the Stadtmitte district of Düsseldorf, is a small, vibrant area with numerous Japanese restaurants, cafes, and shops. Japan Day is the largest Japanese-annual celebratory event of all things Japanese, including culinary offerings, music, and martial arts demonstrations.
Additionally, the Japanese school was established in 1971 and serves the Japanese community in Düsseldorf and the surrounding areas. The school offers classes from kindergarten to high school and follows the Japanese education system. A short walk found us at the EKŌ-Haus der japanischen Kultur. This cultural center is located in the Grafenberg neighborhood of Düsseldorf and provides a variety of lessons and events related to Japanese culture, including calligraphy, tea ceremony, and martial arts.
Neustadt an der Weinstraße is a town in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in southwestern Germany known for its wine production. Neustadt an der Weinstraße has a population of around 53,000 and is the largest town in the Mittelhaardt region. The village is known for its historic center, which features many well-preserved buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, including the Hambach Castle, considered the bastion of the German democracy movement due to the Hambacher Fest, a procession symbolizing German unity. Neustadt an der Weinstraße is also a popular tourist destination due to its location in the Palatinate Wine Region, which features numerous vineyards, wineries, and culinary culture.
Dining options are very diverse. Stop into Hambel’s Restaurant—an award-winning restaurant offering a modern take on traditional Palatinate cuisine, using fresh, local ingredients. The menu changes frequently to reflect the seasons and availability of ingredients. For classic German dishes, look no further than Zur Kanne. This cozy restaurant is in the heart of Neustadt’s old town. It serves traditional German dishes like schnitzel and sausages and regional specialties like liver dumplings and Palatinate-style sauerbraten. The Oenophiles will enjoy the family-run Weinhaus Henninger. The venue is known for its extensive wine list featuring local wines from the surrounding vineyards. The list of options features traditional Palatinate dishes like potato soup, liver dumplings, and fried potatoes with bacon and onions. For lighter fare, Café Vogel is for you. This charming café in Neustadt’s center serves coffee, cakes, and light meals. The menu includes salads, sandwiches, quiches, homemade cakes, and pastries.
Pro Tip: Discover one of the region’s most distinguished wine cellars, with a collection numbering thousands of bottles. Here you can find different vintages of Château Montelena next to rare varieties from Colgin to Abreus wine. These fine wines can stand next to a Vertikale from Dominus. The finest Napa cabernets remarkably compare with a mature Premier Crus des Paulliac.
No matter where you dine in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, you’ll surely enjoy the region’s delicious food and wine.
Visiting Germany and getting a master class on where it fits into the European and Global travel industry enlightened us. Our brief stay enriched us and cultivated a desire to return to this brilliant country in the continent’s heart. As actress Claire Danes said, “Germany is fascinating. It’s a rich landscape to film and dramatize.” If you are filming or looking for a beautiful place to vacation, Germany has been Europe’s number-one cultural destination for over a decade. With a focus on sustainability, safety, and easy accessibility, more people are willing to discover the pleasures of travel again, especially in this historic, stunning picturesque landscape with 51 UNESCO world heritage sites and more ways to stay, play and learn, prompting many to stay longer and savor the moment. We were glad we did.
