Famous landmarks in Germany

Germany is a large country in Central Europe, stretching from the North Sea and Baltic Sea in the north to the Alps in the south. It borders nine countries, more than almost any other European nation. Its capital is Berlin, and about 84 million people live there, the most of any country in the European Union. Germany is known for its castles, forests, cities full of history, inventions, cars, music and Christmas markets.

On My Earth Toy you can visit Neuschwanstein Castle, the Brandenburg Gate, Cologne Cathedral, the Reichstag Building with its glass dome and Aachen Cathedral. Look for the European hedgehog, wild boar and fire salamander, and discover places such as Berlin's TV Tower and the sandstone rocks of Saxon Switzerland.

Geography and nature

Northern Germany is low and flat, with sandy coasts, islands and mudflats along the Wadden Sea. The middle has rolling hills and forests, such as the Harz and the Black Forest, where the Danube begins. In the south rise the Bavarian Alps, with Zugspitze, about 2,960 metres, the highest peak. The Rhine, one of Europe's most important rivers, flows past castles and vineyards. Hedgehogs, wild boar, deer and foxes live in its woods.

People, languages and culture

German is the official language, and Germany is a federation of 16 states, each with its own traditions. Christianity is the largest religion, and many people have no religion. Germans are proud of their bread, with hundreds of varieties, and of regional sausages, pretzels and cakes. Composers such as Bach and Beethoven were German. Football is the most popular sport, and Christmas markets with gingerbread and wooden toys began here.

History in a nutshell

Germanic tribes lived here in Roman times. Charlemagne, crowned emperor in 800, ruled from Aachen, and for centuries many German states belonged to the Holy Roman Empire. Around 1450 Johannes Gutenberg developed printing with movable metal type. Germany united as one country in 1871. After the world wars, it was divided into East and West in 1949, and the Berlin Wall split Berlin from 1961 until 1989. Germany reunified on 3 October 1990.