Palaces and Parks Route – Germany’s UNESCO Routes

You might have read my earlier blog on Germany’s Savoir Vivre and Sophistication Route, but if not, then don’t worry because we’ve got another new route for you!

Germany is famous for its many mighty castles, fortresses and palaces, and many of its cities include huge, beautiful parks and public gardens, so planning a route around these UNESCO sites is simple.

This time round, we’re starting in Leipzig…

Leipzig is a city of music and arts, and this is reflected in almost every single building in the city. Wander the streets and you’ll find busts of classical musicians and artists, as well as gorgeous concert halls and more.

Weimar is another city with a distinct heritage, in this case for peace, politics and high-thinkers. Goethe lived here, in a wonderful baroque building which is still open for visitors, so did philosopher and theologian Johan Gottfried Herder, whose house and gardens can still be visited today. The Duchess Anna Amalia Library is a veritable palace to learning, with texts from as far back as the 9^th century.

Potsdam is perhaps most famous for the conference which took place here, between Joseph Stalin, Harry Truman and Winston Churchill, but it is a beautiful city in its own right, with plenty of historic buildings to discover. Dating back to 1745, the Sanssouci Palace was commissioned by Frederick the Great to be built as his summer residence and is the oldest feature of Potsdam and Berlin’s palaces and parks. The area was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1989, including many palaces, manor houses and huge, open gardens. The area covers 2000 hectares in total, so there’s plenty to explore!

Finally, head to Muskauer Park, designed by travel writer and landscape gardener, Prince Hermann Von Pückler-Muskau. It is one of the most beautiful landscaped gardens in the world and covers around 830 hectares. The park is actually made up of a few smaller parks on either side of the German-Polish border, with each park having its own style and character. Muskauer Park is a sign of German-Polish union, as well as an important landmark for both countries.