Savoir Vivre and Sophistication Route – Germany’s UNESCO Routes

July 3, 2015

You might have read my earlier blog on Germany’s Earthly Treasures and Architecture Route & other UNESCO routes, but if not, then don’t worry because we’ve got another new route for you.

The UNESCO Savoir Vivre and Sophistication Route begins in Frankfurt and follows the twists and turns of the Rhine – through gorgeous, verdant countryside, unspoiled since the Roman times.

The route features magnificent castles, Charlemagne’s cathedral and the Ruhr, before returning to the river and concluding in Düsseldorf, a shopping metropolis and one of Germany’s most creative cities.

Frankfurt is a city famous for its modernity and business sense, with a huge airport frequented by executives from all over the world on their way to one of the city’s trade shows, but the city also has another side. The Museum Embankment on the city’s south side is home to some of Germany’s most preeminent galleries and museums, with world-class exhibitions on a huge variety of subjects.

Travel through the Rhine Valley and open Germany’s gateway between northern and southern Europe. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley and its romantic small towns and winegrowing villages along the river are best discovered by boat – so hope onboard the Goethe, the last remaining paddle steamer on the Rhine.

As the Rhine and the Moselle rivers converge, you’ll find Deutches Eck, or the German Corner, a region famous for its beautiful towns and cities, such as Koblenz. Bruhl, a small town in the Rhineland sees architecture, sculpture, painting and garden design brought together to create a first-class work of art. Augustusburg Palace and Falkenlust hunting lodge are fine examples of German rococo ensemble, along with their baroque gardens, and have been UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1984.

Germany is home to several spectacular cathedrals, and two of the best are in Aachen and Cologne. Cologne’s cathedral is an early example of Gothic architecture in Germany, inspired by French buildings such as Notre Dame and attracts more than 6 million visitors per year.

Aachen’s cathedral was the first site to ever be granted UNESCO World Heritage status in Germany.

Built around 790 AD, it is now the final resting place of Charlemagne, who intended to build a new Rome in Aachen when he made it the centre of his empire.

Finally, finish your tour in Dusseldorf, Germany’s catwalk city and home of much of the country’s fashion industry, with more than 800 showrooms across the city. If you’ve got a bit of cash spare, then Königsallee is lined with exclusive boutiques, where you can find names such as Marco Polo, Hugo Boss, Strellson and Calvin Klein are stocked, as well as Armani, Bulgari, Gucci, Jil Sander, Prada, Tiffany & Co. and Versace.

If you like the sound of this route as much as we enjoyed it, we’d recommend it. Find out a little more detail here.

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