CENTRAL GERMANY

The Rhein-Main Area borders Bavaria in the east, Rhineland-Palatine in the west and Baden-Wurttemberg in the south. Frankfurt is economically and geographically its main city. Air traffic connections, autobahns, railways and waterways all lead directly from the Frankfurt region into the industrial centres of Europe - ideal for quick access of customers and sales logistics. The wine culture has influenced the Rheingau throughout the centuries until today. Competent monks constructed here stately cloisters and monasteries and run the wine growing as well as the lucrative wine handling, carried through the Rhine River on ships from their own.

Smoking Chimneys, harsh working conditions, corner stand and, it goes without saying, football - that is how most people see or imagine the Ruhr for decades now. The surprise is great, however, when they discover the charm of the industrial region and its cultural location for recreation and adventure that can hardly be more diverse. Instead of grey melancholy, there are vast recreational areas, a wealth of cultural activities and an urban landscape that has something for every taste and interest within an area of just several square kilometres: amusement strips and natural paradises, shopping centres and rustic settings, cultural institutions and monuments to mining heritage. The distinctive architecture not only demonstrates that the region’s transformation from Europe’s leading industrial region to a vibrant cultural region is not a renunciation but rather a commitment to the roots of the coal and steel industry.

FRANKFURT…

• is Germany's second largest metropolitan area, situated on the Main River
• is the financial and transportation centre of Germany
• has the largest financial centre in continental Europe
• is not a stone juggernaut, but rather a very green city
• has the most imposing skyline in Germany

Visit of Mainz: Mainz, the charming capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, ideally located at the confluence of the Rhine and Main, has savoir vivre, a unique ambience and a cosmopolitan outlook. Whether you come to Mainz as a tourist or to attend a conference or one of Mainz's numerous festivals, you cannot fail to be captivated by the open, friendly atmosphere of the town and its people. You feel it wherever you go: wandering through the market or the lovingly restored old town or strolling along the banks of the river Rhine.

Rheinhessen: The largest wine-growing area in Rhineland-Palatinate lies between Bingen, Mainz, Worms and Alzey. The attractive wine-growing town of Ingelheim and the Gothic Church of St. Katharine in Oppenheim are just a few kilometres away. The studios of the Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) broadcasting corporation are also well worth a visit.

Schloss Westerhaus and Gestüt Westerberg: Just west of Mainz is the old wine town of Ingelheim with its castle church and the ruins of an imperial Carolingian palace. One of the best vineries in this area is Schloss Westerhaus, which welcomes you with a picturesque landscape and a historic castle.  The guests will be guided through the wine cellar by the owner himself, Johannes Graf von Schönburg zu Glauchau. Gala dinner, weddings, concerts and other events can be organized at Schloss Westerhaus. Next to the winery, a horse breeding stud farm is situated which is owned by the same family. A guided tour can be offered as well. The historic riding hall offers space for 15 banquet tables, where a gala dinner can take place. Meetings and presentations can be held there as well and while the guests will have their guided tour through the vinery and the stables, the set up will be changed into gala display.

Rheingau wine tasting: Wine has been grown in the Rheingau since Roman times. The climate is part of the reason why Germany's wine-growing regions are so popular with visitors. The vineyards in Germany's narrow river valleys are particularly spectacular. Wine lovers all over the world are passionate about Riesling, preferably from a traditional Rheingau estate. You might recognise Eberbach Abbey as the setting for the film "The Name of the Rose“. The Rheingau is an area of idyllic scenery where the Rhine leaves its south-north course between Mainz and Wiesbaden and swings round to the west. In this region, you will also find picturesque towns and cities such as Rüdesheim and Wiesbaden as well as taste some of the finest wines in the world.

Wiesbaden: Wiesbaden is variously described as the "Nice of the North", the gateway to the Rheingau, or the city of villas. The city has an illustrious history as a health resort due to its hot springs. The glorious architecture of the Wilhelmina era, lush parks and gardens and a wide choice of cultural events are the prominent features of this elegant city on the Rhine.

Platte Hunting Lodge: The ruins of the former royal hunting lodge lie high above Wiesbaden. The 54-room palace was built in the style of an Italian villa for Duke William of Nassau.

...largest city in the German state of Hessen with a population of 670,000

DÜSSELDORF…

• is the Capital of North-Rhine Westphalia
• has a lot to offer - Art, business and lifestyle
• offers the Königsallee, called Kö, that is said to be one of the most beautiful boulevards in the world
• has the Medienhafen that is home to about 300 companies, especially from the media and communications segments, fashion and architecture as well as art and culture

Königsallee: The Königsalle is as well known as the „Kö“, is one of the nicest and elegant shopping boulevard in Germany. Almost nearby you will find the Old Town.

Old Town: With almost 260 pubs and breweries is the historical Old Town of Düsseldorf the „longest bar of Europe“, but this square meters offer a lot more. Well known museums, art galleries as well as baroque churches.

Burgplatz: The mighty castle of the Count of Berg and the later Dukes of Jülich - Kleve - Berg stood at this place. Nowadays, a former side tower of a later baroque palace is all that remains. The palace burned down in 1872, the ruins were completely demolished in 1888. Since the opening of the Rhine embankment tunnel (1995), Burgplatz - awarded a prize as one of the most beautiful squares of post-war Germany - is again situated directly on the Rhine.

...Capital of North-Rhine Westphalia

COLOGNE…

• offers innumerable cultural and historical treasures, world-famous museums and an active art scene
• has the most famous architectural monument in Germany – The Cologne Cathedral
• is famous for its ‚Fifth Season‘ – the Cologne Carnival, a huge public festival where people dress up, sing local songs and simply have fun
• is a city of churches: as in no other German city, twelve large Roman churches are located in the confined area within the boundaries of the mediaeval city walls
• is the important trade center in the West and Germany’s No. 1 media city

Cologne Mystery Tour: Prefer an active adventurous way to explore Cologne and the locals with all their particularities? Experience "Kölsche Schmier" - the different city     game - with a group of minimum 15 people. You will face "Kölsche" challenges and come across seldom disclosed facets of the town. Mixed with "Kölsche" mentality and humour, an exciting hunt will reveal Cologne’s secret attractions and local characters.

Cologne Art Walk: Have a look behind the scenes of art culture and come to meet art traders. An art historian will guide the tour through some art galleries. The guest will get background information and an impression to the manifold Cologne Art Scene.

...Germany‘s oldest  and fourth-largest city