Eastern Germany

The state of Saxony is known as Germany’s traditional industrial heart land. The triangle formed by the cities Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz used to be center of industrial Germany, up to World War II. Over the course of 40 years of communist government, this region has lost some of its efficiency but the remnants of the glory years can still be seen. The Meissen china factory has been working uninterruptedly since 1710; the signature house logo (two crossed blue swords) is world famous.

The state of Saxony Anhalt is Germany’s most northern wine region and also includes Magdenburg and the industrial regions of Halle and Bitterfeld. The Elbe River flows for more than 300 km (186 mi) through these lands. In the southwest, Magdenburg stretches to the Harz Mountains. The highest peak, Brocken, stands at 1142 m/3745 ft. The Hochharz national park and the rugged Elbe landscape, where you can still find beavers in the wild, are protected areas that offer beautiful scenery.

Brandenburg state, which extends around the German capital, Berlin, is one of the country’s poorest regions today. After the reunification of Germany, attempts were made to unify this region with its rich neighbor Berlin, but the population didn’t support this.

The forest of Thuringia is located in the federal state of Thuringia, in the geographic heart of the country. Some important cities in this state are Weimar, Erfurt, Eisenach and Jena.

The Oder River forms not only the natural border between Germany and Poland, but is also a region of unique natural beauty in Central Europe. The region is home to several nature parks and offers interesting holiday destinations where visitors can enjoy the scenery of beautiful forests, meadows and marshes.

The heart of Europe

12 days – Group travel suggestions