Living Traditions
Whether it’s traditional crafts, historical festivals, or regional cuisine: Traditions are upheld and cultural heritage is preserved throughout Germany—and you’re encouraged to join in and give things a try.
All of the regions featured here were selected by TourCert as “Sustainable Travel Destinations.” The TourCert certification confirms compliance with a defined sustainability standard as well as a binding commitment to a process of continuous improvement. The assessment is conducted by independent experts; the final decision is made by an external auditing body.
A Bicycle Tour Through 250 Years of Garden Art in Potsdam
Potsdam’s cultural landscape is a total work of art best explored by bike. From Friendship Island, home to Karl Foerster’s show and educational gardens, the tour first takes you to Babelsberg Park, designed in the English style by Prince Pückler. From there, the route continues to the New Garden, featuring architectural gems such as the historically significant Cecilienhof Palace. Not far away lies the garden complex of the Russian Colony of Alexandrowka. The 19-kilometer route then winds through Sanssouci Park back to the city center.
Fairytales You Can Experience Firsthand in Grimm’s Hometown of Northern Hesse
Grimm’s homeland in North Hesse feels like a fairy-tale land, with enchanted forests, ancient castles, and traditional crafts—except that here, everything is real and waiting to be experienced. On the HandwerkErlebnisroute , vacationers meet true masters who still bake, weave, and make pottery today with skill and passion. At the Kultursommer , the historic castle gardens are transformed into fairy-tale stages through music and enchanting performances. And at the Little Red Riding Hood Country , hiking trails lead to the actual locations that inspired the old fairy tales.
Living Traditions Above and Below Ground in the Ore Mountains
Tradition, craftsmanship, and mining history have shaped the Ore Mountains for centuries. The region delights visitors with its diverse hiking trails and the time-honored spa and wellness offerings of the Miriquidi Health Center , as well as its vibrant artisan traditions, which has been passed down from generation to generation to this day. A special testament to this rich history is the mining tradition dating back over 850 years, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Anyone wishing to immerse themselves in this fascinating past can explore the historic tunnels and ore veins beneath the silver town of Freiberg and experience the history of the Ore Mountains firsthand.
Nature’s Symphony in the Vogtland
For 350 years, the Vogtland—located at the crossroads of Saxony, Thuringia, Bavaria, and Bohemia—has been a place where music and nature come together: This area of outstanding natural beauty is home to Europe’s most important region for musical instrument making. Just as in the past, a wide variety of musical instruments are still handcrafted here today. Visitors can learn how this is done, for example, in the three demonstration workshops of the Erlebniswelt Musikinstrumentenbau® Vogtland in Marktneukirchen, where they can even try their hand at making instruments themselves. Afterward, the Musical Instrument Museum, with over 3,000 instruments, invites visitors on a musical journey around the world.
Nature and History in the Northern Eifel
The Northern Eifel offers unforgettable nature experiences while also providing fascinating insights into the past. Few regions in Germany are as rich in historical relics. For example, the lovingly restored Müller Cloth Factory in Euskirchen-Kuchenheim is breathing new life into old looms after a 30-year slumber. At the LVR Open-Air Museum in Kommern, 77 historic buildings offer visitors a glimpse into the past. In addition, actors portray historical figures from the region. This truly brings history to life.
Walking on the Mudflats to Music in Dithmarschen
A one-of-a-kind experience: For more than 100 years, visitors to the Dithmarschen district have been enjoying the “Wadden Sea Run with Music”—accompanied by a live band—head out into the Wadden Sea to dance, run with eggs, and play tug-of-war; at the end, the “Wadden President” “baptizes” the participants with seawater upon request. From May through September, visitors can take part in this event in Büsum. Toward the end of September, the entire region then comes together for the Dithmarscher Cabbage Days : From the farmers’ market to the cabbage-shaving championship, everything in Europe’s largest cabbage-growing region revolves around this green vegetable.
Creative Craftsmanship in Regensburg
The numbers alone are impressive: Regensburg has two UNESCO World Heritage sites and 1,000 historic monuments. The city on the Danube is considered the best-preserved medieval city in Germany. But what’s even more exciting is that history is truly brought to life in Regensburg. This is evident, for example, in the many artisan workshops in the city: hatmakers, basket weavers, and knife sharpeners, among others, creatively reinterpret traditional techniques. Guests can visit around 20 such workshops while strolling through the Old Town and watch true masters at work.
Roman Springs in the Lahn Valley
Health has been a tradition here for nearly 2,000 years: Even the Romans used the healing waters in what is now Bad Ems for drinking cures. Later, a sophisticated spa town emerged there, featuring a stylish 17th-century spa park and an imposing Baroque spa palace on the riverbank, which today serves as the Kurhaus. In recent years, additional recreational activities have been introduced, ranging from paddle tours on the Lahn to excellent hiking trails in the surrounding area and the Lahn Cycle Route. Since 2021, Bad Ems has been part of the “Great Spa Towns of Europe” and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the Footsteps of a Shepherd in the Vogelsberg
Counting sheep and drifting off to sleep? In the Vogelsberg volcanic region, visitors can enjoy both in true style by spending the night in an authentic shepherd’s wagon. They can also visit the town shepherd in the shepherding town of Hungen, sample a wide variety of cheeses at the cheese barn, or take a hike through flower-filled mountain hay meadows near Grebenhain. The region’s highlight is the Shepherds’ Festival, held every two years in late August in Hungen .
Vikings on the Schlei Baltic Sea Fjord
At the Schlei, a Baltic Sea fjord, living history meets vast landscapes: the UNESCO World Heritage Site Haithabu-Danewerk tells the story of the Vikings, German-Danish history, trade, and power. A museum, fortifications, and reconstructed houses bring the past to life—an experience right in the heart of the true North.