What do the Cologne Cathedrale, the Markgravial Opera House, Sansoucci Palace or the Wadden Sea have in common? All of them are part of the Heritage of Humanity. In Germany, 37 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, all diverse and all unique – no matter where you travel in Germany – are just around the corner.

	Upper Middle Rhine Valley © UNESCO

On the Heritage Trail – Out and about in the Middle Rhine Valley

Not only does the ‘Upper Middle Rhine Valley’ World Heritage Site have an exceptionally rich cultural heritage, it has also been the scene of many historical events. And then there is the dazzling array of works of art which have the “Valley of the Loreley” as their theme. So there’s plenty in store for visitors to this UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2005 UNESCO also accorded the Upper German-Raetian “Limes” (a line of frontier fortifications) the status of World Heritage Site. Stretching across the hills on the Rhine’s right bank, this Roman frontier which begins at the Rhine near Rheinbrohl, runs partly parallel to the ‘Upper Middle Rhine Valley’ World Heritage Site. The Regional Association of “Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage Guides” is a group of trained and certified World Heritage guides who lead the program “Dem Erbe auf der Spur – Unterwegs am Mittelrhein” (On the Heritage Trail – Out and about in the Middle Rhine Valley) and introduce visitors to the region’s distinctive features. The guides take visitors to the region’s most unusual spots along some particularly attractive trails while following the traces of the Rhine Rivers’ remarkable cultural and historical heritage. » More information

PRO176: Customized Greatly, 2012 © Cultural Heritage Site Völklingen Ironworks

UrbanArt Biennale® 2013 – at the Völklingen Ironworks

Urban Art is the art form that developed out of graffiti. From 2013 the World Cultural Heritage Site at the Völklingen Ironworks will offer this art a regular forum – the “Urban Art Biennial”. Every two years, renowned urban artists will display their works at the World Cultural Heritage Site at the Völklingen Ironworks. The first “Urban Art Biennial” concludes on November 1st, 2013. Confirmed artists are stars of the scene such as Seen (New York), Jef Aérosol (Lille), JonOne (Paris), Futura (New York), Cope2 (New York), Invader (Paris) and Retna (Los Angeles). » More information

	Messel Pit Fossil Site © UNESCO

Discovery and hiking tours at Grube Messel

Grube Messel (Messel Pit Fossil Site) , one of the richest mammal fossil sites in the world, opens this year’s season with a wide spectrum of tours surrounding ‘Time and the Worlds of Messel’. To date, geoscientists have unearthed approx. 50,000 individual finds from the former volcanic crater lake, formed around 47 million years ago. The Visitor Center, located around 15miles south of Frankfurt, is open daily from10am to 6pm. The site can only be visited as part of a guided tour and a few special ones about bats or excavations and with a local bee keeper will be on offer in 2013. » More information

Castle Woerlitz © UNESCO

Musical nights at the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz

»It is now infinitely beautiful here. I was very moved last night as we strolled through the lakes, canals and woods by how the gods have allowed the Prince to create a dream around himself…«

Those lines were written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to Charlotte von Stein in May 1778 during his visit to Wörlitz. This unique, homogenous garden and architectural landscape, was created by Prince Leopold III. Friedrich Franz of Anhalt-Dessau (1740-1817), continues to awe and inspire visitors to this day. Between May and September, the gardens and palaces annually play host to a unique array of concerts, theater performances and literary presentations. Highlights are lake-side concerts in Wörlitz destined to become unforgettable events with music sounding from bridges or the edges of the lakes and canals. Equally unique are the concerts in the historic banqueting halls of the palaces Luisium, Mosigkau, Oranienbaum and Wörlitz, whose precious interiors provide an elegant backdrop for the musical performances. » More information

	Roman House in Weimar © UNESCO

Summer in Weimar

Goethe and Schiller, Bach and Liszt and UNESCO World Heritage – that is Weimar , a small residence town in the middle of Europe. The fascination of this pretty city captured many great spirits who dreamed of an arcadia for humanity. During the summer the town adds yet another dimension: an open city landscape surrounded by green areas, parks and a river. It’s moving, pulsing and full of life. In little streets, in front of palaces and mansions – art and music can be found everywhere. Visitors of Weimar will always be up close to the performances, a whole summer long. » More information

Contact

German National Tourist Office

Wibke Carter

Public Relations Manager North America

122 East 42nd Street, Suite 2000

New York, New York 10168-0072

Phone: +1 212 661 7175

Fax: +1 212 661 7174

wibke.carter@germany.travel

www.germany.travel

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