…that the famous Castle in Walt Disney World was modeled after the “Neuschwanstein” castle in Bavaria, Germany built by a King named Ludwig II.

Here are a few more little-known facts about Germany.

 
 
Besides being Europe’s tallest building, the 299 meter high Commerzbank Tower, Frankfurt harbors more than 450 banking institutions earning it the nickname "Bankfurt".
Famous people from Germany include:
    • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe--Germany’s most important and best known writer

    • Alois Alzheimer, identified the memory-loss ailment named after him

    • Johann Sebastian Bach, reknowned for an amazing series of musical pieces

    • Albert Einstein, published his theory of relativity in 1905

    • Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit, invented the temperature scale named for him

    • Paul Julius Baron von Reuter founded a news agency using carrier pigeons
Oktoberfest actually begins in September. The first Oktoberfest took place from October 12-17, 1810. Eventually, the festival was prolonged and moved forward into September. September nights were warmer and the visitors were able to enjoy the gardens outside the tents.
The origins of steins date back to the 14th century. As a result of the bubonic plague and several invasions of flies throughout Europe shortly thereafter, Germany established several laws in the early 16th century requiring that all food and beverage containers be covered to protect their contents. By combining a lid, hinge, and thumblift, these “German” containers could easily be opened and closed with one hand.
At the southern end of Germany are the Alps, the highest mountain range in Europe.
The Berlin Wall was originally 66 miles long. A few sections have been preserved to remind Berliners of the 28-year division of their city. The remnants of the Berlin Wall now serve as an outdoor gallery of art from local and city artists.
“Autobahn” is the German word for a major high-speed road confined to motor vehicles and having full control of access. Today, Germany's autobahn network has a total length of about 11,980 km, second only to the United States' Interstate Highway System.
“Lager” is the term used in English to describe bottom-fermented beers of German style. The word comes from the German lagern ("to store"), and refers to the practice of storing these (and other) beers at near-freezing temperatures for periods of several months before drinking. The term is not used to describe beer in German.
It is not only the sausage and the Sauerkraut Germany is famous for. More than 300 different types of bread can be bought in bakeries and shops ranging from mild wheat flour bread, whole meal bread to the famous salty pretzel.
The “Schuhplattler,” one of the most popular Bavarian men’s folk dances, ends with them slapping each other in the face.
Germany has the highest number of public holidays in Europe and German workers have the longest annual holidays (30 days).
For more information about life in Germany, click here.
 
         
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