Exploring Germany, Wolfsburg – The city of cars

The first question that comes into mind when you hear the word Wolfsburg is very often “where is that?” Located in Lower-Saxony and being home to 125,000 people, this northern German city is not what you would call a metropolis. Yet, when people hear that this is the place where one of the biggest car manufacturers – Volkswagen – is headquartered, their interest is awakened very quickly. Even though you may be a little sceptical at first, (especially with the recent VW emissions scandal!) this city is definitely worth a visit.

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A culinary trip to Bavaria

Not only has Bavaria got beautiful landscapes, charming cities and great beer, but also delicious food! If you want to get to know the Bavarian cuisine, there’s no better way to cook it yourself. I’ll introduce my favourite dishes to you below, that are both easy to cook and super tasty!

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Travelling to Augsburg

The only German city with its own holiday, home to the Fuggerei and the Puppenkiste, birthplace of the famous writer Bertold Brecht and Mozart’s father Leopold Mozart and one of the oldest, greenest and most liveable cities in Germany – these are just some of the fascinating facts that Augsburg has to offer.

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Carnival in Cologne

Do you want to experience an important part of German culture and one of the country’s most incredible festivals? In that case you definitely shouldn’t miss the Carnival in Cologne!

The traditions connected to this 5000- year old festival are just as diverse as the places where it is celebrated and even within Germany you will find numerous different customs surrounding the February carnival week that marks the beginning of Lent. However, there is no region where carnival is as firmly anchored in the local culture as in Cologne – experiencing the celebrations in the German ‘capital of carnival’ is something you will never forget!

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German Christmas and New Year

As we get closer to Christmas the conversation in our office keeps coming back to how we each celebrate over the festive season and the family traditions we have.  We are very lucky here to be able to work in an office with so much contact with different nationalities. It’s always nice to hear about Christmas elsewhere, but it’s even nicer to be able to experience Christmas fully immersed a different country!

Below you can read about how Dominik, our German translator, spends Christmas and New Year:

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Stuttgart – The heart of Baden-Württemberg

Stuttgart, capital of the state Baden-Württemberg and Germany’s sixth largest city, definitely knows how to combine good old German traditions with a modern sophisticated life style!

Experience party life and tranquillity in a city where cultures clash. Stuttgart, with about 600.000 inhabitants, is a very international city with people from over 180 countries living and working here. You will find traces of multicultural life everywhere in Stuttgart.

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Berlin – Prenzlauer Berg

Berlin is not only the capital of Germany but also the capital of arts and culture! Since Berlin has, due its history, no real city centre, there are lots of places all over the city where you will find the true Berlin experience.

One of those places is Prenzlauer Berg. Prenzlauer Berg (which means ‘hill of Prenzlau’) is a quarter of Berlin that is especially popular among students, young people and artists. Forget London’s Soho or New York’s Brooklyn – Prenzlauer Berg is where young aspiring artists live and work!

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German language exams

When completing a language course at any of our schools you will normally receive a certificate of attendance with details of the level you have reached. This is sufficient for most students but some will require a more formal and recognised qualification. If you are planning to attend a German university or apply for a job in Germany, you may find that you need to pass an official exam, such as the TestDAF, Goethe Institute and Telc exams.

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Romantic, historic Heidelberg!

I have been in Heildelberg for six months and I found this city wonderful not only during the spring but also during the winter! Heidelberg has been labelled a “Romantic town” and if you come here, you will understand why! You will also be impressed by the breathtaking views of the river valley and the Heidelberg Castle – truly amazing!

The best starting point for exploring Heidelberg’s historic heart is “Bismarckplatz”, right next to Heidelberg’s main pedestrian street and not far from the school . Heidelberg’s historical city centre, the “Altstadt” (Old Town) is lively with its stylish cafés, good restaurant and nice shops.There are a lot of attractions that you can’t miss: Heidelberg’s “Alte Brücke” (Old Bridge), the Town Hall, the Old University and historic buildings.

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A bird’s eye view of Cologne!

After recently returning from a German course in Cologne, I am happy to tell you how surprising and fascinating this city was!

As a person who travels a lot and been to Germany several times, I have been round various castles, churches and cathedrals, both in Germany and at home in Spain. But,  I’ve NEVER climbed up any historical building with a  view which can compare with the one you get from the Cologne Cathedral!

Going to the top of the Cathedral really is worth it – the stunning views you have from the top are amazing, though climbing the hundreds of winding stairs can be a bit of a challenge! You have to go up 509 steps of the spiral staircase, and the same for down! 😉

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