Oh so German!

Do bratwurst, beer gardens, and Lederhosen truly encapsulate Germany? Are fairy tales the country's secret obsession, and is every corner adorned with castles? Oh So German! offers glimpses of the many facets that compose the essence of Deutschland.

German City Portraits

City contours Heidelberg
A City of Literature, Culture, and Contrast

A city of just 160,000 inhabitants—a fourth of which are students—drawing in close to 14 million visitors annually is a clear indicator that Heidelberg isn’t just another university town. Located along the Neckar River in the north of the south German state of Baden-Württemberg, Heidelberg is blessed with an enticing combination of old-world charm, a young population, cutting-edge research, and stunning natural beauty. Heidelberg boasts the tag of UNESCO’s ‘City of Literature’ thanks to its importance in the proliferation of romanticism.

City contours Weimar
“A Marvel in Thuringia's Heartbeat.”

Nestled in the heart of the German state of Thuringia, Weimar is a small city with significant political, artistic, and cultural influence. As the birthplace of the Weimar Republic and the playground of influential figures like Goethe and Schiller, it stands as a cultural hub with diverse attractions for visitors.

That's so German!

Six Unique German Place Names

“Your village is really ugly? Tear it down, that hell!” Oha – the Germans are real killers when it comes to bellyaching. Concealed within these two sentences are six intriguing place names, each carrying its own unique tale waiting to be unravelled.

Five German Words You Should Know: Part 1

Part 1: Intriguingly Untranslatable
5 German Words You Should Know

The German language excels in capturing entire concepts in just one word. Here, we present 5 German words that defy easy translation.

Five German Words You Should Know: Part 2

Part 2: Intriguingly Untranslatable
5 More German Words You Should Know

The German language excels in capturing entire concepts in just one word. Here, we present 5 German words that defy easy translation.

Dishes Named After Animals
Ten Animal-ish Delicacies from Germany

Have you ever wondered what a "falscher Hase" might be? A rabbit in disguise, perhaps? And how does "Bärendreck," meaning "bear dirt," relate to snacks? Here’s the ultimate list of German dishes that bear animal names.

GUARDIANS OF THE NIGHT

It’s that tense moment when you’re standing outside a club: Will the bouncer let you in, or will it be a “Sorry, not tonight”? Apart from deciding who makes it past the doors, doorstaff are also responsible for ensuring that party-goers feel safe all night. Jonas Höschl and Sascha Ehlert portray five nightclub workers who together have over 50 years’ of doorstaff experience under their belt.

Killa Schuetze – Robert Johnson (Frankfurt am Main), Tresor/Clubcommission (Berlin)

A Portrait of Bouncers
KILLA SCHUETZE, ROBERT JOHNSON (OFFENBACH) & TRESOR (BERLIN)

The Robert Johnson in Offenbach near Frankfurt am Main and Tresor in Berlin are both world-renowned clubs that have been around since the 1990s. Killa Schuetze has been guarding club doors for 15 years – first in Frankfurt, now in Berlin.

A Portrait of Bouncers
ALEX WINKELMANN, BAR 25 & KATER HOLZIG (BERLIN)

In the 2000s, Bar 25 was one of the first clubs in Berlin where patrons could party for several days straight; and its successor club Kater Holzig continues to attract big crowds every weekend. Alex Winkelmann talks to us about his experiences.

Hanna Teglasy, bouncer at petersplatz.eins, Vienna

A Portrait of Bouncers
Hanna Teglasy, petersplatz.eins (Vienna)

The club petersplatz.eins is a young establishment in the heart of Vienna, not far from St Stephen’s Cathedral. Our interview partner Hanna Teglasy has been working at the club for over a year.

A Portrait of Bouncers
Daniel, Celeste (Vienna)

Celeste in Vienna is a more alternative club with a garden. Daniel has been working as a doorman there and at other venues for over 15 years.

A Portrait of Bouncers
Kiki Gorei, Goldener Reiter (Munich)

Goldener Reiter opened in 2018 and is located on the edge of Munich’s Gärtnerplatz neighbourhood. Kiki Gorei has been a door supervisor at the club for ten years – and has no plans to stop.

More so German!

Es ist ein Elch entsprungen - Moose eats cornflakes

Picture Palace
5 Must-See German Christmas Movies

These movies will get you in the perfect mood for the Christmas season!

People still enjoy playing “human chess” today: the chess pieces are played by real people, usually in costume. The latest form is Cosplay Human Chess.

Tabletop Games
Let the Games Begin!

More board and card games are sold in Germany than in any other country. They guarantee fun, variety – and sometimes even divorce: an article about good moods and bad losers.

Tourism
Undiscovered Germany

As a holiday destination, Germany attracts visitors from all over the world because of its rich cultural and natural heritage. But what does Germany have to offer besides Cologne Cathedral, the Semper Opera House and Schloss Neuschwanstein? Check here to discover sights that you may not have been aware of.

Germany, that’ll be beer and of course the Oktoberfest. However, when it comes to beer consumption per person, the Czechs are way ahead, while the Germans only make seventh place in the international rankings.

Stereotypes
Germany For Experts

So Germans are punctual, humourless, drink beer and are world champion travellers? We’ve subjected seven stereotypes about Germany to close scrutiny, and made some surprising discoveries.

Germans have a built-in, must-buy reflex when confronted with any product labelled bio.

Stereotypes
The Fine Art of German Nachhaltigkeit

Germans made headlines in the past as pioneers of recycling, photovoltaic technology and resistance to nuclear energy production, and still today they are proud of their ecological mindset. Yet signalling being nachhaltig is sometimes easier than actually being it.

True or false? Germans love their cars – and they are obsessed with orders and rules.

Germany
In stereotypes we (should) trust

Stereotypes have a bad reputation, but beneath their hard, often exaggerated, easy-to-parody surface – valuable, shiny nuggets of truth lay just waiting for us to dig up. Let’s excavate five of the biggest German stereotypes and see what gems of insight lie glittering underneath.

Beyond the grey: a different way to live.

House beautiful
Ten creative living spaces, made in Germany

A different way to live: unconventional and whimsical ideas from Germany.

Top Ten
Cologne Cafés for the Cold Season

To help you get through the winter, here is a selection of some of the best cafés in the beautiful city of Cologne.

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Germany #Nofilter

The magazine for German learners, German teachers and everyone interested in Germany: Stories about everyday life, career and studies, information about German cities, tips and trends.

German City Portraits

German cities are as diverse as the landscape that surrounds them. In a series of city portraits, we embark on a journey through Goethe's homeland. Our authors have taken a close look at things small and large which make their cities so unique and lovable.

Oh so German!

German City Portraits

City contours Heidelberg
A City of Literature, Culture, and Contrast

City contours Weimar
“A Marvel in Thuringia's Heartbeat.”