Journeying into the heart of Europe, this guide travels the length of Germany, stretching from the coast of the North and Baltic seas to the precipitous peaks of the Alps, traversing many different natural and cultural landscapes. From the unique environment of the coastal mudflats through the plains of northern Germany and the midland hills to the highest point in the land, the Zugspitze, this illustrated volume depicts the country's geographical diversity in all its glory. Churches, castles, and palaces are depicted, bearing witness to a rich and turbulent past, from the magnificent cathedrals of the German emperors to the fairytale castles of Ludwig II of Bavaria. Medieval cities, such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Lübeck, and Wernigerode and modern metropolises boasting up-to-the-minute architectural constructions harbor many highlights of Germany's artistic and cultural history. Additional features tell of the Hanseatic League, the masters of medieval trade, castles, beer and wine, and of the great writers of Classical Weimar, Goethe and Schiller.