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 About Germany |
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Located at the center of Europe, Germany has been the source for philosophies, art, and ideas. Its magnificent landscapes, castles and palaces, and historic churches and monasteries are beautifully juxtaposed against ultra modern structures and infrastructure.
As Europe's largest economy and most populous nation, Germany is a principal part of the economic, political, and global movements in Europe. European power struggles immersed the country in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century, and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring eastern productivity and wages up to western standards. In January 2002, Germany and 11 other EU countries introduced a common European currency, the euro. |
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Visas |
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If you’re a resident of an EU country, you just need some valid ID. People with American or UN passports can travel freely too, as can Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders. Otherwise a German visa from an embassy in your country of origin will be needed. |
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Education |
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The German state provides for free and mandatory school education from the age of 6 to 14. After the preliminary level, children have the option of either participating in secondary education or receiving vocational training until age 18.
Under the treaty of unification, the East German system was required to conform to that of the West. University enrollment in Germany has quadrupled since the 1960s, necessitating the expansion of some of its ancient and world famous universities such as the ones at Heidelberg, Freiberg and Munich. |
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Money and Cost of Living |
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On the 1st of January, 2002, Germany switched to the euro. The euro is divided into 100 cents. Currency bills are available in different colors and sizes, in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500, and in coins of EUR 1, 2, and 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents. The deutschmark is officially not to be used after the switchover.
Eastern Germany is relatively cheaper than the West, and the costliest cities are Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt.
Banks & Money Changers
Banks usually are open to customers on weekdays from 8:30 AM to 4 PM (longer on Thursday).
Hours of operation may vary according to region. Exchange bureaus are to be found in most commercial and shopping districts, but few remain open later than 5 PM. The airport, main stations, and hotels usually have services which are open 24 hours. |
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Health |
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There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK, and UK citizens may be entitled to free medical and dental treatment. Prescribed medicines may, in some cases, have to be paid for. The cost of treatment in public hospitals (on referral from a doctor, unless in emergencies) is covered by public health authorities, except for a small daily charge from the start of hospital treatment up to a maximum of 14 days. Private insurance is recommended for specialist medical treatment outside the German National Health Service, which can be very expensive. All pharmacists give alternative addresses of services available outside the normal opening hours. There are 350 officially recognized medical spas and watering places with modern equipment providing therapeutic treatment and recreational facilities for visitors. |
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Weights & Measures |
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The official system in the Germany is the metric system, measuring weight and mass in kilos and grams, and distance and length in kilometers and centimeters. |
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Electricity |
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The electricity used in the Germany is a 240-v AC (50-60HZ), so you will need a converter when traveling from the US. |
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Location |
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Bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, Germany is in Central Europe, between the Netherlands and Poland, and south of Denmark. In addition, Germany shares borders with Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark France, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.
Germany is made up of the North German Plain, the Central German Uplands (Mittelgebirge), and the Southern German Highlands. The Bavarian plateau in the southwest reaches 9,721 ft (2,962 m) in the Zugspitze Mountains, the highest point in the country. Germany's major rivers are the Danube, the Elbe, the Oder, the Weser, and the Rhine. |
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Population |
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There are over 82,500,000 people living in Germany, of which 91.5% are of German origin. People of Turkish origin comprise 2.4% of the population, and Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, and Spanish make up another 6.1%. The population is
34% Protestant, 34% Roman Catholic, 3.7% Muslim, and 28.3% unaffiliated or other denominations. |
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Currency |
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Formerly the Deutsche mark, today the Euro (Eur). |
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Weather |
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Germany has a variable, temperate climate with frequent day-to-day weather changes. Summers and winters may also be quite different from year to year, depending on oceanic and continental influences. Waterways may freeze over and snow may lie for long periods of time in severe winters. For most of the country, there is more rain in summer than in winter, except in the west where autumn is often the wettest time of year. The summer rains are often accompanied by thunder. The annual temperature range is least in the northwest and increases southwards and eastwards. The weather and climate of Germany is divided into seven regions: the North Sea coast, the Baltic coast, the North German Plain, the North Rhineland, the central and southern hills, the upper Rhine, and the Bavarian Alps. |
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Language |
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German |
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