Mainau Island, Germany

Munich, Germany's Marienplatz is a major square in the city center. Since 1158, it has served as the city's central plaza.Originally known as Markth ("market"), Schranne ("grain market"), and finally Schrannenplatz ("grain market square"), the Marienplatz hosted markets and competitions during the Middle Ages. The plaza was given a new name on October 9, 1854, following the grain market's relocation to the contemporary glass-and-iron Schranne close to "Blumenstrasse" in 1853. The Mariensäule, a Marian column placed in the middle of Marienplatz in 1638 to commemorate the end of Swedish rule, inspired the park's name. The Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus, a restored Gothic council hall with a ballroom and tower) on the east side and the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) on the north side now dominate the Marienplatz. Inspired by the medieval tournaments that took place in the square, the Glockenspiel in the New Town Hall's tower welcomes millions of visitors each year. In addition, there are a lot of stores and eateries in the congested pedestrian zone between Karlsplatz and Marienplatz. The Munich Marienplatz station provides access to the square via the S-Bahn and U-Bahn. To the north of the square, the second S-Bahn tunnel project (Zweite Stammstrecke) will see the construction of a new station called Marienhof. Additionally, the new station will be connected to the current lines.  

The Catholic Church owns the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. The Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne are based there. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1996 and is a well-known example of Gothic architecture and German Catholicism.With an average of 6 million visitors annually, it is Germany's most visited landmark. The cathedral, which stands at 157 meters (515 feet), is the world's highest twin-spired church, the second-tallest church in Europe after Ulm Minster, and the third-tallest church globally.In 1248, work on the Cologne Cathedral started, but it was abandoned around 1560. Around 1814, attempts were made to finish the construction, but it wasn't until the 1840s that the project received adequate funding. In 1880, the building was finished according to its original medieval design. The cathedral has the largest façade of any church in the world thanks to the towers supporting its two enormous spires. In order to accommodate the reliquary of the Three Kings and be suitable for its function as a place of worship for the Holy Roman Emperor, Cologne's medieval builders had designed a magnificent building.The Old Cathedral was constructed on Cologne Cathedral Hill during the Carolingian era and dedicated in 870. In honor of Bishop Hildebold, who was a close counselor to Charlemagne and passed away in 818, the cathedral is today called Hildebold Cathedral. How much the bishop contributed to the structure is unknown, though. Charlemagne also lavishly financed the new construction, which he most likely started.Originally, the bishop's house was next to the cathedral.

The best time of year to visit Sanssouci Palace and Park in Potsdam is from May to October, which is late spring to early autumn. The large grounds and the magnificent Rococo palace are best explored during this time of year because of the normally mild and pleasant weather. In Potsdam, close to Berlin, there is a historic structure called Sanssouci. Often regarded as one of Versailles' German competitors, it was constructed as the summer residence of Prussian King Frederick the Great. Despite being much smaller than its French Baroque predecessor and in the more intimate Rococo style, Sanssouci is nevertheless noteworthy for the many temples and follies in the surrounding park. Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff created the palace between 1745 and 1747 in response to Frederick's desire for a private home away from the glitz and glamour of the royal court.  Sanssouci is merely a big, one-story cottage that resembles the Château de Marly more than Versailles. Built on the top of a terraced slope in the middle of the park, it had only twelve major rooms.

The largest island in Germany is Rügen. It is a part of the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and is situated in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Pomerania. The Hanseatic city of Stralsund serves as the "gateway" to Rügen island. It is connected to the mainland by road and rail through the Rügen Bridge and Causeway, two roads that span the two-kilometer-wide Strelasund, a Baltic Sea sound. From north to south, Rügen's maximum length is 51.4 km (31.9 mi), its maximum width is 42.8 km (26.6 mi) in the south, and its total area is 926 km2 (358 sq mi). Numerous sandy beaches, lagoons (Bodden) and open bays (Wieke), as well as peninsulas and headlands, are features of the coast. The Jasmund National Park, which is known for its expansive beeches and chalk cliffs like King's Chair, Rügen Island's primary attraction, was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in June 2011.Stralsund serves as the county seat for the Vorpommern-Rügen region, which includes the island of Rügen.The towns of Bergen, Sassnitz, Putbus, and Garz are located on Rügen. The Baltic coastal towns of Binz, Baabe, Göhren, Sellin, and Thiessow are also included.