|
Sport
& Activities
The Federal Republic of Germany
has extensive sports facilities with a sports field
or stadium in all larger towns. League football
matches take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. International
matches also take place regularly: the national team
were world champions in 1990, a title they previously
won in 1954 and 1974, as well as having been runners-up
in 1966 (to England), 1982 and 1986 and quarter finalists
in 1998.
Walking: The Harz Mountains, Black Forest and
the Bavarian Forest are some of the best areas for walking.
The network of marked trails amounts to some 132,000km
(82,500 miles). The District of Templin in the March
of Brandenburg provides 480km (300 miles) of paths.
The German Alps Club (Deutscher Alpenverein)
maintains several huts in the Alps and the other ranges.
It also organises tours and courses in rock climbing.
The Saxon Hills between Dresden and Bad Schandau, with
more than 1000 prepared routes, provide good training
for aspiring climbers. Excellent facilities can also
be found in Oberhof.
Winter sports: Winter
Sports: Resorts are mainly in the Suhl area in the
south of the country. The main resort is Oberhof, which
offers excellent ski-jumping and toboganning.
Ice hockey and skating are both popular.
In Bavaria, skiing is available at resorts such
as Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Berchtesgaden, Oberstdorf,
Inzell, Reit im Winkl, as well as in the southern
mountains. Other areas are the Harz Mountains, the Black
Forest and the Bavarian Forest. The season runs from
November to April. Curling is especially popular
in Upper Bavaria.
Cycling: This is increasingly popular and cycling
paths ensure that even in cities cycling is a safe form
of transport. Bicycles can be hired from certain railway
stations, a list of which is available through the German
National Railways (Deutsche Bahn) (see also Travel-International/Internal
section) or the German National Tourist Office
(see address section). Further information is available
from the German Cycling Club (Allgemeiner Deutscher
Fahrrad-Club) e.V. (ADFC), Postfach 107747, 28077
Bremen (tel: (421) 346 290; fax: (421) 346 2950; e-mail:
kontakt@adfc.de;
website: www.adfc.de).
Watersports: The northern coastline and the extensive
rivers and lakes provide sailing, swimming and
both sea and river fishing. A fishing permit
is needed (costing approximately DM15 a day). Fishing
is particularly good on inland waterways; fishing and
sailing are also popular at the Bay of Lietzow on the
Baltic coast. The Baltic coast has many beaches.
Equestrianism: Hotels with horseriding
facilities are located in all tourist regions. Racecourses
can be found at Baden-Baden, Hamburg, Munich and
Frankfurt/M.
Wine tasting: German wine country has many small
vineyards which welcome visitors. The main wine-growing
regions are around the rivers Rhine, Moselle and Neckar
in the west of the country and, further east, near the
Saale, Unstrut and Elbe rivers. For motorists there
is a signposted ?wine road' (Weinstrasse) running
through each area. The majority of German wines are
white and light, with such varieties as Riesling and
Silvaner. Wines are officially classified by the Government
as either Tafelwein/Landwein (table wine/country
wine) or Qualitätswein (higher quality wine
from a specified area). Qualitätswein mit Prädikat
is the highest category. Within this last category,
the wine is classed according to ripeness and quality:
Kabinett for example is a light, low-alcohol
wine made from fully ripened grapes, while Trockenbeerenauslese
is a sweet wine made from grapes which have shrivelled
almost to raisins. For a list of private vineyards open
to the public, contact the German National Tourist Office
(see address section) or the German Wine Institute,
PO Box 1660, 55116 Mainz (tel: (6131) 28290; fax: (6131)
282 920; e-mail: info@deutscheweine.de; website: www.deutscheweine.de).
Spas: Germany has over 300 spas and health resorts
which offer a wide range of traditional and modern treatments.
All are strictly regulated by the Government, and promise
beneficial results for such conditions as rheumatism,
respiratory problems, nervous disorders or stress. Spa
stays are very popular with German people, not only
because they are a national tradition, but because they
offer holistic treatment combined with relaxation. Under
medical supervision, visitors can take the waters or
undergo treatments involving mud and peat for example.
Many spas are situated on the North Sea and Baltic coasts.
For further information about spa stays, contact the
Deutscher Bäderverband (for address, see Health
section).
Language courses: Language
Courses: There are many opportunities to pursue
courses in German language and culture. Often these
are subsidised by the Government. For further information
contact the Goethe Institut, 50 Princes Gate,
Exhibition Road, London SW7 2PH (tel: (020) 7596 4000;
fax: (020) 7594 0240; e-mail: mail@london.goethe.org;
website: www.goethe.de/london).
|
