German Names & Places

Compass Tours Incoming operates offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich ensuring local knowledge and expertise. Do you know what the Washing Machine is, and where its located?

• It is in fact the Chancellor’s office in Berlin which is known locally as the “washing machine”. (Pictured left Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

• Berlin is 9 times bigger than Paris, and has more bridges than Venice. Berlin also has the largest train station in Europe. 

• In 2014 it was 300 years since George I of the Royal House of Hanover ascended to the British throne. Between 1714 and 1837 there had been virtually no royal court in Hannover as the House of Hannover had ruled the kingdoms of Hannover and Britain by personal union, Marienburg Castle (pictured top) was built to serve as a suitable summer seat for the House of Hannover in Germany, besides the Royal Leine Palace and Herrenhausen Palace in Hannover.

• The world’s narrowest street is in Reutlingen (just south of the State capital of Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart). It is called Spreuerhofstrasse and is 31 cm (one foot) wide at its narrowest point.

• The following cities have all at one time or another been capitals of Germany: Aachen, Regensburg, Frankfurt-am-Main, Nuremberg, Berlin, Weimar, Bonn (and East Berlin), and, since 1990, Berlin again.

• Germany is a very cultured country, with 6,200 museums, 820 theatres, 130 professional orchestras, and 8,800 libraries.

• Yes - it is true, the Autobahn has no speed limit. In 1934, the German government passed the Road Traffic Act, where speeds in urban areas were limited to 37 mph (60 km/h). However, no limit was established for rural roads or autobahns. But before you go speeding off, only around an eighth of the Autobahn network is truly de-restricted (no speed limit), variable limits now apply on much of the Autobahn.

• Compass Tours Incoming know their regions intimately and can offer plenty of unusual and unique activities wherever you hold your event in Germany

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Top Image Marienburg Castle in summer.jpg By Michael Gäbler, CC BY 3.0