German Culture

All about Germany

German Tongue Twisters

Tongue twisters, or Zungenbrecher, are a fantastic way to train your tongue in German pronunciation. It’s not only language learners who use tongue twisters—even speech therapists use them to help train native speakers, so you’re in good company! Just as English-speakers enjoy a good “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” challenge every … [Read more...]

Hans Spemann and the Beginnings of Cloning

Hans Spemann (born June 27, 1869, Stuttgart, Württemberg - died Sept. 12, 1941, Freiburg im Breisgau, Ger.), German embryologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1935 for his discovery of the effect now known as embryonic induction, the influence exercised by various parts of the embryo that directs the development of … [Read more...]

Mainau, Germany’s Flower Island in Lake Constance

The Flower Island of Mainau in Lake Constance may only cover 45 hectares of land, but it is home to an extraordinary diversity of trees, flowers and shrubs. Its other attractions include a 13th century baroque palace, a palm house and the biggest butterfly house in Germany. Mainau Island lies just off the shores of Lake Constance in … [Read more...]

Geschnetzeltes – Pork in Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Geschnetzeltes is a popular German dish for the busy cook. A creamy sauce with pork, mushrooms and onions, it is traditionally served with Spätzle, cucumber salad or potatoes. Ingredients: 0.5 kg lean pork, cut into thin strips 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 small yellow onion, diced 300 g fresh white button mushrooms, … [Read more...]

Traditional German Clothing – Dirndl and Lederhosen

Every region in the world is easily identifiable by the kind of clothing that was traditionally worn there. From the 'kimonos' worn in Japan to the 'sarees' draped in India, from the 'kilts' of Scotland to the 'pueblas' of Mexico, these outfits were, and still are, synonymous with the culture of the country. Clothing that was traditionally worn in … [Read more...]

Sweet and Sour Cabbage with Bacon

The combination of tangy cider vinegar, onions, and smoked bacon makes this German side dish absolutely addictive. It's so good, you'll want to eat it as the main meal! There is something about adding bacon to recipes that sends the dish over the top. Between the crispy tenderness of the sauteed cabbage and the crunchy bacon bits, this easy side … [Read more...]

Schloss Braunfels

Castle Braunfels is located on a basalt rock west of the health resort Braunfels in the Central Hessian Lahn-Dill-Kreis. The castle soars 100 m (328 ft) above the Lahn valley. It has been the seat of the Counts of Solms since the 13th century and is still owned by the counts of Oppersdorff and Solms-Braunfels in the 21st century. As Castellum … [Read more...]

Excuses in German – Entschuldigungen

There is a number of ways to say "I'm sorry" in German. Basically, "Entschuldigung!" means "Excuse me!" or "Apologies!" and "Es tut mir leid" means "I am sorry." If you look a bit closer, "die Entschuldigung"(feminine) is a noun meaning: "the apology", but the root of the word is "die Schuld" = "guilt". "ent-" is a prefix of verbs meaning … [Read more...]

Schloss Moritzburg – a Beautiful Baroque Castle

Moritzburg Castle is one of the most impressive baroque palaces in central Europe. Reached via a tree-lined avenue, it is situated on an island in the middle of a lake. After visiting the palace, you can enjoy a romantic stroll to the enchanting Fasanenschlösschen (little pheasant castle) built in the rococo style. Moritzburg Castle (Schloss … [Read more...]

Speckeier – Eggs with Bacon

Speckeier are scrambled eggs with bacon. It's a perfect dish for Vesper - German snack time in-between main meals (Zwischenmahlzeit). A Zwischenmahlzeit is also referred to as Brotzeit, Vesper or Zweites Frühstück for adults. After all, snacks aren’t just for children! The English word “snack” is also used, as is Imbiss, although these refer … [Read more...]