German Culture

All about Germany

Schwäbische Dätscher – Swabian Cream Cake

Schwäbische Dätscher (also called Bätscher), or Swabian Cream Cake, is a thin yeast flat bread spread with sour cream and topped with onion or leak and bacon. Ingredients: Dough 350g wheat flour 20g fresh yeast 1 teaspoon salt 40g butter 125ml milk Filling 200g sour cream 1 egg yolk salt 1/2 bunch chopped chives 100 g bacon … [Read more...]

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen – The X-Ray Discoverer

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (March 27, 1845 - Feb. 10, 1923) was a German physicist who was a recipient of the first Nobel Prize for Physics, in 1901, for his discovery of X-rays, which heralded the age of modern physics and revolutionized diagnostic medicine. Röntgen studied at the Polytechnic in Zürich and then was professor of physics at the … [Read more...]

Brägele – Fried Potatoes

Brägele is badische Bratkartoffeln, fried potatoes in local style. Ingredients: 7 large potatoes 1 medium-sized onion salt olive oil and a bit of butter 100 g bacon fresh parsley or chives, chopped Preparation: Brägele can be cooked from raw potatoes as well as with boiled potatoes. The boiled potatoes can be cut into slightly thicker … [Read more...]

Vesper – German Snack Time

All of us have heard of Vesper - Vesper Lynd, a striking Bond girl from the movie Casino Royale, and a drink James Bond called after her. However when it comes to Germany, it means something completely different. German Vesper comes from the verb vespern - which means having a snack between the main meals. Because adults also need to keep … [Read more...]

Useful German Phrases for Travelers – Basics

Traveling to Germany can be an exhilarating experience, but knowing some key German phrases can make your journey even more enjoyable and seamless. Whether you're exploring bustling cities like Berlin and Munich or quaint villages in the countryside, these phrases will help you communicate effectively and immerse yourself in the local culture. By … [Read more...]

Flädlesuppe – German Pancake Soup

Flädlesuppe, or German pancake soup, is basically a bit like chicken noodle soup except with strips of pancake in the broth. This southern German favorite is perfect as a first course for lunch on cold days. Serve this soup soon after assembling, because the pancakes soak up the broth and, eventually, will fall apart. Ingredients: 1/2 cup … [Read more...]

Alois Alzheimer

Aloysius Alzheimer (June 14, 1864 – December 19, 1915), known as Alois Alzheimer, was a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist and a colleague of Emil Kraepelin. Alzheimer is credited with identifying the first published case of "presenile dementia", which Kraepelin would later identify as Alzheimer's disease. From his youth Alois Alzheimer … [Read more...]

Träubleskuchen – Swabian Red Currant Cake

Hands down the best red currant cake out there - Träubleskuchen! The etymology of its name is very curious.  In Swabian, anything can – and will – be diminuted by adding the suffix -le to the noun. Thus a car – Auto – becomes an Autole, a little car, and a house – Haus – a Häusle, a small house. Red currants look a little bit like small grapes, … [Read more...]

The Island of Reichenau – Monastic Heritage of the Middle Ages

The Island of Reichenau is located in southern Germany. It lies almost due west of the city of Konstanz, between the Gnadensee and the Untersee, two parts of Lake Constance. With a total land surface of 4.3 sq. km and a circumference of 11 km, the island is 4.5 km long and 1.5 km wide at its greatest extent. The highest point, the Hochwart, stands … [Read more...]