Beyond the Rhine: between deep-rooted history and forgotten potential.
In the imagination, this Central European country is often summed up by its capital: Berlin. A city that was divided East and West, and still bears the marks of the Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, the famous Brandenburg Gate and its memorials.
But it would be a pity to think only of this city, both modern and the historic cradle of Germany.
Beyond that, you can discover many of Germany’s welcoming and surprising cities. Here, you can stroll through the city over a curry wurst, discovering the mix of contemporary architecture and ancient monuments. Dresden, capital of Saxony, Bremen with its Hanseatic buildings, Hamburg as a port, and Cologne as a cultural center.
There are also perched castles, like little Austrian palaces: the House of Hohenzollern, whose family reigned as emperors. Neuschwanstein, today Germany’s most famous and most visited castle, 200 meters above sea level, located in Bavaria. This region, also emblematic of the country, has been declared a “free” region. Part of it is covered by the Alps, and every year it hosts the Oktober Fest.
GMT+2
Euro
(EUR)
N.C.
Some words and expressions in the language
Germany has the same time zone as France, GMT+2:
When it’s 1:00 p.m. in France, it’s also 1:00 p.m. in Germany.
European plug – Type C and F
Up-to-date vaccinations :
Tick-borne encephalitis, depending on travel zone. Consult your GP for more information.
In order to be reimbursed by Social Security for treatment received in Germany, visiting French nationals must have a European health insurance card, which must be requested from their local health insurance office at least 15 days before departure.
As Germany is a member of the European Union, French nationals can enter freely with a valid passport or national identity card.
National identity cards issued to adults between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2013 are still valid 5 years after the expiry date shown on the back. However, there is no physical evidence of this on the plastic card. Note that national identity cards issued to minors remain valid for 10 years, regardless of the date of issue.
Consequently, to avoid any inconvenience during your trip, we strongly recommend that you use a valid passport rather than a national identity card with an expired date, even if the French authorities consider it to be still valid.
