Central Europe

Central Europe

Berlin - the largest city of Central Europe

Central Europe - subcontinent region European on the continent Eurasian.

Characteristic

The area covers approximately 1,037,000 km² and is inhabited by nearly 155,454,000 inhabitants.

Most of the area is mountainous or upland areas, and the most lowlands are found in the north (in Poland and Germany). The main mountain ranges are Alps, Carpathians, Sudetes, Black Forest, Harz and Dinaric Mountains.

One of the longest rivers in Europe flows through Central Europe - Danubewhose sources are in the Alps.

countries

The region most often includes:

Cities

Berlin (Germany) - 3.75 million inhabitants
Vienna (Austria) - 1.90 million inhabitants
Hamburg (Germany) - 1.84 million inhabitants
Vienna
Warsaw (Poland) - 1.79 million inhabitants
Budapest (Hungary) - 1.75 million inhabitants
Munich (Germany) - 1.47 million inhabitants
Prague (Czech Republic) - 1.32 million inhabitants
Cologne (Germany) - 1.08 million inhabitants
Hamburg
Cracow (Poland) - 0.78 million inhabitants
Frankfurt am Main (Germany) - 0.75 million inhabitants
Łódź (Poland) - 0.68 million inhabitants
Wroclaw (Poland) - 0.64 million inhabitants
Stuttgart (Germany) - 0.63 million inhabitants
Cathedral of St. Cologne
Düsseldorf (Germany) - 0.62 million inhabitants
Cathedral of St. Munich
Leipzig (Germany) - 0.59 million inhabitants
Nuremberg (Germany) - 0.52 million inhabitants

Worth seeing

Kiel

Germany

Feldsee lake in the Black Forest
Neuschwanstein Castle - the most famous German castle, built in the 19th century for the Bavarian ruler Ludwig II. It is located in the village Schwangau, on the border with Austria. Neuschwanstein is visited by over 1.3 million tourists every year. The facility, due to its charm, has become an inspiration for many artists, including Walt Disney, who put him in a fairy tale about Sleeping Beauty. If you want to visit the castle, it is worth knowing that entry tickets must be purchased at least 3 before visiting the museum. An additional attraction is the Forggensee lake located a few kilometers away and the town located a bit further Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Rügen and Usedom - the two largest German islands, with an area of 926 and 445 km² respectively, account for almost half of the area of all the islands of the state. They have beautiful beaches, forests and many interesting attractions. When visiting Rügen, you must see the Jasmund National Park and the town of Binz. It would also be appropriate to travel to the "Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft" National Park, while on the island of Usedom there are numerous spas and holiday resorts (Bansin, Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf, Swinoujscie).
Old Town in Zurich
Chillon Castle
Berlin - the capital of Germany has many interesting tourist attractions, including sites from the UNESCO World Heritage List. In Berlin, it is worth visiting the Museum Island, Paris Square with the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag Parliament Building, Charlottenburg Palace, the Evangelical Cathedral, St. Jadwiga, Siegessäule and the remains of the famous Berlin Wall. Since 2001, the Jewish Museum has been operating in the city, commemorating the history of the Jewish nation and its fate during World War II. There are beautiful palace and park complexes near Berlin, St. Potsdam, noteworthy and worth a visit. Since 1990, together with several palaces in the capital, it has been included in the UNESCO List.
Zmuttgletscher glacier
The Lüneburg Desert - it is a large area of meadows, heaths and forests, situated in between Hamburg and Wolfsburg, in Lower Saxony. The area presents the original appearance of northern Germany and was therefore placed under protection in the last century. The desolate areas are flat and not high (reaching 160 m above sea level), which makes them easy to explore. In addition to the moors, there are various interesting towns in the area like Lüneburg, Hanover if Soltau.
Cathedral and Old Town Basel
Panorama Innsbruck
Lake Constance - this reservoir, located at the foot of the Alps, is divided between Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Vineyards grow on its shores, steep rocky slopes and many harbors develop. The Swiss (Constance, Friedrichshafen) and Austrian Bregenz. Interestingly, this lake is the third largest in Central Europe, with an area of almost 540 km².
Heidelberg and Mannheim - these are two cities separated by several dozen kilometers, located on the Rhine. Both are important research centers as well as serious cultural centers. Mannheim is home to a beautiful palace, the seat of the former Palatinate electors, and the National Theater. A short film festival is also held here every year. Heidelberg, on the other hand, is a sub-mountain metropolis, with a huge Gothic-Renaissance castle, many charming streets of the Old Town and beautiful churches. From the cultural side, it is known mainly thanks to numerous fairs and music festivals.
Belvedere in Vienna
Nuremberg - famous city in Bavaria, by the river Pegnitz, famous for its castle and old town buildings. Currently, it is also associated with the seat of many museums (including the National Museum, the Transport Museum, the Toy Museum, and the House of Dürer). The most important buildings in Nuremberg are the churches, which are the best-preserved works of medieval architecture in the city. The center of the Old Town is the Hauptmarkt - the main town square, from which many streets divide. It is worth remembering that it was in Nuremberg that the collapse of the church began, as a result of which Protestantism arose, which was deeply rooted in German culture.
Großglockner
Kaiserstraße in Bregenz
Dresden - the city is located on the Elbe, near the border with the Czech Republic and Poland. Its showcase is beautiful baroque architecture and numerous green areas. The biggest attractions of the city are the Frauenkirche, Zwinger Palace, Albertinum, New Synagogue, Semper Opera House, Pillnitz Palace, Wettin Residence and the Rococo Cosela Palace. The main promenade is also noteworthy Dresden, known as Tarasy Brühl.

Lake Bled

Switzerland

Ljubljana
Zurich - the largest economic center of the country. The seat of many great companies and organizations as well as an interesting city full of tourist attractions. Its greatest symbols are the Bahnhofstrasse - a long street connecting the historic main station with Lake Zurich, the Kunsthaus Zürich - art museum, the Federal Polytechnic - a monumental university with a high reputation and the Church of St. Saint Peter. Other churches are also worth seeing, such as the Grossmünster and the Old Town of Zurich called the Lindenhof.
Postojna Cave
Lake Geneva - a large lake located on the border between Switzerland and France, at the foot of the Alps and the Jura. This reservoir is one of the largest in this part of Europe and attracts a lot of tourists. In addition to its waters, an additional advantage is the surrounding of high mountains and the proximity of beautiful cities. Swiss towns located on its shores are e.g. Geneva, Montreux (famous thanks to the jazz festival), Vevey and Morges. On the shores of Lake Geneva stands the most famous Swiss castle - Chateau de Chillon.
Bellinzon - this small city is the capital of one of the Swiss cantons, in which, interestingly, the official language is Italian. The village is situated on the Gotthard Railway route, below the Cima dell'Uomo peak. The most important building in Bellinzona is the Montebello castle, below which rises historic buildings. When visiting the city, it is also worth visiting the nearby Lugano and Locarno.
Bernese and Pennine Alps - two large ranges of the Alps, among which the highest peaks of Switzerland and all of Europe rise. It is worth noting, among others Matterhorn, Dufourspitze, Mont Collon, Monte Rosa, Dom, Nadelhorn, Finsteraarhorn, Jungfrau, Eiger and Mönch.
Bern - the capital of Switzerland, despite its size in relation to Zurich or Basel, has many interesting attractions. Most of the beautiful Old Town is surrounded by the Aare River, which meanders among many unique buildings. These include the Historical Museum, Einstein House, Markthalle, Clock Tower, St. Peter and Paul and Berner Münster. When visiting the city, it is worth climbing to the Gurten peak, which offers a wonderful panorama of Zurich and its surroundings.
Val Müstair - it is a small commune surrounded by the peaks of the Rhaetian Alps, near the Forno Pass. Its main attraction is the medieval Benedictine monastery of St. John, erected in the 12th century. It is on the UNESCO Heritage List. In addition to religious monuments, the main tourist destination is the local mountains, among which the peaks of Piz Starlex, Piz Murtaröl and Schumbraida stand out.

Liechtenstein

Vaduz - the capital of Liechtenstein, despite its size, towers over many Alpine cities, e.g. thanks to tourist attractions. The most important is the castle (Schloss Vaduz) towering over the city. Other points of interest are the neo-Gothic cathedral of St. Florian, the Ski Museum, the town hall and the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein - the state museum of modern art.

Austria

Achensee - Lake Achensee is a beautiful reservoir, located between the villages of Maurach and Achensee, w Tyrol. The whole area is mainly steep slopes covered with forests and small ski complexes. A few kilometers to the south flows the Inn River with Tratzbeg Castle and the small town of Jenbach above it.
Innsbruck - the capital of Tyrol and the city that is famous primarily for the third 4-Hills-Tournament held there. In addition to winter sports, the city is also famous for its very interesting and beautiful Old Town, where you can see, among others, the famous Golden Roof, the Imperial Palace Hofburg or the Cathedral of St. James.
Salzburg - a city known thanks to the outstanding composer - Mozart. For this reason, the most popular destination for tourists there is the Mozarts Geburtshaus, the house where the famous musician was born. In addition, the Mirabell Palace with beautiful gardens, narrow medieval streets of the old town, numerous churches and the Hohensalzburg Fortress towering over the city are worth visiting.
Vienna - the capital of the country and the largest city, attracting crowds of tourists with its charm. It is full of attractions, both entertainment and architectural. The most popular places are: the Opera House, St. Stephen, Church of St. Peter's Square, City Hall, Hofburg, Parliament, Burgtheater, Art History Museum, Natural History Museum, Clock Museum, Naschmarkt, Karlskirche, Fountain at Schwarzenbergplatz, Belveder, Hundertwasser Haus, Prater and Schonbrunn Palace. When visiting the Austrian capital, it is also worth tasting local delicacies, including Viennese coffee, Sacher cake, Apfelstrudel, Tafelspitz, Viennese schnitzel and many more.
Lake Neusiedl - the lake is situated in the Neusiedler Plain, in northwestern Austria, on the border with Hungary. Due to its values, in 2001 it was included in the UNESCO Heritage List. The main purpose of arriving at the reservoir is to dry it up, after which it is refilled with water. Its surroundings and appearance seem to be a steppe water reservoir.
Graz - the second largest city in Austria, with a particularly attractive and perfectly preserved old town from the Habsburg era. In the city, you can visit, among others, the largest and intact armory in the world and the wonderful castle hill. Many will also be interested in the National Museum and the modern shape of the Kunsthaus Graz art gallery.
Eisriesenwelt - is the largest natural ice cave in the world, located near the small town of Werfen. The entrance to the cave is at an altitude of 1641 meters above sea level. And getting there is possible using the cable car. Portable lanterns are used to illuminate the cave, and the tour takes just over an hour.
Krimml - is a small tourist town in the northwestern part of the Hohe Tauern National Park, where the Krimmler Wasserfälle waterfall is located. It has three thresholds, and the level difference between them is 380 meters. It is worth taking a walk along the path that leads there and enjoying your eyesight at one of the many viewpoints. One of the attractions is also the funicular connecting Krimml with the city of Zell am See.
Malta Hochalmstrasse - it is the highest Austrian dam, located at an altitude of 1933 m. It attracts tourists mainly due to the unusual observation deck located above the 200-meter-long abyss.
Villach - a city located near the border with Slovenia and Italy, in the Drava valley, in the Carnic Alps. It attracts visitors with its charming Old Town and many interesting events. Every year, the city is the venue for hockey games, and the local ski jumps of Villacher Alpenarena are famous for the World Cup in jumping.

Slovenia

Bled - is a famous mountain spa located in the Julian Alps. Tourist attractions are the Alps, Lake Bled with the island of Blejski Otok and hot springs from which water supplies the healing pools. In addition to the city itself, it is worth visiting the nearby village of Bohinjska Bela, where you can find beautiful rocks and a historic church.
Triglav National Park - it is the only national park in Slovenia, located in the Julian Alps. The name of the park comes from Mount Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia, which rises almost in the middle of the park, towering over its entire area. The entire area of the park is mountainous, and the lowest point is the Tolminka gorge (180 m above sea level).
Ljubljana - the capital, the largest city of Slovenia and a real test site of Jože Plečnik, an outstanding European architect who became famous, among others renovation of the castle complex in Prague's Prague Castle. Most of the outstanding buildings in Ljubljana are his work, including The National Library and the Triple Bridge.
Postojna - it is a 24-kilometer labyrinth of passages, galleries and chambers, which, with the assistance of experienced guides, have been visited by over 38 million tourists in the last 200 years. It is also the largest and most visited 'classic karst' type cave in Europe, and one of the most beautiful.
Predjama Castle - the fortress in the village of Predjama, was built on a limestone rock in the 12th century. It rises at the bottom of a hundred-meter chasm located among karst formations. There is a small cave under the castle, which was hollowed out by the Lokva river flowing into the Adriatic Sea.
Maribor - the second largest city in the country, situated on the beautiful river Drava (tributary of the Danube). It delights with its beautiful Old Town and the Pohorje mountain range. Among the monuments and attractions, it is worth mentioning the basilica, the castle, the Lent coast, the Vodni stolp tower and the old grapevine - which is the oldest in the world and has been growing for over 400 years.
Piran - is one of the most attractive tourist destinations on the Slovenian Adriatic. The architecture of the town resembles Italian Venice. In the past, it was a Venetian fortress on the coast of Istria. Most of the buildings, as well as the impressive medieval walls separating the city from the rest of the land, date from this period.
Planica - is a steep mountain valley, located in the northwestern part of Slovenia in the Julian Alps, near Kranjska Gora. It is famous for its ski jumps and beautiful mountain peaks. It attracts tourists both in summer and winter, so it is an all-year attraction.
Novo Mesto - the city is located on the border with Croatia in the bend of the Krka River. It is on one of the meanders of the river that the tight and beautiful complex of the Old Town is located. The characteristic objects of the village are the Church of St. Nicholas, Kandijski Most, Castle Grm, Franciscan monastery and the archaeological museum (Dolenjska Museum).

Hungary

Budapest - recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It is famous today thanks to the high-class music scene, beautiful buildings and geothermal baths that were appreciated many years ago. The city consists of 2 parts: Buda (on the west bank of the Danube) and Pest (on the left bank). The former enchants with many monuments (Castle Hill, Citadel), and the latter has a beautiful parliament, the Basilica of St. Stefan's Square, Heroes' Square and many interesting museums.
Parliament building in Budapest
Lake Balaton
Pecs - the city is known for its many monuments and interesting objects. The most important of them are, among others the Romanesque Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, the national theater, the hospital chapel of St. John of Nepomuk, the baroque column of the Holy Trinity, the eclectic building of the Town Hall (Városháza), the famous Zsolnay porcelain factory, university buildings, numerous mosques remaining after the Turkish occupation and inscribed in 2000 on the UNESCO World Heritage List from the 4th century AD early Christian catacombs.
Miskolc - one of the largest cities in the country and the second most important urban center after the capital, full of bathing areas. Most of them are located in the Tapolca district. There are many sanatoriums and recreational facilities here. In addition, in Miskolc you can find many interesting monuments, among others castle, synagogue, many churches and several museums. The nearby resort of Lillafüred is also worth visiting.
Basilica of St. Ostrzyhomiu
Lake Balaton - this reservoir is the largest in Hungary and Central Europe. Its waters are shallow, sometimes marshy, but this does not interfere with bathing and water sports. An additional advantage of Lake Balaton are numerous attractions located on its shores, incl. Spa Heviz, a small port Fonyód or known in the region Veszprem.
Pannonhalma - this small town is famous for its famous Benedictine monastery. The abbey is situated on a low hill, surrounded by vineyards and small forests. The property is surrounded by an arboretum, which, together with the church and monastery complex, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Hortobagy National Park - its main element is the Hortobágy Puszta, which is a huge forestless formation of grasses and steppe plants. The park presents the former appearance of the Hungarian Plain, strongly reminiscent of the steppes from which Hungarians come. This area is irrigated by the Tisza River, which gives these lands water, which is important for the waterfowl living here.
Debrecen - a popular destination for tourists avoiding crowded and non-commercial places. It is known for its Great Reformed Church, St. Anna, charming tenement houses and beautiful acacia forests. When visiting Debrecen, it is also worth seeing the museum, university and thermal baths.
Tokay - is one of the most famous places in Europe. It delights with its buildings and vineyards, from which the wonderful Tokaj wine comes. It is the capital of the Tokaj wine region with over 30 villages. The main element of the landscape, in addition to vineyards, are forests and mountains, and an important part of each town are wineries and cellars where you can buy wine or taste it.
Szeged - called "Little Budapest", it strongly resembles the capital of the country. It is more intimate and not so frequently visited by tourists. The cathedral, the New Synagogue, the Dömötör Tower, the Franciscan Church, the town hall, the National Theater and the building of the University of Szeged are special architectural gems.

Little Fatra

Slovakia

Bratislava - the capital and the largest city in Slovakia. It has many valuable monuments, such as the Bratislava Castle, the old Devín Castle, numerous Gothic and Baroque churches. Among the buildings, the eclectic National Theater, the Presidential Palace, the University of Bratislava and the Primate's Palace stand out. When visiting the city, it is worth visiting the market square, visiting the philharmonic hall or one of the many interesting museums. Close to Bratislava are Vienna and Budapest, which are worth seeing during a longer stay in Slovakia.
The market square in Bardiów
Kosice - the city located in the east of the country is the second largest in the country. Košice is currently experiencing a dynamic development, which strongly influences the appearance and character of the city. The city, created by many cultures, has a beautiful old town, an eclectic building of the State Theater, the largest temple in Slovakia (St. Elisabeth Cathedral) and a riverside boulevard. The Jakabov Palace, the most beautiful of its kind in the area, is also worth seeing.
Tatranska Lomnica - this mountain village is a perfect place for relaxation both in the summer and winter seasons. Tatranska Lomnica as the second largest ski resort in Slovakia offers the longest ski run in the Carpathians and cable cars to Hrebeniok. In summer, it is the perfect starting point for mountain hiking tours.
Dolny Kubin
Bardiów - on the way to Košice, it is worth stopping at least for a few hours in a beautiful city. The picturesque, perfectly preserved square on a rectangular plan with low-rise buildings in the form of small tenement houses in pastel colors is undoubtedly one of the greatest attractions of Slovakia. Due to its values, it is one of the few Slovak cities entered into UNESCO.
Spiš Castle - the fortress was first mentioned in the 12th century. At that time, the fortress served as a border watchtower, which it maintained for nearly 500 years. The present appearance of the castle is the result of a fire that broke out in 1780. Despite this, the object looks very impressive, and the location on the hill adds additional charm to it.
Cesky Krumlov
Orava Castle - it is one of the most beautiful castles in the country, and its origins date back to the 13th century. Since then, the appearance of the stronghold has changed many times, which fortunately did not affect its character badly. The castle is shaped like a crescent and stands on a rock in the bend of the Orava River. It will certainly encourage you to visit, among others due to the proximity to the border with Poland (approx. 40 km).
Zilina - is the fourth largest city in Slovakia. It has a nice old town, Budatin Castle and a cathedral. It is also worth visiting the dam located next to the city. Žilina, although it does not have many attractions, can be an interesting option for a parking space on the way to the surrounding mountains or to the capital.

Adršpašské skály

Houses in Holaszowice

the Czech Republic

Prague - the capital and the largest city of the Czech Republic, located in the western part of the country, on the Vltava River. It is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, among others because of its charming streets, majestic buildings and many intimate places. The most important monuments worth seeing are the Cathedral of St. Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Church of Our Lady, Vysehrad Hill, Market Square, Old Town Hall, New Town Hall, National Theater, Clementinum, Dancing House, National Museum and ZOO.
Český Krumlov - this small town attracts, although it is not one of the largest, it will certainly encourage you to visit. The city has a well-preserved old town, and most of the city center consists of medieval tenement houses and churches. Above the Vltava River there is a majestic castle built in the 13th century by the Witigonen family.
Litomysh - a town located near Pardubice, attracts crowds, thanks to several important monuments. These include: the Renaissance palace from the 16th century, the Old Market Square, the Augustinian monastery and the Piarist church and monastery complex. Additionally, you can visit Portmoneum - a gallery with paintings by artist Josef Váchal.
Holaszowice - this small village is an ideal example of a well-preserved Central European village, preserving the medieval urban layout. There are numerous houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, built in the style of the so-called South Bohemian rural baroque. The town has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1998.
Brno - the second largest city in the Czech Republic, which, although smaller than the capital, has just as many attractions. The largest are the Špilberk Castle (built in the Middle Ages and enlarged many times, it eventually became the city's fortress), St. Peter and Paul (a beautiful gothic temple, built on the Petrov hill), the Old Town Hall (the oldest secular building in Brno), Freedom Square and the UNESCO-listed Villa Tugendhat.
Palace in Lednice - the palace located in the south, was built in the 16th century. Over the next two centuries, the building was rebuilt until the time of Jerzy Wingelmüller. The facility is surrounded by a multi-hectare park complex with numerous trees, ponds and flower beds. An additional attraction is the orangery where a 300-year-old palm tree is grown. The most impressive, however, are the beautiful wooden interiors.
Karlovy Vary and its surroundings - in the West Bohemian Spa Triangle located at the foot of the Sudetes, there are three largest spas in the country: Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne and Františkovy Lázně. Each of them is characterized by great diversity, as exemplified by the multi-style buildings on the Tepla River in Karlovy Vary. In addition to the monuments and spa facilities, mountains and forests are important for regional tourism, which will certainly encourage trekking fans.
Bohemian Switzerland National Park - the area of the park covers an area of almost 80 km, near the border with Germany. Its main attraction are rocks made of sandstone and limestone, loosely located in the local stands. The park has valuable flora and fauna that have attracted naturalists to this area for centuries. Czech Switzerland is similar in appearance and character to Błędne Skały, situated in the Polish Table Mountains.

Poland

Tongue

If you want to communicate in Central Europe, it is worth knowing German (used in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein), Polish or any West Slavic language (Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic), Slovenian and Hungarian. When traveling in Switzerland, French or Italian can also be useful. If, however, we travel in Hungary or Germanic countries, English is enough for basic communication. In border areas, communication is sometimes easier, e.g. at the border between Poland and Slovakia, where talking can be done without the usual knowledge of the Slovak language.

Currencies

The main means of payment in the region are: euro (valid in Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia), zloty (Poland), Czech koruna (Czech Republic), forint (Hungary) and Swiss franc (Switzerland and Liechtenstein).

Central Europe - Europa Środkowa

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