30 Interesting and Fun Facts About Germany
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Unsplash: Mateo Krössler
Oh, hallo there! Are you interested in learning more about Germany? As you continue reading this listicle, you will learn more about this fun country also known as Deutschland.
Germany is a culturally and historically rich country. It is home to a wide range of customs as well as beautiful sceneries – forested hills, snowy mountains, river valleys, and more. You name it, the country has it. Every area of this Central European country is a must-see: the laid back city of Munich, the Romanesque architecture of Cologne, the impressive Berlin, the futuristic skyline of Frankfurt, the grand Dresden, the list goes on and on.
Truly, Germany has a lot to offer to its visitors and residents. If you are interested in learning more about German culture, learn German and its very fun words. Find out what makes this country so special. Is it because of its food? Is it because of its music? Is it because of its history? Is it because of its people? Or is it because of a hodgepodge of things that makes Germany a place of special somethings for you?
There is more than meets the eye that makes this lovely country so remarkable. So whenever you’re ready, take a trip to Germany and indulge in the diverse German culture. But for now, here are bits for you to chew on.
- The largest train station in Europe is in Berlin.
- Berlin is 9 times bigger than Paris.
- There are more than 20,000 castles in Germany.
- Germany is the EU's largest economy.
- German is the third most widely taught language in the world.
- The German language has 35 dialects.
- Beer is considered as food in the Bavaria region.
- There are more than 1,000 kinds of sausages in Germany.
- Germany has more than 3000 kinds of bread.
- The Christmas tree tradition came from Germany.
- Most taxis in Germany are Mercedes-Benz.
- The first printed magazine was launched in 1663.
- German is the language with the most native speakers in Europe.
- Berlin has a museum dedicated to currywurst.
- There are 7,000 different beers in Germany.
- More than ⅓ of Germany is covered in forests and woodlands.
- Germany is a leader in climate and energy policies.
- Germany is one of the largest car producing countries in the world.
- Reutlingen is home to the world’s narrowest street.
- 65% of the highways in Germany have no speed limit.
- Germany has over 400 registered zoos.
- The Cologne Cathedral took 632 years.
- People in Cologne speak a German dialect called Kölsch.
- Germany was the first to adopt the concept of daylight saving time.
- You can order beer with just your thumb in Germany.
- When children in Germany enter school, they’re given gifts called Schultüte.
- German law has the right to deny baby names.
- Germany is also recognized as the land of poets and thinkers.
- Discrimination against members of the LGBTQ+ community is prohibited in Germany.
- The hamburger is named after the German city of Hamburg.
Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the five-storey railway station, was a 10-year construction project. But you can find the expansive train station in the middle of Berlin.
Yes, the city of Berlin is 9 times the size of Paris.
Germany is home to more than 20,000 castles. Most of them are at least 100 years old and have been turned into museums, hotels, or cultural centers.
The country’s GDP is over 3.3 trillion Euros, making Germany the largest economy in the European Union.
Interested in learning another language? Learn German with Beelinguapp!
German is a diverse language and it has about 35 regional dialects. Some of the top dialects are – High German, Bavarian, Middle German, Low German, Frisian, and Alemannic
Beer is an important food group in Germany, and so in the Bavaria region beer is considered as food.
Another thing that Germany is famous for is sausages! So don’t be surprised about the fact that there are over 1,000 sausage varieties in Deutschland.
You might not know this but another key symbol of Germany is...bread. The country has over 3000 bread varieties.
The first Christmas tree or Tannenbaum was created in Germany. By the 19th century, the tradition spread all over the country and other neighboring places with the help of several German royals. On the other hand, the German emigrants are the ones who brought the custom to America.
Yep, the luxury brand “Mercedes-Benz” is the choice of vehicle for taxi drivers in Germany.
The Gutenberg Press was founded in Germany. The Erbauliche Monaths-Unterredungen, the first-ever published magazine, was started by Johann Rist who was a German poet.
German is the official language of seven countries and the most widely spoken language in the European Union.
The Deutsches Currywurst Museum is a museum in Berlin dedicated to the currywurst sausage.
Fact: Germans love beer. And the country has over 7,000 varieties of beer. That’s a lot of beer.
Over 90 billion trees cover 33% of Germany. The most trees planted are Spruce trees followed by Pine, Beech, and Oak.
Germany boasts one of the world's most institutionalized Green Movements. The country wants to be greenhouse gas neutral by 2045.
The automotive industry in Germany is one of the best in the world. The top selling German car brands are Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen.
The world’s narrowest street in the world measures at only 31 centimeters. The alleyway can be found in Reutlingen, Germany.
German highways, otherwise known as Autobahn, have no mandated speed limit and it is illegal to run out of gas on the Autobahn.
There are more than 400 registered zoos all over Germany. The largest zoo in the world is located in Berlin known as The Berlin Zoological Garden.
The Cologne Cathedral is the second largest religious building in Germany. It was finished in 1880, 632 years after the beginning of its construction. Despite the heavy bombs in World War II, the massive architecture remained standing.
25% of Cologne’s population speak a German dialect called Kölsch.
In 1916, Germany first established Daylight Savings Time and the concept spread all over Europe.
To order beer like true German, try ordering with your fingers. If your thumb is out, it means you’re ordering one beer. If your thumb, index, and middle finger are all out then you’re ordering three beers.
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On the first day of school, German first-graders are given a Schultüten. A Schultüte is a school cone filled with goodies and school supplies, made by parents. And this tradition goes back all the way back to the 19th century.
Baby names in Germany must be approved by the Standesamt or the German civil registration office. If the name is rejected, the name must be changed or have the decision appealed.
Many great philosophers are from Germany. Their ideas shaped how we interact with each other and think about the world. Another name for Germany is Das Land der Dichter und Denker which translates to “the country of poets and thinkers.”
Same-sex marriage has been legal in October 1st, 2017 in Germany. And the German government is committed to promote equal rights to people of the LGBTQ+ community.
The name hamburger comes from the seaport city of Hamburg. Quick hamburger story: After the sailors returned from trading in the Baltic regions, it is thought that they brought back some uncooked shredded beef. The shredded beef was then prepared by an unknown German chef, thus the hamburger was born.