German cuisine is characterized by regional diversity. Thuringian grilled sausage, Westphalian ham, original Münster pumpernickel bread, raspberry schnapps, grain spirits, Black Forest cherry cake, Leysieffer' s exquisite confectionary specialities in Osnabrück: in the Historic Highlights of Germany, visitors encounter many temptations - what you opt for is just a matter of taste.

How about some hypotrimma (salad with spicy cheese dressing) or perna cum caricis (ham boiled with myrtle and served with fig sauce)?

In Trier you can not only revive your rusty Latin, but also feast to your heart's delight - as, once upon a time, its Roman founders once did.

A tradition of wine
We have the Romans to thank for another German specialty - wine - which they brought to the Mosel near Trier nearly 2,000 years ago.

Today, vineyards line the banks of Mosel, Saar and Ruwer Rivers, as well as the Rhine from Wiesbaden to Koblenz and beyond. With over 26,000 hectares of vines, the region in the triangle of Mainz, Bingen and Worms is Germany’s largest wine-growing area. Everywhere, snug wine taverns invite you to stop by: The Dornfelders, Rieslings and Silvaners of the region simply taste especially fine with “Weck und Worscht” (roll and sausage) or “Spundekäs” (a spicy creamed cheese)!

Wine also plays a major role elsewhere. For instance in Freiburg, at the heart of Baden's wine-growing region, you can savor a quarter-liter goblet of the nectar of the gods, accompanied by mouthwatering specialties such as Black Forest ham, locally grown white asparagus (between mid-April and mid-June), Black Forest trout, and game dishes.

Würzburg, the former capital of Franconia, is a grape-growing center with a number of famous large vineyards. The "Bürgerspital-Weingut zum Heiligen Geist," for example, is believed to have invented the "Bocksbeutel," a flat, pouch-shaped bottle that is the hallmark of Franconian wine. Here you can participate in wine tastings and wine cellar tours, and the same holds for the Staatlicher Hofkeller and the Weingut Juliusspital. And, of course, in a part of the world where beer is regarded not as an alcoholic beverage but as a staple foodstuff, a visit to the more than 350-year-old Würzburger Hofbräu brewery - where you can personally sample the wares - is a must.

In Wiesbaden, stop at the Weinhaus Kögler, a typical wine pub for the Rhine Valley.

Historic cuisine
If you'd like to partake of period cuisine while visiting a medieval city, then you can't go wrong by choosing Regensburg - if only for the Historic Sausage Kitchen, which has been serving up wurst for centuries.

The "Güldenes Schaf" in Heidelberg takes a flexible approach to time travel. Here the master of the house lets you experience traditional customs and cultural history of the region from various eras, together with historic meals, the right music, and fascinating explanations.

In Koblenz, savoring the specialties from this region is a particular and unique experience. Enjoy original dishes such as "Deppekoche" (potato pancake made of grated potatoes, bacon and onions), together with a young or mature wine from the steep slopes of the Mosel vineyards or the Rhine valley.

Beer
Germany's "Golden Barley Juice"Germany, of course, has a long tradition of beer brewing. This golden barley juice already enjoyed enormous popularity back in the Middle Ages. The German "Beer Purity Law," which prescribes that beer may only be made from four ingredients - barley, hops, yeast, and water - dates back to the year 1516.

Although it no longer has the force of law today, many German breweries still make a point of following the rules of this historic decree. And the cities of the Historic Highlights of Germany provide visitors with a deep look into the brewing vats.

If you're curious to find out why Bavarian beer enjoys such an excellent reputation, in Regensburg you can get to the bottom of it. There you can go on a tour of the old Kneitinger Brewery. All participants receive a "beer diploma" afterwards. We recommend doing this tour between October and Easter, when heady bock beer is brewed. Other brewery tours are available in Potsdam, home to Berliner Kindl founded in 1872 and one of Germany's most important breweries - and in Rostock, where the Rostocker Brauerei holds tours covering everything "from malt to bottling.

"What is a "keut?" What was the Münster beer war all about? You'll learn the answers to these and many other questions relating to the history of beer in Münster on a walk titled "The Great Thirst," which you can round out with a visit to a guesthouse brewery. This package is offered as the "Westphalian Evening" and includes a hearty meal, a glass of grain spirit, and one liter of beer per person.