Discover Germany | Issue 4 | June 2013

Issue 4 | June 2013

PLUSFINE WINES

FABULOUS FESTIVALS

BEST OF AUSTRIA

HEIDI KLUMGermany’s prettiest export

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14 22

COVER FEATURE6 Heidi Klum

The German supermodel turned businesswomantalks about kids, career and a healthy lifestyle.She also explains why you are not just supposedto look pretty to be successful.

SPECIAL THEMES12 Wine

In our Wine section you will discover that Ger-many is more than just“Riesling”. German wineis on the rise. We present award-winning vine-yards, distinguished wines and the Mosel wineregion.

22 Summer in the Austrian AlpsFind out what makes Austria such an attractivedestination. Insider tips onAustria, all about Kuf-stein and a great place to stay in Arlberg. Findyour happy place in the Austrian Alps.

27 Organic LifestyleOrganic food is no longer a nichemarket.We cel-ebrate the healthy lifestyle and present greatproducts and services from a Bio-hotel in Bavariato fine organic baby food. Read about chocolatewith a soul, gluten free bakery products and a net-tle that has turned from weed to wellness hero.

35 Parks and GardensEnjoy the sunshine, taking a deep breath and in-haling the scent of the blossoming flowers. In ourparks and gardens theme we feature fine flowerarrangements, award-winning landscape archi-tecture and botanical Alpine beauty.

43 FestivalsGet into the groove. Read all about the hottestgigs, great locations and the finest DJs live onstage this summer in our special theme section,which is entirely dedicated to festivals. Gear upand get ready to enjoy great music. From hiphop to folk there’s a festival for every taste thissummer.

54 Summer in LeipzigLeipzig City Special: The city of the peaceful rev-olution in is one of the finest examples of richheritage mixed with contemporary lifestyle andwell worth a visit.

REGULARS & COLUMNS9 Dedicated to Design

This month’s editor’s pics include sleek sunloungers and cute kid’s tableware. Wine loverswill fall for the Vinidor and our little kitchenhelpers are extremely sleek too. All items arecreated by German, Swiss or Austrian designers.

10 Fashion FindsOur editor’s pics are all about cool summer style.From the hot tuxedo to the uber-cool Lagerfeldsunglasses, cosy scarfs and colourful Gretchenbags - we present the latest trends.

50 Hotel of the MonthDiscover the Residenz Heinz Winkler, a won-derful hotel with a special treat as MrWinkler isone of the world’s most celebrated chefs.

52 Attraction of the MonthVisit the world famous Meissen manufacture,where dreams are made of fine china.

62 CultureWitty Barbara Geier writes about Blue Nun.

63 BusinessMeet the British Swiss Chamber of Commerce.

ContentsJUNE 2013

Discover Germany | Contents

40

Hallstatt Salt Mine

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 3

Neustadt Wine Route view of Neustadt-Haardt

4 | Issue 4 | June 2013

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the June issue of Discover Ger-many, a magazine dedicated to promotingGermany, Switzerlandand Austria andappealing to all thosewho have a relation-ship with or a connection to these countries.

Our June issue is packed with excitingthemes. Find out why German wines are onthe rise and discover some of the finest

vineyards in our special wine theme. Furthermore, we present youwith our special parks and gardens theme featuring a wonderful se-lection of horticultural highlights reaching from the Hamburg portto the Swiss Alps. For the music savvy readers a great selection offestivals reveals the best events starring international superstars likeDavid Guetta or Paul van Dyk.

German supermodel turned successful businesswoman HeidiKlum reveals what it takes to make it in the fashion world and howto juggle kids and career. Just like her, we support the healthy lifestyle and you will find lots of useful information in our organic sec-tion featuring everything from organic babyfood to healthy treas-ures made of nettles as well as an entirely green hotel.

Herwig Kolzer, regional Manager UK,Denmark and Sweden of theAustrian NationalTourist Office London shares his valuable insiderinformation about holiday highlights in his home country as withthis issue we officially present Austria to our readers.

Our hotel of the month is indeed a very special one as it is ownedand run by one of this planet’s finest chefs.HeinzWinkler talks aboutthe best cheese cake in the world and his colleague Paul Bocuse.

The finest china in the world is made in Meissen and we proudlypresent the Meissen manufactory as our attraction of the month.Our city special is dedicated to vibrant Leipzig, the birth place ofcomposer Wilhelm RichardWagner 200 years ago.

Enjoy the magazine.

Tina AwtaniEditor

Discover Germany

Issue 4, June 2013

Published 14.06.2013

ISSN 2051-7718

Published by

Scan Magazine Ltd.

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This magazine containsadvertorials/promotional articles

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Meet Heidi Klum, Germany’s prettiest ex-port and a smart one too. The blonde girlfrom Bergisch Gladbach was the first Ger-manmodel to star as aVictoria’s Secret An-gel. Her appearance on the cover of theSports Illustrated Swimsuit issue in 1998caused quite a stir in the fashion world.Since then Heidi has come a long way andis today successfully operating her ownfashion empire. Besides other projects, thetop model turned über-businesswomen iscurrently heading “Germany’s Next Top-model” TV show for the seventh season.Across the pond her“Project Runway”TV

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 7

Heidi Klum“Nowadays you are not just supposed to look pretty, but you have to talk,and you have to kind of fit into so many different things. I enjoy it”.

TEXT: INTERVIEW BY BARBARA BINSTEIN / THE INTERVIEW PEOPLE

Discover Germany | Cover Feature | Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum at the gala screening of The Paperboyin competition at the 65th Festival de Cannes.May 24, 2012 Cannes, France.Photos: Paul Smith/Featureflash

show is a real hit in the United States. Themother of four explains how to juggle kidsand career, who is in charge of her outfitsand why looking pretty just isn’t enough.

So many women see you as a role model.Withall that you do, how do you stay in shape?“The fitness is suffering a little bit becauseI think that myself always comes last. Idon't do spas and any of that stuff. I haven'tshopped in a long time. I am with my fam-ily. My weekends are always off. Usuallywhen I work I'm done by five o'clock sothat I can be home and be there for dinnerand spend time and all of that. If I don'twork in the mornings, I drive my kids toschool and be with them as much as I can.I try not to cram in so much, and when Icome home I leave my bag by the doorwith all of its gadgets. I try not to be on anyof the devices in the house anymore. I thinkthat's important, because sometimes theemails and all the iPhones and Blackberry's,

they overtake your life. I try to get a little bitback to basics and push that away a littlebit. Otherwise, it's too much.”

Do you work out?“Not so much. I try sometimes, yeah. Likemy kids, for example, on Sundays they dogymnastics, and while they do gymnasticsI kind of do an hour while they're in there,but it's hard. So I try to incorporate gym-nastics and working out a little bit into myeveryday routine. Like just over the week-end, we were at home in the pool, playingin the pool, doing a few laps with the kids.We have a big trampoline outside.We havetwo German Shepherds. So I take them onwalks. So it's trying to incorporate that intomy daily life.”

You do a lot. So you must be really good atscheduling.“Yeah, I plan ahead.”

Do you have any tips for busy moms?“I mean, try to work it into your daily rou-tine. That's what I do. It's hard.You have toget dinner on the table. You have to getyour kids to school, do their lunchboxes,everything. It's hard, so you have to try tomake it work somehow for yourself. It'salso eating right.”

Who are you wearing or a better question iswho put you in it?“Maryam Malakpour.”

That's your stylist?“Yeah. I've been with her for many years,which makes it much easier, because if youhave to explain what you like and don'tlike…and nowwith 'America's GotTalent,'I do three shows a year. I do Germany's'Next Top Model.' I do 'Project Runway'and now this, and she has to find a lot ofthings for me all the time.”

How are you qualified – to do a show like this['America's Got Talent’]?“Well, for me, I've been in the entertain-ment industry now for 20 years. I've trav-elled the world. I feel like I've seen thingsnot only in America, but all over the world.And I'm very interested in theatre andmu-sic. Being married to a musician for eightyears, I've seen a lot of things. I don't know.I've judged in fashion or in music, I guessit's part of my personality, too. I want to telleveryone how they are looking and whatthey should be doing or whatever. I thinkit's part of my personality, too.And in Ger-many, I do Germany's "Next Top Model"where I try to find a beautiful, young girlwho has that all-around talent becausenowadays you are not just supposed to lookpretty, but you have to talk, and you have tokind of fit into so many different things. Ienjoy it.”

Are you green at all?“I try to not do it on an Earth Day. I try todo it all the time. Not being wasteful. I al-ways try to do that, not just on one day.”

8 | Issue 4 | June 2013

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 9

Discover Germany | Design | Dedicated to Design

Christina Miliopoulou and Gundula Oltmanns have teamedup to create this smart and child-friendly tableware set forlittle heroes. The set also comes in handy for a picnic. £25www.ornamin.com

Enjoy the summer in your garden with the Viteo Slim sun-lounger which has been designed by Wolfgang Pichler andis crafted from highly durable thermo-formed Corian on astainless steel substructure. £1,500www.viteo.at

Swiss manufacturer Bodum created this colourful Bistrojug blender as a perfect kitchen companion. Create smooth-ies, milkshakes or a fresh summer berry mix easily with thissleek machine. £119www.bodum.com

Prepare your summer salad in style with the Swiss madeBistro Line Spice Mills and Vinegar-Oil Dispenser. Designedby Philipp Beyeler this beautiful set certainly makes you thehostess with the mostess. £19.95www.kuhnrikon.ch

Dedicated to Design...The German, Austrian and Swiss design scene is more vibrant than ever, with an array of new inventions and beautiful objectsnow available in stores. Check out these award winning and inspiring design pieces that we have fallen in love with thismonth.

BY TINA AWTANI

The Liebherr Vinidor Wine Cooler Cabinet stores up to 200 bottles and keeps your favourite wines at just the right temperaturethroughout the hot summer months. Beautiful aesthetics, high performance and a low noise level make this wine coolerstand out from the crowd. £3,349 www.liebherr.com

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10 | Issue 4 | June 2013

Summer is on its way and it brings great new trends. The tux is back. Thereis hardly a catwalk that hasn’t been featuring the new season’s must havewith the silk lapels. Also trending are bold and bright accessories whichinstantly add a bit of fun to any wardrobe.

BY TINA AWTANI

Fashion FindsTuxedos are the hot new trend. Try a black, masculineversion with boyfriend jeans and high heels for a sexyand casual look. Or opt for a feminine silhouette in sum-mer friendly off white shades like this sand coloured onecreated by German designer Michael Michalsky. £589www.michalsky.com

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 11

These fashionable hand-printed scarves are not onlypretty to look at. The scarves come in handy when acool summer breeze kicks in during the evening whileout and about as they are created in oversize measur-ing 210 by 107 centimetres. Amorph founder and de-signer Iris Jorde is renowned for her high quality vis-cose, silk and cashmere creations featuring jellyfish,chameleons, octopuses, lobsters etc. From £68.www.amorph-berlin.com

Bold colours are trending this summer and none otherthan design genius Karl Lagerfeld has created thesestylish sunglasses for men and women. Absolutelyuber-cool these shades are an accessory not to bemissed. From £89.Available at www.selectspecs.com

We love the sculptural aesthetics of the Tango bag designed by Anne-Christine Hofmann. Gretchen’s leatheraccessories are all crafted with a distinctly modern design language, just like the Tango bag that comes in allthe colours of the rainbow. £256. www.mygretchen.com

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 13

Discover Germany | Special Theme | Wine

Germany is more than “Riesling”! Thetremendous diversity of German winesis unique among the wines of the world.It is a reflection of our individualisticwine-growers and their methods ofviticulture and winemaking as well asthe distinctive features of our wine-growing regions, each with a slightlydifferent climatic and geologicalmakeup. Exploring wine country – evenon weekend excursions – is one way totap these resources.

Tips, Addresses, Maps

With www.germanwines.de and our youngwine maker's platform www.generation-riesling.de we hope to pique your curiosity.Find our survey of the 13 wine-growing re-gions and their wines, tips for sightseeingandmaps to get you started on a journey ofdiscovery. Those who want more detailedinformation can turn to us.We can provide

you with maps for motorists, hikersand cyclists, as well as calendars ofevents to help you plan a regionaltour.

Cultural and Viticultural High-lights

Germany’s viticultural traditiondates from Roman times. As such,it’s not surprising that the wine-growing regions are rich in cultural

and art historical treasures. Follow in thefootsteps of bishops and princes as youtour venerable monasteries and splendidcastles, or take a leisurely stroll throughcharming medieval towns.

Gentle Warmth and Great NaturalBeauty

Grapes grow in climatically favorable zoneswith lots of sunshine and mild tempera-tures. Where else in Germany do fig trees,kiwis and other Mediterranean fruits thrivein the open air? And all of this in land-scapes of great natural beauty ranging fromsteep slopes along narrow river valleys, togentle rolling hills carpeted with vines, andvast expanses of vineyards stretching intothe plains, punctuated here and there byold, traditional estates.

The Culinary Delights of aWineTour

Every wine tour has its culinary aspects.Wine and food are natural partners and it isprecisely this interplay of a region’s typicalwines with local cuisine that makes for amemorable experience...whether in a gour-met restaurant, a cheerful country inn or awine-grower’s pub offering simple, buttasty, fare.

Let’s go!

Discover the DiversityTEXT: MONIKA REULE, MANAGING DIRECTOR GERMAN WINE INSTITUTE

Monika Reule,Managing DirectorGerman Wine Institute.Photo: Angelika Stehle

BAYERNTOURISMUSMarketingGmbH

Special Theme

Wine

14 | Issue 4 | June 2013

The most abiding advantage French andItalian wines have always had – and stillhave – is that they have travelled piggy-back on their cuisines throughout the 20thcentury. Would the iconic Chianti-bottlehave become so ubiquitous had it not beenfor countless pizzerias and trattorias acrossthe western world? Would French wineshave reached the same apotheosis had itnot been for the stranglehold of ‘la hautecuisine’ over what was perceived as finedining until ‘molecular gastronomy’ sweptcollective table tops clean? Wines becomesuccessful if you sell not only the beverage

but also the drinking occasion. The revivalof dry Sherry, for example, is only due totapas bars which demonstrated to a wholenew generation of drinkers at first handhow fabulously well Fino pairs withsmoked almonds and paper-thin slivers ofjamon.

This is the kind of leg-up that Germanwines have never had. Should you actuallycome across a German-styled restaurant itwill most likely be a travesty: a beer-halldedicated to sausages, sauerkraut andmoreor less buxom waitresses in fake Dirndl

dresses that will make entire Alpine civili-sations shudder. Nor are you likely to findgood German wines there: such establish-ments capitalise on the quality of Germanbeer while peddling a downmarket versionof the food. Short of some bright sparkopening and financing a German-styledchain of Riesling-lounges on über-cool, in-ternational roof terraces, this is unlikely tochange. Or is it?

Germans themselves have neglected sometheir greatest vineyards. They – apart forma few exceptions - did not speak with con-

A New Age for GermanWines?In conquering markets and winning hearts, the playing field for Germany’s flagship wine Riesling has never been level – isthat about to change?

TEXT: ANNE KREBIEHL

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 15

Discover Germany | Special Theme | Wine

viction when they went abroad, so whyshould the world at large appreciate what isdisdained at home? Even in Germany goodrestaurants did not champion Germanwines while the very finest exponents – theAuslesen, Beerenauslesen and TBAs, allnobly sweet - were so niche they garnered

the same excitement as a congress of phi-latelists. This is how they were marketed,too, with intricate, tongue-twisting gothiclabels. Just a few years ago, Riesling, Sil-vaner, Spätburgunder and Co. were con-sidered terminally uncool.

So what has changed? It’s hard to date, butsomething has shifted permanently. Per-haps it was climate change, perhaps im-proved viticulture. Perhaps it was the scoresof Geisenheim graduates fanning acrossthe globe to work vintages abroad, return-ing home and realising for the first timetheir own utterly unique vineyards. Per-haps it was the thrill of tasting a Rieslingwith that unmistakeable electric acidity.Perhaps it was the realisation that Germanysimply cannot compete on price and musttherefore compete on quality. The reasonsare numerous but for the first time in yearsGerman winemakers are presenting theirwines to the world with a newfound pride.On a regular basis now, German wines arewheeled out to be presented with numer-ous Asian cuisines where their subtle nu-ances complement textures and flavourswithout dominating them. But isAsian foodthe long-lost culinary leg-up that was miss-ing for so long?

Not just Asian but modern, metropolitancooking is the ticket. Coincidentally, con-sumer tastes shifted away from heavy-hit-ting, oak-saturated wines towards fresher,lighter styles while wine-lovers have be-comemore sophisticated: no longer do theyequate Germany just with sweet wines –even though a little sweetness – that slighttouch of residual sugar that acts as flavourenhancer rather than as sweetener, can bea boon for modern cooking. Star somme-lier Dustin Wilson, wine director at Man-hattan’s Eleven Madison Park Restaurant,

says“just in the last five to ten years or sothat having a wine with a little sweetness isnot necessarily a bad thing anymore.” Heloves pairing such marginally sweet Ger-man Rieslings with inventive combinations– lighter versions of traditional foods like asalad of roasted pork leg, tossed withleaves, port jus and mustard and toppedwith roasted cherries.

He is echoed by Billy Wagner of the ultra-hip and Michelin-starred Weinbar Rutz inBerlin: “Ten years ago when I started youcould not sell Riesling – today that haschanged completely,” Wagner explains.“Even restaurants who for years only soldBordeaux, Burgundy,Tuscany and Piedmontare today selling great German wines.”Where food is concerned, Wagner knowsthat“Riesling combines sensationally wellwith food. No matter where you look,kitchens are defining themselves by pro-ducing a succession of light but very flavour-some courses, and Riesling is very excitingin that situation. Despite its lightness it de-livers lots of flavour and complexity.”Goodnews then: you can now head to any on-trend wine bar and proudly ask for a goodGermanwine. If the sommelier is worth hissalt he’ll have a Riesling, Silvaner, Grau- orWeissburgunder chilling for you.

“Schnapsdrossel extraordinaire” AnneKrebiehl is Discover Germany’s new wineexpert. As an accredited member of theCircle of Wine Writers as well as theAssociation of Wine Educators she holds aWine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma andhas been writing for Harpers Wine & Spirit,The World of Fine Wine, The FinancialTimes, Decanter, Weinwelt and the LondonEvening Standard in the past.

www.AnneInVino.com

Main image: Neustadt Wine Route view of Neustadt-Haardt. © GNTB Neustadt a.d. Weinstraße, Tourist, Kongress- und SaalbauGmbH

From top down:

Neuleiningen Wine route. © GNTB Gundhard Mardt

Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler grape harvest. © GNTB Dirk Topel Kommunikation GmbH

Esslingen am Neckar Castle tower, bread, wine and grapes. © GNTB Photodesign Thomas Rathay

Stuttgart Wine Festival. © GNTB Stuttgart Marketing GmbH

16 | Issue 4 | June 2013

Schloss Johannisberg lies in the middle ofthe Rheingau, one of Germany’s most fa-mous wine regions just 45 Minutes out-side Frankfurt. The Schloss Johannisbergvineyard has a perfect soil for Germany’s fa-mous Riesling grape, a mixture of quartziteand loam-loess. Combined with a mild cli-mate this allows the grapes to gain theirrich aroma and makes it to one of theworld’s best white wines.

Grapes have been cultivated in the vine-yards surrounding the castle for the last1,200 years. In 1720 about 294,000 Rieslingvines were planted in the vineyards of theold Benedictine abbey, the same which in1775 discovered and recognized the bene-fits of the so called Spätlese (late-harvest),a sweet and rich but elegant wine fromoverripe grapes. At the beginning of the20th century Riesling wines were among

the quartet of the most famous and ratherexpensive wines in Europe.

The Riesling grape is multifaceted, deliver-ing new nuances with every vintage. Thewines produced at Johannisberg have awide range from dry to sweet. To discoverthis wide spectrum of flavours and differ-ences of Schloss Johannisberg Riesling isone of the most exciting adventures theRheingau has to offer all those who cherishand love a good white wine.

The wine shop at Schloss Johannisbergoffers a wide range of wines and qualifiedpersonnel help to choose the right winefor every occasion. But Schloss Johannis-berg does not only create and sell wine. Italso houses a restaurant, which opensall-season. During the summer visitorshave a beautiful view from the garden

and the terrace over the Rheingau land-scape.

One of the highlights of a visit to SchlossJohannisberg might be a tour deep downinto the old wine cellars, long and dimvaults where wine has ripened in bigwooden barrels since the 18th century.Tours and wine tastings can be booked inadvance (Contact: Stefan Eiser,telephone: + 49 6722 7009 29,e-mail: [email protected]).

www.schloss-johannisberg.de

Schloss JohannisbergThe oldest Riesling estate in the worldFine nuances, flavours of herbs and citrus fruits, rich aromas or sweet yellow fruit notes – all this can be found in a Rieslingwhite wine produced at Schloss Johannisberg Winery. Schloss Johannisberg is a monument of wine, culture and landscape:the winery offers wine tastings, cellar tours and an all-season restaurant.

TEXT: JESSICA HOLZHAUSEN | PHOTOS: SCHLOSS JOHANNISBERG WINERY

Discover Germany | Specal Theme | Wine

Vulkanfelsgarten WinklerbergBest of nature & world famous winesThe volcanic Winklerberg is one of Germany’s finest vineyard sites, stretching from the south-western Kaiserstuhl (Emperor’sChair) mountain region along the Rhine valley. Local vineyards are world famous for the production of high quality wines.

TEXT: TINA AWTANI | PHOTOS: PRESS PHOTOS

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 17

Due to the warm, almost Mediterraneanclimate even lizards, mantis and cacti are acommon sight in this extremely fertile winegrowing region. Many award winningwines are grown on the volcanic soil in thisbeautiful mountain area. Discover Ger-many presents three outstanding vineyardsand their award winning produce.Awarded the “Wine Producer of the Year2013” by the the Gault Millau editorialteam, Joachim Heger and his vineyard areinternationally renowned for the produc-tion of top quality wines. Established in1935, the estate is deeply rooted in theIhringerWinklerberg with its steep, hot androcky surface made of decomposed vol-canic stone. The conditions are absolutelyperfect for the production of a“Grand Cru”.Try the expressive Terroir wine such as thefull bodied white grape 2011“IhringerWin-


klerberg Grauburgunder Spätlese” dry,which is famous for its fine fruit, eleganceand tangible minerality.

Also located on theVulkanfelsgarten Win-klerberg is the Hubert Lay vineyard estate,running into the fourth generation and stilla family business. The vineyard is a sup-porter of the slow food movement and allwine is grown on a strictly ecologic andvegan basis. House specialties are theGrauburgunder, Gewürztraminer and thecream of the crop Spätburgunder (PinotNoir). International top wines by HubertLay include the 2008 late Burgundy“Spät-burgunder Rotwein Spätlese trocken SL”,famous for its harmony, complexity, spicynotes and berry aroma.The Hubert Lay es-tate has won countless industry awards forits wines including winner and runner-upof all German organic wines 2011.

The Winzergenossenschaft (wine-cooper-ative) Ihringen with its 700 members is one

of the largest and oldest wineries in theKaiserstuhl region in southern Baden. Thecooperative produces various wines such asSpätburgunder, Müller-Thurgau, Graubur-gunder (Pinot Gris),Weissburgunder (PinotBlanc),Gewürztraminer,Muskateller (Mus-cat) and Scheurebe.A prime example is theUringa 962 Exzellenz, a red wine ripened onvolcanic grounds, which is dominated byblackberry, pepper and fine wood notes.Again this localproduce is interna-tionally renownedand has beenawarded the silvermedal at the Mon-dial des Pinots2012.

The Vulkanfels-gartenWinklerbergvineyards are adream destinationfor wine lovers.

www.ihringen.dewww.heger-weine.dewww.weingut-hubert-lay.dewww.winzergenossenschaft-ihringen.de

Hubert Lay Spatburgunder Dr. Heger Ihringer WinklerbergGrauburgunder Spatlese trocken

Uringa 962 Spatburgunder

18 | Issue 4 | June 2013

It started out with the wish to continue afamily tradition. After German re-unifica-tion, Dr Georg Prinz zur Lippe started buy-ing his family`s old wine-growing estateback little by little and in 1997 also the fam-ily residence Proschwitz Castle, long afterthe family had been expropriated withoutcompensation in 1945.He began rebuildingboth the castle and the 800-year-old win-ery, thus re-establishing the biggest andoldest private winery in Saxony. Situated

northwest of Dresden, the vineyard over-looks Meissen, home of the world-famousporcelain. The southern disposition of thevineyard, the microclimate of the Elbe val-ley and the excellent soil composition en-sure the production of high quality wineswhich are regularly praised by internation-ally renowned experts and food guides,such as Gault Millau. In 1996, the wineryProschwitz Castle was the first Saxonmember to be admitted to the Association

of German Qualityand PrädikatWine Es-tates (VDP) and is oneof only four East Ger-man members up un-til today. The reasonbehind the success isthe family's ambitionto constantly reviewand improve ways ofproduction. "We arecontinuing a familytradition, but we arelooking forwards, notbackwards," explainsAlexandra Prinzessinzur Lippe, who man-ages the winery'spublic relations; "in-novation is at least as

important as tradition for us." The estatetakes pride in being a green winery whichcultivates environmentally friendly pro-duce, regularly reviews soil quality and hasdrastically reduced the use of pesticidesever since the vineyard was repurchased.Intense use of pesticides was the norm inthe German Democratic Republic.

Next to the high quality of its products, thewinery castle Proschwitz sets its focus onculture and enjoyment of the estate. Eachyear, about 500 different events take placeand each one is a unique experience.Wine-tasting, candlelight tours through the winecellars, concerts, dinners and theProschwitzer Parklust, an open air event inthe castle grounds, are some of the culturalhighlights the estate has to offer.As a horseenthusiast, the Concours d`Elégance, a car-riage ride with picnic in the forest, is one ofPrinzessin Alexandra zur Lippe's favouriteevents and also one reviving old traditions.The family works hard to ensure everyguest enjoys their time at the estate: "It isour trademark and philosophy to look afterevery guest, to make everyone feel wel-come and appreciated." Which is a cordialinvitation to come and experience Saxonwine and hospitality, as well as a part ofGerman history at the winery castleProschwitz.

www.schloss-proschwitz.de

Saxony's oldest winery bearswitness to German historyThe winery Proschwitz Castle unites tradition and innovation in a success story ofproducing distinguished wines

TEXT: DORINA REICHHOLD | PHOTOS: WEINGUT SCHLOSS PROSCHWITZ

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 19

In the 1970s Gerhard Strecker and his fam-ily took over the Beilsteiner Steinberg, ahill also known as Amalienhof, which wasin a wild state back then.According to tra-dition, the name Amalienhof (Amalie’scourt) goes back to old times when it washome to Amalie, the lover of Baron vonHelfenberg. This inspired Strecker tochange the name of his vine-growing estateto Amalienhof and turn it into a successstory.

Strecker renewed the vineyard meticu-lously, always keeping it close to nature.Red Keuper, known for its thermal storageproperties together with marl soil, createsthe perfect ground for growing vines. Be-cause the south-facing hill is 400 metreshigh and has very little fog, it allows thegrapes to ripen longer.

When processing the wine traditionalcraftsmanship merges with an experimen-tal attitude and great care is taken to em-phasise the natural taste of each wine.

The range of products goes far beyond thelocal wines ofWürttemberg. Samtrot, Sauvi-gnon blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon areonly a few of the grape varieties that growon the Steinberg. Dry wines and classicallyastringent wines have found an ideal homethere just like the high-quality sweet wines.

The speciality is undoubtedly the Wild-muskat (wild nutmeg).After decades of re-fining this deep-red wine it received theofficial variety protection in 2003. Becauseof its natural, wild history of developmentand its distinctive strong taste, it found itsfinal nameWildmuskat.

The next step for the dry Wildmuskat is tobe included in the variety list, a long andbureaucratic process that has not stopped itfromwinning International awards already.After all, taste speaks for itself.

And where better to enjoy a glass or twothan at the vineyard itself? On weekendsvisitors can relax in the onsite wine parlourand indulge in local culinary delights andwine tastings. Yet again tradition is com-bined with innovation and a great passionfor wine and hospitality.

The Amalienhof’s success is based ondecades of continuously producing highquality wines.The ever-changing trends inthe wine market are not the priority, it’ssolely the wishes and taste of the cus-tomers, a concept that has worked out bril-liantly for generations.

www.weingut-amalienhof.dewww.weinstube-amalienhof.de

Sunshine, nature and tranquillity:idyllic vineyard AmalienhofHidden between lush forest lies the 30 hectare vineyard Amalienhof, whichproduces high quality natural wines ranging from the classical varieties toinnovative Nouveau-wines.

TEXT: MARILENA STRACKE | PHOTOS: PRESS PHOTOS

20 | Issue 4 | June 2013

Glass and steel, natural stones and oldwooden beams – modern wine architec-ture can no longer be placed under one la-bel. And theMosel region shows its varietyand innovative strength. Every year the fed-eral state of Rhineland-Palatinate offers twoawards for the best wine architecture re-cently built in the Mosel-Region: one forthe reshaping and modernization of an oldestate building and the second for a newguest lodge in an estate’s vineyard.MatteoThun, the famous star architect fromMilan,for example, designed the guest lodge.Andthese are only two examples of the modern,energetic Mosel wine culture, which helpsto keep a 2000-year-old tradition alive.

TheMosel is a river flowing from theVosgesMountains in France through the Lorraineregion, Luxembourg and western Germanyto Koblenz where it enters the Rhine.Who-ever follows the traces the wine culture hasleft in the Mosel region sets his steps on along journey through history from antiq-uity until today.Not only the Romans, whoprovably grew grapes around the riverMosel after they arrived there more than2000 years ago, but before them the Celtsalso cultivated vines in the region that is to-day the fifth biggest wine-growing area inGermany. 2500 winery owners farm about9000 hectares of vineyards, with approxi-mately half of their vines growing on steep

slopes. Europe’s steepest vineyard can befound at the Calmont, which has a 68 de-grees slope. But since the hillsides open upto the south or southwest they offer theideal climate for making delicious wines.

The Riesling is the region’s most famouswine, a late harvested grape with a widerange of aromas and a crisp taste. The dryRiesling wines taste of light fruits such asapple, pear or peach and go well with fish,salad or poultry.The semi-dry version couldaccompany a spicy dish with intensiveflavoured sauces and the sweet Auslese is agood companion to cheese, desserts andsweets. Next to the Riesling the region cul-

The Mosel RegionCombining fine wines, beautifullandscapes and modern architectureThe Mosel region has been known for its fine wines for centuries. But today the wine-growing estates aspire to more than justwine making: many have set up high-class restaurants with traditional or modern cuisine. And they display how agricultureand architecture coalesce in the construction of new estate buildings and the reshaping of old ones.

TEXT: JESSICA HOLZHAUSEN | PHOTOS: PRESS PHOTOS

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 21


tivates Pinot noir and Pinotblanc wines and the old varietyElbling. Most of the wine-growing estates offer sparklingwines as well, produced in thetraditional method of bottle fer-mentation as is done in theChampagne region.

Vineyard visitors can enjoy theestates wines in a wine tasting;many estates offer a tourthrough their vineyards and cel-lars explaining how the grape isharvested, pressed and ripensuntil in the end it becomes awine matured for tasting.Abouthalf of the Mosel wines are solddirectly at the estate, in winestores or to gastronomic restau-rants. Since the time of the em-peror Charles the Great winegrowers have been allowed toserve a share of their winesthemselves. This is a traditionthat still exists today in the socalled Straußwirtschaften: 16weeks a year the vintners are al-lowed to serve their own wineson their estate grounds, often inold vaulted cellars or in a winegarden, offering a range ofsnacks and local dishes.

Where you find good wines you can alsofind good food – that is true for the Moselregion at least.Visitors can choose betweena wide range of restaurants – some of themlocated directly on a wine estate – offeringfine gourmet cuisine or traditional Moselregional food such as the Winzervesper(vintner vesper) containing bread, a varietyof cheese and different German sausages.Next to traditional regional cooking Moselwines are a good accompaniment for in-ternational dishes, the off dry Riesling forexample is a fine choice for Asian cuisine.That is why many modern restaurants inthe Mosel region combine traditional winetasting with modern international cuisine.Several of the high class restaurants arefeatured in the famousMichelin guidebook.

The wine growers make theMosel region amodern one – they combine a long tradi-tion of wine cultivation in a beautiful land-scape with modern production methods,new approaches in architecture and finecuisine. The Mosel region today is wineculture in a high quality atmosphere.

www.weinland-mosel.dewww.mosellandtouristik.de

Main image:Mosel loop at Bremmer Calmont. Photo: Christopher Arnoldi

From top down:WeinKulturgut Longen-Schloeder, Award winning Winzerhausguest house

Lubentiushof

Piesport. Photo: Elmar Kohl

Monchhof

Bottom right: Monchhof Vinothek

Austria is world famous for its excep-tional natural beauty, warm hospitalityand the legendary “Gemütlichkeit”.Nestled in the heart of Europe,Austria isrich in culture and bursting with her-itage. Warm temperatures in the sum-mer are perfect for hiking the terrificmountains, enjoying the glistening lakesor strolling through the magnificentcities,while in the winter plenty of snowallows for sensational winter fun. Butwhat exactly makes Austria such an ex-citing destination? Herwig Kolzer, Re-gional Manager UK, Sweden & Den-mark of the Austrian National TouristOffice London (ANTO) shares some ofhis valuable insider knowledge.

What makes Austria a very special destina-tion?For many centuries Austria was exposed tovibrant influences from eastern and south-eastern Europe, from Italy and from south-ern Germany. These influences can still befound inAustria’s art and culture as well asthe lifestyle and the much-quoted“gemütlichkeit”. Austria, like no othercountry, bonds historic tradition and pul-sating modernity and has been unveiled asthe cultural heartbeat of central Europe.The traditional image of Austria is en-hanced through the communication of new,unconventional experiences.What’s more:Austria represents best value for moneywith a high standard of service and the

warmest of welcomes. Longstanding tradi-tions of hospitality make Austrians highlyprofessional, personally engaged hosts.They make possible a truly personal path tonew enjoyments in life and the personalunfolding of their guests. Therefore, wepromise that holidays in Austria will in-spire you, revitalise body and soul and youwill come alive again.

What are some of the most interesting histor-ical places and attractions to visit?Probably everyone knows Vienna with itsimperial palaces or Salzburg with itsbaroque architecture, but one should notforget cities like Innsbruck, where you willfind the Emperors' heritage – the GoldenRoof and the Imperial Palace – but at thesame time also modern sport site architec-ture, like the Bergisel Ski jump, designed byZaha Hadid. And it may be fair to say thatsomething a little out of this world is goingon in Austria’s second largest city, Graz.Taking its place between the historic housesof Graz’s old town, the Kunsthaus Graz(Graz Art Museum) has firmly enamoured

22 | Issue 4 | June 2013

What makes Austria suchan attractive destination?TEXT: Q&A WITH HERWIG KOLZER, REGIONAL MANAGER UK,

SWEDEN & DENMARK, AUSTRIAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE LONDON (ANTO)

Special Theme

Summer inthe Austrian

Alps

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 23

itself amongst locals as the city’s resident‘friendly alien’ due to its bluish, bulbousshape with tube-like appendages juttingout the top.

What special events, exhibitions or happen-ings are taking place in Austria in 2013?The reopening of the Kunstkammer inVi-enna after 10 years is definitely a must seefor all culture lovers. One of the highlightsis Benvenuto Cellini’s Saliera. Despite re-maining rife with tradition, Austria is alsounreserved when it comes to showcasing avery burgeoning contemporary culturalscene. For example, the stage at the annualBregenz Festival may very well be the epit-ome of cool – imagine opera under a starrysky, open-air seating in view of an ab-solutely mesmerising stage that is actuallyfloating on Lake Constance, and famousarias fromMozart’s‘The Magic Flute’waft-ing musically all around. Even James Bondhimself couldn’t resist an impromptu ap-pearance on stage in 2008’s Quantum ofSolace.And in Linz, Europe’s most modernopera house, the new Musiktheater amVolksgarten, designed by the British archi-

tectTerry Pawson has been opened inAprilthis year. Let’s not forget the culinary sideof Austria. On 17 August 2013, the historiccentre of Graz will turn into a giant open airrestaurant. Just imagine sitting down at afestively decorated table and enjoying a de-licious dinner with matching wines andmusical entertainment, with another 700guests for company in the heart of the oldtown, just in front of the City Hall.

Do you have an insider tip to share with ourBritish readers?It is difficult to choose just one or two of myfavourites. Last year I spent my holiday inAustria’s westernmost province,Vorarlberg.Here, a unique style of modern architectureco-exists with alpine style. Most of thesenew designs are still ones of timber build,but minimalistic in nature with clean linesand the clever use of large glass surfaces.There is a strong emphasis on sustainabil-ity throughout the building process – fromplanning, to ecological land use, to thefavouring of natural building materials, toan adherence to stringent energy-efficientregulations.

This year we have planned to go on a hik-ing trip and discover some stages of theAlpe Adria Trail in Carinthia. We probablywill not make the whole trail – which is750km and leads from the permanent ice ofthe glacier of Austria’s highest mountain,the Großglockner, 3,798m high, to theazure blue Adriatic in Triest, Italy.

Herwig Kolzer, Regional Manager Uk, Sweden & Denmark,Austrian National Tourist Office London (Anto)

Left: Bregenz Lake Constance. © Osterreich Werbung Mallaun

Middle: Hallstatt Salt Mine. © Osterreich Werbung Pigneter

Right: Salzburg. © Osterreich Werbung Weinhaeupl W

24 | Issue 4 | June 2013

A day of fresh air in the mountains, an af-ternoon lost in modern art and architecture,an hour or two relaxing in the style of em-perors, a moment of wonder at opera in themost surprising of settings. And, withplenty of time for unexpected discoveriesand experiences, this is one summer holi-day hotspot that you’d return to in a second.As a year-round holiday destination, Aus-tria moves effortlessly from seasonalstrength to seasonal strength, and whenits spectacular winter ski landscape meltsaside,Austria really gets a chance to bare itall and show its true summer colours.

So, if your summer pleasure is being out-doors and active – give it a go where there’salways a stunning backdrop. If it’s the un-expected that piques your interest – marvelat constructs built to impress. If it’s a city

break that’s all there’s time for – stroll alongpedestrian shopping streets, lovely river-bank paths, well-preserved old town al-leys, and urban green spaces. And, if it’s acultural experience you’re after – immerseyourself in a magnificent blending of clas-sical and contemporary. However, for theenvironmentally-conscious traveller thiscan be a problem.We’re told that in order tosave the planet we have to be more careful.We have to watch what we use, look out forwhat we throw away, minimise carbonemissions and so on.With such restrictions,how can there be room for indulgence, re-laxation and luxury? In Austria, a progres-sive eco-tourism infrastructure allows youto enjoy a perfectly relaxing, indulgent hol-iday while protecting the planet – effort-lessly. Happy holidays here in Austria!

www.austria.info

Austrian Summer Highs–Where is your happy place?TEXT: AUSTRIAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE

Top: Badehaus at Bodensee, Bregenz. © Osterreich Werbung Peter Burgstaller

Middle: Durnstein, Wachau. © Osterreich Werbung Peter Burgstaller

Below: Gosausee with Dachsteingletscher Oberosterreich. © Osterreich Werbung Weinhaeupl

Bottom: Nationalpark Ranger, Jungfernsprung Heiligenblut, Hohe Tauern. © HT-NPR Klaus Dapra

KHMWien©OsterreichWerbungPeterBurgstaller

Discover Germany | Special Theme | Summer in the Austrian Alps


Kathrin Schofer, daughter of the owner andhead of marketing says: “We look at the ho-tel togetherwith our guests and our employ-ees as a large family.We are not a hotel, but alarge household.Each of our guests feels rightat home with us, this is reflected by our highratio of over 80% of regulars a year.“

A luxury holiday accommodation, the hoteloffers first-class standards in a truly beau-tiful setting. However, what is so specialabout it is this feeling of home away fromhome. Schofer describes: ”It creates a com-fort factor. Our guests can expect first-classservice, culinary highlights of a 2-toque cui-sine, exquisite interior design, and a spa-cious spa area, but especially the warmth ofus as host family and of our employees.For many of our guests, we are part of theirown holiday tradition.”

Any request made by guests always takesthe highest priority and it’s this symbiosis ofAustrian hospitality and outstanding serviceat Hotel Arlberg that often initiates the be-ginning of a long-standing holiday tradition.

In winter, the hotel’s privileged and uniquelocation, right in front of the ski resort, al-

lows guests to actually start skiing at thehotel. In the summer season, non-skiingguests will be able to enjoy a generous gar-den or the stunning view on the beauty ofthe surrounding nature from one of manymountain-hiking trails.

These beautiful surroundings can be expe-rienced inmany different ways,whether it’sduring amorning swim in the outdoor poolor an aperitif on the sun terrace, everythingis destined to make guests feel relaxed andthat they have nothing to wish for.

A main attraction, during the summermonths is the automotive Mountain sum-mer. Hannes Schneider, owner of HotelArlberg explains:“Throughmy passion andfascination for Oldtimers and throughLech’s seasonal kick-off eventArlberg Clas-sic Car Rally, during the summer we spe-cialize in this theme.Our offer ranges fromorganized rallies and rides for corporateevents, to individual short trips, for all whowant to experience the unique landscapefrom a new perspective.“

www.arlberghotel.at

Hotel Arlberg

A first-class family affairBuilt in 1956, and situated right in the heart of the world famous ski resort Lech, thefamily-run Hotel Arlberg has always played an important role in the village that wasawarded the title of Europe’s most beautiful village by Entente Floral in 2004.

TEXT: JESSICA RIDDER

Top: Spa Hotel Arlberg, Lech. © Marco Grundt

Middle: Hotel Arlberg, Lech. © Ydo Sol

Bottom: Hotel Arlberg, Lech. Press photos

26 | Issue 4 | June 2013

The Kufstein holiday destination consists ofthe town of Kufstein plus eight surroundingTyrolean villages such as first cure villageBad Häring as well as the villages of Ebbs,Erl, Langkampfen, Niederndorf, Niedern-dorferberg, Schwoich andThierseetal. Everysingle one is unique in character and partic-ularly pretty in scenery,e.g. Ebbs is home tothe gorgeous Haflinger horses and Erl hashosted the Passion Plays since the 17th cen-tury. The Kaisertal (Emperor’s valley) pro-tected nature zone is regarded as one ofAustria’s most attractive hiking areas andclimbing the Pendling mountain rewardskeen sportsmen with spectacular views.

The magnificent Kufstein fortress datesback to the 13th century. Home to theworld’s largest open-air organ it also servesas a great event location. Below the fortress

lies the Römerhofgasse, Kufstein’s historiccity center. Away from town, typical Aus-trian mountain huts serve dishes like“Bret-teljause”, a hearty mix of local produce con-sisting of meat and cheese products servedwith pickles and veggies on a woodenboard. Culinary treasures also include Kass-patzln, Gröstl, Tiroler Knödl or the famousKaiserschmarrn. If you are lucky, your culi-nary experience will be accompanied bysomeTyrolean music and a performance ofthe local Schuhplattlers wearing leathertrousers and the traditional Gamsbart hats.The variety of local entertainment reachesfrom traditional processions to top-notchmusical events in the ultra-modern playhouse in Erl or Western Austria’s largest

rock and pop festival. Highlights includethe Beethoven Days in June,AcademiaVo-calis, the Tyrolean Festival Erl, the famousPassion Plays in Erl andThiersee, Kufstein’sSummer Operetta and Austria’s largestflower parade, the traditional flower pa-rade in Ebbs.

“Whatmakes it unique is the variety, every-thing blends in harmoniously, because allthese events are not only lived but also lovedby the locals. Here visitors and locals mix,here everyone sits light-heartedly together,”Dr Karin Scholz, Tourist Board Holiday Re-gion Kufstein Executive Director, says.

www.kufstein.com

KufsteinTyrolean traditions, stunning natureand a tempting event calendarThe idyllic Austrian holiday region of Kufstein is located between Salzburg andInnsbruck in the Kaiser mountain nature park area. No matter if you are looking tohike and bike, relax and recharge, take a family vacation or enjoy cultural highlights– Kufstein caters for all needs, featuring rich heritage, welcoming people andentertainment for all age groups.

TEXT: TINA AWTANI | PHOTOS: FERIENLAND KUFSTEIN


Issue 4 | June 2013 | 27

Organic customers are loyal customers.Even in times of financial and economiccrisis, they still reach for relatively expensiveorganic products. They do this because ofthe benefits to animals and the environ-ment. And because they appreciate highquality and fine taste.Organic products stirthe appetite!

Traditionally, organic food is rooted withinthe region and this remains a key aspect formany customers. Regional products don’trequire long-distance transport, they offergreater freshness and they strengthen thelocal economy. In future, a clear system ofregional labelling is to provide consumers

with additional support in making shop-ping decisions. The underlying idea is thatconsumers should be able to tell which re-gion a product comes from by quicklyglancing at the packaging. To qualify forthe label, the product's main ingredientmust be entirely from the specified region.I am confident that this systemwill soon behelping consumers to select regional prod-ucts.

Organic food has long outgrown its nichemarket status in Germany. The sector isstriding forward in leaps and bounds. But inthe long term, the growing demand canonly be met if organic farming is commit-

ted to innovation and progress. This issomething we actively support – in thecoming year, my Ministry will for the 14thtime be honouring particularly sustainableand creative organic farms with the Pro-motional Award for Organic Farming. Fur-thermore, 17 million euros are availablethis year in our Federal Organic FarmingScheme and for other forms of sustainableagriculture. More than half the funding ischannelled into supporting research anddevelopment projects. This is a sound in-vestment in outstanding quality and taste.Discover the rich and varied temptations ofa strong organic sector in Germany foryourself!

Organic food– striding forward in leaps and boundsMore organic food is sold in Germany than in any other European country. Turnoverhas more than doubled since 2002 and the upward trend continues unabated. In2012 alone, the turnover of organic products in Germany grew six per cent toaround seven billion euros per year. More than 65,000 organic products arestocked on German shelves. The organic sector is now a permanent fixture withinthe German agri-food industry.

TEXT: ILSE AIGNER, FEDERAL MINISTER OF FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION

Left: Source www.oekolandbau.de© BLE, Bonn, Photo: D. Menzler

Below: Source www.oekolandbau.de© BLE, Bonn, Photos: T. Stephan

Ilse Aigner, Federal Minister of Food,Agriculture and Consumer Protection.© BMELVM Leis

Special Theme

Organic

Discover Germany | Special Theme | Organic

28 | Issue 4 | June 2013

Well-hidden from the rest of the world liesthis gem of a hotel right by the scenic lakeStarnberger See. The beautiful SchlossgutOberambach is full of history: it got its firstmention as early as 1476 when it belongedto a monastery, and in 1870 it was turnedinto a manor house.

Today, it invites guests from all over theworld to enjoy a holiday that goes beyondthe usual hotel experience. SchlossgutOberambach is a green hotel and since 2002

part of the Bio-hotel group.This means thatfrom serving exclusively organic food to thebiological heating systems and use of onlynatural cosmetics, everything in and aroundthe hotel is entirely in line with nature. Ittook eight years of renovation until the ho-tel met the high biological standards set byits fond owner Andreas Schwabe.

“I’m not a hotelier, I took a new careerpath,”says Schwabe, who was new to thehotel business but already had a back-

ground in naturology and homeopathy.Theanthroposophy-oriented Schwabe familyis one of the earlier producers of homeo-pathic medicines. Following the family’stradition, Schwabe became a healthcarepractitioner before he discovered his pas-sion for anything organic in the 1980s andpioneered in this field during the next tenyears.

After opening one of the first health foodstores inMunich, followed by another three

Hotel Schlossgut OberambachBetween Heaven and EarthNot only a hotel but also a truly cleansing experience for body and soul, the gorgeous Bio-hotel in Bavaria shows, with grandsuccess, that luxury and nature can work hand in hand.


Issue 4 | June 2013 | 29


branches, Schwabe wanted toreturn to his roots and the coun-tryside.

He came across the idyllic manor house sur-rounded by untouched nature, right by thelake, but also only 25 minutes away fromMunich. The building itself has undeniablecharms and seems to tell stories about pasttimes,when artists,writers and philosophersstrolled through the five picturesque alleys orstudied the giant trees in the park. Evenmembers of the famous artist group TheBlue Rider are said to have met here.

Schwabe was won over in a heartbeat andremembers:“When I visited for the first time,I instantly felt that this place is truly special.”

The green hotel opened its doors in 1999and remains close to Schwabe’s heart. Thesuccess of the concept, which combines100% eco-friendliness with subtle luxury

and promotes gentle tourism in the regionmakes the owners deservedly proud. Re-ceiving the certificate from eco hotels cer-tified (ehc) was another step to reachingSchwabe’s goal.The ehc-label makes envi-ronmentally friendly, sustainable tradingand a future-oriented economy compatibleand proves the outstanding CO2 balancethe hotel draws.

“Our bio-hotel is holistic,“ Schwabe ex-plains. He was the first in the region to in-stall systems using rainwater for toilets andwatering the garden.Wood Chip boilers anda block heating station deliver the hotel’sheat and energy andmake it self-sufficient.

Today the hotel boasts of 40 rooms: ten inthe former manor house (including two

suites) with solid wood furniture, six roomsin the neighbouring guest house and 24 inthe new building, which was originally thebarn. The rooms have wooden floors andSchwabe has perfected the system to re-duce electro-smog.

Instead of a chlorinated pool there is alovely natural pond, and guests are en-couraged to take a relaxing swim during thesummer. Aside from the sauna and steambath, guests can completely detox in therest areas. They can go on walking-tours,guided herb tours and there are Trekkingand E-bikes available, too.Why not ask fora picnic basket full of delicious treats?

Guests can also look forward to organic re-gional, vegetarian and Mediterranean cui-sine and visit the hotel’s new vitality centre,where trained therapists offer naturopathicservices, like Ayurveda, Shiatsu,Hot Stone,gemstone massages, Yoga and regionaltreatments. The staff also specialises intreating patients with burn-out orTinnitus.

“I wanted to offer something therapeuticagain,” explains Schwabe, whose wifeSabine is a trained Aura-Soma-Therapistand offers treatments at the centre.

Last but not least there is the StarnbergerSee with its enchanting alpine backgroundand charismatic art nouveau villas andfarmhouses.Take a towel and take the walkdown the tree alley that Andreas Schwabetook so many years ago when he discov-ered the manor house.A charming lakesideproperty belongs to the hotel and is exclu-sively reserved for its guests.

And of course famous Munich is a hop,skip and a jump away, ready to be explored.

Whatever you desire, Schlossgut Oberam-bach is the ideal place to relax and indulgein a little luxury. And the best part? Youknow you are supporting a good cause be-cause the bio-hotel contributes its share topreserving our planet’s resources, withoutcompromise.

www.schlossgut.de

30 | Issue 4 | June 2013

This milk chocolate helps to make theworld a little bit better. Every February,VI-VANI introduces new creations to theworld of chocolate. This year, one of themis the KIDS for KIDSmilk chocolate, whichdonates 0.10 EUR from each bar sold toGerman charity Kindernothilfe, to helpfight child labour in Haiti.VIVANI is awareof the involvement of child labour in thechocolate trade and only uses productswhich were sourced ethically. The socialconscience is what makes VIVANI choco-late stand out – next to its extraodinarytaste and exotic creations such as OrganicDark Chocolate with GreenTea and piecesof Mango. "Our ingredients are 100% or-ganic, we do not use soy lecithin and ourchocolate is conched extra long," is howMonika Noack from VIVANI´s marketingdepartment explains the brand's secret.Thechocolate mass is kept in motion in a spe-cial container, the conche, for up to 18hours to make it become as fine as possible.No soy lecithin means the chocolate doesnot contain any traces of genetically mod-

ified soybeans. In addition, VIVANI doesnot use any pesticides and maintains soilfertility.

The results of this production concept arepraised by experts. The recipe of VIVANI'sDark Chocolate has been awarded themaximum score by the gourmet magazineSavoir Vivre (Issue 1/2002). Furthermore,the book Der Schokoladentester, whichtested 217 chocolate producers in 38 coun-tries states that VIVANI White Chocolatewith Vanilla is a "must have for lovers ofwhite chocolate". Not only loved by foodcritics but chocolate lovers worldwide,VI-VANI is sold around the globe in 50 coun-tries. It is produced at the family business ofLudwig Weinrich which can look back onmore than a century of experience in pro-ducing the finest chocolate creations andnow offers a great variety of products. "Justone?" laughs Noack when asked about oneof her favouriteVIVANI creations. "I have atleast three: Edelbitter Cranberry, DarkNougat andWhite Chocolate withVanilla."

VIVANI goes beyond the importance oftaste and strives to give its creations a soul– by fusing taste with art. "Since the con-tent is something special, the exteriorshould be special as well," explains Noack.The chocolate packaging is designed byartist Annette Wessel, who creates an en-dearing image for each type of chocolate,further underlining the uniqueness of VI-VANI amongst organic chocolates.

www.vivani-chocolate.de

Organic chocolate with a soulVIVANI organic chocolate combines distinguished taste with sustainability and ethicalconsumerism.

TEXT: DORINA REICHHOLD | PHOTOS: PRESS PHOTOS


JOWA has decades of experience undertheir belt and a true passion for developingand refining recipes until they are perfect: astriking combination for producing tastyand gluten-free goods.

A modern manufacturing centre in theSwiss canton of Bern, Huttwil is home toHuttwiler glutenfree, where gluten-freeproducts are produced under very strictsafety and hygiene guidelines to avoid anycontamination. Huttwiler’s employees aretrained in following those strict safety reg-ulations that are essential when it comes toproducing allergy-sensitive foods.All prod-ucts are labelled with the seal of the Asso-ciation of European Coeliac Societies(AOECS) and because gluten intoleranceoften goes hand in hand with other aller-gies, all Huttwiler products are also free oflactose, nuts and wheat, and without addedpreservatives.

The factory carries the newest technologyto meet the specific requirements of gluten-free dough. “Because gluten-free dough

has a different consistency, we cannot useordinary machinery to process it,” saysChristoph Keller, Site Manager in Huttwil.“To produce gluten-free goods that tasteand look like ordinary bread is a true art.”

Besides the high quality of the products,Huttwiler glutenfree wins over anyone whosuffers from gluten intolerance or simplyprefers a gluten-free diet with its richflavours and extensive variety.

There are, for example: the hearty sun-bread, savoury lye baguettes, all kinds ofrolls and pasta, and, of course, deliciouscakes to satisfy the sweet tooth. Huttwilerglutenfree mainly uses corn flour or starch,and rice flour. It proves that nature gener-ally provides us with great alternatives andbears opportunities to discover new aro-mas: amaranth, chestnut flour, carob gumor arrowroot allow for entirely new recipes.

Swiss precision can also be found in thepackaging. All products are separatelypacked and frozen in oven-safe bags. This

keeps the aroma and protects the productsagainst contamination. For consumers whoprepare meals for the whole family this isan unbeatable advantage and saves a lot ofeffort.The rolls, baguettes or cakes can sim-ply be heated up in the oven together withgluten products without hesitation.

Huttwiler glutenfree is perfectly alignedwith a gluten-free diet and its products caneasily compete with their gluten containingsiblings on all levels.

www.huttwiler.de

Huttwiler– relish gluten-free!Huttwiler glutenfree, the newest brand of JOWA, the biggest bakery in Switzerland,offers an exciting variety of innovative gluten-free goods to the German market inoven-safe bags, for simple daily use.


©MarkusBertschiFotografie

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 31

Holle was founded in 1933, long before therecent global boom in organic foods. Thecompany’s unique philosophy is based onthe anthroposophical nutrition concept ofRudolph Steiner, who sought an alternativemethod for producing food when chemicalsolutions were starting to impact our agri-culture in the 1920s.

“Those principles of biodynamic agricul-ture are still our guidelines today,”says UdoFischer, director of Holle. “Our productscome with the label Demeter, which is theembodiment of biodynamic quality.”

Demeter, originallynamed after the Greekgoddess of fertility, is thenumber one trademarkfor products which areproduced under verystrict and controlled bio-dynamic guidelines in atotal of over 80 countries.From sustainable farm-ing to product packag-ing, the holistic Demeterrequirements ensure truequality throughout.

Over four generations Holle has provedto exceed their trusting customer’sexpectations and is widely appreciatedfor its continuous quality control. It notonly stands for outstanding organicquality, but also contributes to makingour planet a greener and better place.Holle is a lot more than just food!


80 years of HolleCelebrating the pioneer in organic baby foods

Mr. Udo Fischer, Director of Holle

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 33


Fischer explains further: “In addition tonever using any chemical or synthetic fer-tiliser Demeter farming also increases thefertility of soil through using herbs and nat-ural supplements.The farmer is giving backmore than he takes and thus keeps thesoil’s vitality.”Not only does this result inhealthier products, it also takes responsi-bility for the future of our planet. Only bymeeting all of the Demeter criteria withoutexception is a company allowed to displaythe Demeter label on its products.

Today Holle products can be bought in lo-cal health food shops, pharmacies and or-ganic retailers in over 40 countries.Their va-riety of products covers everything essentialin providing children with a healthy anddelicious diet.

“Baby food has always been a very sensitiveproduct area. Understandably mothers de-mand the highest quality for their babieswithout compromise and they trust greatlyin our brand,”Fischer explains.“Tomaintainthis trust and gradually extend it globally isboth our challenge and motivation.”

He notes that the market has changed overthe years; young families are more awareand critical with food than in previousdecades. The standard of baby foods hasgenerally increased but this also means thatwithin the organic market there are new

things to look out for.“The bigger the mar-ket for organic food becomes, the more theregulations will be stretched.That is why itis especially important to us that the uni-versally strictest biological guidelines ofDemeter guarantee Holle’s exceptionalquality.”

One of the most innovative concepts is thefirst and only Demeter labelled infant milkformula being CO2-neutral. Holle workswith the company Soil & More Interna-tional, which calculates the amount ofgreenhouse gas emissions produced duringthe process of making the formula, it thenneutralises them through emission certifi-cates. Soil & More maintains facilities indeveloping countries where organic wasteis turned into fertiliser instead of burning it.This reduces the greenhouse effect and isthen officially certified. Holle compensatesits emissions through the CO2 -reducingproject Sekem in Egypt. 350,000 square me-tres of desert are now cultivated and usedfor biodynamic agriculture. Holle supportsthose projects not only to reduce emissionsbut also because they develop sustainablefertile grounds, increase productivity andsave water.

In line with its philosophy, Holle is alsofantastically supportive of anthropologicprojects like the very unusual Brother-Cockerel Initiative. In conventional farming

the male siblings of laying hens are notcommercially valuable as meat providerscompared to the fattened chicken.They arekilled after hatching and thrown away aswaste, around 34 million baby cockerelseach year.

Under the slogan Save my brother – Stopthe wasteful killing Holle supports the ini-tiative to stop the unethical procedure bybecoming a secured buyer of the meat.Thecockerels are raised in accordance withDemeter organic animal husbandry rulesthus turning them into a valued organicpoultry product despite starting life as aneconomic waste product!

Looking back at Holle’s continuous andwell-deserved success over the past 80years Fischer is grateful that his companyhas managed to be responsible for the out-standing quality of baby foods as well ascontributing to the sustainable mainte-nance of our natural resources.

“For us as an independent family businessit is a matter close to our hearts to be per-sonally accountable when it comes to cus-tomers, suppliers, employees and all ourpartners,”Fischer says.“Taking responsibil-ity is the precondition for trust and success.We are set to maintain this in the future.”

www.holle.co.uk


Once cooked the nasty nettle turns into adelicious soup, and a cup of tea made fromthe leaves is said to be a herbal remedyagainst gout or rheumatism. The commonnettle contains plenty of iron and vitamin Cand was a regular on the food menu of ourancestors. Considered a “poor people’sfood” for centuries, plenty of old cookingrecipes including the nettle are now care-fully retrieved from the archives. Nestled inthe Ore Mountains/Vogtland Nature Park,the Grüne Vogtei is dedicated to bringingout the best in the common nettle.A wholerange of products reaching from tea blendsor juice to nettle pesto is made from the of-

ten underestimated plant.“People love ournettle seasoning, they useit to add flavour to all sortsof dishes,” explains ElfiBraun, owner of theGrüne Vogtei and sheadds: “We are proud tohave achieved such awidespread recognition ofour certified organicWELLNESSEL® prod-ucts.” Braun was inspiredby her grandmother andthe nettle has now gonefrom weed to wellness

hero thanks to Elfi and her team. Last butnot least, let’s not forget to mention thenettle’s reputation as an aphrodisiac.

www.gruenevogtei.com

The Stinging Nettle isin fact a really nice fellowThe stinging nettle or common nettle is widely regarded as an unpleasantcompanion and not really appreciated amongst keen gardeners. While somepeople are just interested in how to treat a nettle sting, others discovered that sheis a real allround talent when it comes to wellbeing.

TEXT: TINA AWTANI | PHOTOS: GRÜNE VOGTEI

Right: Elfi Braun

Bottom: WELLNESSEL product range 2013

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Issue 4 | June 2013 | 35

Germany is rich in history when it comes togardening. To many, German parks andgardens are a pleasant surprise, as usuallyit is the English and the French who are fa-mous for their magnificent horticulturalachievements. The British landscape artistSir Geoffrey Jellicoe is still considered tohave been one of the finest landscape ar-chitects in the world and British horticul-turist Gertrude Jekyll has been one of themost influential women in horticultural his-tory. French landscape architect André LeNôtre famously created the legendary gar-dens ofVersailles in France. But their Ger-man colleague Peter Joseph Lenné doesn’t

come second.Although he refined his skillswith visits to England and France, he hasachieved remarkable results for the Ger-man horticultural scene. One of his finestworks is Sanssouci Park surroundingSanssouci Palace near Berlin and some ofhis creations are today protected as UN-ESCOWorld Heritage sites. Another greatGerman landscape architect was FriedrichLudwig von Sckell, who created the En-glischer Garten (German for English gar-den) in Munich. Many of today’s famousgardens date back to the baroque, rococoand romantic periods. But landscapingmade in Germany is continually on the rise

with many award winning designs scat-tered around the country.

In our Parks and Gardens Theme we pres-ent some of the finest gardens reachingfrom the vast and colourful InternationalGarden Show in Northern Hamburg to thefine Alpine botanic garden of Flore Alpe inSwitzerland. Read about the association ofGerman landscape architects, find out whois behind all of Berlin’s open space devel-opment projects and discover Germany’sstreet of gardening art which is made of 57parks located between the rivers Rhine andMaas.

Welcome to the worldof parks and gardensThe summer months are just perfect for a visit to a park or garden. Enjoy the sunshine, taking a deep breath and inhaling thescent of the blossoming flowers. Colours are exploding in all shades and the sheer beauty of the scenery never fails to impresseven those who are not blessed with a green thumb. And for some it may come as a surprise that Germany has so much moreto offer than the common garden gnome, which still has a loyal fan base.

TEXT: TINA AWTANI

Special Theme

Parks &Gardens

Island Mainau Lake Constance giant garden gnome made of flowers. © Ernst Wrba - Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus eV

36 | Issue 4 | June 2013

"Our profession supports the way in which people interact with thelandscape," says Andrea Gebhard, president of 100-year-old BDLA(Bund Deutscher Landschaftsarchitekten), the German professionalbody of landscape architects. "A landscape architect designs nearlyeverything under the sky – and his imagination knows few boundswhen it comes to intersecting land and buildings.We tackle ecologicdevelopment and urban reforestation, but one of our most valuableroles is in building sustainable communities and fighting climatechange."

Adapting land for our use and enjoyment

"Landscape architecture is a multidisciplinary task," states AndreaGebhard: "It incorporates aspects of botany, horticulture and the finearts as well as architecture, industrial design, ecology and geology.We might be called upon to plan and build new roads, bridges andpaths, or might be involved in creating gardens and other greenspaces. Above all else these days, energy saving is really impor-tant." This can comprise, for instance, the design of a bio-ecologicaldrain system that has pollutant-removal mechanisms to provideclean water as well as the installation of photovoltaic cells for energy-efficient buildings.

Award-winning“green urbanism”

Twowinners of the German LandscapeArchitect’s national honorarymentions in 2013 may serve as an example: In the small town ofNagold in Baden-Württemberg, three new parks and a new bridgewere created, providing better pedestrian access to both rivers cross-ing the town, including stairs to the river banks, whilst the greenspaces contribute to improving the quality of life for the residentialareas.

Aesthetic solutions, walkable communities

Another award in 2013 was won for the successful alteration of aneglected plaza in the historic imperial city of Aachen, the“Elisen-garten”. It is now a modern, elegant and urban space in the centreof Aachen, taking into account the historic features andAachen’s tra-ditional role as a site of springs, spas and wellbeing.

For more information about the BDLA (German Landscape Archi-tects) and their projects, a database of more than 700 projects can bedownloaded here: www.Landschaftsarchitektur-heute or www.mo-bil.Landschaftsarchitektur-heute for your smartphone.

Landscape design forthe world we live inLandscape Architecture is the art and the science behind allour planned green and urban spaces. From city parks andurban plazas to infrastructures as large as Olympic London2012, landscape architects can make it happen.

TEXT: ASTRID BARWASSER-BRESTRICH

Top: A Bird’s view of Nagold's new town layout. © Stefan Fromm, Landscape ArchitectsBDLA, Dettenhausen

Middle: Three new parks for Nagold. © Stefan Fromm, Landscape Architects BDLA,Dettenhausen

Bottom: Elisengarten Aachen, with night view of the Aachen Cathedral. © Landscapedesign by Lutzow 7, Berlin. Photo: Jorg Hempel

Sybille Gräfe, the castle manager says,“What makes Schloss Pillnitz (Pillnitz Cas-tle) so special, in addition to its Chinoiserie-style architecture that is unique in Europe,is its harmonious integration with the vine-yards along the Elbe and the symbiosis ofarchitecture, garden design, botanical col-lection and the surrounding landscape.”

Schloss Pillnitz was initially a present in1707, fromAugustus II the Strong to his fa-mous mistress the Countess of Cosel, whobegan its Baroque conversion. Years laterthe castle became the summer residence ofthe royal Saxon family in 1768.

The extensive park grounds feature a Dutchgarden, an English garden, a Chinese gar-den, an orangery and the Palmenhaus, (aPalm-tree greenhouse) that offers visitorsan impressive variety of botanical treas-ures, the most famous being the 250-year-old camellia. Gräfe says, “The Pillnitzcamellia is the oldest free-growing camel-lia north of theAlps and attracts thousandsof visitors every year. During its annual

bloom frommid-February to mid-April thedisplaceable house, especially built for it, isopen to visitors.”

As part of Schloss Pillnitz, a Wasserpalais(Waterside Palace) with an elegant stair-case leads down to the river Elbe and theBergpalais (Hillside Palace). Inside theseamazing buildings, the Staatliche Kunst-sammlung Dresden (Dresden State ArtCollections) gives insights into the lifestyleof an Elector and exhibits fascinating ob-jects from 13th to the 20th century. Thesestunning buildings unite with the neoclas-sical Neue Palais (New Palace), enclosing amagnificent pleasure garden.

For further insight into this beautiful col-lection of architecture, the Schlossmuseum(Castle museum) is open from May to Oc-tober, presenting the history and transfor-mation from pleasure castle to former sum-mer residence of the Royal House ofWettin.

This year from May to October, the castlewill host the remarkable "Vis àVis" exhibi-

tion.“The larger than life, almost naturalis-tic female wooden figure sculptures byMał-gorzata Chodakowska and the romanticphotographs by Frieda vonWeissenfels areon display in the Castle Museum, in thedomed hall and the special exhibitionrooms of the Neues Palais. There are alsobronze sculptures in the Palmenhause,which cheerfully play with the theme ofwater,”Gräfe describes and she is lookingforward to watching the growth of the newperennial garden, which was planted thisspring to replicate its historic model.

www.schlosspillnitz.de

Castle and Park Pillnitz

Pure pleasureJust outside Dresden, this unique ensemble of architecture and garden art is amust see for those visiting the capital of Saxony.

TEXT: JESSICA RIDDER | PHOTOS: PRESS PHOTOS

Left: Palm-tree greenhouse

Below: Orangery

Bottom: Pleasure garden with Hillside Palace

Visavis-Palm-treehouse.(Wom

anwithIceblock)

Special Theme | Parks & Gardens

38 | Issue 4 | June 2013

Beate Reuber, senior park manager ofGärten der Welt says: “The specialty andbeauty of the Gardens of theWorld, lies intheir gardens from different cultures. Veryauthentic and traditional gardens fromAsia, the Orient and Europe invite you tosojourn and admire.”

The former recreational parkMarzahn pres-ents this stunning garden art from aroundthe world. It began in 1987 when the Parkarose out of the horticultural show BerlinerGartenschau (Berlin Garden Show) for the750th anniversary of the City. In 2012 theGärten der Welt received the Green FlagAward, awarded only to the best parks andgardens in England andWales. Reuber says:“Every year we are delighted again, wheneverything blooms so beautifully, as it doesat themoment, and visitors can admire this.”The first attraction, a Chinese garden, wasadded in 2000 as a result of the town twin-ning agreement between Berlin and Beijing.

The Garten des wiedergewonnenen Mon-des (Garden of the Reclaimed Moon) isGermany’s largest Chinese garden andsymbolizes the reunification of Berlin. Fromthe materials used, to the work carried outby skilled Chinese artisans, the garden iscompletely authentic. Gradually more gar-dens were added, each of them a piece ofart in its own tradition.

The Garten des zusammenfließendenWassers (Garden of Merging Water) fea-tures typical Japanese plants.There’s also aBalinese Garden and an Oriental Garden,which represents the garden traditions ofseveral oriental countries.The Korean SeoulGarden was a generous gift from the city ofSeoul to Berlin. The Karl-Foerster- Stau-dengarten (Perennial Garden) is an exam-ple of the art of gardening in Germany inthe early 20th Century.The Italian Renais-sance Garden shows one of the earliest ex-amples of garden architecture in Europe

and conveys the magic ofTuscany’s famousgardens.

The Christlicher Garten (Christian Garden)is designed on the prototype of a cloistergarden.

Reuber explains:“Many visitors have theirpersonal favourite, and are willing to travelfar to enjoy the garden. Some visitors sim-ply love the diversity of culture and gar-dens.” And more is planned, with theopening of the English Cottage Garden in2015. In 2017 the Gärten derWelt becomesa part of the IGA Berlin 2017 GmbH (In-ternational Garden Exhibition).

One of Berlin’s not so best-kept secrets is its many parks and gardens. Die Gärtender Welt (Gardens of the World), are hidden away in the unlikely area of Marzahn-Hellersdorf.

TEXT: JESSICA RIDDER | PHOTOS: GRÜN BERLIN

Top: Chinese tea house. Gru n Berlin

Bottom: Sunrise japanese garden. Gardens of the world

Grün BerlinGärten der Welt

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 39

Natur-Park Südgelände Schöneberg

But that’s not the only amazing green spacethat Berlin has to offer. The Natur-ParkSüdgelände (Nature-Park Südgelände) inthe area of Schöneberg is a unique combi-nation of people, nature, industrial ruinsand art.

Park manager Rita Suhrhoff says:“The na-ture park is still an insider tip. When youcome here, you discover a place whosemagic is unique in Berlin. A fantasticallybeautiful wilderness of rare plants and an-imal species, right in the middle of Berlin!”

This fascinating site was opened to thepublic in 2000 with the help of many citi-zens and the support of the Allianz Envi-ronmental Foundation.Originally the ruinsof an old 1890s railway hub, after train traf-fic was stopped at the Tempelhof mar-shalling yard, nature re-conquered the ter-ritory.

“The richness and distinct vitality of thearea stimulate imagination and creativity.The Berliner Festspiele will be a guest of the

Natur-Park Südgelände for a second time.In the series Foreign Affairs, the Festivalpresents a retrospective of the choreogra-pher William Forsythe,”Suhrhoff explains.

“From 12 June–21 September 2013, Shake-speare’s lovers, freaks, trolls and tyrants,heroes and witches will come to life againthrough the Shakespeare Company Berlin.Performed in the open air,between tall trees and oldindustrial monuments ac-companied by birdsong,the rustle of leaves and thegentle hum of insects.”

Britzer Garten

That the most beautifulspaces don’t always have tobe wild gardens is provedby the Britzer Garten(Britzer Garden). Now oneof the most attractive recre-ational areas in Berlin, thegarden was the site of theBundesgartenschau 1985,(German Garden Show inBerlin).

Senior park managerGabriele Kleuvers says:“Main attractions are thehorticultural special shows.On sunny weekends up to30,000 visitors a day pour

into the Britzer Garten for the tulipshow Tulipan im Britzer Garten,and the dahlia showDahlien Feuer,in the fall, is a great magnet for vis-itors!”

The heart of the Britzer Garten is aten-hectare lake area. Three hillsallow extensive views of the sur-roundings. Unique to the BritzerGarten and particularly worth see-ing are the Rose,Witches’and KarlFoerster Perennial Gardens.

“This is a place for people who feedtheir basic need for rest and leisure

outdoors in the fresh air. Here they get thepower to cope with everyday life, the joy oflife and irreplaceable seasonally changingimpressions of nature.Throughout the day,joggers, cross country runners, students,mothers and fathers with children, grand-parents, couples in love, pleasure seekers,escapists and sun-worshipers meet here,”explains Kleuvers.

Special Theme | Parks & Gardens

Left: Natur-Park Südgelände

Below left: Main Birdge

Dahliashow,BritzerGarden

Tulipshow,BritzerGarden

40 | Issue 4 | June 2013

In Germany´s West one can find a touristroute of a different kind. Featuring espe-cially beautiful and mostly historical gar-dens, The Classical Garden Route betweenthe Rhine and Maas unites private andpublic gardens and park owners in Ger-many and the Netherlands who wish tomaintain their horticultural heritage as wellas promote tourism in the area.

InAugust 2004 the registered society Straßeder Gartenkunst zwischen Rhein undMaase.V. was founded as the first transnationalsociety of this kind between the two coun-tries and now encompasses 36 memberswith 57 parks. The society chooses newmembers according to their art historicalsignificance, accessibility, state of mainte-nance and ownership.

The society's main focus lies in promotingday trips from one garden to the next, in-

cluding visiting other tourist attractions onthe way. It offers 12 different tours withdifferent core themes. One tour for exam-ple is focused on children, suggesting a visitto the Neanderthal museum inMettmann,where the place of the discovery of the fos-sil human is re-enacted and arranged as anarcheological garden.

One of the society's members is the formerGerman capital, Bonn. "What is interestingabout the gardens in Bonn is the diversityin a relatively small area," says DieterFuchs, head of the urban park department."One can visit a generously laid out park-land and afterwards the nearly 300 year oldAlten Friedhof (Old Cemetary) with manyold tombs of worldfamous personalities."Bonn has four different gardens participat-ing in the Classical Garden Route. In addi-tion to the Alter Friedhof, there is the pri-vately ownedArboretum Park Herle, which

features a vast collection of rare trees, someof them dating back to the park's begin-nings in 1870, as well as roses and shrubs.The Bonner Rheinaue, a recreational park,is nearly as big as Bonn`s city centre. Someof its features comprise a Japanese Garden,a rosarium and a garden for the blind,where touching the plants is encouragedand information is given in Braille.

Also, Bonn is home to beautiful botanicalgardens. One of them belongs to the Uni-versity and, being over 400 years old, is oneof the oldest gardens in the world. Fuchsfinds it hard to decide which one is hisfavourite: "All parks have their unique char-acter." Which is in accordance with theClassical Garden Route`s motto: To takedelight in the beauty of gardens.

www.strasse-der-gartenkunst.de

Taking delightin the beauty of gardensThe Classical Garden Route promotes history and beauty between Germany andthe Netherlands

TEXT: DORINA REICHHOLD | PHOTOS: PRESS PHOTOS

Main image: Botanic garden

Below: Old cemetery

Middle: Spring. Photo: Michael Sondermann,Presseamt Stadt Bonn

Bottom: Rheinaue. Photo: Michael Sondermann,Presseamt Stadt Bonn

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 41

Discover Germany | Special Theme | Parks & Gardens

“The garden is exceptional for its history. Itwas first conceived by the Jean-MarcelAubert, an entrepreneur from Vaud, whodecided to build a chalet in the Swiss Alpsfor his holidays.He then had a garden builtaround the chalet in the form of analpinum.The garden is thus a testimony toSwiss tourism and the relationship touristshad with theAlps in the early 20th century,”explains Charly Rey, botanist and Presidentof the Jean-Marcel Aubert Foundation. ButAubert wasn’t the only garden aficionadoinvolved in the project. Renowned botanistEgidioAnchisi created the largest collectionof alpine plants in Switzerland, probably inthe whole alps, here. Anchisi was deter-mined to establish a biotope that is as au-thentic as possible, so visitors can experi-

ence the alpine flora in a most natural way.“The richness of the collection also impliesthat Flore-Alpe finds itself in a privilegedposition in ensuring the conservation ofspecies, which are under greater andgreater stress with the expanding develop-ment of mass tourism,”Rey says about theaward-winning garden that scooped thecoveted Schultess prize for gardens in 2007.Special events during the summer includethe grand opening of the new sculpture ex-hibition by nine different artists on 15 June.Botanists should save the date, as on 23June the unique Flore-Alpe collection willbe explained by experts.The STEPPES fes-tival is scheduled for 28 July and a fineflower market will take place on 18August2013. www.flore-alpe.ch

Flore-AlpeA sanctuary for Edelweisse and other exceptional alpine species

Set 1500 metres above sea level in the magnificent mountain area in Champex-Lac the Flore-Alpe botanic garden displays more than 3,000 alpine plant speciesin their natural habitat. TEXT: TINA AWTANI

Top: The Chalet. Photo: Castillo Clochers

Below: Edelweisses. Photo: Jasmin Joshi

Over 100 hectares of beautifully landscapedgardens feature themed gardens, land-scaping competitions as well as fun andactivities for all age groups. Managing Di-rector Heiner Baumgarten explains thisyear’s motto as a“pleasant journey throughthe earth’s cultural and vegetation zones.

The‘World of Ports’tells of wanderlust, the‘World of Water’ of a shortage and abun-dance of water. The diversity of nations ispresented in the ‘World of Cultural Diver-sity’ and the wide variety of vegetation inthe ‘World of Continents’. The ‘World ofMovement’entices visitors with a climbing

hall while the ‘World of Religions’ offerscontemplation.” 80 gardens created bysome of the most renowned landscapingartists are a pleasure for the senses, butthere is plenty more to be explored. Take ahike on the high-wire garden, visit theclimbing hall, or take advantage of the3000-metre running course. A modern in-door pool and a skate park with bowl andstreet zones are great for kids and for those,who prefer to watch from the waterside, asoon to be completed canoe route leadsthrough the igs area.Amonorail is availableto gather a bird’s eye impression of thesplendid flower arrangements. Over the

summer months a string ofspecial events is scheduled in-cluding concerts and otherartistic performances.

www.igs-hamburg.de

Around the world in 80 gardensBetween April and October Hamburg’s Wilhelmsburg Island Park will be bloomingin full splendour as the International Garden Show (igs) 2013 exhibition kicks offattracting an estimated 2.5 million visitors over the summer months.

TEXT: TINA AWTANI | PHOTO: PRESS PHOTO

Left: World of Ports. Photos: igs 2013Gartner und Christ

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“BEST EUROPEAN AIRLINE”

The followingpages are allabout festivals. Themost prominent music festival in recenthistory was certainly the legendary Amer-icanWoodstock festival in 1969.Half a mil-lion people, a never before seen number ofvisitors, attended this first of its kind open-air event of musical celebration. Whatcaused quite a stir almost half a centuryago, has now evolved into a highly suc-cessful industry attracting millions of partysavvy visitors every summer all over theglobe.The CoachellaValley Music and ArtsFestival in California is America’s hottestevent and in Britain the Glastonbury Festi-val of Contemporary PerformingArts bringspublic life near the idyllic town of Somer-set almost to a standstill every year. Glas-tonbury attracts 150,000 visitors each yearand even celebrities and members of theRoyal Family are frequently spotted wear-ing shorts, sunglasses and wellies whilecheering the performing artists.The welliesare necessary because of the unstableBritish weather conditions.

But did you know about the German festi-vals? Summer may be a little slow to arrivethis year, but the German festival season isalready in full swing. It may not beCoachella size nor, we hope, Glastonburyweather, but world class gigs and hot new-comers are entering the stage areas at starstudded events scheduled all over thecountry. Discover Germany presents excit-ing events such as the TFF Rudolstadt, theReload Festival, the Lausitzer SeenlandFestival, the Soundbad Festival or PvD’sWe Are One Festival. Read all about thehottest gigs, great locations and the finestDJs live on stage this summer in our Spe-cial Theme section, which is entirely dedi-cated to festivals. Gear up and get ready toenjoy great music!

Special Theme

FestivalsIt’s party timeTEXT: TINA AWTANI | PHOTO: RELOAD FESTIVAL/PRESS PHOTO

Discover Germany | Special Theme | Festivals

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 43

TFF Rudolstadt– AVoyage of Discovery intoWorld MusicIn July, musicians from all over the world take over the small Thuringian town Rudolstadt when the colourful World Musicscene visits the city. Germany’s biggest Folk-Roots-World Music Festival, the TFF Rudolstadt, presents a unique mix of thetop names from across the world, well-known performers and exciting new bands.

TEXT: CORDELIA MAKARTSEV | PHOTOS: TFF RUDOLFSTADT

Arstidir Heidecksburg ® J M Unger Lao Xao Trio

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 45

Rudolstadt, the resi-dence of former princes,lies at the feet of the im-posing baroque castleHeidecksburg at thebend of the river Saale.Surrounded by thebeautiful scenery of theThuringian forest,Rudolstadt has alwaysbeen known for its cul-tural open-mindedness.The famous Germanpoet and writerFriedrich Schiller appre-ciated the intellectualatmosphere in the townand frequently visitedRudolstadt. Here, 225years ago, he not onlymet his future wifeCharlotte von Lenge-feld but also started hiscomplicated and fruit-ful friendship with an-other giant of Germanliterature, JohannWolf-gang von Goethe. Asmall museum vividlytells the story of theseeventful days in thepoet’s life.

Nowadays, Rudolstadt’scultural activity takesplace on a more inter-national scale. From 4–7July 2013 more than1,000 musicians fromover 35 countries meetat the Folk-Roots-WorldMusic Festival. But what

is Folk-Roots-WorldMusic?W o l f r a mBöhme, thefestival’s PRrepresenta-tive, knowsthe answer:“We see everystyle of musicwhich refers

to its local tradition as Folk-Roots-WorldMusic.Naturally, this includes contemporarymusic as well.You will find Hip Hop bands,electronic music and New Jazz bands onour festival programme which incorporatecertain rhythms ormelodies from their localtradition into their pieces.”

The Highlights: Partner Country Italyand the Magic Flutes

The festival is back again for the 23rd yearin a row, brimming with new ideas and adistinctive line-up of terrific artists at over20 venues across the city. This year, Italy isthe festival’s partner country and providesthe fans with some very special music treatssuch as performances fromGianmariaTestaand EnzoAvitabile.GianmariaTesta is well-known for his husky and tender voice. Ac-cents of tango, bossa nova and jazz conveya beautiful aura of melancholy in his poeticsongs. His qualities become magnifiedwhen he is performing, as at Rudolstadt,with clarinet master Gabriele Mirabassi.Something extraordinary awaits the audi-ence when Enzo Avitabile performs to-gether with the ensemble“Bottari di Por-tico”. Since medieval times, drumming on“Bottaris”(barrels) has been used to exor-cise evil spirits in the houses of Campania,Italy. Mixed with the sounds of recorder,guitar, acoustic bass, Ciaramella (shawm),violin and accordion and Enzo Avitabile’sunique soul voice the drumming takes youon a Mediterranean journey through time.

Over the weekend, the expected 90,000guests will be spoilt for choice with per-formances from bands like the vocal grooveproject “Bauchklang” (belly sounds) fromAustria or“Carminho”from Portugal,“oneof the most impressive fado singers we willhave forever.” (FADO.com). Another actworth discovering is the London based“Tiger Lillies”. The Guardian describedtheir surreal, darkly humorous style as“bril-liantly twisted”.

This year, the organisers of the festival havechosen flutes to be in the focus of attention.Various artists from very different musicalbackgrounds will perform magic on thislovely instrument. Just to name a few,Alan

Doherty from Ireland, Koushi Tsukudafrom Japan and Jean-Luc Thomas fromFrance will amaze the audience with theirvery own interpretation of the flute.

And the“RUTH”goes to...

The TFF Rudolstadt is the biggest WorldMusic festival in Germany and thereforethe event where the GermanWorld MusicAward “Ruth” is presented. This year, thefestival award will be given to the well-es-tablished band“Jazzkantine”, who took upGerman folk songs and transformed themin an extraordinarily fresh and daring ap-proach with elements from hip hop, reggaeand soul into their characteristic sound.“But we also want to support up and com-ing bands, which is why we introduced anaward category for newcomers,” explainsWolfram Böhme. This year’s winner is theVietnamese Lao Xao Trio with their prom-ising mix of traditional Vietnamese folksongs and acoustic Jazz from the Westernworld.

Endless fun for grown-ups and children

Dance is an important part of the festival –with both social and display dance takingon a prominent role in the event. If youwant to dance the night away with the“Ca-jun Roosters”or learn Latin Fusion Dancewith a professional dancer from Mexico,this is the place to be. But the fun is notonly limited to the venues.The streets andsquares in the historic town will be full ofmusic, laughter and dance when street mu-sicians and artists invite you to their manyperformances.

Children especially will enjoy the lively andjoyful atmosphere. There is a special pro-gramme for kids, a“Carnevale die Rudol-nezia” with actors and acrobats from theGran Teatro del Carnevale. A special high-light at the children’s festival is the giantwooden toy frames like a pirate ship or awashing trough. This is one of Wolfram’sfavourite events:“The bands from the fes-tival come often to these gigantic sculp-tures and do something here with the kidswhich is a big success every year.”

More info and tickets:www.tff-rudolstadt.de


Kindertanz ® Joerg Wolf

Bauchklang.©PeterRauchecker

46 | Issue 4 | June 2013

Reload Festival in Sulingenset to be bigger than everThis year’s Reload Festival in Sulingen is set to turn out bigger than ever. This year organisers of the festival plan on movingaway from the more pop oriented festivals and to distinguish themselves as one of the core rock festivals in the region closeto Bremen.

TEXT: JULIEN RATH | PHOTO: PRESS PHOTO

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 47


Especially in order to bring hard rock backto the stage Reload Festival will be wel-coming well-known English rock bandMotorhead, and Papa Roach from theUnited States.

“We always try to improve everything wedo every year,”said organiser of the festivalCalvin Siemers. He explained that the ter-rain breakdown has changed for this yearby moving the stage to give fans the bestpossible experience. Other changes to thefestival include additional entertainment

for fans alongside thelive performances.“We thought aboutwhat we could do toentertain fans apartfrom the live per-formances. We’ll betrying out some newthings this year,”saidSiemers.

The lineup of the fes-tival has always beenthe most important:“This year we espe-cially paid attentionto the stylistic qualityof the line-up. We’revery happy with theresult,”said Siemers.Fans are also happywith this strategy.Af-ter an audience of8,500 fans made theirway to Sulingen lastyear organisers areexpecting recordnumbers this year.“To cut it short, we’vemade 50 per centmore sales than lastyear,” said Siemers.This year the organ-isers of the festivalare expecting be-tween 8,000 and10,000 fans a day. Totop it all off Siemers

guarantees that ticket prices won’t be raisedbefore the festival starts.

One of the most attractive reasons is sure tobe the big names the festival is bringing in.Papa Roach first became a staple in theGermanmusic scene in 2000 when their hitLast Resort made it onto the fourth spot ofthe German charts. It’s not just mainstreamrock that will be heard in Sulingen. Swedishband At the Gates is the benchmark forGothenburg death metal. After a rare ap-pearance in Germany at the famous

Wacken Festival in 2008 the band returnsfor their show at the Reload Festival thisyear.

Reload Festival is proud of being one ofthe few hard rock festivals in the countrysaid Siemers:“German bands are importantto us because we are, after all, a Germanfestival.”One way of supporting local Ger-man bands is the contest“Get the ReloadSpot”that the festival has been running inrecent years. The winners of the contestsget to perform at the festival alongside thebig names like Motorhead. This year or-ganisers had three different contests in theregion. The bands Quiron, Bonez and Intothe Wild each won their respective con-tests in Bremen, Sulingen and Osnabrück.

The fact that the festival supports smallGerman bands also attracts the more up-and-coming bands. For Cologne basedband KMPFSPRT performing at the Re-load Festival is a first:“None of us have ac-tually been to the festival before. But it def-initely has a name,”said bass player DennisMeyer.

Nonetheless Siemers believes supportingGerman bands is important but whatcounts is that the festival is the best it canbe.“When it comes to bands we don’t reallyconsider where they’re from.What countsis the music,”said Siemers.This philosophyalso extends to all aspects of the festival.“This year we thought a lot about how wecould entertain the fans alongside the fes-tival.”

The organisers attitude towards havinggoodmusic and fans having fun is working.Bands like Hatebreed fromAmerica are re-turning to the festival after performing atlast year’s. More importantly everyone be-lieves the event is about having fun andenjoying oneself.“What it’s all about for usis to have a good night and to give the peo-ple in front of the stage exactly that: a goodnight,”said KMPFSPRT’s Dennis Meyer.

www.reload-festival.de

48 | Issue 4 | June 2013


What looked like a barren lunar landscapeonly a little while ago has now been trans-formed through controlled flooding into abeautiful lake called Partwitzer See nearHoyerswerda and is part of the biggest con-version project in Europe: The LausitzerSeenland (land of lakes). This new holidaydestination has changed from an open castmining territory into one of the most spec-tacular European aquatic landscapes and isthe ideal venue for a music festival! Threedays of top-notch bands and some very ex-clusive acts are awaiting sound savvy guests.

The festival will kick off on Friday nightwith the finest modern electronic music byFrenchman David Guetta, who will cer-tainly accomplish his mission to make the

entire world dance.The legendary British band The Boom-

town Rats will re-unite and play their firstGerman concert since 1986. They will befollowed by another highlight of the festival:German superstars Die Toten Hosen, whowill continue rocking the gigantic stage onSunday evening.

A special treat bythe organisers is thebirthday concert forDie FantastischenVier, who will cele-brate their 24th an-niversary on Saturdaytogether with soundlegends OMD and

Klee.Another exclusive performance comesfrom Ich + Ich,whowill give their only con-cert in Germany this year!

Tickets for single days or for the entirefestival are available with a camping option.For those who prefer a cosy hotel room toa sleeping bag, the Tourist InformationCentre in Hoyerswerda is happy to help.

The Lausitzer Seenland festival hasmorethan enough ingredients to make this eventan unforgettable weekend for everyone.

www.seenlandfestival.dewww.lausitzhalle-hoyerswerda.dewww.lausitzerseenland.de

Lausitzer Seenland FestivalA unique event, not to be missedGerman and international stars such as David Guetta, Die Toten Hosen and DieFantastischen Vier will perform concerts from 5-7 July 2013 amidst the enchantedscenery of man-made lakes.

TEXT: MARILENA STRACKE

On July 6 a different kind of festival willtake place in the region of Lohr at the riverMain, a city between Frankfurt andWürzburg.What serves as a public open-airpool area in daytime will be transformed

into a fun pool party location under thestars. Austrian hip hop stars such asChakuza and Gerard will perform live onstage as well as tech-house expertLützenkirchen from Munich or ironic hip

hoppers OK KID. Andhim will performtheir super-house style andAYoung Man’sJourney will share their folksy stories withthe audience. Listen to German rap new-comers C-Raze & Mircovski or dance tothe baseline of insider tipp Schallplatten-raritäten, who was the shooting star at theSoundBad 2011 festival. But there is more,DJane Sassi, a celebrity on Frankfurt’s club-bing scene, will also treat festival visitors toa hot night at the pool when her beat rules.“The SoundBad festival is not made of theusual festival-construction-kit, featuringcamping, rock and excess components.Thelocation is by tradition a public open-air

pool, and we distinguish our-selves through our uniqueand exotic wellness flair, thelove of good music and a re-laxed but stylish ambience,”festival organiser SebastianGoldbach explains.

www.soundbad.de

Pool party festival underthe stars with Chakuza & Co.SoundBad is anything else but bad, as the German word Bad refers to the giantpublic open-air pool area location. A fantastic mix of great artists will perform atthis year’s festival, which will be the epitome of uber-cool pool party.


Left:Mono & Nikitaman view from Stage 2012

Right: Pool at night

DavidGuetta.Photo:Pressimage

IchundIch©SaschaErdmann

Diefantastischen

Vier.©Gnadinger


The German DJ kicked off his career in theearly 1990s and proceeded to conquer theworld of electronic sounds.Award winningPaul van Dyk – also nominated for aGrammy music award – has released nu-merous successful albums, the most recentbeing“Evolution”. Paul tirelessly tours theworld’s most vibrant venues and has firmlyestablished his own empire while becom-ing a household name in the internationalmusic industry.His secret of success is fairlysimple: he does what he loves most.

TheWeAre One festival pays homage tothe reunification of Germany. For the 20thanniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall in

2009, van Dyk created thehit“WeAre One”togetherwith Irish recording artistJohnny McDaid. A yearlater and inspired by theoriginal title, the We AreOne festival was born atBerlin’s O2 arena.“2010’sWe Are One was an ex-traordinary night in mylife. From the moment Ileft Berlin’s O2 Arena, af-ter its climax, I’ve wantednothing more than to doit all over again. For that

reason, it gives me great happiness to beable to bring you news that – three yearson from that momentous night – the sec-ondWe Are One will be staged. I look for-ward not only to welcoming you to Berlin’sastonishing Zitadelle Spandau on the 6th ofJuly, but also to personally introducing youto music from Politics of Dancing 3,”Paulvan Dyk says.

www.weareonefestival.com

DJ Paul van Dyk presentsWe Are One in BerlinLegendary icon Paul van Dyk presents his We Are One festival at Berlin’s ZitadelleSpandau on 6 July 2013. Together with stunners Chicane, Arnej, First State, BenNicky and more, Paul will transform the Zitadelle into an electronic dance musictemple. The event is tipped to be one of the hottest gigs this Summer season.


PaulvanDyk

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Liquid Graphic Ltd. London | Phone 08709 330 324 | E-mail [email protected] | www.liquid-graphic.com

At Liquid Graphic we are specialistsin the design and print of:

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Nestled in southern Bavaria’s Chiemgaumountains, a paradise not only for hikersand golfers, the Residenz is located in closeproximity to some of Germany’s and Aus-tria’s most significant sightseeing monu-ments such as the Royal Palace of Her-renchiemsee, built by eccentric KingLudwig II, who also commissioned theworld famous Neuschwanstein Castle.Other attractions nearby include the SaltMine Berchtesgaden, Europe’s largest au-tomobile museum in Amerang as well as

Austria’s Swarovski CrystalWorlds inWat-ten and, to the delight of wine lovers, theworld famous Riedel wine glass factory inKufstein.

The Residenz HeinzWinkler premises dateback to the medieval times of 1405.WhenWinkler acquired the former post stationnear Rosenheim in 1989, he transformedthe building into a wonderful world of lux-urious and charmingly traditional ambi-ence. Featuring 32 rooms and suites, one of

Germany’s finest restaurants, efficient con-ference and relaxing wellness facilities, theResidenz is a great venue for private as wellas corporate special occasions.

The patron himself is an icon not onlyamong the German cooking aristocracy.Helearned his skills in the most exquisite ho-tels and restaurants in Germany, Switzer-land, Italy and France. Winkler headedworld class restaurants such as EckartWitzigmann’sTantris inMunich and the fa-

The Residenz Heinz Winkler combines local charm and luxury accommodation with one of the finest kitchens in the worldconducted by none other than the maestro himself. The Patron, as he is addressed by others, holds the Federal Cross of Meritand countless industry awards.


50 | Issue 4 | June 2013

Residenz Heinz WinklerHigh end hospitality and the bestcheese cake in the world

Hotelof the Month

Germany

mous TristaninMajorca. Bythe age of 32Winkler wasthe youngestever chef to beawarded threeM i c h e l i nstars. Sincethen he hasbeen grantedthreeMichelin stars an impressive 21 timesthroughout his career and 14 Gault Millauratings of 19 and above. A milestone in hisprofessional life was the year 1978, whenWinkler was working with nouvelle cuisinefounder Paul Bocuse. Still fond of his formeremployer,Winkler remembers:“Paul is a PRgenius; he took everyone on board and thewhole industry benefitted from him to anever before seen extent. Thanks to Paulthe occupation of the chef has become a de-cent and socially acceptable profession.”

Heinz Winkler him-self is the founder ofthe Cuisine Vitale, astyle that “distin-guishes itself by itsunique liveliness,which quickens thebody as well as thesoul.”Visit his Vene-tian Restaurant andprepare to bewowed. Many re-turning guests areloyal fans of the Pa-tron and his cookingstyle. Up to 25,000bottles from Latourto Lafitte are storedin the restaurant’swine cellar and thewine list features 950splendid varieties tochoose from, somebottles dating backas far as 1874. In2012 the patron’sson joined the Resi-denz as restaurantmanager. AlexanderWinkler gained hisskills in the Black For-est’s Hotel TraubeTonbach, which ishome to the threeMichelin Star and19.5 Gault Millaupoints Schwarzwald-stube restaurant. The

personal involvement of father and sonmakes every single guest feel truly special.Apart from the Venetian Gourmet restau-rant, the Garden Salon and the Poststubeoffer a more intimate setting for smallergroups and are ideal to be used as event lo-cations.

The ResidenzVital Resort spa is an oasis ofrelaxation, beauty, health and wellness.Guests may enjoy a visit to the Laconium,featuring Finnish and Roman sauna, a

Kneipp-Rondell, a Tepidarium and a poolwith adjustable jet stream.

Please refer to the Residenz website for thelatest packages tailored to individual guest’sneeds. Various packages such as the two-night HeinzWinkler Arrangement includea champagne reception on the terrace or inthe winter garden, followed by an eight-course gala dinner. Other offers are avail-able for golfers or hiking fans.An insider tipis the luxurious Palace Herrenchiemsee ex-perience and for those who are passionateabout cooking the Cooking CourseArrangement allows gourmets to partici-pate in the fresh preparation ofVitale Cui-sine dishes in the surrounding ofWinkler’sprofessional kitchen under the eyes of thePatron himself and his highly qualifiedteam members.

Heinz Winkler describes what makes theResidenz so attractive to its guests:“A clas-sic Italian coutry house style in Bavaria isunique, an extraordinary, light and easy todigest cuisine offers culinary delights with-out gaining weight and of course the out-standing location adds to the value.” Butthere is more to be excited about this sum-mer:“The beautiful mountain terrace over-looking the Kampen forest and Ho-henaschau Castle and above all the bestcheesecake in the world,” Winkler sayspromisingly.

The idyllic village of Aschau near Rosen-heim is less than an hour away from Ger-man Munich airport and approximately 45minutes by car from the Austrian city ofSalzburg.

www.residenz-heinz-winkler.de

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 51

Discover Germany | Hotel of the Month | Germany

Main image: Gourmet restaurant and Garden Salon

Left: Alexander (left) and his father Heinz Winkler

Below: Residenz Heinz Winkler

Located just outside Dresden, the town ofMeissen has been home to the originalporcelain factory for centuries. The crossedswords symbolising the original Meissenmasterpieces is one of the world’s oldestand best known trademarks. Meissen cre-ations keep fetching record prices at auc-tions around the world and keen collectorsare plentiful throughout the globe. Fine

china is still a house speciality, but theMeis-senmanufactory embarked on amission toconquer the worlds of interiors, decorativeitems, jewellery, fine watches and even thefashion industry in form of couture and ac-cessories which are created in cooperationwith renowned designers. “Driven by ourfounding spirit, today we again see our-selves as a house of art and hand-produced

luxury whose creations are set apart by asupreme devotion to style and quality aswell as embodying 300 years of Europeanart and culture fromMeissen.Thus it is thatwe create unique objects of desire addition-ally distinguished by lasting worth,” DrChristian Kurtzke, CEO of the Meissenmanufactory, explains.

Visiting theMeissen premises is a unique ex-perience. Beside a vast array of events hap-pening throughout the year, the history ofthe place is overwhelming. Strolling past thefragile exhibits which have been preservedimmaculately for over 300 years in the on-site historic museum is a sublime experi-ence. But there is also a museum of con-temporary Meissen art which visitors mayeasily spot from a distance as its façade isused as a canvas featuring the workRauchzug by the German artist and holderof the German Federal Cross of Merit K. O.Goetz. For thosewhowould like to take a bitof Meissen home, a boutique offers the lat-est creations while the outlet store is a treas-ure chest for bargain hunters. A restaurantand café caters not only for culinary needs asall food and beverage is naturally served onbeautiful fine original Meissen china.

www.meissen.com

52 | Issue 4 | June 2013

MeissenMasters of ancient porcelainand fine goods for the futureThe porcelain manufacturer Meissen was established in 1710 and is consideredto be one of the finest producers of china in the world. Having expanded itsluxurious product portfolio successfully over recent years the future looks brightfor one of Germany’s finest traditional ventures.

TEXT: TINA AWTANI | PHOTOS: MEISSEN/PRESS PHOTOS

Attractionof the Month

Germany

Top left: Gourmet restaurant and Garden Salon

Left: Joaillerie

Right: Fine Art

Below: Tableware Cosmopolitan. ® JanSchuenke

Manufaktur MEISSEN Impression Museum of MEISSEN Art

Access All Areas - Welcome to GermanyGermany o�ers a wealth of opportunities for a relaxing holiday. Visitors with disabilities and restricted mobility, including the elderly, and people with sporting injuries will all be able to enjoy Germany to the full. Which is why many towns, cities and regions in Germany o�er special packages for visitors with disabilities. There‘s something for everyone.

Holidays in Germany: www.germany.travel

©TM

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54 | Issue 4 | June 2013

Located in the former Eastern part of Ger-many in the north-western region of Saxonythe city is home to around 500,000 inhabi-tants. Leipzig has always been a bustlingtrade fair hubwith a rich history dating backto the 7th century when the first Slavic set-tlements were recorded in the area. In 1015the name ''urbs Libzi'' first officially ap-peared in the chronicles of BishopThietmarvon Merseburg. 150 years later the town ofLeipzig was granted a city charter andmar-ket rights by Margrave Otto the Rich. Thismemorable event shaped the town’s repu-

tation as an international trade fair hub upto this day.The Leipziger Messe is the old-est commercial fair in the world and attractsover one million visitors each year.

Besides trade, music and performing artshave always played an important role inthe history of the city.One of Leipzig’s mostfamous residents was composer Johann Se-bastian Bach who served as musical direc-tor and choirmaster of St. Thomas' BoysChoir between 1723 and 1750. The choirstill exists today and performs in the St.

Thomas' Church. Just like the choir, theBach Archives, the Bach Museum and thelegendary Gewandhaus Orchestra are stillpaying tribute to Bach’s achievements. TheLeipzig opera is known to be Europe’s thirdoldest bourgeois music theatre stage andmusicians were always drawn towards thecity of Leipzig. Besides Bach, the composersFelix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and GeorgFriedrich Händel found inspiration in thisexceptional town. This year is of particularimportance for the city of Leipzig as thegreat composer Wilhelm Richard Wagner

LeipzigProudly presented by Discover GermanyThis issue’s city special is dedicated to Leipzig, a city that is described by locals as “the new Berlin”. The city of the peacefulrevolution in is one of the finest examples of rich heritage mixed with contemporary lifestyle and well worth a visit.


Special Theme

Summer inLeipzig

Discover Germany | Special Theme | Summer in Leipzig

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 55

was born here on 22May 1813 and the cel-ebrations in honour of his 200th birthdayare in full swing.

Leipzig has been an inspiration not only tomusicians. Famous writer JohannWolfgangGoethe spent his university years here andin theAuerbachs Keller restaurant, which isfeatured in our City Special, his famousFaust is still very much alive. Poet GottholdEphraim Lessing, intellectual and writerGottfriedWilhelm Leibniz and the philoso-pher FriedrichWilhelmNietzsche are just afew of the creative heads which have cho-sen Leipzig as a source of inspiration.

Today the city shines in new splendour,historic buildings have been painstakinglyrestored and the city offers a well balancedmix between the old and the new.About athird of the city’s buildings are designed inthe elegant Gründerzeit style, the so-calledpromoterism which hit its peak just before1873’s great stock market crash. An ultra-modern trade fair complex and a state-of-

the-art train station blend in harmoniouslywith historic buildings such as the Old CityHall, a stunning Renaissance structure, orthe St. Thomas Church.

The people of Leipzig are proud of their cityand the town is often described by locals as“the better Berlin” or “the new Berlin”.Smaller in size than the German capital,most attractions in the historic city centrecan be reached in walking distance. Butthat’s not it: because of a tight network oflittle waterways, the city can be explored byboat too. Thanks to the smart, welcomingand highly creative locals, Leipzig is burst-ing with great things to do and hospitalityvenues second to none.

In our Leipzig City Special the LeipzigTourismus und Marketing GmbH givesvaluable tips for a trip to town. Read aboutthe museum of printing arts, find out aboutthe unrivalled hospitality of the featuredSeaside hotel and the famous AuerbachsKeller on the following pages.

Top: Old City Hall. Tourism Marketing of Saxony/Photo: An-dreas Schmidt

Middle: Barthels Hof Drallewatsch. Tourism Marketing of Sax-ony/Photo: Michael Bader

Bottom: © Leipziger Messe Zimmermannn

Main image: Above the rooftops of Leipzig. Right: Barthels Hof Drallewatsch. Photos: Tourism Marketing of Saxony/Michael Bader

Spend your Summer in LeipzigStill don’t know where to spend a short weekend trip or maybe your whole summer vacation? How about Leipzig? This cityhas plenty of choices and activities to offer. You can go to the beach and tan, go shopping all day, revive history or enjoy thevivid nightlife! Leipzig, a German city with an extraordinary flair, is the right place for any kind of vacation.

TEXT & PHOTOS: LEIPZIG TOURISMUS UND MARKETING GMBH (LTM)


Issue 4 | June 2013 | 57


Go shoppingThe Leipzig city centre is a shopaholic’sparadise. Besides chic boutiques and cut-ting edge stores, Leipzig is renowned for itsenchanting galleries and arcades, whichboast some stunning atriums and offer aunique atmosphere – no matter how wetand windy it may be outside. The MädlerPassage (arcade), for example, offers a mixof luxury shops and boutiques to warm anyshopper’s heart. In the shopping arcadesyou can also find the small shops of youngdesigners, which are truly one of a kind. Ifyou prefer to go shopping at a mall, youmay do that as well, at the“Höfe am Brühl”Shopping Centre, which is located in theheart of the city.www.leipzig.travel

Relax at the beach

Nature lovers will be in their element ram-bling through the numerous parks andwoodlands in and around Leipzig, whilelocals and visitors can also enjoy the chanceto relax and take a breather from everydaylife and do a little sightseeing on the spa-cious park greens.

So if you enjoy a vacation at the beach,Leipzig might just be the place for you! Inthe south of Leipzig the former lignite min-ing district has been turned into the“NewLakeland”with ideal conditions for enjoy-ing swimming,water sports and the attrac-tive sandy beaches.You can enjoy both na-ture and sports. Go scuba diving, read abook by the sea or go sailing – it’s up toyou!

The Lakes andWaterways provide excellentopportunities for family excursions as well.Whether you prefer cycling, hiking or watersports, the possibilities are endless: the cityis constantly expanding its vast network of

Bach Museum. © Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH/Schmidt

waterways – in summer 2011 the first fullypassable water route between Leipzig’s cityport and Lake Cospuden, known as Course1, was opened. The route brings into viewLeipzig’s spacious park landscapes andmagnificent Wilhelminian villas, and im-merses travellers in the unique animal andplant world of the Auwald Forest. Beautifulcafes and restaurants have also sprung up onthe banks of the waterways.www.leipzigerneuseenland.de

Enjoy art

The large variety of museums and sights inLeipzig is staggering: As a centre for thefine and applied arts, Leipzig is a real mag-net for visitors. Its place in the internationalart landscape and its many museums andgalleries make visiting the city a special ex-

perience for anyone with an interest in cul-ture. One of the popular Art Museums inLeipzig is the GRASSI Museum ofAppliedArt, which opened in 1874. With its first-class collection, it is considered one of Eu-rope's leading museums of arts and crafts.Art nouveau, art déco and functionalismcreate a profile-defining focus for the col-lection in virtually all areas. Craftwork anddesign of the 20th century are also depictedat central key points.

But Leipzig does more than display art –the city lives art. Artists are trained at theAcademy ofVisual Arts, and many of themlater find their way to the Spinnerei, anartist centre in the western part of the city.Over 100 artists work at their studios here,which are located in a former cotton mill,

and share the site with gallery owners, ar-chitects and designers. One of the localartists is Neo Rauch, who is known inter-nationally – some of his artwork has beendisplayed in museums abroad, such as theMetropolitan Museum of Art in NewYork.If you would like to visit the place whereNeo Rauch was inspired you are welcometo drop by at any time of the day.www.spinnerei.de or www.leipzig.travel

Go on an adventure

If you love animals, you should definitelyvisit the Leipzig Zoo! Experience the animalkingdom on a tour – a visit to the world’sbiggest centre for great apes“Pongoland”isas unforgettable an experience as an audi-ence with the King of the Jungle on the“Makasi Simba”(lion savannah) or a safarithrough the expanses of the “Kiwara Sa-vannah” to view the giraffes, antelopes, ze-bras and flamingos. The Siberian tiger en-closure “Tiger Taiga” is designed to be asnatural as possible, and visitors will marvel

Left: Grassi Museum

Above: Museum of Applied Arts

Lake Cospuden

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 59


at the sight of its inhabitants taking a bath.In the Asian world, the“Ganesha Mandir”elephant temple will simply take yourbreath away – you can actually observe anelephant swimming underwater throughan armoured glass window at the Zoo!

Since 2011 there has been a spectacularnew attraction: the "Gondwanaland"Trop-ical Experience, which is a multi-sensoryjourney of discovery through a tropical rain-forest that is home to 40 exotic species andover 500 different types of trees and plants.Follow the jungle paths, climb the treetoptrail and float downstream on the primevalGamanil River.

For the adrenaline-junkies the BELANTIStheme park is a must-see. BELANTISTheme Park is one of our top family excur-sion destinations: more than half a millionchildren, youngsters, parents and grand-parents come here every year, making BE-LANTIS the number one attraction in thenew federal states.

The theme park opened in 2003 and offersjust the right blend of fun and relaxationwith eight themed worlds and more than60 attractions. The newest addition to thetheme park was the Huracan rollercoaster,which goes as fast as 85km/h.Would you bebrave enough the ride the Huracan Roller-coaster? Come and find out!www.zoo-leipzig.de or www.belantis.de

Enjoy music

Leipzig's musical tradition is truly excep-tional. This is the city where Johann Sebas-

tian Bach, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy,Robert and Clara Schumann all worked,and where Richard Wagner was born andreceived his musical training.

Andmusical history is still being written inLeipzig today, with world-famous ensem-bles performing to audiences throughoutthe city, whether in the Gewandhaus, inSt. Thomas Church or in the Opera. Thecity's musical legacy is documented andmaintained in a large number of museums.Visit the places where famous composerslived and worked; listen to music in venueswhere history comes alive on the LeipzigMusic Trail.

If you prefer Bach, you should visit theLeipzig Bach Festival in June. It combines amusical programme of the highest qualitywith the historical authenticity of its ven-ues. Every year, this festival casts its spellover visitors from Leipzig and around theworld with a variety of top-class events in-cluding secular and religious concerts, jazz,chamber music and open air concerts.

For the younger audience Leipzig has pop-ular music festivals to offer in the summersuch as the Highfield Festival or the SplashFestival with international line-ups such asBillyTalent, FloggingMolly or Macklemore.Of course the Leipzig nightlife is a greatchance to experience the music scene andenjoy the music from local DJs, such asMatthias Tanzmann, live.www.bach-leipzig.dewww.notenspur-leipzig.de

Discover the nightlifeGreat places to party andspend time out withfriends – wandering fromrestaurant to restaurant, from pub to pub,the choices are endless. These neighbour-hoods are very popular to go to for livelydining and entertainment: the inner city,especially the Barfußgäßchen and theGottschedstraße area and the Südmeile(The 'SouthernMile' - the Karl-Liebknecht-Straße andMünzgasse areas).These streetsare the best places to go for a wonderfultime, a great cuisine, and lively entertain-ment right in the heart of the city.

And for another sumptuous culinary jour-ney of discovery, the increasingly popularKarl-Heine-Straße in the Plagwitz area ofthe city is an attractive option.www.leipzig.travel

FURTHER INFORMATION

Interested? Got further questions?

For more events, bookings and informationplease visit:www.leipzig.travel

Did you know that Ryanair offers non-stopflights from London Stansted to the Leipzig/Halle Airport?

For flights, bookings and more informationplease visit:www.ryanair.com

Leipzig Zoo - Gondwanaland

60 | Issue 4 | June 2013

The elegant hotel first opened its doors in1913 for the inauguration of the colossalMonument to the Battle of the Nations.Eight decades later, in 1993 the Seaside Ho-tels took over the building and refurbished itmeticulously with a great love for detail.Thehotel’s original facade was restored to itsformer glory and is now registered as a pro-tected listed building.To represent the grandflair of that era, it was decided to maintainthe charmingArt-Déco style, giving visitorsthe sensation of being transported back intime.

Gitta Jonek, Sales andMarketingManager,says:“The hotel’s exclusive location in thehistoric centre of Leipzig is particularly re-markable. Right at the famous Nikolais-traße, between central station and St.Niko-lai’s Church, guests can easily explore many

tourist attractions and cultural institutionswithin walking distance.”

Leipzig is not only a historic centre of let-terpress but also hosts one of the oldestuniversities. Great musical tradition goesback to the work of Johann Sebastian Bachand Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, and thecity holds annual events remembering thissignificant heritage.The cityscape is shapedby the preserved Moritzbastei and the oldtown hall, a renaissance building, as well asby many historic trade courts.

In the evening guests can dine in the hotel’srestaurant Steaktrain, which offers a varietyof meaty delights on hot lava stones in adining car atmosphere, making the mealnot only a satisfying culinary experiencebut also a little adventure!

The hotel’s modern fittings encompass arange of facilities:Wi-Fi, business work sta-tions, vast entertainment systems, indoorparking and a spa area includingwhirlpools, sauna and an infrared cabin.Massages and cosmetic appointments canbe booked upon request.There are a total of288 rooms, boasting a variety of differentoptions including suites, and the confer-ence rooms can cater up to 110 people.

The Seaside Park Hotel wonderfully com-bines the niceties of a modern hotel withthe historic grandeur of the Art-Déco erawhilst maintaining a personal atmosphere,making it the place to be when visitingLeipzig.

www.parkhotelleipzig.de

Art-Déco in the historic heart of Leipzig

Seaside Park HotelThe traditional yet distinctly individual hotel right in the city centre of trade fair cityLeipzig boasts Art-Déco style design throughout and is open to all. Be it a businesstrip or sightseeing tour, the four-star Seaside Park Hotel fulfils all expectations.

TEXT: MARILENA STRACKE | PHOTOS: SEASIDE PARK HOTEL

Issue 4 | June 2013 | 61


Guests are welcomed by theMathieuMoli-tor bronze figures at the entrance, and vir-tually everyone who shaped history sincethe 16th century and passed throughLeipzig enjoyed the cellar’s hospitality. Jo-hann Wolfgang von Goethe was famouslyinspired to write his Faust here, Johann Se-bastian Bach came up with great composi-tions, and it was here where Mori Ôgai’sidea was sparked to translate Goethe’sgreatest hit into Japanese.

The Hexenküche, Fasskeller, Lutherzim-mer andGoethezimmer rooms date back to1530 and Faust’s famous barrel ride tookplace right here. Since 2006 Bernhard and

Christine Rothenberger have been runningthe Auerbachs Keller and together withtheir strong team they have managed toeven excel the cellar’s former glory. Todaythe Auerbachs Keller is one of the best-known international restaurants in theworld.The Rothenbergers are well aware ofthe responsibility they took over.“We see itas our duty not only to run the place as abusiness, but to take over a century span-ning heritage which needs to be treatedwith utmost care and needs to be preservedand handed down to the generations tocome,”Mr Rothenberger explains.A fleet of35 chefs guarantees that guests are serveddeliciously hearty cuisine from the Saxon-

ian region. “People love our authenticdishes,”he says and he highly recommendsbooking in advance.

www.auerbachs-keller-leipzig.de

Auerbachs Keller LeipzigWhere Faust was born and the legend lives onThe Auerbachs Keller, or “Goethe’s living room” as it is dubbed by many, sitsprominently in the Mädler Passagen in Leipzig’s historic city centre and is anabsolute must-visit when staying in what not only locals describe as “the betterBerlin”.

TEXT: TINA AWTANI

The museum covers a total of 4,000 squaremetres; half of the space is dedicated to ex-hibiting precious items from the past. Sincethe museum is also a fully operating print-ing house, guests are granted the uniqueopportunity to watch the printing experts at

work while strolling through the exhibi-tion. All craftsmen are more than happy toshare their knowledge with guests.Visitornumbers are steadily on the increase andevery year thousands flock in to admire thevaluable machines from a time when a dig-

ital world did not exist.“The museum’s col-lection of around 100 working machinesand presses for historical casting, compos-ing and printing techniques really bringsthe history of printing alive. Combining amuseum and an active workshop, visitorsstill can experience printing processes atfirst hand,”Dr. Susanne Richter, Director ofthe museum, explains. But there is more todiscover for those passionate about theprinted word.“TheMuseum of the PrintingArts also houses a handcraft bookbindery,the workshop of a wood engraver, a uniquecollection of different typefaces and a spe-cial exhibition of music printing techniques.The Museum of the Printing Arts is basedin the former industrial quarter Plagwitzin a listed industrial building that has beenin continuous use as a printing house sincethe early 20th century,”Dr. Richter says.

www.druckkunst-museum.de

Explore the world of authenticprinting arts in LeipzigAlmost twenty years ago today’s Museum of the Printing Arts Leipzig wasestablished as a print workshop. Still in use and capturing centuries of the printingarts, it has become one of the last historic print premises in the world featuring aremarkable collection of exhibits from the print industry.

TEXT: TINA AWTANI

Left: Small printing room. © Klaus-D.Sonntag

Middle: Print at the "Kniehebelpresse" from1865. © Museum fur Druckkunst Leipzig

Right: Museum of the Printing Arts,Nonnenstraße 38 © Museum fur Druck-kunst Leipzig

Top left: Mr and Mrs Rothenberger in the legendary Fasskeller.Photo: Auerbachs Keller Leipzig

Top right: Faust barrel ride. Photo: Armin Kuhne

Bottom: The Great Cellar. Photo: T. Kunstmann

62 | Issue 4 | June 2013

Discover Germany | Culture | Barbara Geier

When you’ve grown up in direct neigh-bourhood of the GermanWine Road, me-andering on 85 km from Schweigen on theFrench border up north to Bockenheim,with is many lovely wine villages, excellentvineyards and numerous wine festivals, youtake it for granted that everyone knowsabout the quality of German wines.

Hence, it was a bit of a shock for me whenfirst being confronted with the UK’s per-ception of German wine and the enduringcliché about German equalling Liebfrauen-milch et al (No one drinks that in Ger-many, once and for all!). German winesbeing mentioned with a smile of gentledeprecation? I almost felt obliged to be out-raged on behalf of all the winemakers inthe countries 13 different wine-growing re-gions, from the smallest in Saxony to thelargest, Rheinhessen. I have learned in themeantime where it all went wrong since inthe 1970s, many of Germany’s best wine-growing regions were cultivated for massproductions with Blue Nun and the likeparticularly aimed at the British market.

However, things have changed. From the1980s onwards, a new generation of winemakers who had studied wine making notonly in Germany but also abroad and learn-

ing from the best, took over the family es-tates. Apart from Riesling which has tradi-tionally been a major grape variety (and isa top seller in the USA), they also startedintroducing international grapes such asSauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay.The culti-vation of red wines has risen, too, and in ablind tasting a couple of years ago that wasorganised by the GermanWine Institute inLondon seven of the judges’ top ten PinotNoirs came from Germany.

Maybe I don’t need to be outraged for toomuch longer. The perception of Germanwines in the UK is changing, helped, for ex-ample, by the likes of Jancis Robinson, oneof Britain’s foremost wine writers, endors-ing the quality of German wines.Or enter-taining online guides such as the WineRambler, representing the young andmod-ern side of wines in Germany. Passionatesupporters such as German Wine Agen-cies, set up a couple of years ago and tire-lessly campaigning to introduce UK wineconnoisseurs to their growing roster of Ger-man wine makers trading in the UK, orwine tasting courses as started by theGoethe Institute in London last year alsodo their bit. Needless to say, I’m also takingevery opportunity to tell everyone whatGerman wines are really about. So, next

time you come across a German wine, giveit a try, it might be better than you think.Just stay away from the Blue Nun, please…

Anything but Blue NunOne of my little quirks is sauntering along the wine racks in supermarkets, checking their offer of German wines.From my point of view, there are too few of them in between all the French, Italian, South African or SouthAmerican ones. I have always been a bit peeved about the fact that wines from my home country suffer from abad reputation in the UK. Even more so since I’m from the Pfalz, the Palatinate region, which is Germany’s secondbiggest wine-growing district.

TEXT: BARBARA GEIER

Barbara Geier is a London-basedfreelance writer, translator andcommunications consultant. She is also theface behind ww.germanyiswunderbar.com,a German travel and tourism guide andblog that was set up together with UK travelwriter Andrew Eames in 2010.

Issue 1 | February 2013

PLUSA GUIDE TO GERMAN

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CONTEMPORARY GERMANARTISTS STRIKE GOLD

A NEW INDUSTRIALREVOLUTION IN EUROPE

FRANKA POTENTE– Bit by the TV Bug

VISIT BERLIN– A Capital in Step with the Times

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Issue 2 | April 2013

PLUSGERMAN ARCHITECTURE

GUIDE

CULTURE IN GERMANY 2013

HAMBURG“STAYING ON COURSE”

DIANE KRUGER“Who doesn’t want to fly?”

Discover Germany | Business | BSCC

The BSCC has been promoting businessrelations between Switzerland, Liecht-enstein and the UK for almost a centuryand offers members a unique platformfor individual cross-border networking.

Focal point of the organisation is the officialrepresentation of its members within theBritish-Swiss business community. CarolynHelbling, Managing Director of the BSCC,explains: “With more than 760 corporatemembers, the BSCC is a natural meetingplace for those interested in British-Swissbusiness. Over the years, the Chamber hasplayed host to key personalities from bothcountries from the worlds of business, pol-itics and academia and has successfullyraised the awareness of issues of impor-tance to our bilateral relationship”. Theannual British-Swiss Business Awards cer-emony is just one of the many highlights

marked in the BSCC calendar. This year’swinners will be announced on 28 Novem-ber in Geneva.“The British-Swiss Chamberof Commerce has been contributing to thedevelopment of British-Swiss business re-lations for more than 90 years.Through ourextensive network and eclectic events pro-gramme across Switzerland and in Lon-don, we bring thousands of businesses –both large and small – together each year.Despite the prevalence of the internet, busi-ness is still conducted by people.The BSCCenables business executives and politicianswith a shared interest in our two countriesto meet and exchange ideas in a profes-sional and friendly atmosphere and pro-vides a platform for discussion and debateon matters of bilateral interest,” Alexis P.Lautenberg, President of the BSCC says.

www.bscc.co.uk

Meet the British Swiss Chamber of Commerce– where“business is still conducted by people.”TEXT: TINA AWTANI

Top: Alexis P. Lautenberg at the BSCC New Year Reception inZurich 2013. Photo: Howard Brundrett

Bottom: Yves Robert-Charrue, CEO Switzerland, Bank JuliusBaer at a BSCC Business Lunch. Photo: Howard Brundrett

w w w . a u s t r i a . i n f o

Just a

couple of hours

from home.

And yet a

world away.

Discover Germany | Issue 4 | June 2013

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Transcript of Discover Germany | Issue 4 | June 2013