Guide to culture in Germany

Host: Germany is bursting with cultural things to do, but do you fancy indulging in local food and drink? Checking out a traditional reserve or soaking up some cinema?

Almost everyone who has ever planned a trip to Europe has heard of and maybe even attended Munich’s Oktoberfest

Male: The barrel is tacked to peaceful Oktoberfest.

Host: Oktoberfest has gained a reputation as a beer drinker’s paradise for any young couple on a trip to Europe, a stop at Oktoberfest guaranties a wild night of stance of German beer.

Oktoberfest is held in late September and runs through to October. It is one of the biggest tourist draw cards in Germany. Each year, around six million people come to Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest begin as a celebration for the marriage of King Ludwig I to his wife at 1810.

In 1850, an annual parade was started to commemorate the marriage. Now, up to 8,000 people in traditional costume walk through the center of Munich to the Oktoberfest.

Male: I would like people to experience a part of Munich’s hospitality and not just a party. I should also find out a little bit about the tradition of the Oktoberfest which is a part in the popular culture.

Host: Oktoberfest is held as the largest festival of the people. And we think it might just be true. With all the fun and offer, how could you not enjoy the 16-day extravaganza?

For a more relaxing experience, spree-vault or spree-forest is another must see in Germany. Spree forest is a biosphere reserved that lies outside of Berlin. It is known for its traditional irrigation system, which consists of more than 200 small channels.

As of 1998, about 50,000 people live in a biosphere reserve. Many of them are descendants of the first settlers in the Spree-vault region.

People mostly depend on tourism for income. Many tourists enjoy the exploration of spree-vault and ponds, small wooden boats.

Traditional dishes such as gherkins are served and the boats are moved with wooden polls similar to gondolas in Venice.

Until today, they have preserved their traditional language, customs and clothing. This has got to be one of the most relaxing traditional ways to see another side of Germany.

For a star-studded cultural event, why not check out the Berlin Film Festival? Held each year in February, the Berlin Film Festival or Berlin Alley celebrates cinematic work from around the world. This is also the talent campus, a week long series of lectures and workshops that gathers young filmmakers from around the globe. It partners with the festival itself and is considered to be a forum for upcoming artists. Roughly, 400 films from different categories are shown each year at the Berlin Alley and it’s one of the few leading film festivals that the public can attend. People relish the opportunity to see different types of films.

Female: I’m looking forward to seeing films which don’t make it into the cinemas. Of course they do then they come much lighter.

Host: For a contemporary artistic, cultural experience, it doesn’t get much better than the Berlin Alley.