Schwerin

Schwerin, the capital of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in Northern Germany, is often called the "Florence of the North." 

Why this nickname? 

The city is idyllically situated between seven lakes (with Lake Schwerin being the largest), creating a romantic, water-rich landscape comparable to the artistic atmosphere of Florence. 

The showpiece is Schwerin Castle (Schweriner Schloss): a fairytale Neo-Renaissance castle on an island in the lake, surrounded by gardens. 

It is a masterpiece of Romantic historicism and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 2024). 

Historical charm: a well-preserved old center with a cathedral (13th-15th centuries), squares, Baroque and Neoclassical buildings, and a rich ducal history (dating back to the 12th century, founded by Henry the Lion).

In short: a compact, picturesque city full of culture, art (including the State Museum), and nature, ideal for a day trip. 

It combines northern tranquility with southern elegance.

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North Rhine-Westphalia

North Rhine-Westphalia (German: Nordrhein-Westfalen, abbreviated NRW) is the most populous state in Germany. 

Capital: Düsseldorf. 

Largest city: Cologne (Köln). 

Other major cities: Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg, Bochum, Wuppertal, Bonn, Münster, and Aachen. 

Key features: Located in western Germany, directly bordering the Netherlands and Belgium. 

Known for the Ruhr Area (formerly heavy industry: coal and steel, now transformed into a modern economy, culture, and technology). 

The Rhine is the most important river. 

It combines large cities, industrial heritage, and abundant nature: the Sauerland (hills and hiking), the Eifel, and the Teutoburg Forest. 

Cultural richness: Cologne Cathedral (UNESCO), Christmas markets, carnival (especially in Cologne), and Aachen (historically important). 

Economically very strong, with many businesses and innovation. 

In short: a super-diverse state with a vibrant urban life, an industrial past, and beautiful nature – right next to the Netherlands!

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Baden-Württemberg

Baden-Württemberg (often abbreviated to BW or BaWü) is a federal state in southwest Germany, located on the Rhine (border with France), Switzerland, and Austria. 

Capital: Stuttgart (also the largest city). 

Other major cities: Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Freiburg im Breisgau, Heidelberg, Ulm, Tübingen, Konstanz. 

Origin: Created in 1952 by the merger of Baden, Württemberg-Baden, and Württemberg-Hohenzollern (the only federal state formed by referendum). 

Landscape: Very diverse, including the Black Forest (Schwarzwald), Lake Constance (Lake Constance), the Swabian Alb, the Rhine Valley, and the source of the Danube. 

Economy: One of the strongest and wealthiest regions in Europe – known for its automotive industry (Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Bosch), mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, high-tech, SMEs, and innovation (often ranked number 1 in the EU innovation index). 

Tourism & Culture: Romantic cities (Heidelberg), fairytale castles (e.g., Hohenzollern), thermal baths (Baden-Baden), numerous Michelin-starred restaurants, hiking, wine regions, and tradition (Black Forest cake, cuckoo clocks). 

In short: Baden-Württemberg combines beautiful nature, a very strong economy, and innovative strength with a high quality of life – it is often considered one of the most successful and prosperous regions in Germany and Europe.

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Bavaria (Free State of Bavaria) is the largest state in Germany. 

Location: Southeast Germany, bordering Austria, the Czech Republic, and the German states of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Thuringia, and Saxony. 

Capital: Munich – by far the largest city. 

Landscape: Very diverse – the Alps in the south (highest mountain, the Zugspitze), lakes (including Lake Chiemsee and Lake Königssee), rolling hills, forests, and the Bavarian Forest. 

Known for: Oktoberfest in Munich. 

Fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle. 

Traditional culture: Lederhosen, Dirndl, Weisswurst sausage, pretzels, and beer (very strong beer culture). 

FC Bayern Munich. 

Strong regional identity and conservative politics. 

Nickname: Often called the "Free State of Bavaria" (historical term, officially Freistaat). 

In short: Bavaria = Alps + beer + castles + Oktoberfest + the most "typically German" region for many people, but with a unique, proud character.

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Brandenburg

Brandenburg is a federal state (Bundesland) in northeastern Germany. 

It completely surrounds the capital, Berlin (which is itself a separate federal state). 

Capital: Potsdam (largest city). 

Other major cities: Cottbus, Brandenburg an der Havel, Frankfurt (Oder). 

Features: Abundant nature: more than 3,000 lakes, vast forests (one-third of the area), rivers, national parks, and the famous Spreewald (biosphere reserve with canoeing through the forests). 

Historic heart of Prussia (Mark Brandenburg → Hohenzollern → Prussia). 

After German reunification in 1990, it became an independent federal state again. 

Economy: Agriculture (known for asparagus!), forestry, tourism, proximity to Berlin (commuters), which attracts new technology and logistics. 

Bordering Poland (east) and the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Lower Saxony. 

In short: a peaceful, green, water-rich state around Berlin with plenty of space, nature, and history – ideal for those seeking peace and quiet and outdoor sports.

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Berlin

Berlin is the capital of Germany and one of the 16 states (Bundesländer) of the Federal Republic of Germany. 

It is a city-state (like Hamburg and Bremen), meaning that the city and the state government are one and the same. 

Completely surrounded by the state of Brandenburg. 

Divided into 12 districts (Bezirke) and 97 localities. 

Governance: The governing mayor (Regierender Bürgermeister) is both head of the city and state premier; the parliament is called the Abgeordnetenhaus (House of Representatives). 

Status since 1990: After German reunification, East and West Berlin became one state again, and the government definitively returned from Bonn to Berlin in 1999. 

Berlin thus combines the roles of metropolis, capital (with the Bundestag, Bundesrat, and Federal President), and a fully-fledged federal state with its own constitution and powers. 

In short: one city = one state = the German capital.

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Bremen

The Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (Freie Hansestadt Bremen) is the smallest state in Germany. 

Consists of: two non-adjacent cities: Bremen (the capital) + Bremerhaven (a port city on the North Sea, approximately 60 km away). 

Type: City-state (like Berlin and Hamburg), completely surrounded by Lower Saxony. 

Location: Northwest Germany, on the Weser River. 

History: Ancient Hanseatic city with a rich trading history, over 1200 years old. 

Known for: The Bremen Town Musicians (a Grimm's fairy tale). 

The Roland (statue in the market square, a UNESCO World Heritage site). 

Market Square with its imposing town hall (also a UNESCO site). 

Port and maritime economy (especially Bremerhaven). 

Economy: Port, aerospace (including Airbus, Ariane rockets), automotive industry, trade, and science. 

Bremen combines medieval charm with a modern port and high-tech industry, yet remains compact in size. 

In short: the smallest city, the oldest trading spirit, two cities, the Weser River, the Town Musicians, and UNESCO.

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Lower Saxony

Geography 

Lower Saxony is a state in northwestern Germany, with Hanover as its capital. 

It covers 47,709 km² and borders the North Sea, the Netherlands, and other German states. 

The landscape includes the flat North German Plain, rivers such as the Weser and Eem, and hills such as the Lüneburg Heath, Teutoburg Forest, and Harz Mountains (highest point: 971 m). 

There are also prehistoric dolmens. 

History 

Founded in 1946 after World War II from the Province of Hanover and the former Free States of Oldenburg, Brunswick, and Schaumburg-Lippe.

In 1993, the territory of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was added. 

Economy 

Strong in the automotive industry (Volkswagen headquarters in Wolfsburg). 

Other sectors include steel (Salzgitter AG), banking, and agriculture. Unemployment: 5.1% (2020); average income: €17,689 (2007). 

Population 

Approx. 8 million inhabitants (2020), density 168/km². 10.7% non-German; languages: High German, Low Saxon, and Frisian dialect in Saterland. 21.6% of immigrant background. 

Main cities 

Hannover (capital), Braunschweig, Oldenburg, Osnabrück, Wolfsburg, Emden, and Wilhelmshaven.

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Hesse

Hesse is a federal state in central Germany with Wiesbaden as its capital and Frankfurt am Main as its largest city. 

With 6.3 million inhabitants and 21,115 km² of land, it is an economically powerful region, particularly in the Rhine-Main region, where Frankfurt is a financial center. 

Hesse is known for its wine-growing region (Rheingau, Hessische Bergstraße), 40% of its natural area is forested (such as the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park), historic half-timbered houses, castles, and spa towns such as Wiesbaden. 

It is administratively divided into three regions: Kassel, Giessen, and Darmstadt.

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Hamburg

The city is not part of a federal state, but forms one itself. 

Within its official borders, which encompass approximately 755 km², live 1,904,444 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2020). 

Another 750,000 live in adjacent urban areas. 

In the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, five million people live on more than 26,000 km².

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