-Northern Germany-

Hamburg
Facing oceanside, this Hanseatic city-state "the Venice of the North" became wealthy through maritime trade and continues to prosper today.  Hamburg is lined with canals and built around two charming lakes.

Abtei
Hamburg, Germany
T: +49 40 442 905. 11 rooms. US$ 210-
www.relaischateaux.com/abtei
The Abtei has Individually decorated rooms with marble baths and hand-painted frescoes.


German North Friesan Islands / Sylt
These rugged North Sea islands provide a perfect balance between the natural and man-made world. The chic island of Sylt is known for its rugged cliffs, white sand beaches, howling winds and powerful waves that, according to the vacationing Thomas Mann, make you feel fully alive.

Stadt Hamburg
Strandstrasse 2
Sylt, Germany
T: +49-4651/8580. 72 rooms; US$ 255-
www.hotelstadthamburg.com
Elegant and charming 19th century building located next to the town's casino.

Dorint Söel'ring Hof Hotel
1 Am Sandwall Rantum
Sylt, Germany
T: +49 4651 836 200. 15 rooms. US$ 550-
www.soelring-hof.de
The manor house's Michelin starred chef is considered one of Germany's best. The hotel sits above Rantum's beach.


-Western Germany-

Schlosshotel Kronberg
Frankfurt, Germany
T: +49 6173 70101. US$ 315-
www.schlosshotel-kronberg.de
Hidden in the Tannus woods, a few miles outside of Frankfurt, this baronial castle retreat was built by Empress Friedrich (daughter of Queen Victoria and the mother of Kaiser Wilhelm). Her family's portraits, paintings and furniture are still here.

Der Schafhof Amorbach
Amorbach, Germany
T: +49 9373 97330. US$ 160-
www.schafhof.de email: rezeption@schafhof.de
Der Schafhof is located in the heart of the beautiful Bavarian Odenwald near the town of Amorbach where leading 18th century architects created the world famous baroque and roccoco buildings which still characterize the town today. A former Benedictine Abbey, Der Schafhof is now a place of relaxation and quality for the discerning guest.

Hotel Linslerhof
Ueberherrn, Germany
T: +49 68 368 070. US$130-
www.linslerhof.de
The heir to the Villeroy & Boch cermanics company transformed the family's centuries-old manor house into a stylish German romantic hotel complete with stables, tree-lined paths and traditional German prints.
     

-Eastern Germany-

Saxony
The Elbe River, beautiful nature reserves, and the historic and cultured cities of Dresden and Leipzig.

Leipzig
Goethe called the old-world university town of Leipizg "a little Paris". The city where Bach composed, Goethe wrote and Martin Luther debated.

Hotel Furstenhof
8 Trondlinring Strasse
Leipzig, Germany
T: +49-341 1400. 92 rooms. $188-
www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/index.html
Neo-classical hotel furnished with neo-Biedermeier furniture.


-Southern Germany-

Baden-Württemberg
One of the most romantic places in Germany, the Baden Württemberg region includes the wildly beautiful Black Forest, pretty Lake Constance, Stuttgart, the university towns of Heidelberg and Tubingen, and the spa town of Baden-Baden .

Wald & Schlosshotel Friedrichsruhe
Friedrichsruhe-Zweiflingen
Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
T: +49 7941 60870. 44 rooms. US$ 180-
www.relaischateaux.com/waldschloss
18th century baronial hunting lodge on lovely landscaped grounds in the bucolic Jagst River Valley.


Bavaria
Another romantic place in Germany is Bavaria with its quaint cottages, folk traditions and fairytale castles, and Germany's winter and summer-time wonderland: the Bavarian Alps.

Lake Constance, Bavaria
Pretty Lake Constance, where the romantic Rhine river flows towards the Black Forest.

Lindauer Hof
Lindau, Germany
T: +49 83 82406403. 30 rooms. US$ 150-
www.lindauer-hof.de
Located in Lindau, an island on Lake Constance, this waterside family owned inn has views of the Alps. Lindau's seaside village contains gothic, baroque and renaissance buildings.


Munich, Bavaria
The capital of Bavaria, known for its charming car-free medieval district, the Marienplatz, and its annual Christkindlmart and Ocktoberfest celebrations.

Hotel Pension Mariandl
Goethestr. 51
Munich D-80336 Germany
T: +49 89 534-108. 29 rooms. US$ 116- (ask for room w/private baths)
www.hotelmariandl.de
Turn of the century neo-Gothic building filled with antiques.

   
Bayreuth, Bavaria
Enjoy Wagner, 24/7, in this town located in northeast Bavaria. Stay in the car-free historic district.

Hotel Goldener Anker  
Openstrasse 6
Bayreuth, Germany
T:+49 (0) 921/6 50 51. 35 rooms. US$ 105-
www.anker-bayreuth.de
Located in the historic baroque district near the opera house, the hotel's guest list includes Nietzche, Tchaikovsky and Mark Twain. The same family has owned and managed this pleasant hotel since the 16th century.