Excursion through my Country

With a surface area of 35,751 square kilometres and around 10.3 million inhabitants, Baden-Württemberg is the third biggest of the 16 German federal states.

On average, the population per square kilometre is 288, in comparison to 228 for the whole of the Federal Republic. Baden-Württemberg is one of the most economically powerful of the German Federal States. The craftsmen's trades enjoy a strongposition in Baden-Württemberg, and a number of internationally operating companies have grown up here from the modest workshop. Two names in particular spring to mind in connection: Bosch and Mercedes.

Baden-Württemberg is known as the "State of inventors" (around one third of all German patent applications originate from Baden-Württemberg). It is one of the German states with the most universities, which boast sophisticated research institutes and centres of internationally recognized basic research. Southwest Germany was once a classical emigration country. After its liberation from Turkish rule, in the 18th century thousands followed the call of Austrian Empress Maria Theresia and her successor Joseph II to move to Hungary and the Danube lands, and during the time of the Russian Tsarina Catherine the Great there was an emigration movement to Russia. Finally, hundreds of thousands emigrated to America in the 18th century. It was not the search for adventure which motivated them, but need, hunger and economic serfdom.

After World War II, Southwest Germany became a popular immigration destination due to its growing economic strength. The first wave was formed by refugees fleeing from the German territories in the east and the descendants of German emigrants from the countries of Southeast Europe. Statisticians have calculated that between 1952 and 1992 alone, around 20 million people crossed the state border: 11 million moved into the state during this period, while 8.4 million left it - a sign of the fluidity of our society. Today, some 1.2 million immigrants live in Baden-Württemberg.

State History :

In April, 1992, Baden-Württemberg celebrated its 40th birthday. Today, it is difficult to imagine that this vivacious, highly efficient state was born chiefly as the result of a process of sober reasoning. The creation of Baden-Württemberg was unique in many regards: Today, the state is the only example in Germany of a new formation determined by a ballot of the population.

The effective impetus towards the creation of the state in Germany's Southwest came from the separation carried out under the allied occupation after 1945: The territory in the Southwest corner of Germany was divided into three without consideration for the previously existing structure, or for geographical, economic or social zones of occupation ran right through the centre Württemberg along the Karlsruhe-Stuttgart-Ulm Autobahn. The two old states of Baden and Württemberg as well as Prussian Hohenzollern had existed, after all, for almost 150 years. The idea of fusing Baden and Württemberg was not a new one. It had been considered by a number of politicians both in the 19th and also at the beginning of the 20th century. Theodor Heuss, a died-in-the-wool Württemberger and the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany, had suggested a merger of Baden and Württemberg as long ago as 1919 in a speech held in Stuttgart. The decision was taken on December 9, 1951. The majority in each of the three regions North Württemberg, South Württemberg and North Baden voted in favour of the Germany's new Southwest state. Only in South Baden was the majority in favour of retaining the existing boundaries.

Baden-Württemberg as a tourist destination

Baden-Württemberg welcomes more guests every year than it has inhabitants: Well over ten million visitors make the trip to Germany's Southwest every year. It takes second place as a tourist destination among Germany's Federal States with 40 million overnight stays per annum, and the number has been steadily growing for a number of years. At least one in five ofall visitors come from abroad, primarily from the USA and Holland. Next in terms of quantity are the Swiss, the British, the French and the Italians. Thousands of guests even flock tothe Neckar, Rhine and Lake Constance every year from as farafield as Japan. Over eight million guest come from other >regions of the Federal Republic.

It must be the special charm of what the Germans fondly term The "Ländle" or "little state" that draws so many visitors every year.

In Baden-Württemberg, tourists discover a microcosm of all the different types of German landscape, from mountains to lakes, the biggest and most famous of which is LakeConstance, also known as the "Swabian Sea".

The BlackForest and Lake Constance, the Hohenlohe plain, SwabianAlb and Allgäu region, the Tauber and Neckar valleys, theSwabian Forest and the Madonna Landscape, Upper Swabia and the Odenwald Forest with its scenic mountain route, not to mention the many castles, fortresses, gardens, monasteries and carefully restored old city centres: All these are invaluable assets.

The Black Forest Association and Swabian Alb Association are responsible for laying over half of the approximately 60,000 km of footpaths which cut through some of the most beautiful scenic landscapes in the country. Baden-Württemberg tourist routes:

The Black Forest offers a highland and a lowland route, a spa andoute which show this famous region to its best advantage. The Mountain Rout takes in Heidelberg, whose romantic corners and alleyways have provided fond memories for many foreign visitors. Over 50 castles and palaces lie along the Castle Route, which starts in

Mannheim castles

The Wine Route in Baden leads from Baden-Baden to the charming Kaiserstuhl and Markgräfle Land regions. The Swabian Alb Route, Swabian Wine Route, Staufen Route, Idyllic Route, Romantic Route and the Upper Swabian Baroque Route. There are no end of beauty spots and places of interest waiting to be discovered along these well-trodden paths. And those of a literary turn can follow the tracks of Mörike, Hesse, Schiller, Kerner and Schubart, the Swabian Poets' Route.

But Baden-Württemberg is not just a state for the lovers of the great outdoors. More than 900 major museums, open-air museums and theatres offer plenty of material for discovery.

Museen

The Baroque churches of the Beuron Monastery and at Birnau, the Romanesque churches on the Lake Constance island of Reichenau and the Lorch monastery dating back to the Staufen dynasty are all well worth a visit. Baden-Württemberg alsooffers not only individual buildings but whole city centres which are of outstanding historic interest. Examples include Schwäbisch Gmünd, Freiburg with its Cathedral Square, Heidelberg, Ludwigsburg, Bad Wimpfen, Meersburg, Tübingen or Ulm to mention just a few

With its over 60 state-recognized therapeutic spas and climatic resorts, Baden-Württemberg also offers the widest choice of amenities to those seeking healthy relaxation or convalescence. Thermal and mineral baths, mud and peat baths, climatic air and Kneipp spas - all these can be had in Baden-Württemberg. And to help pass the time while convalescing, everywhere around the State there are music festivals and other events offered in plenty all the year round, including plenty of opportunity for sporting activity. Another important annual event guaranteed full of colour and life is the Swabian-Alemannian shrovetide festival. Not to mention the second biggest "Volksfest" in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstadt.

Let me close this Excursion trough my Country with the Hymn of my Wuerttemberg.

Mannheim Castles

Museums