Special Events and Anniversaries in Germany

RUHR.2010 – European Capital Of Culture

The city of Essen and the surrounding Ruhr area were chosen by the European Committee as European Capital of Culture for 2010. Year-round festivities and celebrations will showcase the newly developed cultural richness of the region that went from heavy industry to a modern metropolis-in-the-making, and today boasts 120 theaters, 100 concert halls, 200 museums and over 1,000 industrial monuments. Exhibitions in former plants and mines, light illuminations, concerts in old mine shafts and workshops will highlight the spectacular transformation of the Ruhr area that is already a hub for art lovers and green travelers. Whether your clients look for culture, entertainment or adventure, the Ruhr area is the place to be in 2010!
www.ruhr2010.de

Oberammergau: Scene from Passion Play 2000

May 15 – October 3, 2010
Passion Play 2010, Oberammergau

The world-famous Passion Play in the town of Oberammergau dates back to 1633 during the Thirty Years’ War, when a plague epidemic raged in the little town in upper Bavaria. In order to spare themselves from the devastation of the plague, the surviving population of Oberammergau begged for mercy from God and solemnly swore to perform the Passion Play depicting the life and death of Jesus Christ every 10 years. This year the people of Oberammergau will keep that promise for the 41st time; performances take place four times a week with a cast of more than 2,000 local residents. To be able to participate, you must have been born in the town or lived in Oberammergau for at least 20 years.

Meissen: Meissen porcelain factory, Waves service range with Marguerite decoration

300 Years of Meissen Porcelain
Just an hour outside of Dresden, you will find the town of Meissen and the Meissen Porcelain Manufacturer. Before it was produced in Europe, porcelain had been imported from China since the beginning of the 13th century. In the early 18th century in the town of Meissen, researchers discovered the key to porcelain manufacturing and in 1710 white porcelain was manufactured here for the first time in Europe. The former exhibition hall in Meissen, originally opened in 1916, is open to the public today and houses a unique porcelain museum. Visitors can view historic pieces of porcelain, learn how it is created and view the demonstration workshop to discover how Meissen pieces are hand-designed and created as they have been since the start 300 years ago. During the anniversary year, special exhibitions and events are held throughout the year.


Robert Schumann’s 200th Birthday
In 2010, the musical world will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Robert Schumann, one of the most famous and important composers of the 19th century. Several events showcasing Schumann’s work in original places and settings will take place in Saxony, including the anniversary concerts in the Leipziger Gewandhaus on June 3 and 4, a one-week Schumann Festival in Leipzig (September 9-19) and several concerts at the Dresdner Philharmonie and the Staatskapelle Dresden. Other cities such as Düsseldorf, Bonn, Heidelberg and Frankfurt will also host various concerts throughout the year.

60th anniversary of the Romantic Road
The Romantic Road, Germany’s most popular scenic route, celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2010. More than 1.3 million people travel this 250-mile-long road through Bavaria each year. The Romantic Road connects great attractions from charming Würzburg to the medieval atmosphere in Rothenburg to the fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein. Rothenburg is also hosting the official launch of the 60-year anniversary celebrations on May 7 and 8, 2010, and special events and festivals will attract travelers to experience the Romantic Road throughout the year.



175 years of German Railway

Celebrate 175 years of German Railway and experience unforgettable railway nostalgia with theme trains from all historical periods in one of Europe’s most beautiful sceneries. Center of the festivities are the cities of Nuremberg and Fürth in Bavaria’s north that were connected by the first railway on its maiden voyage. During the “Blue Night” (May 15, 2010), artists will stage spectacular projections to kick off the Railway Year: The past will be brought to life again with major locomotive and vehicle parades planned by German Rail, and a comprehensive jubilee exhibition in the Deutsche Bahn Museum in Nuremberg will focus on 175 years of railway history.

Munich: Instead a tent at Munich's Oktoberfest

200th Oktoberfest
The world’s most famous beer festival, the Oktoberfest in Munich, celebrates its 200th anniversary from September 18 to October 4, 2010. It took place the first time in 1810 as a festival honoring the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Today it is an enormous festival, attracting 6 million visitors every year from all over the world with Bavarian music, food and, of course, beer!