Kiwis are renowned for our "throw your sausie on the barbie" culture, but we could learn a thing or two from a country that might just love its sausages even more than we love ours.

Richard Wagner's festival city sings with dramatic history, says Adrian Mourby.

She is a rising star in European politics - the one woman who could, it is claimed, succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor.

The German capital's eccentric eateries come with a dash of Kiwi in the shape of decent coffee, finds Eva Buzo.

Europe’s rail network has long enabled travellers to piece together unique itineraries. A new high-speed connection from London to Barcelona will be a welcome addition. Gavin Bertram reports.

In the east German city of Magdeburg, flood waters from the Elbe rose 80cm higher than during 2002's so-called flood of the century.

The Pied Piper has been telling the people of Hamelin for 25 years now that he is not the culprit - meet Michael Boyer.

A famous German World War II bomber nicknamed "the flying pencil" has spent decades submerged in the English Channel after being shot down in the Battle of Britain. Now, divers are braving dangerous tides to bring it to the surface.

Communist East Germany allowed Western drug companies to use its medical patients as unwitting guinea pigs for tests.

Visitors come to see how desperate East Berliners dug their way to freedom.

A New Zealand man who had worked as a top United Nations environmental lawyer has died after a fall from a balcony in Germany.

When it comes to Christmas shopping, few countries can hold a candle to Germany. Its traditional Christmas markets have been creating the wow factor for more than six centuries.

Jennifer Lopez has hit back at reports suggesting that she got a hotel maid fired for asking her for an autograph.

Oktoberfest draws millions of visitors to Bavaria each year, but there's much more to this quirky German state.

Books trumping rugby? NZ's role as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair this week is more important than hosting last year's World Cup, says Bill English.