Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Great Courses Plus

The Great Tours: Germany and Austria

via The Great Courses Plus

Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates – 40% Off a Year
One Coursera Plus subscription covers most Professional Certificates on Coursera. 40% off a full year through Dec 2.
Unlock All Certificates

Germany and Austria are treasure troves of European culture, and among the continent’s most enthralling and memorable destinations for travelers.

In this enchanting, 24-lecture tour, you’ll immerse yourself in these two outstanding countries, visiting extraordinary sites from Roman fortresses, majestic cathedrals, and medieval cityscapes with resplendent castles and palaces to modern wonders of industry and futuristic urban planning, as well as some of the world’s most beloved cities, which brim with local traditions, iconic beers and foods, and the unique culture of the German-speaking world.

With the inspired guidance of regional expert Professor James Pfrehm, you’ll enjoy special highlights such as:

  • Glorious Salzburg. In Austria’s “Rome of the North,” discover the sprawling citadel of Festung Hohensalzburg, the ornate palaces of the city’s prince-archbishops, and exquisite baroque churches.
  • The Romantic Rhine. Visit the chain of majestic castles on the Rhine that enchant visitors from across the globe, with their dramatic history and architectural splendors.
  • Linz. Enjoy this Austrian hotspot for cutting-edge art, technology, and green industry.
  • Cologne: A Perfumed History. Explore Cologne’s imposing Roman architecture, legendary Gothic cathedral, and dazzling Christian treasures and trace the story of the luxurious scent that bears the city’s name.
  • Austria’s Wachau Valley. In the beautiful, verdant region along the Danube, discover the medieval hamlets and castles, and the incredible monastery and ancient library of Melk, an apotheosis of 18th-century baroque opulence.
  • Munich. Germany’s third largest city. Get to know this vibrant metropolis encompassing grand historic architecture, a mecca of film and television, BMW’s futurist headquarters, and world-renowned beer gardens.

In The Great Tours: Germany and Austria, you’ll delve deep into two unforgettable countries, their extraordinary historic and contemporary cultures, and their legacy as fountainheads of European civilization.

Syllabus

  • A Tale of Three Rivers
  • Vienna: The Heart of Austrian Culture
  • The Wachau: Fine Wines and Majestic Monasteries
  • The Danube from Linz to Passau
  • Regensburg: Bavaria’s Medieval Gem
  • Ingolstadt and Munich: Beer and Beyond
  • Ulm and Tuttlingen: A Taste of Swabia
  • Salzburg and the Austrian Alps
  • Giants of the Ruhr: Duisburg and Düsseldorf
  • Cologne: From Karneval to Kölsch
  • The Romantic Rhine Valley
  • Worms: City of the Nibelungs
  • Speyer and Baden-Baden: From Mikvah to Spa
  • Freiburg: Gateway to the Black Forest
  • Politics and Art in Weimar
  • North Sea Bound: Cuxhaven and Hamburg
  • The Altmark: Hidden Gem of Germany’s East
  • Magdeburg: The City of Two Ottos
  • Germany’s Luther Cities
  • Leipzig: City of Heroes and Musicians
  • Dresden: Florence on the Elbe
  • The Many Shades of Nuremberg
  • On the Fringes: Graz and Flensburg
  • Berlin: The Hub of German History

Taught by

James Pfrehm

Reviews

Start your review of The Great Tours: Germany and Austria

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.