The Black Forest is the largest forest in Germany at 6,338 sq km.

The Rhine River is 865 km long.

The Zugspitze is the tallest mountain in Germany at 2,962 m high.

Trier near the Luxembourg border is Germany's oldest city.

The German 'autobahns' (motorways) built in the 1930s were the first motorways in Europe.

The TV Tower in Alexanderplatz, Berlin is 365m high and took four years to construct.

The Beatles played in clubs in the German city of Hamburg before they became well known in Britain and the rest of the world.

In Germany Christmas trees are decorated by parents and aren't seen by children until Christmas Eve, when they are allowed to enter the Christmas room.

German children open their Christmas presents on Christmas Eve, not Christmas Day.

A German invented the car - Karl Benz in 1888. The firm he founded with his partner still exists today - Mercedes Benz.

There are hundreds of castles in Germany. This is because the country used to be divided into lots of small 'principalities' - a bit like counties. Each was governed by a king or prince who would have at least one castle. Many of these castles are still standing, some as museums or hotels, and some as ruins.

 

The oldest bird fossil ever discovered was found in Germany.

Neanderthal man was named after the Neander Valley near Dusseldorf.

Most people in Germany do not drink tap water, preferring bottled mineral water instead.

Instead of crossing their fingers to wish for good luck, Germans "press the thumb" (fold a thumb in and close their fingers on it).

When leaving an lift, Germans say good-bye to the other people in it, even if they didn't speak to them during the ride.

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