Star Collector: Germany & the Baltic States via the Kiel Canal

Hambourg, une grande ville portuaire du Nord de l’Allemagne, est reliée à la mer du Nord par l’Elbe. Elle est traversée par des centaines de canaux et comprend également de vastes espaces verts. Près de son centre, le lac Inner Alster est parsemé de bateaux et entouré de cafés. Le boulevard central Jungfernstieg relie la Neustadt (ville nouvelle) à l’Altstadt (vieille ville), qui abrite des monuments comme l’église Saint-Michel du 18ème siècle.

Hambourg, une grande ville portuaire du Nord de l’Allemagne, est reliée à la mer du Nord par l’Elbe. Elle est traversée par des centaines de canaux et comprend également de vastes espaces verts. Près de son centre, le lac Inner Alster est parsemé de bateaux et entouré de cafés. Le boulevard central Jungfernstieg relie la Neustadt (ville nouvelle) à l’Altstadt (vieille ville), qui abrite des monuments comme l’église Saint-Michel du 18ème siècle.

Warnemünde is a German port town on the Baltic Sea, near Rostock. Its known for its long beachfront and marina, a cruise-ship stop. Nearby, the Alter Strom canal is lined with shops and fishing boats. The Edvard Munch Haus, former home of the renowned expressionist painter, runs exhibitions and events. The late-19th-century lighthouse and neighboring Teepott building display distinctive East German architecture.

Binz is a German resort town on the Baltic Sea island of Rügen. It’s known for its sandy beaches and the Strandpromenade, an elegant seaside walkway. Jagdschloss Granitz is a grand hunting lodge and castle with crenellated towers and a viewing platform. North of town are the ruins of Prora, originally built by the Nazis as a vast resort. The Dokumentationszentrum Prora is a museum chronicling the complex’s history.

Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, sits on the coastal islands of Zealand and Amager. It’s linked to Malmo in southern Sweden by the Öresund Bridge. Indre By, the city’s historic center, contains Frederiksstaden, an 18th-century rococo district, home to the royal family’s Amalienborg Palace. Nearby is Christiansborg Palace and the Renaissance-era Rosenborg Castle, surrounded by gardens and home to the crown jewels.

Gdańsk (Danzig in German) is a port city on the Baltic coast of Poland. At the center of its Main Town, reconstructed after WWII, are the colorful facades of Long Market, now home to shops and restaurants. Nearby is Neptune Fountain, a 17th-century symbol of the city topped by a bronze statue of the sea god. Gdańsk is also a center for the world’s amber trade; boutiques throughout the city sell the ossified resin.

Klaipėda is a port city in Lithuania, where the Baltic Sea meets the Danė River. The old town features German-style, 18th-century wood-framed buildings. Theater Square, the city’s main gathering spot, is home to the neoclassical Drama Theater. The square’s 1912 Taravos Anikė sculpture pays tribute to a local poet. The waterside Lithuanian Sea Museum includes dolphin shows and maritime exhibits in a 19th-century fort.

Riga, Latvia’s capital, is set on the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the River Daugava. It’s considered a cultural center and is home to many museums and concert halls. The city is also known for its wooden buildings, art nouveau architecture and medieval Old Town. The pedestrian-only Old Town has many shops and restaurants and is home to busy Livu Square, with bars and nightclubs

Tallinn, Estonia’s capital on the Baltic Sea, is the country’s cultural hub. It retains its walled, cobblestoned Old Town, home to cafes and shops, as well as Kiek in de Kök, a 15th-century defensive tower. Its Gothic Town Hall, built in the 13th century and with a 64m-high tower, sits in historic Tallinn’s main square. St. Nicholas Church is a 13th-century landmark exhibiting ecclesiastical art.

Helsinki, la capitale du Sud de la Finlande, se trouve sur une péninsule du golfe de Finlande. Son avenue centrale, Mannerheimintie, est flanquée d’institutions, dont le Musée national, qui retrace l’histoire finlandaise de l’âge de pierre à nos jours. L’imposante maison du Parlement et le musée d’art contemporain Kiasma se trouvent également sur Mannerheimintie. La cathédrale Uspenski, en brique rouge ornée, surplombe un port.

Mariehamn is the capital of the Åland Islands, an autonomous territory under Finnish sovereignty. Mariehamn is the seat of the Government and Parliament of Åland, and 40% of the population of Åland live in the city.