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The 8 most beautiful places to get married across Germany

Valentine’s Day is on Wednesday and you know what that means - love is in the air! All the more reason for us to put a list together of the top spots in Germany to tie the knot.

Published: 14 February 2018 09:25 CET

The key thing to know about getting hitched in Germany is that only those who wed before civil registrars can be considered legally married.

But while civil weddings often take place in either registry offices or churches, there's no reason why you can't have your special day elsewhere as some German registry offices have special branches in castles, lighthouses and open-air museums. 

Here's our round-up of the most lovey-dovey places across the country to say 'I do.'

1. Schwetzingen Palace and Gardens

Only a small moated castle was located on the site of the Schwetzingen Palace back in 1350. Hundreds of years later, the Baden-Württemberg palace – not far from Heidelberg – became the summer residence of royal figures in the Palatinate of the Rhine.

Nowadays from spring to autumn “you can’t move without bumping into a bride getting her photos taken” here, travel blogger Erin McGann told The Local.  

Stil, McGann recommends it for a reason: “It looks like a corner of Versailles.”

A view of Schwetzingen Palace and Gardens from above. Photo: DPA

In front of the palace are picturesque gardens scattered with over 100 sculptures, which, according to the attraction's website, “are a cultural heritage site of European significance.”

The grounds moreover cater to lovebirds in that they “offer plenty of choice when it comes to saying ‘I do’ in a royal atmosphere.”

SEE ALSO: Here's how to marry a German as an expat

2. In the Bavarian Alps near Tegernsee

If you want nothing more than to tie the knot with the mountains as a backdrop, the resort town of Tegernsee, south of Munich might just be the ticket.

For Forrest and Andrew, eloping in the hills was a dream come true.

“We didn’t want the extravagant cake or the expensive venue – we just wanted to have an intimate ceremony without the usual wedding stresses,” Forrest told Fly Away Bride, a website that features weddings in Europe.

“It was the most bizarre and amazing feeling to be able to just look at the panoramic view and try to take in every moment,” she added.

Surrounding the town of Tegernsee is a forested valley amidst the Bavarian Alps, where there are plenty of activities for lovebirds to indulge in after the official ceremony, such as hiking or skiing.

Wallbergkircherl. Photo: DPA

Just south of the town on Wallberg mountain, a tiny church called Wallbergkircherl offers particularly panoramic views of the valley below.

3. Cruising by boat through Hamburg’s Lake Alster

Thinking of a wedding that’s city chic but also relaxing and encompasses natural beauty? Why not consider cruising down Lake Alster in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg in a traditional steamer?

Whether you prefer romantic canals or unique panoramic views, at your wedding in one of these steamers you'll see Hamburg “from the most beautiful perspective,” the city's website writes. 

What better way to celebrate the happiest day of your life than floating along the water with the magnificent port city in the distance while dancing ‘til the wee hours of the morning in the arms of your one and only?

A boat chugging away with Hamburg's city hall and the Elbphilharmonie in the distance. Photo: DPA

4. The Wiblingen Monastery in Ulm

Another one of travel blogger Erin McGann’s suggestions as one of the most romantic places to get married in Germany is a place “that sounds boring until you see it; it’s routinely on lists of places you need to see before you die.”

When McGann visited the Wiblingen Monastery in Ulm in January, she spotted a newly married couple having photos taken in its library and thought the bride – in a strapless dress – to be rather brave for doing so as the place was unheated.

Photo: Erin McGann

The monastery’s website describes the library as “one of the finest examples of Rococo architecture” – at your disposal for a wedding ceremony or reception. Who wouldn’t want to get married in this “airy and whimsical” place?

The former Benedictine Abbey was founded in 1093. Only in 1714 did renovations and expansions on it take place, in which it turned into a “final masterpiece of Baroque architecture in Upper Swabia.”

5. Herz-Jesu-Kirche in Koblenz

This list wouldn’t be complete if it didn’t cater to those who may be a bit more traditional and prefer to state their vows in a church. And the Herzu-Jesu-Kirche is one of the most beautiful churches in Germany to do so.

Herz-Jesu-Kirche. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

This Catholic church built in the Romanesque Revival architectural style in the early 1900s is a favourite among couples due to its “impressive appearance,” the church’s website states.

Located at an intersection where several roads converge and surrounded by a busy shopping area in the city centre of Koblenz, the church is sure to offer pause from the hustle and bustle and nothing but tranquility on your special day. 

 
6. Märchenvilla in Eberswalde
 
Exactly as its name suggets (Märchen means fairy tale in German), the Märchenvilla in Eberswalde just north of Berlin promises to enchant. But here's the most surprising part: the Brandenburg-based villa has also been a civil registry office since 2004.
 
Designed in the classicist style, the so-called fairy tale mansion was built in 1834. From lovebirds looking to elope and have a private civil ceremony to those seeking a large celebration, the Märchenvilla is a foolproof choice.
 
In fact, many German cities in recent years have moved their registry offices to beautiful buildings (e.g. with high ceilings or stucco ornamentation) in the effort to create a more romantic atmosphere, according to a website for brides called Braut.de. The registry office in the North Rhine-Wesphalian city of Münster is a further example of this.
 
7. Pilsum Lighthouse on the North Sea coast
 
Need an invigorating and rustic way to ring in your marriage? Look no further. Along the North Sea coast there's a lighthouse that's not only one of the best-known symbols of East Frisia, but also a perfect spot to get hitched.
 
Built in 1889, the Pilsum Lighthouse guided ships through the channel at the northwestern tip of Germany until 1915. Nowadays it serves as a popular choice for weddings, where packages are on offer including everything from a wedding photographer to a horse and carriage.
 
A couple getting married at the Pilsum Lighthouse in 2004. Photo: DPA
 
8. Garden of the Senses in Merzig
 
Tucked away in one of Germany's smallest federal states, Saarland, is a collection of 11 open-air gardens that were created to literally trigger the senses. One of them for instance compels visitors to find their way through it in a hands-on way via touch.
 
For those looking to wed there's even the rose garden, which captivates with a variety of roses and colour-coordinated shrubs. Take note, though: civil ceremonies can only be booked here from May to September. 
 
There's also enough room at the Garden of the Senses for large wedding parties, the site's website states. 
 
The Garden of the Senses. Photo: DPA
 
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LIVING IN GERMANY

Living in Germany: Battles over Bürgergeld, rolling the ‘die’ and carnival lingo

From the push to reform long-term unemployment benefits to the lingo you need to know as Carnival season kicks off, we look at the highlights of life in Germany.

Published: 14 November 2022 09:54 CET
Living in Germany: Battles over Bürgergeld, rolling the 'die' and carnival lingo

Deadlock looms as debates over Bürgergeld heat up 

Following a vote in the Bundestag on Thursday, the government’s planned reforms to long-term unemployment benefits are one step closer to becoming reality. Replacing the controversial Hartz IV system, Bürgergeld (or Citizens’ Allowance) is intended to be a fair bit easier on claimants.

Not only will the monthly payment be raised from €449 to €502, but jobseekers will also be given a grace period of two years before checks are carried out on the size of their apartment or savings of up to €60,000. The system will also move away from sanctions with a so-called “trust period” of six months, during which benefits won’t be docked at all – except in very extreme circumstances. 

Speaking in parliament, Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) said the spirit of the new system was “solidarity, trust and encouragement” and praised the fact that Bürgergeld would help people get back into the job market with funding for training and education. But not everyone is happy about the changes. In particular, politicians from the opposition CDU/CSU parties have responded with outrage at the move away from sanctions.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz has even branded the system a step towards “unconditional Basic Income” and argued that nobody will be incentivised to return to work. 

The CDU and CSU are now threatening to block the Bürgergeld legislation when it’s put to a vote in the Bundesrat on Monday. With the conservatives controlling most of the federal states – and thus most of the seats in the upper house – things could get interesting. Be sure to keep an eye out for our coverage in the coming weeks to see how the saga unfolds. 

Tweet of the week

When you first start learning German, picking the right article to use can truly be a roll of the “die” – so we’re entirely on board with this slightly unconventional way to decide whether you’re in a “der”, “die”, or “das” situation. (Warning: this may not improve your German.) 

Where is this?

Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Boris Roessler

Residents of Frankfurt am Main and the surrounding area will no doubt recognise this as the charming town of Kronberg, which is nestled at the foot of the Taunus mountains.

This atmospheric scene was snapped on Friday morning, when a drop in temperatures saw Kronberg and surrounding forests shrouded in autumnal fog.

After a decidedly warm start to November, the mercury is expected to drop into single digits over the weekend. 

Did you know?

November 11th marked the start of carnival season in Germany. But did you know that there’s a whole set of lingo to go along with the tradition? And it all depends on where you are. First of all, the celebration isn’t called the same thing everywhere. In the Rhineland, it’s usually called Karneval, while people in Bavaria or Saxony tend to call it Fasching. Those in Hesse and Saarland usually call it Fastnacht. 

And depending on where you are, there are different things to shout. The ‘fools call’ you’ll hear in Cologne is “Alaaf!” If you move away from Cologne, you’ll hear “Helau!” This is the traditional cry in the carnival strongholds of Düsseldorf and Mainz, as well as in some other German cities.

In the Swabian-Alemannic language region in the southwest of the country, people yell “Narri-Narro”, which means “I’m a fool, you’re a fool”. In Saarland at the French border, they shout “Alleh hopp!”, which is said to originate from the French language. 

Lastly, if someone offers you a Fastnachtskrapfe, say yes because it’s a jelly-filled carnival donut. And if you’re offered a Bützchen? It’s your call, but know that it’s a little kiss given to strangers!

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