A summer in Germany

June 22 2013

by misterb&b

MUNICH
Munich, capital of the very Catholic and conservative Bavaria, is a real gay-friendly bubble! Germany's third largest city has a real gay district, called the Glockenbachviertel, which stretches south of the old town between the Sendlinger Tor and Gärtnerplatz and where most of the city's gay establishments are concentrated.

The best time to visit Munich is definitely in the summer, to enjoy both the sun and the warmth of the continental climate but also the parks, gardens and lakes around, like the Starnberger See or the Ammersee. Don't be surprised to find naturists in the heart of the city, for example in the Englisher Garten or along the banks of the Isar.

Summer is also the best time to enjoy the local specialty and discover some of the 200 "Biergarten", enjoy a beer in the open air and get to know your tablemates. Prosit!

The Munich Gay Pride, known here as CSD München, takes place from July 6 to 14. A week of celebrations that ends with a big parade in the city center and a huge party in the City Hall. The slogan chosen for this election year in Germany is "Wir wählen: gleiche Rechte und Akzeptanz", "We vote: the same rights and acceptance".

Another gay event of the summer is the Hans Sachs Strassenfest, a large open-air party that attracts more than 10,000 people every year on August 17

Among the other events of the Munich summer, the Toolwood Summer Festival, in the Olympic Park, theater, concerts, shows, gastronomic appointments from June 26 to July 21.

From August 1st to 25th, still in the Olympic Park, the Sommerfestival Impark, with animations, water-skiing, shows, exhibitions, a real beach and bars and restaurants to enjoy the Bavarian summer!

And of course, from September 21, a new edition of the Oktoberfest, the beer festival, with its gay events!

FRANKFURT
Regional capital of Hesse, Frankfurt is one of the gayest cities in Germany, even if it is less known! The largest airport in Germany (50 million annual passengers), the European financial capital, it is an international metropolis where English is spoken as well as German. Nicknamed "Mainhattan", Frankfurt has one of the most impressive skylines in Europe. The city of Goethe is also a cultural capital (opera, contemporary dance, museums etc.).

The gay life is concentrated in the historical city center, between Konstablerwache, Bleichstrasse and the Eschenheimer Turm, called the Bermuda Triangle and where you find bars, restaurants, clubs, saunas and gay stores like the Oscar Wilde bookstore.

The main event of the year is the gay pride, called here Christopher Street Day, which will take place this year from July 19 to 21. The slogan of this 21st edition is "Habemus Homo". The event attracts around 200,000 visitors each year and is one of the largest gay events in Germany.

Other summer events include the Main Fest, a large summer festival on the banks of the river, from August 2 to 5, a mixture of funfair, water jousting and fireworks.

From August 9 to 18, Frankfurt will hold the Apfelwein festival, the local speciality, a kind of cider, as an echo to the Munich beer festival.

Finally, from August 23 to 25, one of the biggest art and culture festivals in Europe, the Museumsuferfest, will take place on the banks of the Main River, on the museum quay, with 3 days of cultural events, shows and performances and gastronomic events.

Gay pride in Frankfurt in 2012 © Marco Jakobs

STUTTGART
The capital of Baden Württemberg, headquarters of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, has the reputation of being a very prosperous city. But far from the image you might have of the cradle of the German automobile, Stuttgart is a very green city, with many parks and gardens. In the summer, an artificial beach is set up along the Neckar, ideal for enjoying the summer heat of southern Germany.

The main event of the local gay life is the gay pride, Christopher Street Day, every year in July. Ten days of festivities and mobilization of associations, from July 19 to 28, which will culminate in the big parade on July 27 under the slogan "Tiefen Toleranz", maximum tolerance.

Among the other events to remember this summer, the Summer Festival(Sommefest), from August 1st to 4th, one of the most beautiful summer festivals in Germany. Organized in the open air, on the castle square and around the pond of the Staatstheater, this musical and gastronomic event attracts thousands of visitors under large white tents.

At the end of August, the Wine Festival is the international event dedicated to the famous wines of Baden and Württemberg, the only region in Germany to produce red wine.

And if you pass through Stuttgart this summer, don't miss the musicals Mamma Mia (Palladium Theater) or Sister Act (Appolo Theater) which will be performed every night of the summer!