Smart Travels Europe with Rudy Maxa: Berlin / Munich & Bavaria

Two episodes plus bonus clips: World-class cultural sites, dynamic architecture and energy, Berlin is a city on the move. We visit the museums: the Pergamon and the Egyptian museum, German Expressionism at the Neue Nationalgalerie and the Jewish Museum. From dynamic Potzdamer Platz to the stark reminders at Checkpoint Charlie, we feel the past and see the future in Berlin. Our base is historic Hotel Adlon. Even shopping brings history at the fabulous KaDeWe department store. An outing to Potsdam takes in the Prussian past. Munich's lively Marienplatz pulses with outdoor cafes, shoppers, street musicians, and happy tourists. At the famous Hofbrauhaus, we sample Bavarian beer and kick up our heels with Schuhplattler dancers clad in lederhosen. Next stop is the Residenz, the family palace built by the Wittlesbachs who ruled Bavaria for more than 700 years. Just outside of town, a sobering visit to Dachau concentration camp reminds us of the dark side of Germany's past. Then, we move on to lighter vistas -- a trip into the mountains takes us to "Mad" King Ludwig's fairytale castle Neuschwanstein and on an exhilarating luge ride.

• history
• nonfiction
• televison
• travel