The German-Speaking Countries

The German-speaking world includes seven countries, all but one in Europe. In five of these countries (Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Switzerland) German is the main or dominant language.

About 65 percent of the Swiss speak German, or more accurately, Swiss German. The rest speak French, Italian or Rhaeto-Romansh (one percent). In Luxembourg, French is used for street and place names, and for official business, but in daily life most of Luxembourg’s citizens speak a dialect of German called Lëtztebuergesch. In two other countries, Belgium and Namibia (a former German colony in Africa), German is a minority language spoken only in certain regions.

Burghausen, Bavaria on the Salzach River, as seen from the Austrian side of the river. Burghausen’s ridge-top castle is the longest in the world. PHOTO: Hyde Flippo

Our German Way & More website covers the three main German-speaking countries (Austria, Germany, Switzerland), with an emphasis on Germany.

Top Pages for History and Culture

Here is a selection of our relevant History & Culture pages.

Cultural Comparison Charts
Compare the customs and practices found in the USA and Germany – in a variety of areas, including housing, dining, driving, and the business world.

Daylight Saving Time (Sommerzeit) in Germany, Europe, and the USA
A guide to the issue of time zones, DST/Summer Time, and permanent standard time versus permanent daylight time.

NEW! Oktoberfest in North America
A guide to Oktoberfest events taking place in the United States and Canada, listed by state or province. German and Bavarian culture is celebrated in many communities all across the US and Canada in the form of Oktoberfest events that mimic the Munich original in more or less authentic ways. See Oktoberfest in North America for more.

Also see: Oktoberfest in Munich
The original Oktoberfest began in October 1810 as a celebration of a royal wedding.

Notable People
Biographies of notable people from Austria, Germany and Switzerland – many of them famous. But even the lesser known ones are notable.

Holidays and Celebrations
What are the key holidays and other official and unofficial observations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland? A complete holiday calendar.

Christmas from A to Z
All about Christmas (Weihnachten) in Germany, Austria, Switzerland.

German Christmas Carols
Lyrics in German and English, plus video and information about each carol.

Education
From preschool to university, learn what you need to know about the German education system.

Below you’ll find more pages dealing with various topics related to these three nations. First, we’ll start with German, the language all these countries have in common:

German Language | Deutsch
Our pages about the German language and learning more about German vocabulary and grammar.

• Dialects – The regional variations of the German language
• The German Language – The German language and Germanic influences on English
• The German Language – Part 2 – More about German

Salzburg, Austria: The Hohensalzburg Fortress seen from the Salzach river and the padlock bridge. PHOTO: Hyde Flippo

Austria | Österreich

Austria is an Alpine nation that lies in the heart of western Europe. At one time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and its Habsburg rulers reigned over much of Europe. Today a much smaller Austria of eight million people is proud of its ability to balance its neutrality with its membership in the European Union. The scenic land sometimes seems like a huge national park with history everywhere you look.

• Austria – History and culture
• History of Austria with notable Austrians, past and present
• The Euro – About the currency that first went into circulation in Austria and Germany in January 2002.
• Austria for Tourists – A helpful guide
• Kitzbühel, Austria – A city guide
• Notable Austrians include:
  • Sigmund Freud was the Austrian who invented psychoanalysis
  • Teobert Maler (1842-1917) was a noted Austrian/German amateur archaeologist who photographed Maya ruins in the Yucatan.
  • Lise Meitner (1878-1968) was the Austrian physicist who discovered nuclear fission.
  • More…
• Holidays and Celebrations – Key holidays and other official and unofficial observations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland
• Austrians in Hollywood – Arnold’s not the only one! German, Austrian and Swiss people – past and present – in Hollywood

Germany | Deutschland

History, culture, daily life in Germany, plus biographies of notable Germans.

• Germany – Learn more about the history and culture of Germany.
• Banks & Money – Money matters in Germany – plus banking history
• The Euro – About the currency that first went into circulation in Austria and Germany in January 2002.
• Germany: Facts and Figures – All about the Federal Republic of Germany
• The Berlin Airlift – A history of what the Germans call die Luftbrücke
• Berlin Wall Timeline – A chronology of the Berlin Wall – which begins before the Wall’s construction in 1961
• Black History and Germany – African American history and Germany
• Notable Germans include:
  • Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) was West Germany’s very first chancellor.
  • Steffi Graf (1969- ) is a former German tennis champion.
  • Leni Riefenstahl (1902-2003) was a controversial film director during the Nazi era.
  • Konrad Zuse (1910-1995) invented the first digital, programmable computer.
  • More…
• Germans in Hollywood – German, Austrian and Swiss people – past and present – in Hollywood
• Holidays and Celebrations – Key holidays and other official and unofficial observations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland

Switzerland | Die Schweiz

Switzerland may be a small country, but it offers an almost unlimited range of geography, history and scenic attractions. Although centrally located in the heart of western Europe, Switzerland is not a member of the European Union (EU) or the Euro Zone. The Swiss franc (CHF) is one of the world’s most stable currencies.

• Switzerland – Learn more about the history and culture of Switzerland.
• History of Switzerland – A brief history of Switzerland.
• Switzerland: Facts and Figures – All about the land of bankers and cuckoo clocks.
• Notable Swiss People include:
  • Ursula Andress (1935- ) – The Swiss actress was the first Bond girl, in Dr. No.
  • Felix Bloch (Nobel Prize in Physics, 1952)
  • Friedrich Dürrenmatt (author)
  • Albert Einstein (also claimed by Germany and the US)
  • Roger Federer (tennis pro)
  • Marc Forster (1969- ) is a Swiss-German Hollywood film director (World War Z, Quantum of Solace).
  • Bruno Ganz (film actor)
• Holidays and Celebrations – Key holidays and other official and unofficial observations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland

Travel & Tourism
To explore the history and culture of the German-speaking countries, you need to get around. Our Travel & Tourism pages can help you do that. Here are some highlights:

• Travel & Tourism – The starting place for finding your way around Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
• Austria for Tourists – The starting place for finding your way around Austria.
• Germany for Tourists – The starting place for finding your way around Germany.
• Switzerland for Tourists – The starting place for finding your way around Switzerland.

Next | Germany