The Wuppertal Suspension Railway near the Sonnborn stop, Wuppertal

Photo (detail): © mauritius images / Robert Poorten / imageBROKER

Detours | Wuppertal’s suspended railway An Engineering Marvel Hanging Over the City

A world-famous landmark necessitated by traffic chaos in a narrow valley: Wuppertal’s suspended railway. How it all began, the Kaiser’s maiden trip and a daring elephant.

Photo (Detail): © picture alliance/dpa | Matthias Bein

5 German Easter traditions A Bunny With a Basketful of Eggs

The snow’s melting, sunbeams are dancing across the sky again, and the first blossom is pushing its way out of the buds – spring is coming in Germany. As the new season begins, the Easter bunny isn’t far away. Along with it, more traditions and customs make their way into German homes as people prepare to celebrate Easter.

Jennifer Engl
© picture alliance / blickwinkel/F. Neukirchen | F. Neukirchen

A Collection of European Dreams Europe and the Undramatic Sadness

For five years, Wolfram Lotz collected dreams from internet forums – from Russia to Portugal. The result is a strange, quiet book: no political Europe, no manifesto, but a portrait of a tame continent from within.

Benedikt Maria Arnold

Detours

Once a month, we take you to a place in Germany that you absolutely must discover!

Language

Photo (detail): © picture-alliance/ imageBROKER | Addictive Stock

Simon Sahner on How Men and Women Write About Illness
Journal or Review?

Why do men with cancer tend to document their suffering for the public almost immediately, while women are more likely to turn to writing only after overcoming an illness? Simon Sahner examines this phenomenon and the social conditions that shape it.

Simon Sahner
Photo (detail): © picture-alliance/ dpa | Michael Matthey

Simon Sahner: How Do You Talk to People Who Are Ill?
“You’ll Get Through This.”

Knowing how to talk appropriately to someone who is seriously ill is no easy matter. Drawing on his own experiences as a patient, Simon Sahner, explores the faux pas well-meaning family members and medical professionals can so easily make.

Simon Sahner
Photo (detail): © picture alliance / SZ Photo | Christian Ditsch

Simon Sahner on medical diagnoses and their consequences
When Illness Becomes A Myth

Certain illnesses are surrounded by myths that suggest sufferers are personally responsible for their condition. Simon Sahner explores this phenomenon – and warns against the capacity of myths to obscure reality.

Simon Sahner

Culture

The award winners Marie-Janine Calic (left, non-fiction category), Katerina Poladjan (center, fiction), and Manfred Gmeiner (right, translation).

Leipzig Book Fair Prize 2026 Stories that speak to the present

Katerina Poladjan receives the Leipzig Book Fair Prize for Goldstrand. The nonfiction prize goes to Marie-Janine Calic, the translation prize to Manfred Gmeiner.

On the Passing of Jürgen Habermas The Power of the Argument

Few thinkers earn the highest respect both as master theorists and public intellectuals. But Jürgen Habermas was one of them. The renowned philosopher has died aged 96.

Alina Bronsky's culinary biography Taste Delight

Food is essential for life, food is enjoyment. Alina Bronsky combines heartfelt meals with personal experiences. Porridge reminds her of breakfast in her native Russia. Green sauce brings a touch of Hesse to Berlin. Twelve stories to savour – with recipes at the end of each chapter.

Germany

Photo (detail): © mauritius images / Manuel Kamuf / imageBROKER

Detours | The Swabian Alps and the Schönberg Tower
White Landmark in Ancient Landscape

Formed by a tropical sea, volcanic activity and meteorite impact, the Swabian Alps today are one of southern Germany’s most diverse landscapes. One outstanding feature is the Schönberg Tower.

Zoé Kammermann
Photo (Detail) © picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS | Martin Meissner & picture alliance/dpa | Sebastian Gollnow

American Football in Germany
Kick-off in the Middle of the Night

Pizza, beer, Super Bowl: What once began as a niche sport has become a full‑blown hype in Germany. How American football found a home here.

Jennifer Engl
Photo (detail): © picture alliance/dpa | Felix Hörhager

7 popular clubs in Germany
Legendary dancefloors

Pulsing beats and packed dancefloors – Germany has some clubs that manage to draw visitors from other countries. From techno to house to pop, these venues are the beating heart of the party scene.

Monika Rathmann

Cherrypicker

The literature blog Cherrypicker presents selected novels and non-fiction, graphic novels and stories, audio books and literature for children and teenagers.