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Away from big cities

Stadt und Land
© PantherMedia/val_th
Fachfrau für Landmaschinen: Ann-Christin Kahler On the air in the country
My Kuh Tube and more: farmers from Germany show the diversity of their profession on social media channels. Three portraits.
Landwirt Sebastian Heilmann With an eye for sustainability
“Future farmer” Sebastian Heilmann talks about new paths in agriculture and what makes a good rural life for him.
Das Landleben wird auch für junge Familien reizvoller.
New prospects
Susanne Dähner of the Berlin Institute for Population and Development explains why rural life in Germany is becoming more attractive.
Alleen sind ein Markenzeichen Brandenburgs.
Where the countryside lives and breathes
Many Germans dream of country life. Here we present three regions that are popular for very different reasons.
Landleben
Yen for country life
Most people in Germany live in cities, but many are drawn to the countryside. Seven facts about a trending topic.
Studierende der Leuphana Universität in Lüneburg.
Small campus, big opportunity
Close exchange, special subjects: why many young people choose to study at a small university.
Installation von Hiwa K bei der documenta 14 in Kassel
Many small hotspots
The international cultural scene looks not only to Berlin but also to Kassel, Bayreuth and Recklinghausen.
Kunstaktion „Offenbacher Seefestpiele“
Re-urbanization – small towns are back again
They don’t have the glamour of metropolises, but they do have quite a few good ideas: three little-known cities and their appeal.
Schriftstellerin Juli Zeh Getting out of the filter bubble
The writer Juli Zeh lives in a village in Brandenburg, far from Berlin's cultural scene. And it’ a good thing, too, she says.
Wo junge Deutsche am liebsten leben Where young Germans would most like to live
Young people want to live in cities – don’t they? We asked young Germans and received some surprising replies.

Quick facts

77 percent
of Germans live in cities or urban areas.
15 percent
of Germans live in villages with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.
79 large cities
are to be found in Germany. These are cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants.
4 very large cities
with over a million inhabitants are to be found in Germany: Berlin (3.5 m), Hamburg (1.7 m), Munich (1.4 m) and Cologne (1.05 m)
9 people
live in Germany’s smallest independent municipality, Hallig Gröde.
44 percent
of Germans would prefer to live in the countryside.
Frankfurter Skyline
Urban versus rural living
Big cities are thriving and villages are dying out? The situation is not quite that simple. Here are some facts and trends about urban and rural living in Germany.
Deutschlands Dörfer: liebenswerter Lebensraum
Nine reasons why villages should be saved
The geographer Gerhard Henkel believes that democracy is at risk from rural exodus and the demise of villages. We describe the state in which Germany’s villages find themselves.
Stadtleben
What will the city of tomorrow be like?
An expert in urban development explains how growing cities will remain liveable and how lifestyles and mobility will have to change.
Laut einer aktuellen Studie liegen Klein- und Mittelstädte im Trend. Where do we want to live?
According to a recent study, small and medium-sized towns are in vogue.
Daniel Zimmermann (l.) ist Bürgermeister von Monheim am Rhein Direct link to citizens
Daniel Zimmermann became one of Germany’s youngest mayors at the age of 27. He tells us of his work running a city.
Deutschland baut: In Städten steigt die Nachfrage nach Wohnungen.
Germany needs more housing
Housing is becoming scarce and expensive. Cities with the highest rents, and how the state is promoting housing development.
Frankfurts Neue Altstadt
Discover Frankfurt’s new old town
Impressive craftsmanship: Frankfurt has brought a piece of history back to life with the reconstruction of its old town centre. See for yourself on this 360° tour.
Nicole Möhling and Anas Al-Srouji
Lots of new neighbours
Altena has taken far more refugees than it was assigned, and has integrated them in exemplary fashion – even winning an award from the German chancellor in the process.
The city of the future
A short interview with Professor Dr Armin Grunwald, physicist and philosopher.
The reinvention of cities
People worldwide are being drawn to cities. Germany is preparing for this far-reaching change with smart solutions.
Frankfurt: Die Altstadt ist 2018 neu entstanden.
Renaissance of historic city centres
Pull down or rebuild? German cities long preferred the wrecking ball. But things have changed.
Slow cities
So-called “Cittàslow“, slow cities, offer deceleration pure.
Wohnzimmer
Society
Housing in Germany
What is German Gemütlichkeit? Find out what a typical living room looks like and which piece of furniture is a must.
So wohnen Deutsche: Das deutsche Durchschnittswohnzimmer. Housing
Living
Discovering German living rooms
How do people in Germany live? And is there a typical German living room? Take a look here!
Long live the provinces
Not only Berlin and Cologne are worth a visit: if you want to discover the real Germany, you’ll find it in the provinces.
Wiedenborstel Straßenschild Where German people live
A glance at the map of Europe’s most populous country shows that Germany’s 82 million inhabitants live in a multitude of different towns and communities.
Die Rückkehrerin: Stephanie Auras-Lehmann
From New York to Finsterwalde
How a young woman, who once opted out, managed to inspire people for her old home in eastern Germany.
Powerful village
Doreen Raschemann helped to transform Feldheim into the first energy self-sufficient village in Germany.