Germany continues to build on its star attractions

While Germany sits in the driver’s seat of Europe’s economy, it doesn’t take a cultural backseat either. Here are a few of the latest developments:

Berlin is trying to finish construction of its new, 5 billion-euro airport: Willy Brandt Berlin-Brandenburg International.

But the project has been perennially delayed by technical problems; a partial opening in 2014 is possible, but not likely.

Although Berlin opened its new main train station (Hauptbahnhof) in 2006, construction is likely to begin again in 2014. Many travelers may be diverted through other stations, such as Bahnhof Zoo and Ostbahnof.

Berlin, the scene of so much tumult in the 20th century, does not forget the victims. Near the powerfully evocative Memorial to the Murdered Jews is a memorial dedicated to the homosexual victims of Hitler’s rule, and a new Roma and Sinti memorial.

The latter is to remind all who mourn the slaughter of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust that Hitler aimed to exterminate Europe’s Roma and Sinti population as well.

While Berlin has done what it can to keep the focus off Hitler himself, the parking lot that sits over the site of Hitler’s bunker is a few minutes’ walk from these other memorials.

The site (where he committed suicide just days before the end of World War II) comes with an information board to explain the significance of the spot.

A multi-year renovation project continues at Museum Island, filled with some of Berlin’s most impressive museums.

Beginning in the fall and continuing until 2019, the star of the Greek antiquities collection in the Pergamon Museum — the Pergamon Altar — will be closed to visitors.

In the meantime, some classical Greek artifacts can be seen at the nearby Altes Museum.

Hamburg is one of Germany’s wealthiest cities and a major financial, commercial, and media center.

Its shining glory is the new Elbphilharmonie concert hall, which looks like a glass palace resting on top of an old warehouse. However it won’t be opening until 2017, about seven years late.

To the south, travelers sleeping in the Bavarian town of Fuessen are now entitled to the Fuessen Card, paid for by the hotel tax.

This card allows free use of public transportation in the immediate region (including the bus to “Mad” King Ludwig’s famous castle, Neuschwanstein).

Similarly, the Aktiv-Card for the Reutte area just across the border in Austria includes free travel on local buses and free admission to some attractions.

Also new in Reutte, the Alpentherme Ehrenberg is an extensive swimming pool and sauna complex, featuring two indoor pools and a big saltwater outdoor pool, as well as two waterslides.

In Frankfurt, the new European Central Bank building, with its glistening twin towers topping out at 607 feet, is scheduled to open in 2014.

In Nuernberg, the Imperial Castle (Kaiserburg) has reopened after a restoration. Visits to the castle’s “Deep Well” (which, at 165 feet, is, well, deep) are now accompanied by a guide.

Wittenberg’s Town Church of St. Mary’s — which was Martin Luther’s home church for many years — is being renovated.

Planning ahead, Germany’s many Luther sights (especially in the Luther cities of Wittenberg, Erfurt and Eisenacht) are gearing up for a very festive 2017 (on a Lutheran scale anyway) — the 500th anniversary of Luther kicking off the Protestant Reformation in 1517.

Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Email him at rick@ricksteves.com.