Germany is a land of astounding variety – from cities founded by the Romans and medieval trade routes to breathtaking coastlines, rivers, and mountains that inspired great 18th- and 19th-century artists. It’s a place to encounter towns, castles, and palaces with gripping histories, and the Moselle Valley, Black Forest, and the Allgäu region – all rightly world-famous for their beauty.

Angelika Taschen has traversed the country, staying at its most unforgettable destinations. Like the elegant Reederin, former HQ of a shipping line in the Hanseatic city of Lübeck, or the Grand Hotel Heiligendamm, named for Germany’s first seaside resort, and the idyllically-sited St. Oberholz Retreat in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The Bauhaus Dessau Atelierhaus once housed students of the Bauhaus school and the charming Hotel Stadthaus Arnstadt in Thuringia is an essential stop for Bach enthusiasts.

Admire the architecture of Max Dudler in the Gut Cantzheim on the River Saar, while enjoying its art collection and the estate’s delightful Riesling, explore the Black Forest from the family-run Spielweg hotel, or experience Konstanz from the bed-and-breakfast Zum Egle 1336, in a 700-year-old building.

In Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the Romantik Hotel Markusturm stands next to one of the Old Town’s 46 towers, visitors to Ulm can literally lean towards the river at the Schiefes Haus – the Crooked House – or experience total tranquillity in the stylish Beuerberg Abbey in Bavaria.

Whether it’s a luxury hotel, a guest house, a palace, or glamping tent, every destination in this tenth volume of the Great Escapes series teams large-format photos with fascinating texts and practical details, plus book recommendations to pack for your trip.