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About Germany

     Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland (help·info), IPA: [ˈbundəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant]), is a country in West-central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

     Germany is a parliamentary federal republic of sixteen states (Bundesländer). The capital city and seat of government is Berlin. As a nation-state, the country was unified near the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. After World War II, Germany's government was re-formed, its territory was divided into two separate states along the lines of allied occupation in 1949 and then was reunified in 1990. Germany is a founding member of the European Union, and with over 82 million people it has the largest population among the EU member states.

     The Federal Republic of Germany is a modern great power, a member state of the United Nations, NATO, the G8, the G4 nations and, as of 2006, ranked sixth in military expenditure. Germany is the world's third largest economy by nominal GDP, the world's largest exporter of goods, and the world's second largest importer of goods. In 2007 it held the rotating presidencies of both the European Council and the G8 summits.

About Bernkastel

     Bernkastel-Kues (IPA: [ˈbɛʁnkastəlˈkuːs]) is a town over 700 years old, located on the Middle Moselle river in the district of Bernkastel-Wittlich, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

History :

• The first settlements date back to the time of the Linear Pottery culture in the 30th century BC.
• 1291 king Rudolph of Habsburg grants the municipal law to Berncastel, Welschbillig, Mayen, Montabaur and Saarburg.
• In 1905 the village of Kues and the city of Bernkastel were joined to the town of Bernkastel-Cues.
• In 1970 the neighbouring villages of Andel and Wehlen joined the town.

Town districts :

The town consists of the town districts of

• Andel (since 7 November 1970)
• Bernkastel (municipal law since 1291)
• Kues (since 1 April 1905)
• Wehlen (since 7 November 1970)