Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic center. Skopje is located on the upper course of the Vardar River, and is located on a major north-south Balkan route between Belgrade and Athens. It was known in the Roman period under the name Scupi.

The territory of Skopje has been inhabited since at least 4000 BC; remains of Neolithic settlements have been found within the old Kale Fortress that overlooks the modern city centre. On the eve of the 1st century AD, the settlement was seized by the Romans and became a military camp. When the Roman Empire was divided into eastern and western halves in 395 AD, Scupi came under Byzantine rule from Constantinople.

Being the capital of the Republic of Macedonia, Skopje is home to the largest cultural institutions of the country, such as the National and University Library "St. Kliment of Ohrid", the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the National Theatre, the National Philarmonic Orchestra and the Macedonian Opera and Ballet. Among the local institutions are the Brothers Miladinov Library which has more than a million documents, the Cultural Information Centre which manages festivals, exhibitions and concerts, and the House of Culture Kočo Racin which is dedicated to contemporary art and young talents.

The Skopje Jazz Festival has been held annually in October since 1981. It is part of the European Jazz Network and the European Forum of World Wide Festivals. The artists' profiles include fusion, acid jazz, Latin jazz, smooth jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Ray Charles, Tito Puente, Gotan Project, Al Di Meola, Youssou N'Dour, among others, have performed at the festival. Another music festival in Skopje is the Blues and Soul Festival. It is a relatively new event in the Macedonian cultural scene that occurs every summer in early July. Past guests include Larry Coryell, Mick Taylor & the All-Stars Blues Band, Candy Dulfer & Funky Stuff, João Bosco, The Temptations, Tolo Marton Trio, Blues Wire, and Phil Guy.

Ulm has a lot to offer both inside and outside its city limits. Here, for example, an impressive mix of architecture meets historic sites and numerous gardens and parks. These are ideally complemented by great museums, theaters and collections of world class. The most popular Ulm attractions can be found in the city center.

High, higher, Ulm Münster! With 162 m, the Ulm Cathedral has the highest church tower in the world. At the same time the Ulm Cathedral is the largest Protestant church in Germany. The construction of the imposing church began in 1377 and spread over a period of 500 years. The profane reason for this: In 1543 the money for the further construction was missing. However, church construction was nearly completed by this year. To this day, it has been preserved in its original substance.

The Fishing Village (Fischerviertel): The talk is about the fishmonger Ulm, which is the most important old town complex in Ulm. Situated at the mouth of the Blue River in the Danube, the fishing village enchants with half-timbered architecture, old alleys and winding passages, as well as its numerous bridges. Once upon a time, craftsmen, whose work was related to the water, lived and worked here. Among them were Fischer, Gerber, Seifensieder or Müller.

Architecture: Opposites attract! If the city houses impressive historical buildings on the one hand, it shows an exciting architectural interplay with super-modern buildings on the other side. Ulm's town center, for example, is home to historic buildings such as the Town Hall, the Market Square and the Ulm Cathedral. On the other hand, there are modern buildings such as the White Town Hall and the pyramidal, glassy Central library.

Ulms Museums: If you are going on a trip to Ulm on the Danube, you will be surprised by the range of museums and exhibitions. For example, you can get an insight into the age of primordial and early history or the art of modernity in the cultural institutions of the city. To choose one of the museums in Ulm is anything but easy. How about visiting the Museum of Bread Culture? It gives you an exciting insight into the importance of grain and bread for the cultural development of mankind. A focus is on the depiction of the lack of bread or its history and present.

The Crooked House from the 15th / 16th century, the best-known house in the old town of Ulm, is located in the Fishermen's quarter on the banks of river Blue.According to the Guinness Book of Records, this building lodges, since 1995, the "most crooked hotel" of the world. After a complex renovation, it is corrected and secured in its crooked position.

The Town Hall Ulm: It is located close to the Ulm Cathedral and can be recognized by its impressive exterior paintings from the early Renaissance period. The paintings depict doctrinal representations of commandments, virtues and vices, dating back to 1900. In fact, they are considerably older. However, they had to be re-applied because of the weather.

Einstein Fountain: Once Ulmer, always Ulmer! One of the most famous sons of Ulm is none other than Albert Einstein. On March 14, 1879, the world-famous genius was born in Ulm. Although Einstein lived only 15 months in the city, he felt that he will be connected with the city even after his death.

The Danube Aquarium: A visit to the zoo with Danube Aquarium should not be missing on your to-do list of the most exciting attractions in Ulm. In the zoo you can marvel at more than 2,000 animals up close. There are numerous native species as well as exotic inhabitants to admire. When visiting the zoo, for example, you will discover arrowgift frogs and iguanas. In the tropical house, monkeys, crocodiles and colorful birds await you.

A holiday in Ulm is more than worthwhile. The Donube city is the right place for adventurers and explorers as well as for culture and nature fans. These most popular Ulm attractions promises you a colorful mix that shows how versatile the city is. Therefore you can look forward to an impressive combination of tradition and modernity, from history and innovation as well as exciting experience.