Germany's Top Five

Indulge in a riot of color courtesy of the century-old influential art group, "Die Brücke" or "The Bridge," whose anniversary is being marked in an exhibition "Brücke and Berlin - 100 Years of Expressionism." One of the greatest German contributions to international art was the introduction of Expressionism at the beginning of the 20th century and it was Die Brücke that was its roots, using bold colors, stark contrasts and jagged edges in a new style set out to directly transport emotions into art. Founded by four young architecture students in Dresden in 1905, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Fritz Bleyl, Erich Heckel and Karl Schmidt Rottluff, they tried to find new forms of artistic expression which would liberate them from the constraints of the then predominant academic style and find a unity between art and life. The exhibition in Berlin, which runs until Oct. 2, is showing a collection of 300 early prints, never before shown in their entirety.

Explore the wartime lives of famous German writers such as Thomas Mann and Joseph Roth in a new exhibition called, "German Writers in Southern France, 1933-1941," which documents their wartime exile in France. A small fishing village on the French Riviera called Sanary-sur-Mer attracted literary giants such as Mann, Franz Werfel and others. Other authors lived in nearby Nice. The exhibit details the spirited lives of the writers and their efforts to survive after the German army invaded northern France during World War II. The show, at Munich's Literaturarchiv Monacensia, runs until Nov. 18.

Thrill to the antics of nobles, kings and pirates in the outdoor and waterfront Störtebeker Festival which begins June 25th in Nature Theater Ralswiek, located five kilometers north of Bergen on the island of Rügen. The production, "Britain and the Pirates" begins in 1399 after pirate Klaus Störtbeker and his companion are expelled from Gotland and the Baltic and make their way to a safe harbor, Marenhafe. But that upsets the Hanseatic League, which plots with the British monarch to capture the pirates. The show features stunts and pyrotechnics and a grand finale with fireworks. The festival runs until September 10.

Discover the world of Nico in a new opera premiering in Dresden, "Nico -- Sphinx on Ice." Based on a book by Werner Fritsch, the show details the life of pop star Nico. Born Christa Päffge, Nico was one of the most colourful postwar characters, modeling for Coco Chanel, acting in Frederico Fellini’s "La Dolce Vita," hanging around with Andy Warhol and singing with Lou Reed in the Velvet Underground. The production, at the Semper Opera, also doesn't exclude her love for Jim Morrison, as it has her review her own life.

Revel in the outdoors in the 9th annual Brandenburg Water Festival at Fürstenberg on the Havel River. Sail on a old-fashioned barge called a Kaffenkahn, take in a regatta, help elect the champion fisherman, or kick off your shoes and listen to outdoor concerts. The festival takes place on the town's multiple lakes, parks, festival grounds and river and gives visitors a chance to explore the lush greenery of Brandenburg.