North Rhine-Westphalia, Federal state in western Germany.
North Rhine-Westphalia is a federal state in western Germany that borders the Netherlands and Belgium, covering the Rhine-Ruhr and Rhineland metropolitan areas. The territory stretches from the Lower Rhine to the Sauerland hills, combining flatlands, industrial zones, and forested uplands.
The state formed in August 1946 when the British military government merged the northern part of the Rhine Province with Westphalia. This decision aimed to create an economically powerful region and replace the former Prussian administrative structure.
Locals celebrate carnival season with street parades and costumes, especially in Cologne and Düsseldorf where entire neighborhoods join the festivities in February. Visitors also encounter beer gardens, Christmas markets, and converted industrial sites that host exhibitions and concerts throughout the year.
The region is well connected by public transport, with regional trains and commuter rails linking major cities to smaller towns across the territory. Drivers find a dense motorway network that makes it easier to navigate between different areas.
Some of Germany's oldest breweries operate here, including monastery breweries that have followed traditional recipes since medieval times. The Rhineland also holds many old castles and manor houses along the rivers, often overlooked but freely accessible to walkers.
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