Germany, usually remembered for images of long autobahns, German cars, beer, sausages, and Oktoberfest. However, Germany is the largest economy in the European Union and the second-largest economy in the world after the USA. This, in turn, has led to the concentration of the workforce in cities and their further growth. Let’s take a look at the Top 10 Largest Cities in Germany.
1Berlin, 3 million 520 thousand people
Berlin is the capital and the largest city in Germany, located on the River Spree. It is also the largest city in the European Union by population. Berlin was officially founded in 1237, although settlements in this area date back much earlier.
2Hamburg, 1 million 787 thousand people
Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany and the seventh in the European Union, located where the Elbe River flows into the North Sea. The city was built in 808 as a fortress to protect against Slavs.
3Munich, 1 million 450 thousand people
Munich is the third-largest city in Germany and the first in Bavaria. The city, founded by monks, is mentioned for the first time in 1158. The BMW headquarters is located in the city.
4Cologne, 1 million 060 thousand people
Cologne is the largest economic and cultural center in Germany, the fourth city in the country. The city’s history began in 38 BCE with the founding of a rural fortress.
5Frankfurt, 732 thousand people
Frankfurt is the center of a major metropolitan region, the Rhine-Main. The city was founded on the land of the Franks and an ancient ford on the Main River, giving it the name “Land of the Franks.”
6Stuttgart, 623 thousand people
Stuttgart is the largest industrial center in Germany, where the headquarters of Mercedes is located. The city originated on the site of a Roman fort in 950 with the construction of a horse stud, giving the city its name, the “horse city.”
7Düsseldorf, 612 thousand people
Düsseldorf is one of the five economic centers of Germany. The first mention of the city dates back to 1135, and the name of the river comes from the Düssel River.
8Dortmund, 586 thousand people
Dortmund is a city in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, located on the Ruhr River. The largest city in the Ruhr metropolitan area. The first mention of the city dates back to 880, and it was established on the site of a Bronze Age settlement.
9Essen, 582 thousand people
Essen emerged as a women’s monastery in 845. In the same year, Saint Ludger founded a men’s monastery in Verden, which eventually became the center of German literature. In 2010, Essen was chosen as the European Capital of Culture.
10Leipzig, 560 thousand people
Leipzig is the largest city in Saxony, known for its university. Leipzig’s history began in 900 as a Slavic, Serbian settlement, but it was later conquered by the Franks, giving rise to Leipzig.
