If you think Germany is a familiar and understandable country, we have a serious surprise for you.

1. Alcohol intoxication as a mitigating circumstance
In German courts, alcohol intoxication is considered a mitigating factor. Important: this does not apply to car accidents.

2. The world’s oldest diner
The diner, officially considered the oldest in the world, opened in Regensburg in 1146.

3. Adidas and Puma were founded by two brothers
The Dassler brothers, founders of the well-known sportswear brands Adidas and Puma, were born in Germany.

4. The capital has changed seven times
At various times, the capitals have included Frankfurt am Main, Nuremberg, Aachen, Regensburg, Bonn, Weimar, and Berlin.

5. The narrowest street in the world
In the city of Reutlingen, there’s a street that’s 31 cm wide. For this reason, it’s listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the narrowest in the world.

6. Do you like fishing? Take a course
Before relaxing by the pond with a fishing rod, you’ll need to take a special course in Germany.

7. You can drink tap water
German water quality is considered one of the highest in the world, so when you visit Germany, you don’t have to spend money on bottled drinks; you can safely quench your thirst from the tap.

8. The history of beer
The first German beer was brewed in 736 in Geisenfeld, Bavaria. Since then, more than 1,500 varieties of beer have been created in Germany.

9. They live a very long time
Germany has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. Men live an average of 78 years, women 83.

10. Berlin has more bridges than Venice.
Venice is a well-known city of canals, gondolas, and bridges. However, the German capital boasts the largest network of inland waterways. Berlin boasts a whopping 960 bridges and 59.8 square kilometers of water surface—rivers, canals, and lakes.