Meiningen was the childhood home of author Ludwig Bechstein, and you can just imagine a heroine of one of his folk fairy tales trapped somewhere in the town’s Elisabethenburg Castle. More so there than another old building in town, the Meiningen Steam Locomotive Works, at any rate…

The princess in question could even have been Adelheid Louise Theresa Caroline Amelia von Sachsen-Meiningen, who in 1818 became the wife of King William IV of the United Kingdom. The Australians also named a city after this beautiful princess — but were sensible enough to use the shortened name of “Adelaide.”

They have a habit for long names around these parts. The theater was called the Meininger, but the new owners found the name too easy to pronounce and changed it to the catchier Südthüringisches Staatstheater instead. (Yes, that long…)

And it’s not just the name of the theater that is big. Opera and drama are regularly on show in the cavernous arena, which employs over 300 people — around 1.5% of the local population, if my electronic mathematical calculating device is working correctly.

The great thing about this level of local commitment to the productions put on by the theater is that there is always a great buzz around the town when a production is being held — so attending a performance and soaking up the atmosphere is definitely recommended.

Many visitors like to tour the well-preserved Burgher’s Houses dotted around the area. I must warn you not to get confused though — it’s not a spelling mistake, and these are not fast food outlets. They’re 16th-18th century upper and middle class residences, which housed many of the city officials of the time.

You may have noticed that it’s all about arts and history in Meiningen, but when a town dates back to 982 that kind of comes with the territory.

Enger is a small town in Germany, located in the North Rhine-Westphalia state. Although the town is only about 41 square kilometers (16 square miles), there are many fun and interesting travel activities packed into such a small area.

One of the historical attractions of this town is the legend of Widukind. Widukind was a Saxon hero who fought against Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars and Enger holds what is believed to be his tomb. The town also has museums focusing on Widukind and there are annual festivities on January 6th for the celebration of the hero.

Entering the Widukind museum is free, but be sure to check to see what times the museum will be open when planning your trip.

Another museum that might interest you is the railway museum. Although Enger no longer has a railway station itself, the museum is an interesting place to visit. (The nearest cities with a railway are Herford to the east, Bünde to the north, and Bielefeld to the south.)

If you are more into nature than history, Enger has attractions for you as well. For you nature buffs out there, I suggest renting a bike and taking a bike trip down to the castles, complete with motes and drawbridges. You can also bike along the Maiwiese park which is specifically designed for bike trips. The Maiwiese park bike path follows a beautiful and serene creek which has lots of local wildlife to enjoy.

If you just want to go for a relaxing walk, it is easy to stroll through most of Enger and see all the sites since the town is so small. Don’t miss out on walking through the downtown area if you have the chance. There are several houses and shops still standing that were built over 1000 years ago!

Enger may not be the biggest town with the most attractions, but it is a great place to visit for a calm and relaxing small-town experience.