Known as the “Green town on the German holiday road,” Traunstein offers an idyllic and peaceful getaway.

Enjoy a walk through the glorious natural terrain surrounding Traunstein which is home to an internationally renowned forestry research center, then stop in at one of three local breweries to sample a local Hefeweizen or whatever brew you are in the mood for.

The Wochinger Bräu which has been around since 1587 perches on a cliffside and offers up some lovely lunchtime scenery with your fare.

Taking a pleasant stroll through this hilltop town you will discover stunning vistas of the Traun River Valley.

You will also stumble across some unexpected architectural wonders; old and new. There is the Glas Tower (on the Stadtplatz), the Jacklturm (on the east side of town), the gorgeous Rathaus (town hall), the Turm von St. Oswald where there is a Saturday market in the summer months.

After a full day of sightseeing you will want to settle in and relax in one of the town’s comfortable little inns or a bed and breakfast where you will be treated to some delightful Apfelstrudel or Sacher and Linzer Tortes. All of the local lodging options are known for their wonderful hospitality.

If you happen to be there during Easter, make sure you get to see the Georgritt, the annual procession in honor of Saint Geroge where riders in historic armor and local regalia make a pilgrimage to the Ettendorf Chapel to attain blessings for their beautifully ornamented horses. It really is a unique custom and a beautiful parade to see. :-)

If you are a fan of Bram Stoker’s 1897 book Dracula or any of its many spin-off novels, movies and TV shows, you may be interested in visiting the town of Kitzingen. It is located in Bavaria in the south-central part of Germany.

One of the city’s most well known landmarks is a tower built in the 1200’s. It is called the Crooked Tower because of its unbalanced roof. Legend has it that the golden ball that sits at the top of the crooked roof contains the heart of the original Count Dracula.

Furthermore, if you follow the direction of the leaning roof, it is said you will find the grave of the Count in the Kitzingen Old Cemetery across the street.

The tower contains windows that are in the shape of upside-down crosses. Many locals claim to have seen light reflected through them at certain times of the day so that the shadows make right-side-up crosses in the graveyard that will ward off vampires. ;-)

Whether the legend is true or not, the tower and the town make interesting places to visit. There is a carnival museum located in the Crooked Tower, today, and visitors can read the story of its construction. It was built during a wine festival, as the tale is told, and the masons used wine instead of water to mix the mortar. That is what caused the roof to lean.

Regardless of its true history, it is undeniable that the Crooked Tower stands as a sentinel in the middle of Germany’s largest wine-producing region.

The area around Kitzingen is called Franconia. It has a reputation for producing some unique and flavorful white wines. Producers in the area use a distinctive wine bottle called a Bocksbeutel, which has a short neck and a wide body. Potential customers can tell at a glance that the wine they are considering is Franconian in origin.

Consequently, Kitzingen hosts wine festivals throughout the harvesting and bottling seasons. A typical year sees the first grapes picked in April, with the majority done during June and July. In October the town holds a big festival called Letzte Fuhre or last load when the final grapes are brought in from the vineyards.

The vintners have a procession through the streets with brightly decorated carriages to celebrate the end of the harvest. Local musicians play and costumed folk dancers perform. Booths and tables are set up in the town square so that you can taste wine from many different wineries and enjoy food and socializing.