Clean air and positively beautiful landscapes is Marktredwitz. Rich in culture and sports all year-round, you will not be at a loss for things to do. The setting is perfect for hiking and biking; clean, fresh air, surrounded by nature and some of the most magnificent countryside you will ever see.

This Bavarian community is a shopping haven for collectors of porcelains such as Hutschenreuther and Rosenthal. Many of these pieces can be seen on display at the Porcelain Museum.

Marktredwitz is a small town that is reminiscent of the old-world. This lovely and lively little town in Bavaria holds many year round events. You will see events such as the yearly nativity scene, Schützen parades, folk festivals and many more great activities. Proud of the customs of their past and ever ready to display the country’s history, it puts on year round festivals for locals and visitors to enjoy.

The Bavarian people are famous for their hospitality. Experts in the art of wining and dining, the choices for local cuisine are abundant.

If you are interested in learning of the background of these colorful people, you can pay a visit to the local museum, Egerland Kulturhaus, which highlights the community’s heritage with exhibits such as folk dresses and Haubens, which are bonnets. There are also many Sudetenland items on display.

There are several local outfitters that will guide you on walking tours. A great hiking trip will take you into the Fichtel Mountains (Fichtelgebirge) which are located nearby. Or you can make a short day trip to the forested Steinwald as well as to the Bohemian Forest (Böhmer Wald). The Bohemian Forest is well known for its local spas, the Franzensbad, Karlsbad and the Marienbad.

Because Marktredwitz offers such a variety of things to do it is the perfect getaway for the entire family.

Rhein-Kreis Neuss is a district in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which ranks among the most productive and economically most successful locations in Germany.

Rhein-Kreis Neuss Map

The density of the large cities and the surfaces of the many free spaces into and around the district… From this area the Rhein-Kreis Neuss draws its strength — proven for a high quality of life with numerous offerings for culture, leisure, and sport.

Extremely productive soils, to a large extent an even area, and a mild climate provide an intensive agriculture.

With numerous parks and gardens, this district provides a natural environment in which you’ll find plenty opportunities for relaxation, recreation, and recovery. :-)

Nestled on the Lahn River, Marburg, the University city is a great place to visit. It is full of buildings that have been fully restored. This restoration has preserved the great heritage of Marburg an der Lahn.

The River Lahn itself offers you much to do. You can rent a paddle boat and enjoy a nice paddle boat ride down the river.

Also, there are river-side walking tours that take you on hiking trails along the river’s edge. One of these walking tours will take you through a scale model of our solar system. You actually start walking at the Sun and end up on Pluto! ;-)

Any visit to Marburg will be highlighted by the magnificent Gothic style castle that sits high on the hill overlooking the town. Known as the Marburger Schloss, tours are available. However, I suggest you book your tour in advance as both hours and tours are limited.

A walking tour through its old town section is like a step back in time. The narrow streets are lined with shops and pubs that are reminiscent of medieval times. I recommend you enjoy a nice lunch at one of the many outdoor cafes and take in all of the sites and sounds of the town.

Marburg is the ideal destination for those who are passionate about medieval architecture. It is famous for its medieval churches, such as Elisabethkirche, or Elizabeth Church, built in 1238. On your visit to the church you will find many historical items on display, such as original furnishings, shrines and carvings. You can also visit the tombs of ancient princes as well as the tomb of President Hindenburg who died in 1934.

Marburg also has a great pool complex with both indoor and outdoor pools for relaxation and for exercise. This complex is open to the public, however, there is a minimal entry fee. You can find a variety of family entertainment such as putt-putt golf, bowling as well as a great number of dining options.

Lower Saxony (German: Niedersachsen) is a federal state located in the north-western part of Germany. It is considered the second largest federal state in terms of area and fourth in terms of inhabitants. Approx. 8 million people live here.

Lower Saxony Map

The geographic idea of this state has undergone huge moves and obtained many meanings in the earlier period of the 15th century. For example, the land of the Saxons was in Frankish times approximately the area of entire north-west Germany among the Elbe and Ems rivers.

Nowadays, Lower Saxony is a land of variety providing much cultural and geographical importance to Germany. It has a high-quality and beautiful cultural life, offering a lot of theaters in cities like Hanover and Oldenburg.

Some of the theaters in Hanover attract people from more than forty towns of the surrounding area. Some of the chief theaters like in Göttingen, Hildesheim, and Celle are playing dating long back to 1674.

And there are a lot of restaurants serving worldwide cuisine, like Italian, Greek, Turkish and Chinese, in addition to German restaurants and the mandatory fast-food shops.

Besides all that, this state is significant in terms of tourism. Farmhouses, gardens and parks, land of horses and preserved forest, zoos, are all natural beauties which can be enjoyed throughout the country.

The major economical resource is farming. Major part of the state land is enclosed by forests, and some portion of the land is unfarmed and some are deserts, even governmentally protected by the state.

Did You Know That…

Lower Saxony is one of the leading oil producers in Europe. Some of its major agricultural products include wheat, rye, potato, and oat.

Another large part of its economy is manufacturing of heavy machines, trucks, inks, dyes, rubbers, and much more.

It provides first class libraries, such as science libraries to help higher education, together with virtual libraries. Some of the key libraries are to be found in Göttingen (State and University Library) and Oldenburg (State Library).

Melle is unique among German towns for a couple of reasons. Even though it is found in Lower Saxony near forts, castles, gardens, and parks, it has a few features no other town can claim.

First, it is the home of an event known as Euro Jam Balloon Twisting Jubilee. This happens every October and is a balloon twisting festival. If you have enjoyed clowns or other performers making all kinds of imaginative creatures by twisting long, thin balloons together, you will love to visit Melle during this event.

It is currently in its tenth year and involves three days and three nights of balloon-centered fun. The motto of the festival is “Show me what you can do and I will show you what I can do.”

Novices and experts in the field are all welcomed equally to partake in the events. You can attend workshops, classes, and seminars hosted by master balloon-men from every corner of Europe. Balloons are free to participants, and the jubilee certainly provides a unique and interesting way to spend time in Lower Saxony.

Melle also stands out as the home of the Tetra Werke Company, which was the originator of flaked fish food. Before a young German scientist came up with the idea of manufacturing fish food which could be dried and packaged and still provide fish with the nutrients they needed to stay healthy, the hobby of aquarium-keeping was difficult and not widely practiced. People were required to gather live food from riverbeds or ponds in order to feed their fish.

Because of this innovative company, however, many people can now enjoy the soothing sight of beautiful fish swimming in their homes and work places. A tour of the factory offers a lot of insight into this now-popular pastime.

Melle also features a large deer park nearby. It is free to visitors and contains more than 100 animals in their natural habitats.

The Osnabrück District surrounding the town is home to many health spas, biking trails, and hiking routes where the beauty of nature is on display. You are sure to enjoy a visit to this fascinating place. :-)

I know, I know… all this should be much further already. You should find plenty of German cities starting with the letter M right here. And I obviously should spend a lot more time creating these pages for you.

I’m going to do so, my friend. :-) The first ones are already here. (see those with links.)

Besides, all 617 German cities starting with M are listed below…

90 German cities, towns, and villages starting with the letter C are listed here below on this page… :-)

A town surrounded by the winding river Chamb (that’s not a typo), this was the source for the name Cham. Here, you get many opportunities for sightseeing.

For an artistic approach there is the honor of viewing art from graduates of Munich Academy. These up and coming artists display their artwork at “Footsteps,” a museum housed in one of the oldest buildings in the town.

The Cordon House has been utilized since the 16th century. While going through numerous different uses, it is now home to the tourists information center and the Municipal Gallery.

For a more adventurous outing, there are many cycling and hiking trails at your disposal. After a long day of being outdoors, you can choose to unwind in one of the luxurious health spas. Treat yourself on your vacation with a well deserved massage and foot rub. You can really enjoy the atmosphere better when you have had a chance to be revitalized.

There are restaurants for any taste from different continents. A tip to remember for an enjoyable dinner; ask a local for a good restaurant. You want to be able to taste authentic German food made the right way. Tasting the wrong food can really turn you off to the whole experience.

If you are traveling with a younger crowd, there is a small amusement park in Cham called Churpfalzpark Loifling. Complete with a playground and various attractions to bring out the kid in you, this park is a great, and adventurous outing.

The town has a vivacious nightlife including discotheques or dance halls, cafes and bars (pubs). Depending on your speed or mood you can choose accordingly.

As you tour the town, take in the voluptuous scenery. From the historic buildings to the fountains. Everywhere you look you will find culture and history.

The Cham district lies in Upper Palatinate bordering to the Czech Republic, giving you lots of opportunities to step up its hills and enjoy incredibly stunning vistas.

Cham District Map

Due to a variety of cultural offers and 1,200km (746mi) of biking routes through one of the most beautiful landscapes of Upper Palatinate, visitors from all Europe enjoy their vacation in the Cham district.

Don’t miss Furth im Wald, the Drachenstadt or City Of Dragons with its popular Drachenstich dragon festival in August.

Besides biking, you will also enjoy hiking up to one of the countless hills and mountains, as well as swimming and boating in one of the lakes and rivers in this district. River cruises may not be offered that much as most of them are too small for this, which doesn’t necessarily mean it’s less exciting.

Either way, Upper Palatinate is a gorgeous region, and this district covers a good part of that. :-)

By the way, there’s a very interesting English brochure about the Cham district (PDF format) available which describes this area in greater detail. Grab it!

S — a strong letter, very strong, isn’t it?

Yes, as well for Germany. That’s why I chose to list all 1139 (!) cities starting with S right here on this very page.