The Viersen district can be seen as representing the state of North Rhine-Westphalia beautifully. Nothing special to be found here, yet still enough opportunities for biking, walking, horse riding, and shopping.

Viersen District Map

It’s fairly flat here and there are no hills. That’s why the people in this district like to take a bike tour on one of its routes (more than 600km/373mi!).

Others like to horse ride through one of the marked routs in the country. Or why not simply explore one of the four nature parks in the western part of the Viersen district named Krickenbecker Seen (a few lakes between Leuth, Nettetal, and Hinsbeck), Holtmühle-Galgenvenn (near Kaldenkirchen), Brachter Wald (west of Bracht and Brüggen), and Elmpter Schwalmbruch (north of Elmpt, part of Niederkrüchten).

V? Why V?

Yes, there are cities in Germany starting with that letter, 135 to be exact.

Remember, those with links are “done.” :-)

German cities with U at its beginning? Right spot, right spot, my friend. :-)

And there are 148 of them. (Those with links are “done.”)

Unna is a humble, pleasant town that could mistakenly be overlooked. Located in the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia this smaller city actually has a few unique tourists attractions. The Hellweg Museum is one offering the highlights of the town’s history. Then there is a city library that is an architectural delight.

One of the most popular museums and a must-see for anyone even remotely close to this town is the old linden brewery. The underground labyrinth of cold rooms and vaults has been transformed into a spectacular light display. The utilization of lights for art has been around for quite some time, but has yet to really break into the industry.

This museum alone could force the understanding amongst other artists. Aside from just viewing the lights, there are opportunities to attend seminars and workshops relevant to light. If you are interested make sure to call ahead.

If you are more into the performing arts, there is the theater Narrenschiff or Ship of Fools. The productions and casts are worth the trip.

There is also the Circus Travados. Similar to the renowned Cirque du Soleil, the limber and graceful performers are very captivating.

Should you choose to indulge your artistic side, the Art Pub offers visitors lessons and a chance to create your own art work. Call ahead if you plan to explore this idea to ensure availability.

The locals within Unna are very serious about sports. With over 60 different clubs involving about 17,000 participants it has become a staple of the town. To keep the youth involved is a great investment for the future of this town.

In fact, it is undergoing some sort of reform to make their appearance more family friendly. More so for the locals, but I am sure this will trickle down to the tourists as well.

From the indoor pool at the Cathedral to the drastic changes in architecture, Fulda allows someone to visually realize the changes over centuries. Rich in history, religion, art and beauty you will not leave disappointed.

Call ahead for hours and prices for the museums and tours. There are some that may only be open seasonally.

Known as the “Baroque Quarter,” this section of Fulda has many sightseeing necessities. The Stadtschloss, which was once the home of Prince Abbotts, is now the offices of municipal authorities.

While touring this castle you will see the Princes’ Hall, Imperial Hall, Hall of Mirrors, and a collection of rare Fulda porcelain. The short lived porcelain factory produced a small collection, in comparison, that is now highly sought after.

Included within the Schlossgarten or Castle Garden is a theater, indoor swimming pool and sports facilities. With an extensive variety of activities, this is great for a group of travelers. You are guaranteed to have something for everyone.

To the west of the Schloss, located in the Domplatz, is the Cathedral of Fulda, locally referred to as the “Dom.” The crypt of St. Boniface remains in the cathedral today. The crypt is not as dark and rustic as one might imagine, it is actually quite decorated and beautiful. The cathedral is very monumental for Christianity within Germany.

Fulda was once known as possibly the most religious city within Germany.

By heading towards the city center you will see a much different style of buildings. The wide avenues turn to narrow lanes. The Baroque buildings turn to medieval half-timbered houses.

The Witches Tower or Hexenturm is located within this older section, which was once used as a women’s prison. Showcasing the differences between the old and new is also the only remaining Gothic Church in Fulda, The Severi Church or Severi Hill.

All in all, Fulda is an interesting town for not only when you want to explore Germany’s Cold War and religious history.

The Fulda district in Hesse lies right in the Rhön Mountains area, a popular tourist destination with stunning vistas and countless opportunities for sport activities.

Fulda District Map

One of those sport activities is paragliding. Yes, it may happen you take a walk or bike tour (on one of the 6,000 km / 3,730 mi routes) and come across a couple paragliders flying above your head. Not that unusual in the Fulda district since the Rhön offers an advantageous thermic. (Oh boy, I used to be a paraglider myself… what a feeling!)

Anyway… Fulda, the district’s capital, is one of the must-see locations. Also known as the Baroque City, its historical town center and Old Town as well as ancient buildings throughout the town are not to be missed. And the Castle with its Orangerie is a touristic magnet in all four seasons.

Another must-see is Gersfeld. Being a climatic health and Kneipp resort town, it’s located right at the Wasserkuppe mountain.

Go for it! :-)

If you remember hearing Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm as a child (and who doesn’t?) you will love visiting Hanau. It was the boyhood home of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm who were responsible for preserving famous folk stories like “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.”

Before the Grimm Brothers committed these tales to paper in the early 1800’s, they were merely part of an oral tradition, handed down from one generation to the next. Fairies and witches, queens and princesses, wolves and dragons, were all part of the magic world of Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

If you visit modern-day Hanau between May and July, you will be able to take part in the famous Fairy Tale Festival. Many of the most beloved Grimm stories are preformed daily in an outdoor amphitheater by actors in colorful costume.

The town square has an impressive bronze statue of the two brothers that has been in place since 1896 and is now considered a national monument. A large open-air market is held in the square twice every week, which is enjoyed by natives and tourists alike.

Hanau is also the starting point of the Fairy Tale Road. This picturesque highway winds through the forests and fields of Germany and leads you past the Grandmother’s House from “Little Red Riding Hood,” and the witch’s cottage from Hänsel und Gretel. You will see castles and woods that take you back to enchanted times.

While you are in the town, you will want to see the Philippsruhe Castle. It was built from about 1700 to 1725 and is home to the regional Historical Museum. Area artwork representing the 17th through 20th centuries is on display.

There are eight other museums in the town as well, that all cover different aspects of the history and culture of the area.

Collectors or lovers of dolls will not want to miss the Hessian Doll Museum. This display traces the history of dolls in Europe from ancient times (as far back as 500 B.C.) to today. There is a large collection of dolls from all over the world.

If you are interested in jewelry making or working with gold and silver you will want to be sure to see the German Goldsmith’s Museum. It explains the art and craft of creating with precious metals.

You can also enjoy the only Paper Toy Museum in Germany. This location features a stage with unique performances that can only be seen in Hanau.

Another must-see spot is the park at the Wilhelmsbad. It was originally created as a spa for members of the Royal Court in the 1770’s and its lovely garden and bathing house have been well preserved.

All 324 German cities that start with the letter F are listed here!

The Main-Kinzig-Kreis marks the geographical central point of the European Union, in the Barbarossa Town of Gelnhausen.

Main-Kinzig-Kreis Map

Another highlight of this district is the history of the Grimm Brothers (aka Gebrüder Grimm). The Ronneburg castle was a place where they performed their work.

By the way, countless castles and museums give this district a unique character.

If you like nature then you’ll love this district. The Spessart region provides you with forests, nature parks, and KNEIPP spa centers all over the place. And you’ll come across countless hills with apple trees because this is THE area responsible for producing the best apple wine available.

If you like parties, then you must visit Biebergemünd. This small hardcore party town got festivals all year!

Additionally, there is an amusement park in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis called Erlebnispark Steinau near Steinau an der Straße. Although it’s fairly small (in comparison to the major ones), rest assured it’ll be fun for the whole family. :-)

With an area of 21,110 km² and a population of a bit over 6 million, Hesse (German: Hessen) is one of 16 German Federal States. It lies right in The Heart of Germany and consists of 21 districts and 5 vibrant urban districts, with Wiesbaden as its capital. (No, it’s not Frankfurt. ;-))

Hesse Map

The name Hesse is the modified form of the master name of the Germanic Chatten. In 1803, Hesse-Kassel was selected as Electorate after a long struggle. In 1806, the country was taken over by the Kingdom of Westphalia but it was by some means restored to the Elector in 1813.

The name Hesse-Kassel survived in the term Kurhessen and it depicted the region around Kassel. In 1866, it was again annexed by Prussia along with the trade Free City of Frankfurt, Hesse-Homburg and the duchy of Nassau.

Finally, the federal state was created on September 19, 1945 and became the first of the Federal Republic of a new democratic condition.

Nowadays, Hesse is a typical holiday “county” full of entertainment. Its large cities are very imposing. For example, Kassel is a recent and a modern city, which was also a hub for the arts and home of the Brothers Grimm during their days of gathering folk tales from the nation.

The old university city of Marburg with the early Gothic Elisabethkirche draws the attention of visitors from all over the world.

Or Wiesbaden in the southwest — the state’s captial — with its healthy baths, is a worldwide well-known spa location. Rüdesheim on the banks of the Rhine river is a well-liked wine city, while Erbach and Michelstadt in the Odenwald (Forest of Odes) are precious old cities hidden away among attractive woods.

By the way, Miltenberg — with its cathedral — is probably the most beautiful location to be visited.

And then Frankfurt am Main, lovely called “Mainhatten,” a profitable and manufacturing city which offers you, besides countless banks of course, a lot of really fascinating museums.

All in all, Hesse offers plenty of golf, roaming, cycling and tennis locations, therefore is a great state for comforting and mountaineering.

And its small villages with half-timbered houses are a masterpiece to explore. Enormous forests and clear lagoons make this state perfect for family travels, including extensive and reliable public transport.

By the way, did you know that Hesse is the home to numerous high-quality Manufacturing Practice production services constructed for the pharmaceutical industry? Even more, these plants are being retooled for biomanufacturing to satisfy worldwide order for such products as antibodies, hormones and healing proteins.