Inasmuch as Germany’s Autobahn is great onto itself, it’s even better because it leads off to places like Stolzenau in Lower Saxony.

FYI, the A2, A7, and A27 Autobahns will take you right here, and flights to/from both Hanover Airport and Bremen Airport make flying to the area easy.

One of the most visited sites here is the Monastery Schinna. It was a Benedictine Order created in 1148, eventually abandoned in 1540. It’s not totally in ruins. The Church of St. Vitus is still around, and you’ll find a number of half-timbered and stone buildings in the complex.

Another type of religious site in Stolzenau is its Jewish cemetery. The earliest documented grave dates to around 1729, the last in 1939 showing two centuries of a Jewish community in Stolzenau.

Stolzenau’s Local History Museum (sorry, the museum doesn’t display the Roman coins found in the village of Nendorf; they’re at the Landesmuseum in Hanover) and the Doll Museum are both worth seeing too.

Boat lovers will appreciate the local Boat Harbor, and architectural history lovers will fall head over heels for the Gothic looking Rathaus (it’s brick) built in 1885, and all the fairytale framework houses.

You know there’s going to be a castle too, right? Well, Burg Stolzenau was at one time; just as it was once a school.

As wonderful as all this is, the countryside is the show stopper. Camping is big business around here along the Weser river from April to October. It can get quite cold here in the winter months, so don’t let that stop you; or just grab yourself a bicycle and ride yourself around.

And who can resist partying in the streets at a festival? On even-numbered years Stolzenau holds its Schützenfest (mid-June), and on even numbered years it’s the Stadtfest on the last weekend of August.

Didn’t I tell you that the Autobahn would bring you to a pretty awesome place?

Listen carefully… What you might hear in the town of Schipkau, Germany might not be German at all. It could very well be Sorbian, as the town sits in the Lower Lusatia region in southern Brandenburg.

In fact, the Sorbian name for Schipkau is Šejkow. And each of the town’s other five villages are often read or pronounced by their Sorbian moniker. Annahütte is known as Ždźarki; Drochow is the same, but Hörlitz is Wórlica and Klettwitz becomes Klěśišća, while Meuro becomes Murjow.

Whatever or however you call them, they’ve been around a long time.

The Village Church in Klettwitz (this one built in 1774) houses a stunning 15th century altar. And you’ll find a War Memorial within the church’s cemetery. Another church worth visiting is the Henrietta Church on the Bahnhofstraße.

All right, this is it on the indoor activities; you gotta get outside.

Wait, the only other acceptable indoor activity is the indoor ski center.

OK, back to the outside. Schipkau has a number of caves to explore (no, that doesn’t count as being indoors) and here’s your chance to sample part of the Niederlausitzer Bergbautour or Lower Lusatian Mining Tour, a 510km scenic route of the region’s mining history.

You’re also able to hike part of the Fürst-Pückler-Weg, or in English — the Prince Pückler Trail.

Yes, this is a real hiking route — I didn’t make up the name.

Whatever route you choose to follow, the views of the local landscape from the Vogelberg are totally terrific. Look out for the wind farm that makes “green energy” for thousands of local homes.

Hey, you gotta offset the carbon emissions from the nearby EuroSpeedway Lausitz motor speedway somehow, don’t ya? ;-)

As noisy as a speedway can be, the opposite can be found at the Drochower See. This lake isn’t a swimming lake — it’s a place of quiet reflection that’s just as beautiful in the snowy winter as it is in the greenest of summer.

All that’s left is to enjoy Schipkau’s Summer Festival in mid-August; although it might be hard to hear whether folks are speaking Sorbian or German with all the music playing. :-)

I must admit the town of Abtsgmünd in the mountainous region of the Swabian-Franconian Forest had me both fascinated and, well, creeped out might be too harsh.

Don’t get me wrong, Abtsgmünd is quite lovely. It’s just that its Torso-Weg is just that, a path of twelve different headless, armless, and legless sandstone sculptures.

Creepy. Yet, fascinating. ;-)

Abtsgmünd does have more traditional sites to see, it ain’t all about the bodies. You’d like to see a castle, wouldn’t you? Great, because there are four of ’em.

Schloss Hohenstadt (built 1147) might be privately owned, but its French Gardens are open to the public. Don’t be upset that you can’t see the inside — the exterior makes a great snapshot.

You can see the inside of the 14th century Schloss Untergröningen, as it’s now a Museum of Modern Art and meeting center. Two rooms of the castle are now a Local History Museum (open Sundays, May-Sept 2pm-6pm) with exhibits on everything from letters, to festivals, and local customs.

It’ll be a learning experience at Schloss Neubronn, a 16th century castle that’s now owned by the Horticulture Society where they have a teaching garden.

I wouldn’t miss out seeing the Church of St. Michael, either (its basement is all that remains of its Romanesque origins). Right outside is the Rechenberg Cross, erected in 1331, and the second oldest of its kind in all of Baden-Württemberg.

You don’t, however, want to spend all your time indoors. Get outside and enjoy the Hammerschmieder See where boating is always on the agenda. The lake is surrounded by plenty of hiking and bicycle trails.

For an inexpensive place to stay, the campgrounds and youth hostel around Laubach Reservoir are just the thing. Even if you don’t stay the night & are just passing through along the Way of St. James, there are BBQ areas for a picnic lunch.

I’m sorry that I called you creepy, Abtsgmünd. Can you ever forgive me? :-)

If you’re a German cars aficionado like I am, then chances are you’ve heard of the Upper Bavarian town of Aschheim; as this is where you’ll find BMW’s test track.

Cool. Who doesn’t like doing Mach-5 in a well-built German car? I know I ain’t the only one. ;-)

The automobile is a modern invention, barely more than a century old. Which makes a nice contrast to the prehistoric side of Aschheim. A large number of Neolithic graves were found here, including artifacts of ancient pagan goddess statues.

Most of what was found around Aschheim are housed within the Prehistoric Museum. Open on the first Sunday of the month, the museum (located on Münchener Straße) has exhibits dating back to around 2800 B.C. right up to sometime in the Middle Ages.

Not much of the medieval remains in Aschheim, but you can see the Emmeram Chapel from 1524 that replaced the mid-9th century original. More than a hundred years later residents built the St. Sebastian Chapel that’s still standing.

For a cultural experience, the Culture, Education, and Historical Center is the place to be. All sorts of theater performances, cabaret, classical music concerts, literary readings, and lectures take place within its walls. It also acts as the venue for the annual Christmas Market.

Not here for the Christmas Season? It’s OK, you can always just shop the Weekly Market (at Markt & Synodenplatz) on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm-6pm. Just like you gotta fuel up the car, you gotta fuel up yourself with fresh produce, cheeses, and beer.

Wait. Scratch that. No beer if you’re gonna be driving. ;-)

Don’t even think about the beer if you’re going to climb Aschheim’s High Ropes either. It’s a year-round course with 25 different difficulty levels.

Not enough action for you? There’s always waterskiing or motorcycle racing remaining.

If that’s too much, take it slow at the 18-hole golf course or just mosey along at a leisurely pace to find the perfect fishing spot.

Just try not to stink up the car when you’re done, OK?

A lot of thought goes into these Web pages on MyGermanCity.com. Oftentimes it’s difficult to condense hundreds (sometimes thousands) of years of German history and German culture onto a single page.

Such is the case about Wabern in Hesse.

Wabern is a town of nine villages, one with only 81 residents (Rockshausen), and one of the oldest, even though it was a “ghost town” during the Thirty Years’ War. Literally, as it was totally abandoned.

I’d say the oldest one would be Harle, whose Christian church stands on the site of a prehistoric worshipping site from 2,000 years ago.

Kind of makes the early 12th century Church of Simon Peter (in Utterhausen) seem like a mere baby in age, huh?

Simon Peter isn’t the only other church to see. Over in Unshausen there’s a half-stone, half-timbered constructed one; and another stone village church in Hebel, this one established in the 8th century.

Oh yeah, speaking of framework houses, one half-timbered farmhouse (in Niedermöllrich) was the birthplace of Ludwig Schneider (in 1893) who was a bigwig politician and former Deputy Mayor of Magdeburg.

A good deal of sightseeing is to be found in Falkenberg, a village of less than 900 people. Its got the ruins of a 13th century castle (which aren’t accessible, BTW), and a Jewish cemetery and former synagogue.

One castle that is accessible is the Landgrave Palace (a Landgrave was a title given to some princes), built in 1701.

What’s most remarkable about Wabern is its countryside. It lies along what’s known as the Großenengliser Platte, a nature and agriculture area along between the River Schwalm and River Eder.

It was here (in the village of Udenborn) in 1936 that a gargantuan military parade came passing through under the direction of Adolf Hitler.

Close to here was also the site of an epic battle, known as the Battle of Fritzlar, in 1427.

My time here in Wabern is done. Time to board the Main-Weser Railway — and where I get off is anyone’s guess. That is, until I write about it. ;-)

While Weissach has a long history, it is the story of one of its hometown boys that really needs to be told.

Weissach was the boyhood home of the “most successful military pilot in the history of aviation.”

No, it wasn’t Manfred von Richthofen (the Red Baron) it was Erich Hartmann.

Scratching your head?

Mr. Hartmann was a fighter pilot with the German Luftwaffe during World War II with a total of 352 confirmed kills (I’m not making light of it, it was just an unprecedented number that thankfully has never been surpassed).

He served more than 10 years in a Siberian detention camp as a war criminal; a conviction that was overturned by authorities three years after his death in 1997.

I’d gander to say that on those cold, Siberian nights Herr Hartmann must have been dreaming about Weissach’s many festivals. The Nicholas Market takes place every year in early December and its annual Church Festival is always on the last weekend of October. Even possibly the yearly Wine Festival (mid-November) or all the music concerts held every Autumn.

One fun festival is the Soap Box Derby every October.

Sorry, it ain’t as quick the Porsche, who maintains a Research Facility and Development Center west of Weissach, bringing prosperity to town.

Then again, he could have been thinking about the old fortified church from the Middle Ages and the nearby manor house, and how the old Tithe Barn is now the local library. Or, maybe thinking about how close Weissach is to the city of Leonberg (only 8km away) or Stuttgart (18km).

Hey, anything’s possible. ;-)

A lot of Weissach’s history can be found at the Heritage Museum located at Leonberger Straße 2, and there’s a wonderful art gallery housing the work of Sepp Vees. But, the funnest (I know that’s not a real word) museum is the Museum Train on the Strohgäubahn. It’s a real steam locomotive!

Mr. Hartmann, your hometown is just lovely, and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I have.

I ain’t candy coating it. Don’t come to Bordesholm in Schleswig-Holstein expecting to be hustlin’ the night away. If you’re also looking for a myriad of historical castles, churches, and museums, I’m sorry to say that just ain’t gonna happen either.

Having said that, if you want a true rustic experience in the heart of North Germany, then, Baby, you’ve found it.

Bordesholm is quite tiny, barely 10 square kilometers, between the cities of Kiel and Neumünster, so getting around is relatively easy enough.

One of the most visited places is the former Augustinian Kloster Bordesholm.

The monastery has been gone for more than four centuries, but it’s church still remains. Come inside to see the (very) early 16th century altar (the original altar found its way to Schleswig Cathedral) and 18th century baptismal font.

Kloster Bordesholm is also the final resting place of Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna, daughter to Russia’s Peter the Great (she was born out of wedlock, quite shocking in the 18th century) and wife to the Duke of Schlesig-Holstein-Gottrup (and nephew to the King of Sweden).

As old as the monastery is, it ain’t anywhere near as old as the Bronze Age grave mounds in the area.

The historical side of Bordesholm ends here, so it’s time to experience the great outdoors. A number of cycling trails will take you around Bordesholm’s fourteen villages (including one named Brügge, like the Belgian city), passing many thatched-roofed cottages and local horse and veggie farms.

I’d be sure to stop at the Bordesholmer See for some swimming or just to hike around its walking paths. It’s a quiet lake that doesn’t allow any boats, BTW.

Some people would think to be bothered with such a quiet town like Bordesholm. But, if you’re constantly on the go in a hectic city then wouldn’t a place like this be just the answer?

I for one will take rustic over harried any day of the week — and I’ll also take one of those thatched roof cottages too. ;-)

Local legend says that there was once a castle on what is known as the Kapellenberg, or Chapel Hill, in the Lower Bavarian town of Ergoldsbach.

No, that’s not the best part. The best part is the former master of the castle was a pretty rotten, mean, nasty kind of guy; and the castle sunk right down into the dirt with him in it.

Whether that part is true or not, the Kapellenberg does have the remains of a fortress wall (called a Wallfestung).

This castle isn’t to be confused with Jellenkofen Castle (built around 1720) that was once used as a poorhouse run by nuns, then a hospital for nuns. It’s private property today; and I sure hope the new owners aren’t rotten — you heard what happened to the other guy. ;-)

That’s not all you’ll find on the Kapellenberg, there are a number of viewpoints that have some of the best views around town.

It should, Chapel Hill is 464-meters above sea level. And it’s aptly named because Chapel Hill has a chapel; the Lourdes Chapel built in 1825. From the Lourdes Chapel you can follow the fourteen Stations of the Cross along a tree lined passage, or just chill out over the Chapel Hill Park.

Ergoldsbach does have a War Memorial, and a story of Max Mauer who saved 13 Jewish Concentration Camp inmates during the last days of World War II. He was also honored by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem for his heroic deeds.

You might have noticed that much of what’s to see in Ergoldsbach centers around the great outdoors. And you can add swimming in the town’s outdoor pool, golfing, and shopping at the annual Winter Market to the list of things to do.

However, if being indoors is necessary most of the activities take place at the Multifunktionshalle or Multipurpose Hall, venue to all sorts of concerts and exhibitions.

You just better behave yourself while you’re here… you don’t want the ground to eat you. ;-)

At first thought when I began to write this page on the Hessian town of Eiterfeld, I considered jumping right into its history. Then I thought, “what about its natural history”?

Nope, I’m going for the gusto. Camel trekking.

Bet you didn’t see that coming, did you? ;-)

That’s right, Ladies & Gentlemen, no need to go all the way to Mongolia to ride a real Mongolian Camel; you can do it right here in Eiterfeld, Germany.

Never rode a camel? Never even been close to one? It’s a lot of fun — although their breath could do with a toothbrush or even just a breathmint. But, don’t let a little bad breath stop you. :-)

Move from stinky camel breath to something that smells a whole helluva lot better, the Aroma Museum. The entire museum is dedicated to delicious smelling essential oils (like lavender, citrus, that kind of thing). Add in exhibits on wine making and beer brewing and you’ve got yourself a fresh smelling learning experience.

Another kind of learning experience is at the Border Museum at the Point Alpha Memorial. Appropriate since Eiterfeld was a town that was on the border between what was once West and East Germany. Eiterfeld still borders Thuringia, but crossing now is a snap. The museum offers group tours, hiking paths along the former border, and even a youth camp.

Not ready to head back indoors yet? Perfect, since there’s a former Military Cemetery to see and 111 steps to climb at the Soisbergturm that offers views as far as the Wartburg Castle.

If you’d rather be golfing, Eiterfeld can accommodate with both a 9- and 18-hole golf course.

Goodness, I almost left out the 240 million year old dinosaur tracks. Hello, natural history this old — and I almost left it out. Good thing I caught myself. ;-)

I guess I got too excited thinking about all of Eiterfeld’s festivals, like the Dorffest (September), the Church Festival at St. George’s (also September), and the Spring Fair on the third Sunday in March.

Between all the festivals and the camel trekking, I almost didn’t have time to see Eiterfeld’s castles. Burg Fürsteneck (built 1250) might now be a boarding school but it’s still a fine example of medieval architecture. While Schloss Buchenau offers a look into what’s known as Weser Renaissance architecture.

Impressed with what you’ll find in Eiterfeld? I knew you would be as soon as I said camel trekking. ;-)

Close to the city of Gotha in the Thuringian Forest is the old mining town of Friedrichroda, an area once ruled by the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

Does the name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha sound familiar? It should if you know anything about Victorian England.

I know you’re asking, what’s Victorian England got to do with Germany? Well, Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, was a prince from the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family. Therefore, his family “ruled” over Friedrichroda.

Don’t look at me like that… You never know when you’ll be on a game show or want to impress a girl. ;-)

And befitting a prince married to a Queen, I should tell you that you’ll find a most spectacular castle here.

Schloss Reinhardsbrunn wasn’t always a castle, it was an 11th century monastery that was run-down after the Peasants’ War in the 16th century. Some duke had the foresight to build a schloss over the ruins, and was owned by the family until World War II.

The castle chapel is most noteworthy, with grave slabs in the Church of St. George dating back more than a handful of centuries. Wait, that sounds a bit misleading… the grave slabs are reproductions as the originals were destroyed by a fire.

While technically not in Friedrichroda, the Friedstein Palace is in nearby Gotha if you’re interested in seeing one of the most stunning early Baroque palaces in Germany. Gotha also hosts an annual Christian Music Festival every year, known as the Freakstock, so you’re closeby if you want to go.

What is in Friedrichroda is the old Gypsum mine. It was mined from the 18th to 20th centuries, with many artisans using Gypsum to make jewelry.

Also here in town you can go from below the Earth’s surface to the top of the nearby mountains, when you hike along the Rennsteig. This is Thuringia’s oldest hiking route — and the views are worth your weight in gold. I mean, Gypsum. ;-)

Save the Rennsteig or shopping along the Hauptstrasse Pedestrian Zone for when there isn’t any snow. This way you try Cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, bobsledding, or ice skating.

I wonder if Prince Albert did any of these things? I guess I better go find out — you never know when I might show up on a game show… ;-)