Goodness gracious. If you prefer the peaceful and quiet, you’ll love the Upper Bavarian town of Reichertshofen.

There might be eleven villages that make up the municipality pretty much in the center of Bavaria, but it is one in particular that has been bringing visitors and those on a spiritual quest for centuries.

Sankt Kastl has been a pilgrimage site from the mid-11th century when a relic of St. Castulus was brought here. The original chapel is gone, but I think you’ll like the more modern day one (as if being built in 1447 is modern) with an altar from the 1670s and other artwork and religious items from other centuries.

The smaller of the two buildings (they’re right next door to each other) is a tiny Baroque chapel from the 17th century. Hmm, Baroque means that’s is grandly decorated so make sure you got your camera ready.

Not bad for a hamlet that’s not more than three farms (there are over a hundred in total, though) and one restaurant, huh?

Oh, I forgot about the tree over by the chapels that’s more than 400 years old. A perfect spot for a picnic discussing German history, wouldn’t you say? You can debate on whether there was (or was not) a castle here in Sankt Kastl, just like real historians. ;-)

Maybe you’d like to discuss Reichertshofen’s festivals instead. Believe it or not, there are two wine festivals (one in September, the other mid-October), and every year at the end of August there’s the Barthelmarkt.

That’s nothing compared to the Paarfest, a four-day event with music, dancing, food, boat races, and special honors for the town’s oldest residents.

Another fun activity would be a day at Reichertshofen’s lakes (Heideweiher and Baarer Weiher), for a day of swimming, volleyball, and a night of camping. Hey, at least you don’t have to worry about the noise keeping you awake.

Didn’t I say Reichertshofen was quite, peaceful and wonderful nonetheless? ;-)

It sounds like the beginning of a trivia question. Name a Roman village that’s home to hundreds of United States soldiers, sharing a name with a German rock band? Uhhh, Ramstein-Miesenbach?

Just to clarify, I know Ramstein-Misenbach isn’t named AFTER the rock band. Ramstein-Miesenbach was a Roman village, after all — but it is home to a United States Air Force base. Most people equate Ramstein Air Force base with the German town of Kaiserslautern, which is on the other side of the base. ;-)

I know this is strictly off the whole German thing, but if you’re an airplane enthusiast — this is a great place to see the C130 aircraft take off and land. This is one monster of an airplane.

Back to the German part of Ramstein-Miesenbach, the town has a local history museum (called a Heimatmuseum) housed in a former brewery & tavern. What a nice way to learn about how Ramstein-Miesenbach started out with the Romans (a Roman villa was excavated nearby), detailing its medieval history, right up to modern times. Quite informative, I would say.

Quite festive would be another word I would use when describing Ramstein-Miesenbach. It’s like there’s a festival of some sort going on every time you turn around in this Palatinate town.

Just in case I might miss one, the Tourist Office will fill you in on them all. Let’s see… there is a Summer Festival in early August, a Wine Festival in mid-August, a Kerwe (church fest) in August, three more in September, and two more again in October.

That’s not including the Kirchenfest in September, the Oktoberfest (that’s really in October), a Christmas Market from late-November to & through December, and a number of Christmas concerts throughout December.

Add in all the orchestra events and other cultural activities at the Culture & Convention center and you’ll be wondering how any work can get done around here.

I know I wouldn’t — especially not with then AZUR Water Park (Schernauer Strasse 50) and Palatinate Forest Nature Reserve nearby.

Yeah, Ramstein-Miesenbach might’ve started off sounding like a trivia question — but it’s far from trivial. ;-)

You’ll find Reisbach and its seven districts in Lower Bavaria, just 13km from both Dingolfing and Landau an der Isar. It’s a simple life here in Reisbach, surrounded by hiking trails and bike paths.

And it’s a simple life for sure in the village of Bachham, which has only 58 residents. Isn’t that nice, to know all your neighbors?

Oh wait, maybe not so good if you’re up to no good. Wink. Wink. ;-)

When you’ve got sightseeing on the brain (instead of hanky-panky or something like that) you’ll want to see the St. Michael Church, whose oldest section dates to either the 14th or 15th century. Don’t look at me like that… if they don’t know, how could I possibly?

I do know the date when the pilgrimage church of St. Salvator was built, that was 1400. And the little chapel on Jägerstraße holds only 16 people. That’s pretty cool — better come early though, or you ain’t gettin’ a seat.

The oldest of Reisbach’s churches is the Chapel of St. Wolfindis, which dates to the 7th century. Yes, that technically makes this chapel like 1400 years old.

For more modern day conveniences and fun, the Bayern Park amusement park (in the village of Thannenmais) couldn’t fit the bill any better. Not only are there all sorts of musical concerts and events, but it’s got a super cool roller coaster (love ’em!). The park’s open from 9am – 6pm (or 5pm), mid-April to early-October, so you’ve got ample time to enjoy it.

Flinging yourself around on a coaster isn’t your idea of a good time? That’s all right… you can pursue a less hectic speed on one of Reibach’s hiking trails or bicycle trails (the Isar Cycle Route and the Danube Bike Path come to mind).

Ohhh, a cruise on the Danube sounds lovely. So does a morning out on the 18-hole golf course, if you’re interested.

The only thing left to do is enjoy the Waldfest in August; where you’re pretty much guaranteed to meet one of Bachham’s six dozen residents — and make lifelong friends.

Right on the northern edge of the Bavarian Alps (in Bavaria, ha-ha) is the town of Bad Feilnbach. Where, I think, the only thing that outnumbers its villages (more than 50!) are its sports activities.

And as it does have a “Bad” designation, know that it’s a good thing. Who couldn’t resist being pampered with all sorts of spa treatments at the Moorbad und Natur-Heil-Dorf. What a mouthful, I’m stressed for having to type such a long name. Someone ring for a massage, please? ;-)

Anyway, after a day of fishing, mountain biking, hiking, Nordic Walking, cycling, and rollerblading I think spa services should be on the agenda.

These activities, BTW, are the ones that can be done in the warmer months. Bad Feilnbach also has a number of “themed” walking trails, but none too long distance.

I haven’t gotten to the winter “activities,” yet.

No time like the present, right? Winter’s a fun time to come to Bad Feilnbach. Downhill skiers, Cross-country skiers, and sledders from all over come to experience the Alps first hand. Why shouldn’t you be one of them?

Too cold? Tosh! Put a Parka on, it’ll be all right. ;-)

Sound like your kind of place? Glad to hear it.

For a truly unique experience, consider a “Farm Holiday” where you can stay at a local farm for a night or two. You’ll feel like part of the family, once you’re put to work.

Seriously, it’s a nice way to see how a real farm operates. They’re not too expensive, and it’s a nice change from nameless, faceless hotel chains.

So is camping out in Bad Feilnbach, in case the whole farm thing isn’t your cup of tea.

The only thing you haven’t experienced in Bad Feilnbach at this point are its festivals and markets. The Amateur Artist Market (1st Sunday in July) is one of the most popular, as is the Summer Fest in June, the Rossererfest in August, and the obligatory Christmas Market in December.

The last one being that you’d need to come when it’s cold. Put that Parka on — you’ll be fine. ;-)

It’s possible to get one look at Bischofswiesen and not want to move from that spot. I mean, with views of the German Alps (including Mt. Untersberg and mighty Mt. Watzmann) it’s hard not to be frozen in place.

No, it isn’t the snow that did it. ;-)

Bischofswiesen’s natural beauty is the stuff of legend, and also ghosts. The Hallthurm, a fortification from the 12th century at the Pass near Berchtesgaden, is reported to be haunted. There’s also a chapel by the Hallthurm, although this wasn’t built here until 1753. I don’t think the chapel is haunted, however.

Around the same time, villagers built the Pilgrimage Church Maria Hilf in 1799. These kinds of churches built around this time period are always a delight to see. So please go, you’d be sorry to have missed it.

You’d also kick yourself if you missed the St. Bartholomew Church located right on the bank of the Königssee. The lake is great for all sorts of outdoor activities, so you get history and outdoor recreation all in one place.

For something a bit more intimate, Bischofswiesen has a small pond with a pebble beach for an afternoon of relaxation. After a day of sightseeing around the nearby salt mines, the Royal Palace, and the Local Heritage Museum you’ve earned the right to do nothing. ;-)

Oh, I guess you can’t go swimming in the middle of winter, can you? Perhaps some shopping at the Advent Market (mid-December) or the Christmas Market (that’s almost a month-long affair) would do the trick.

No need to run off to Salzburg, Austria (only 25km away) for their Christmas Market, is there? You’re better off skiing the Alps or something.

Too warm to ski? How about a nice hike or a night of camping? Both are popular pastimes here in Bischofswiesen. So are the traditional costume (read: lederhosen and dirndls) parades.

Gorgeous scenery, outdoor sports, fantastic holiday markets, and ghosts couldn’t make for a stay than right here in Bischofswiesen. Maybe it’s good if you’re frozen in awe — you’re not gonna want to leave anyway. ;-)

You might never have added Ballenstedt in Saxony-Anhalt to your sightseeing itinerary if you hadn’t heard of Uta.

Uta was a duchess who lived in Ballenstedt a thousand years ago, and was the “model” for Disney’s evil queen from Snow White.

Uta of Ballenstedt (then Uta of Naumberg) wasn’t evil, I assure you. She was a great benefactor to the church, leaving her entire estate to them after dying childless in 1046. The money she left went on to build Naumberg Cathedral, where you can see a life-size likeness of her.

The castle she lived in still stands today, and is one of the town’s most visited sites. A few of Ballenstedt’s guided tours make specific stops at the castle, and one is totally dedicated to it including its crypts.

Most people know the schloss as the final resting place of Albert the Bear (the 1st Margrave of Brandenburg & and Duke of Saxony), but I like to tell Uta’s story. She came first — Albert didn’t come along for almost a hundred years after her.

Why not discuss both of these famous residents at the castle’s restaurant or at one of the outside cafes in town?

There’s another castle in Ballenstedt, but Roseburg is only meant to look like a medieval burg — it was built in the early 20th century.

Sorry, for the true medieval you gotta stick to Schloss Ballenstedt, the town’s fortification walls, and the church of St. Nicholas. OK, maybe the last one isn’t technically medieval since it had to be rebuilt in 1501 after the original from the 1320’s burned down. Still, I’m throwing it out there as such. ;-)

Make sure you leave time enough to see the Bismarck Tower, the Anhalt milestone markers, the old Jewish cemetery, the Soviet cemetery, and the World War I Memorial (at the Brauberg) while you’re here, OK?

I really enjoyed Ballenstedt, and I think you will too. The place (and Uta) is a story for the ages, isn’t it?

I don’t know what’s bigger, the name of the town of Berg bei Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz in the Upper Palatinate, or its 34 districts. You be the judge, I don’t have it in me to debate today. ;-)

What’s not debatable is how lovely the town of Berg (Neumarkt) is, which is part of the Franconian Jura. Even the ruins of Castle Haimburg (a 12th century castle that was looted & burned during the Thirty Years’ War) are lovely.

A couple of other castles you’ll want to see are the Schloss Berg and the Schloss Rohrenstadt. I did say there were 34 villages, so there’s bound to be more than one, right?

If you only see one make sure it’s the ruins of Wolfenstein. It was built in 1150 (and destroyed sometime in the 17th century), and its 22-meter high tower makes a great observation tower. The castle is open year-round, but guided tours are only offered on Sundays.

One of the other “ruins” to see isn’t a castle, but a former monastery (the Kloster Birgitten a.k.a. Kloster Gnadenberg) from the 1430s. Only its external walls still stand, as well as the epitaph of a 15th century knight. Brilliant. I love this place.

If you prefer a church that’s more intact, then the pilgrimage church of Maria Hilf (a Baroque church from 1727) or the Church of St. John (its Gothic Hall was built 1404) is it.

What makes the town of Berg different from most places? Its King Otto Stalactite Cave. Its Advent Hall is the highlight of this naturally made wonder; that’s only open April 1st to October 31st.

Does being underground count as being outside, I wonder. Hmm, again I’ll leave that for you to debate while you’re admiring all the sculpture along the Ludwig Canal, or horseback riding, fishing, and swimming.

You know what’s fun? Taking a carriage ride through town. After a morning shopping at Berg’s Weekly Market (Thursdays 8am-noon), that ride sounds just about right.

While it might be funny to watch everyone debate about Berg’s name — you won’t debate how awesome this place is to see.

Quite close to the Austrian border and the Bavarian Alps is the pretty town of Berchtesgaden.

You might have heard of it because it’s on the German Alpine Road (one of the most beautiful scenic routes in Germany), or you might have heard about it because some of its residents read like a Who’s Who of Third Reich and World War II history.

Whatever you heard, nothing will prepare you for what you’ll see once you’re here, all under the watch of Mt. Watzmann (one of the tallest in Germany). Also high on a hill is Kehlsteinhaus, better known as Adolf Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest.

Hitler’s 50th birthday present is now a restaurant — and you need to take a special bus to get up there. His Berghof, as well as the houses owned by other high ranking Nazi officials were torn down after the war.

Many of Hitler’s cronies (as well as his mistress Eva Braun and the Duke & Duchess of Windsor) stayed at the Berchtesgadener Hof Hotel, which was also torn down and now has a museum in its place.

Which isn’t to be confused with the Obersalzberg Documentation Center, a museum that acts as both a local history museum and tells the tale of the Third Reich in the region.

You’ll also want to visit the Salt Mine, which is remarkably pretty considering it’s been a real working mine for almost 500 years. Guided tours are available if you’re interested in seeing it.

There are places in Berchtesgaden that’ll make you really appreciate the natural beauty of the area. At the Almbach Gorge you’ll see the clearest of water and romantic footbridges.

Mt. Jenner’s got a 360-degree panorama of the area from 1800 meters or 6,000 feet up (great to ski in the wintertime), and the Königssee lake is simply idyllic.

Keep a look out for the St. Bartholomä monastery on the side of the lake. I don’t think they could’ve picked a more heavenly spot.

When coming across a town like Bunde in Lower Saxony, it’s easy to fall in love. Not with your other half, Silly, but with the town itself.

You’ve got anything and everything you could possibly want within its five districts, ranging from Stone Age artifacts to the simple pleasures of drinking East Frisian tea sweetened with Kluntje while listening to the locals speaking Low German.

I think I want to live here. Forever.

Bunde started out simple enough. Stone Age man and woman lived here; then the town went on to become a Roman camp area around 12 B.C. Funny, though, the Roman Camp wasn’t “discovered” until 1928.

Imagine all this time residents were building the Covenant Church (built 1528 over the original 13th century St. Martin Church), the Church Landschaftspolder (built 1766), the Church Ditzumervelaat (1887), and Church Wymeer (1564) all over an area that was teeming with Roman soldiers at one time, without even knowing it.

Of course, you’ll find a respectable castle in Bunde. Well, they call it a manor house. Either way, the Steinhaus Bunderhee has 3 stories, and offers guided tours on Thursdays at 3pm July to September.

A full storey taller than the castle is the Bunder Mühle, a Gallery Dutch windmill that’s as productive as it is romantic. A multi-tasker, Germans love that sort of thing. ;-)

If you prefer to get away from it all, I would suggest the nature conservation area in Wymeer (great for bird watching), as well as just chilling out fishing (or the more exciting canoeing), hiking one of the many trails, or a lone bicycle ride.

It’ll be hard to be alone when one of Bunde’s festivals or markets is taking place. Hmm, there’s the Easter bonfires, the Easter Market, the Johannimarkt (April), the Pfingstmarkt in May, the Village Fest and Wine Fest in July, and the Summer Festival in August.

Oh, and get this, there are two weekly markets in Bunde. One on Friday mornings (8am-noon), the other on Saturday afternoons (2:30pm-4:30pm).

Maybe this is why no one noticed the Romans, everyone was too busy having a good time. ;-)

With a name like Bad Berka, you’d expect some big ol’ “Bubba Truck” with 10 foot tires, or something. “Yeah, I was drivin’ Bad Berka down the interstate when she blew a tire…” (Say it with a Southern accent like you’re in Gone With The Wind, and you’ll see what I’m talking about. ;-)

Actually, Bad Berka is a quiet, peaceful, graceful Thuringian town that was worthy of Goethe. And since there’s a “Bad” designation, you know you’ll have a great spa experience. Try it while reading some Goethe, while you’re at it.

Why do I keep mentioning Goethe? Well, Mr. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was friends with a local teacher, so he (and his wife) were visitors.

FYI, they lived at the Edelhof (a mansion built in 1786), not at the Goethe House — which is part of the school where Goethe’s friend Schütz lived and taught. There’s even a fountain in town that bears his name. Rightfully so, the man had his hand in the design of the original spa.

Oh, the spa… This is where you’ll want to be in-between visits to the places I just mentioned and the ruins of the Schlossberg (a 13th century castle that was wrecked in the 16th century). Over at nearby Burg Tannroda (built 12th century), you can visit the castle museum or get a bite at the restaurant.

Time for the spa. ;-) First a massage. Then a walk in the Kneipp pool. Then a bath in the Goethe Well. Aah…

With that now out of the way, it’s time to see the monastic church of St. Mary. Yes, this is a real medieval church, even though it did burn down in 1608 — and didn’t get a new tower for more than a hundred years.

I guess everyone was too busy enjoying the mineral springs or the countryside. ;-)

Gotta go get me a facial and body wrap at the Avenida-Therme — be back in a few.

Yeah, that was refreshing.

I’m all energized to climb the Pauline Tower, try some Nordic Walking, and bike ride through town. Heck, I might just keep going until I get to Weimar that’s only 11km away.

Uhhh, no I won’t… I have another massage scheduled. I wouldn’t want to be late for that, but if I was driving a big truck called Bad Berka, I’d probably make it. ;-)