Folklore says that back in the day when Germans were fighting against Napoleon (the 19th century short-statured, feisty French emperor) a general asked where his recruits were from.

Unlike modern day Germany where Saxony, Prussia, and Westphalia are all united under one flag — each was its own kingdom. A young lad yelled he was from the Kingdom of Flieden, not knowing whose kingdom the town belonged since the borders were always changing.

Afterwards the town forever became known as Königreich Flieden. Although, today it technically belongs to the federal state of Hesse — and no part of Germany is a kingdom.

History lesson over, now it’s time to enjoy the kingdom, err, town that’s near the Vogelsberg Mountains for what it is. A super fun place that’s got everything from concerts to castles!

Usually I start my virtual town tours with the historical side of town. Not this time, Friends! I got myself a trusty bicycle and explored the countryside & along the Hessian Cycle Trail R3.

I passed hikers and regular old walkers, even stopping to take a dip in Flieden’s outdoor swimming pool (open from May-September). I did more than that really, as the pool complex has a waterslide & diving platform, tennis courts, chess, and a restaurant. Sorry, I got hungry. ;-)

I ambled around the Wildpark Gersefeld (it’s a little distance away) and stopped in to see the Heimatmuseum Lenzis (the local history museum). It’s housed within an old peasant’s house — a nice pace from always looking at the homes of the nobility.

Oh yeah, as for them — in Flieden the Castle Steckel is now in ruins. You can either wander around on your own or take a guided tour to find out all sorts of “nitty gritty” dirty details about its inhabitants.

My virtual tour around the kingdom ended with a visit to the 15th century Parish Church at the Sebastian Chapel, the Parish Church St. Josef Magdlos, and the Baroque Catholic Church St. Goar. Old churches like these are always a sure bet for stunning artwork.

The virtual tour around and through Flieden might have ended with the churches, but my trip here doesn’t. It’s hard to resist not staying for Flieden’s Christmas concerts and fantastic Christmas Market, filled with all sorts of crafts & stuff. I think they served mulled wine so that you’re a bit tipsy and buy more. ;-)

However, if you come at the end of August for the Fountain Festival (or the Parish Festival, too) there’s not much buying — just loads of fun, tons of food, and lots (and lots) of drinking (especially at the town’s Oktoberfest and Midsummer Night Party).

While it might be good to be king, in the case of Flieden it’s great to be a kingdom!

I’ll tell ya, that Thirty Years’ War in 17th century German history was something else. If you’ve read many pages here on MyGermanCity.com you might have noticed that plenty German cities, towns, and villages were totally ransacked, leveled, destroyed, and even abandoned during this time from 1618-1648.

This widespread destruction was the norm; and the town of Falkenstein (Vogtland) in Saxony was no different.

However, the textile industry saved this grand town giving it a much needed boost to the local economy.

Oh, I think I just channeled my history professor cousin there for a second. He would be so proud, I think? ;-)

I mention all this because it’s a good set up to what you’ll learn at this Falkenstein’s Heimatmuseum, located at Schlossplatz 1. It’s only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm-5pm so prepare accordingly.

And because this started as an educational page, I’ll continue… In German a Heimatmuseum is a local history museum; and Samstag is Saturday & Sonntag is Sunday.

There you go, feeling like a true German yet? I know I am. ;-)

Here’s another German word for you: Tierpark. That’s an animal game park, for which Falkenstein has one with everything from camels to bears. It’s open Montag bis Sonntag (that’s Monday to Sunday) from 10am-6pm.

No big deal if you’re not fluent in German yet. At Falkenstein’s festivals everyone speaks the same language — fun! Just remember the Falkensteiner Street Festival is in June, the Wine Festival is in August, and the Autumn Fair is on the 1st weekend of October.

Just when I thought the history stuff was over and we could kick back with some fun, I remembered a few more things to see here.

Like what? Oh, how about the historic Town Hall, the 19th century Holy Cross Church, and the old Hospital. There was even a 13th century castle here known as Valkenstein.

Plus, at the local cemetery there’s a memorial to the town’s Jewish residents & resistance fighters, and a Soviet Cemetery is in town, too.

I guess I started this page out educational, and I guess I’m ending it that way, too. On second thought, it’s Sonntag and the Tierpark is open. Do you think they’ll let us ride the camel? ;-)

A little more than two decades ago the culture within the town of Zwenkau in Saxony was pretty much nil. Yeah, nothing. Zip. Zero. Ziltch.

After the reunification of Germany in the early 1990’s, this original Slavic settlement has seen a Renaissance not seen since, well, the Renaissance. Oh, I just crack myself up. ;-)

So, what do folks around here do now that they didn’t have 20 years ago?

How about shopping at the KAP ZWENKAU, a shopping arcade with restaurants and an exhibition pavilion? They come play at the Belantis Amusement Park; and more than a half million people a year come to chill out on the shores of the Zwenkauer See, which has become quite the popular site for sailing.

Take a trip around the lake itself on the M.S. Santa Barbara Ferry. Or, rent a bicycle and take a ride around the edge of the lake.

Winter? Oh, don’t worry about that! The lake is getting popular with cross-country skiers who like to ski around it. Quite nice if you got the stamina to do it.

Folks also like to take in an evening at the cinema, enjoy musical concerts, and enjoy the festivities at the annual Laurentiusfest which is held on the 2nd weekend of August.

Why the Laurentiusfest? Well, perhaps, it’s because of the beautiful Lutheran St. Laurentius Church. It’s Baroque now (after a fire in 1712), but there has been a church on this spot since about the year 974. Yes, that’s a mighty long time.

If you think you’ve seen all of Zwenkau, you haven’t. There are other festivals to party at, like the May Day Festival and the Martinstag (Martins Day) Festival. Other little festivals and gatherings happen at the Rathaus, which used to be a castle. You really didn’t think there wouldn’t be a castle in a town this old, did you?

There is also a tomb of three unknown Soviet soldiers and a memorial stone to resistance fighters dating back to East German times. You’ll also find themed hiking & biking trails, the Nature Preserve Elsteraue, and temple ruins to visit.

I don’t think anyone could say there wasn’t any culture in Zwenkau today. What a difference a few decades make!

Some folks that get to Zorneding in Upper Bavaria decide to not drive but to take the S-Bahn train from nearby Munich, which leaves every 10 minutes. Figuring if one didn’t like the place it would only take about 20 minutes out of someone’s life to get back to classy Munich.

Turns out thousands of folks do like it so it isn’t a waste of precious time.

Zorneding might have some wonderful old buildings to see, but it was the countryside and the Ebersberg Forest that stole my heart.

The Ebersberg Forest was once a medieval hunting ground, so imagine yourself as such (the hunter, not the hunted). Go ahead and laugh, but it sure makes the time pass pretty quickly. ;-)

You’ll see all sorts of Spruce, Fir, and Oak trees along your walk, finally ending up at the nearby Observation Tower where you’ll get the best aerial view imaginable. So, this is what all the birds around here see. I think you’ll fall in love with Upper Bavaria all over again.

As you wind down from your Forest experience (there’s even a Forest Museum within the Ebersberg Forest) and return your rented bicycle walk around the rest of the way.

Some of the best of Zorneding’s history can be seen at the Baroque St. Martin Church (1719). It was originally a medieval church from the very early 14th century.

St. Georg is also a Baroque Church (1696); and the St. Anthony Chapel was also built around the same time in 1683. The grandeur and opulence of the Baroque period is never more evident than in its churches.

OK, maybe the castles too, but there aren’t any here.

I had to jump ahead to the 19th century when I saw the Marienkapelle (1864) in the village of Ingelsberg and the Neuwirtskapelle, built in 1887.

The 20th century gave us the Ludwig Monument and the War Memorial, built in 1923 for fallen soldiers of the Great War with World War II soldiers added later.

Your last stop in Zorneding might be a beer garden. You know, with train service running as frequently as it does, I think you can sit here for a while and still make it back to Munich at a decent hour. ;-)

Long before there was even a Germany many different cultures cast their mark on this extraordinary country. Oh, you know who I’m talking about — those scamps known as the Romans and Celts (and others like them).

However, for the sake of this conversation about the town of Waldenbuch the Romans are totally out of this. It’s the Celts that make a settlement here that got the ball rolling, which you’ll see at the appropriately named Celtic Hill.

After they left, Waldenbuch morphed into the proper German town we know and love today. OK, I know that’s not totally accurate, but cut me some slack. It’s hard to cram a few thousand years of history onto one webpage.

Will a few hundred years of Waldenbuch’s important historical dates suffice? Good, thanks. Maybe it’s not so much of the historical dates as it is the culture of certain time periods?

Over at the Museum der Alltagskultur (the Museum of Everyday Culture, a branch of the Württemberg State Museum) is the perfect place to experience it firsthand.

One place I sure like to experience is the Museum Ritter, a place of gooey, chocolaty goodness. Sure, I like a good beer but that doesn’t mean I don’t have an occasional sweet tooth for a chocolate factory. I know the little tykes always seem to like the stuff. Doesn’t everyone?

Doesn’t everyone love castles, too? Who wouldn’t want to own their very own, like the Dukes of Württemberg over at Schloss Waldenbuch. Oh, forgive me… this castle wasn’t your everyday living kind of castle, it was a mere hunting lodge built in 1650. That’s some weekend cabin, must be nice. ;-)

The Schloss might come from the Renaissance, but the Church of St. Veit (built 14th century) and the remains of its defense wall (known as a Stadtmauer) are totally medieval.

Sorry, the Old Rectory next door to St. Veit’s wasn’t added until 1720 — long, long after the Middle Ages were over, but the building deserves honorable mention, so does the Altes Backhaus (Old Bake House, built 1847), and the town mill.

All that’s left is the annual Radish Festival. I’m pretty sure the Romans or Celts didn’t come up with that one, but I’m glad someone did!

Some folks who think about the name Willebadessen might have thoughts of a character from a Hollywood western. My name is Willie. Willie Badessen. See?

However, this Willebadessen is a no gun-slingin’, horse ridin’ guy — it’s a town in the Teutoburg Forest / Eggegebirge Nature Park in Germany. Wow, big difference, right?

And you know what that means… the countryside is just outstanding. One can hardly think of a better place to be outside.

It’s said that the town’s 1000-year old Oak tree was planted by none other than the infamous Charlemagne.

There’s also an animal park (Tierpark) close to town and an observation tower that overlooks many of the town’s cycling and hiking trails, too. The town’s mild winters and warm summers make it quite easy to follow these trails all year round.

A different kind of park is found within Willebadessen, the Europäischer Skulpturenpark or European Sculptures Park. It’s always nice to walk around looking at beautiful objects d’art, don’t ya think?

You can go right from the modern of the Sculptures Park to the medieval of the former monastery. Today the mid-12th century Romanesque Convent Church is now a Parish Church. Just about everyone joins in the Good Friday Procession leading from the Kloster’s Vituskapelle.

After the darker days of the Middle Ages came the Renaissance; and two 16th century castles — the Wasserschloss Borlinghausen and Castle Schweckhausen (this one built in the Weser Renaissance style).

For a town that sounds like it’s named for a movie character it’s not hard to imagine how this town likes to party. The Vitusfest falls on the third Sunday of June, Carnival falls in February or March — as well as Christmas Market on the second Advent weekend (depending on the Christian calendar), and there’s also the Hitgenheiertag — a market held at the monastery on the second Sunday of September.

Willebadessen might have a really funny sounding name, but it sure is an awfully fun place; and its historical side isn’t too bad, either.

I’m so glad you’ve come to see the Swabian town of Wertingen. You know what that means — libations and all other sorts of culinary, historical, and festive delights!

What I’m not going to do is start off a tour in Wertingen with beer. Oh, I know it’ll be hard. But, if I do I’ll be sitting in a beer garden getting nothing accomplished except to finish my pint.

So, my trip starts at the obligatory Rathaus (the Town Hall from 1348), along the Skulpturenweg (Sculptures Trail), and the Contemporary Art Museum which is housed in the old District Courthouse.

Then it’s on to the 14th century Wertinger Castle with its museum. Another museum in town is the Swabian Oven Museum; and Wertingen’s Brewery Museum. This town is totally tempting me with the beer — I don’t know how long I can hold the suds off ;-)

I guess I better head off to Wertingen’s churches instead. While the Bethlehem Church is one of the town’s newer churches (built 1950 & rebuilt 2006), the Parish Church of St. Martin is a stunning Baroque beauty — rebuilt that way after the end of the 17th century Thirty Years’ War. Make sure your camera’s ready to catch some photos of the Tower of the St. Margarethe Church and the Schloßkapelle St. Georg, too.

Because Bavaria is a party-loving place, you’ll just love the festivals and markets. The Spring and Winter Markets are a wonderful excuse to shop and sit for a beer. Oh, here we go again…

Same goes for the Sankt-Martins-Spiel in November, the May Day Festival on May 1st, the Summer Festival in August, and the Schlossweinachten — a Christmas Festival/Market during Advent.

Without a doubt, all this fun and sightseeing has made me hungry. I’m going for the Schübling, a locally made wurst often eaten with sauerkraut.

But, you know this is just an excuse to sit down and enjoy a beer. Hey, ya gotta wash down the best wurst somehow. I’m choosing to drink the Schwanenbräu, an award winning Wertinger Keller beer.

Finally, I get to have a drink. I think I’ve earned it! ;-)

To get to the town of Pullach im Isartal in Upper Bavaria just take the S-Bahn S7 from Munich. Did that already? Now what?

Well, I guess that depends on what kind of sightseeing, cultural (including beer drinking), sporting outdoorsy stuff you want to do.

If history is what you’re after, the Middle Ages (while quite the popular time period) isn’t the oldest era in town. The Romans were here long before knights, fair maidens, and the feudal system.

The most awesome part? You can travel on the same roads these ancient warriors did on the Hohlweg — part of their network of roads known as the Römerstraßen or Roman Roads. This one went from Salzburg to Augsburg.

All righty then, now we can jump to the medieval and Renaissance. I’ll get to the castle in a minute, but first you got to see the 15th century Gothic Old Holy Spirit Church and the Holy Trinity Chapel that was built in 1698 (which today is only used for special occasions).

Now for the castle — like an decent medieval town isn’t gonna have one? Sort of. Burg Schwaneck isn’t from the Middle Ages, and neither is it from the Renaissance (please, these two epic time periods can’t monopolize all the German history, can it?). It was built in the 19th century (located at Burgweg 4-10) and is now a guesthouse and youth center.

Right off from the Burg are many of Pullach’s hiking and walking paths, as well as quite a few bicycle trails. The Forstenrieder Park (a game reserve) is also popular with hikers, cyclists, and inline skaters. Add that to all the jazz concerts, literary events, theater, and folk dancing & you’ve got yourself a jolly good time.

That’s not even mentioning the indoor/outdoor pool with a playground for the kids, a whirlpool, a sauna & steambath; and the winter sports fun of tobogganing & skiing.

One last stop is the Großhesseloher Brücke, which at one time was one of the highest railway bridges in the world.

Ooops! The last stop is actually one of Pullach’s beer gardens… Yum, now that’s a cultural activity anyone can enjoy! ;-)

Where Bavaria is a beer swilling kind of place, neighboring Baden-Württemberg has more refined tastes. What’s that mean? Simply that they like wine around these parts. Which is why places like Pfedelbach (in a beautiful region called Hohenloher Ebene) celebrate the grape instead of the hop.

How? The Wine Festival, held the weekend before Ascension. Many festivals within Germany are held according to the Christian calendar, so in this case count forty days after Easter.

Another festival in Pfedelbach that’s held according to this calendar is the Christmas in the Forest (3rd Advent weekend) and the Christmas Market, held on the 2nd weekend of Advent (end of November/early December).

However, Pfedelbach’s Wandertage or Hiking Days follow the normal everyday calendar we’re all used to, being held on the 1st weekend of August. So is the Children’s Festival held on odd-numbered years and the Burgfest (Castle Festival) every three years.

Yes, that means Pfedelbach has a castle. A lovely Renaissance style one with a gorgeous Castle Chapel, to be more specific.

You might not be able to stay the night in Burg Pfedelbach, but you can at the Gasthaus Sonne. Before it welcomed travelers from all over the globe, it was the swanky digs of German Prince Ferdinand’s widow in 1665.

There are other wonderful architectural delights in Pfedelbach, such as its Town Hall with a Roland sundial and Heimatmuseum (a Local History Museum), a Cemetery Chapel, the Catholic Peter & Paul Church (built 1878) and the Protestant Peter & Paul Church, which is 300 years older.

When the 16th century isn’t old enough, the Roman Watchtower should fit the bill.

For a bit of fun, there are many hiking & cycling trails through the Schwabian Franconian Forest Nature Park, has both an indoor & outdoor pool, tennis courts, and sporting fields where you can play a game of football.

And while wine drinking might make Pfedelbach a bit more refined, the football sure makes it fun.

It’s hard to consider that the town of Steinheim am Albuch was created 15 million years ago. That’s right, 15 million. Sure is a long time ago, isn’t it? But, how? Well, that’s when a meteor slammed into the Earth — thus creating the landscape you see today.

Sure sounds like a right place to have a Meteorite Museum — good thing there is one, housed in one of Steinheim’s old schools; and only five of its kind exist worldwide. :-)

People, however, didn’t come to stay in this Swabian Alb region until about 800-480 B.C. At least, that’s what the ancient burial mounds tell us.

But, I’m pretty sure prehistoric man didn’t have the manicured greens of the town’s golf course to play on. Neither did they have the cycling trails to traverse. Good thing you’re visiting now instead of a few thousand years ago. ;-)

In-between Steinheim’s very early history and today, there were the Middle Ages. One noble family’s influence (including Frederich I a.k.a Barbarossa) in the area (and beyond) follows right through here along a 300km scenic route known as the Straße der Staufer.

During the Hohenstaufer’s heyday, the nearby Castle Hellenstein was built in the 12th century. I know the castle actually lies within the town of Heidenheim an der Brenz, but that’s only about 10-15 minutes away. And you didn’t come this far to not see a castle, right?

Besides, a few museums are actually housed within the castle, so consider it a learning experience! You’re just gonna have to do it between March 15 and November 15, because that’s the only time the castle’s open.

Because there’s so much to do in (and around) Steinheim, why not stay in a 300 year old brewery & guesthouse? Thankfully, the amenities have been upgraded since then, but the Ringhotel zum Kreuz has been taking care of guests for a very long time. Try some delicious Swabian cuisine in the restaurant.

Eat up, because you’ll need the energy to hike the Wental (a dry valley) and to see the area of the old Augustinian Monastery, which opened in the late 12th century; and eventually abandoned about 300 years later.

Of course, if sitting around one of Steinheim am Albuch’s many beer gardens is your idea of a good time — great! Have one for me, too! ;-)