When you’ve had dreams of awaking in a small guesthouse that’s been owned by the same family for generations, surrounded by green trees in a medieval city; then I’d tell you that it’s possible to live it in reality. The town is Nittendorf in one of the most wonderful places in the whole world, Bavaria.

There are 26 villages that make up Nittendorf today, so there’s plenty of land to bicycle around, take a relaxing stroll, or do something as exciting as taking a hot air balloon ride.

Or just find the perfect beer garden, preferably one that serves the local Eichhofen beer that’s brewed right here at the local Schlossbrauerei Eichhofen (yeah, that’s right… a brewery with Pils, Dark, or even a Festival Blend for you to try!).

And don’t look at me like that — the minute I wrote Bavaria you should have realized I’d talk about beer. ;-)

Try not to imbibe too much before you’ve seen a bit of this 9th century town (which is actually how far back the village of Etterzhausen dates to). There’s a castle in Etterzhausen, too, and the ruins of Burg Loch nearby. But, the Castle Eichhofen is a privately owned 16th century Burg, so seeing this one is out of the question. Hey, Eichhofen has the beer, so don’t complain too much. ;-)

And just like any self-respecting medieval German village, it would be nothing without a church or two. The municipality of Schönhofen has a wonderful place of worship dating back to the Middle Ages, as well as the Romanesque St. Nikolaus which was built in 1150.

The Chapel of the Virgin Mary isn’t that old, but these small roadside chapels always seem to be a quiet and serene place to visit and take some time to reflect upon life.

When you want to be more one with nature, Nittendorf can accommodate. Take your pick. Horseback riding, canoeing, walking paths, bicycle trails, and cave exploration (there are dark, creepy caves over in Etterzhausen).

But, if you want to be more one with your charge card shopping can be done along the local shops around Gut Löweneck where you can buy souvenirs or just find another one of those beer gardens serving that delicious Eichhofen beer.

The minute you arrive in Neustadt (Hesse) you’ll find that it’s quite easy to get into the fairytale spirit of things. What makes me so sure?

How about, because Neustadt is on the scenic 600km long German Fairytale Road (Deutsche Märchenstraße), bordering Schwalmstadt (also on the Märchenstraße).

But, there has to be a reason Neustadt is on the Märchenstraße, right? I’m thinking all the beautiful half timbered houses have something to do with it. Places like the Tennenhaus which was built around the year 1700. Today it houses the town’s archives.

Then there’s the half timbered Castle Dörnberg, which is now the town’s Rathaus; or Town Hall. Right next to it is the Junker-Hansen-Turm, the remainder of a late 15th century castle with the largest framework rotunda in all of Germany.

It would be awful not to mention the framework Rathaus der Vincentinerinnen and the ruins of the mid-13th century Burg Trugelrode.

Now it’s not fair to say that Neustadt is just a bunch of half-timbered houses and castles. There are churches, too. But, if you’re only going to see one or two, make it the Catholic Pfarrkirche and the Friedhofskapelle (Cemetery Chapel).

For some festival fun, there’s a 3-day Kirmes (church festival) in mid-June, another 3-day church festival in the village of Speckswinkel, and the Summer Festival in August. And these aren’t even the half of it!

There are summer concerts, a bake house festival in September, an Oktoberfest (a couple of them, actually), Advent concerts, and a Nikolaus Market.

Over in the village of Mengsberg, there’s a Heimatmuseum (Local History Museum) open on the 1st Saturday of the month. Any other day of the week, you’re welcome to enjoy the surrounding forest, frolick at the Hallenbad, or do a bit of horseback riding.

Whatever your reasons for coming to Neustadt (Hesse), you’ll be really glad you did; and you’ll certainly keep your fairytale spirit when you leave. ;-)

Do any of you remember the television show “Where in the World is Carmen Santiago”? Well, we here at MyGermanCity.com, are going to play it our way and call it “Where the Heck in Germany is Niddatal?” ;-)

So, the question is: Where do you go for roller hockey and to see the remains of 70,000 year old rhinoceros?

The answer is… in Niddatal, a Hessian town just half an hour northeast of Frankfurt.

Now, not only can you play some roller hockey, but there are three ponds to sit near to enjoy a picnic, as well as tennis courts and a large pool complex. They’re all good for working off some of those calories you consumed by eating the regionally famous Bieschter Kesselwurst (a sausage usually served with mashed potatoes, apple sauce, and sauerkraut) and Assemer Soup (a sort of vegetable soup).

Then again walking, hiking, or biking through the Nature Park Niddatal will help work off all that delicious food, too. This is where the bones from a 70,000 year old rhinoceros were found (take that Africa!). Often there are special events in the nature park, including “Bat Night” and other special forest expeditions.

BTW, Niddatal also offers a 3km guided tour along the Storchenweg or “Stork Path,” too.

When you’ve got the history bug, Niddatal’s got you! Its Ilbenstadt Monastery is the oldest in the Wetterau, built in 1123.

There’s also the pilgrimage church of St. Gangolf to visit, too. Another church to see is the Basilica Maria, St. Petrus & Paulus — so grand is this church that it’s named for more than just one saint! It’s also called the Cathedral of Wetterau, so if you hear it referred that way — you know you’re in the right place.

Even older than these medieval and subsequent time periods in Niddatal (but nowhere near as old as that rhinoceros) is the the reconstructed Roman fountain.

With all this to see and do, aren’t you glad you decided to play “Where the Heck in Germany is This Niddatal” with me? ;-)

It’s quite crazy to think that every town in Germany is busting at the seams with framework houses, historic churches, and castles that belong in a horror or Disney film. If you come to Neuried in Baden-Württemberg expecting all that, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Wait! Before you stop reading while thinking, why bother going any further if Neuried doesn’t have these things? Hear me out. I didn’t say you wouldn’t find some of these things — I just said places like Neuried isn’t chocked full of them.

Neuried is the quintessential REAL Germany. A place where folks go about their daily life, go to church, and party like there’s no tomorrow when there’s a festival. Oh, and sit by one of the nearby lakes and barbeque with friends.

While there’s no horror movie castle, Neuried is close to the Burgruine Hohengeroldseck (in nearby Seelbach), which means the Castle Hohengeroldseck is in ruins.

The town sits in a lowland forest with little lakes with BBQ grill pits. So, grab yourself some wurst, wine, and beer; and chill out with friends and family.

After a day soaking up the sun’s rays, come into town and see Neuried’s many framework houses. You’ll probably wear yourself out with all this activity so it’s nice that Neuried has a few little guesthouses to make visitors feel welcome. And don’t worry about going hungry, there are plenty of little restaurants in town ranging from pizzeries to traditional German cuisine.

The Rheinfest (held in May at the Festplatz) is also where you’ll find traditional German cuisine, as well as music. The Fastnacht Festival is a fun merry making event that occurs right before the start of Lent — so join in the fun in the middle of winter

End your stay at the nearby Europa-Park and a few Roman sites (the town is on the Roman Road, after all); and you’ve got yourself one pretty awesome trip.

Just one thing… the church in Schutterzell holds both Protestant and Catholic services. But, I don’t think you get extra points in Heaven if you stay for both. ;-)

Vettweiß and its eleven shires is just the picture perfect place to visit when you want history. Lots and lots of history. OK, it’s also the perfect place to visit if you’re a bicycle enthusiast.

First off, the bicycle thing. It really is true that once you learn you never really forget how to ride a bike. So, don’t use that excuse when coming to this town that’s only about ten kilometers southeast of the city of Düren. There are no less than three scenic bicycle tours that ride through this town that was once on an old Roman Army Trail.

The first bicycle route is known as the Kaiserroute (a.k.a. Imperial Route), which follows in the footsteps of the infamous Charlemagne, going from Aachen to Paderborn.

Another bicycle route is the Heath Route. This is a relatively easy route that’s only about 13 kilometers; taking you along some mighty wonderful countryside with lots of rare plants. Just follow the information boards and you’ll be just fine.

Your last bicycle route is the Wasserburgenroute. For those of you who don’t know what that means in German — it’s a route that highlights water castles (yeah, moats!). This route is 365km long, so only a small bit passes through Vettweiß.

But, if you want castles Vettweiß’s got ’em! One of the moated castles you’ll see is Burg Sievernich. Originally built in 1153, the one you’re looking at is from the late 17th century. Its gate was destroyed in 1941 and promptly rebuilt.

Castle Gladbach is nearby; and has been inhabited since it was built in the year 1100. It’s a bit more Baroque looking today, but its foundations are purely medieval.

Burg Müddersheim is another fantastic castle; this one even older than the other two. It was built in 1057, although the gardens weren’t added for another 700 years. This is also where you’ll find the 17th stone Antonius Chapel, the final burial place of a German Baron.

As if this isn’t enough to keep you busy for a month of Sundays there is the Holy Trinity Chapel, the remnants of the Roman Army Trail, and four old Jewish cemeteries.

This isn’t even adding in all the Christmas celebrations (including a Christmas Market), Costume Balls, and Carnival festivities that fall around the Lenten season.

If you manage to see and do all this on a vacation to Vettweiß, you’re gonna need a vacation to just relax. ;-)

There are ten districts in Vetschau (Spreewald), a town where you’ll find the world’s largest wind turbine and a bunch of storks. Wow, if that’s two things at the opposite ends of a municipal spectrum!

Vetschau sits within the Spreewald Biosphere that sees the return of the famous white storks every Spring. These birds winter in Africa, so their return is a great indication of warmer weather to come. The storks are so important that they even have their own informative Stork Center, known as the Storchenzentrum Vetschau.

Whether you come to see these incredible birds or some of Vetschau’s man-made sites (how about both?) you won’t be disappointed. Though, chances are if you hike or bike through the biosphere between March and September, you’ll most likely see the storks.

Veetschau Castle was once a 10th century Slavic hill fort. Now it’s a 3-storey Renaissance castle that has a castle park and greenhouse. Legend says the castle has all these underground passages. But, most medieval castles had them so I would be more surprised if it didn’t have any!

Speaking of Slavic forts, Vetschau is where you’ll find something called the Slavs Raddusch. This is a pretty awesome place. It’s a reproduction of a Slavic stronghold and one of only forty in the entire region. Its large courtyard acts as a theater, concert “hall,” has a restaurant, and an event hall for children’s events.

In case you don’t actually come to Vetschau, but find yourself traveling on the Autobahn A15, you can still see it from a distance. And you’ll impress your travel mates by knowing what it is. ;-)

The last place on your list to see in Vetschau is the 13th century Double Church because of its two naves. Whether it has one nave or twelve, the Double Church is a really beautiful piece of religious architecture. So, try to take in a service while you’re here.

Then go have a bite to eat at the Slavs Raddush restaurant.

How many of us have heard “I’m bored” from the little ones? With the advent of over a bazillion television channels, video games, iPods, and MP3 players, kids are in sensory overload with all this “activity.”

Well, how about chucking out all those electronic devices (except your digital camera — you’ll need that) and going back to the simple life? My vote for that is the Lower Franconian town of Volkach, preferably staying in the Echterhof Hotel; an inn that’s been welcoming travelers to the area since 1605.

Now before you go thinking that Volkach is about as sophisticated as the Dark Ages, hold on a sec! Of course the town has all the modern conveniences you could ever need. It’s just that it all happens at a slower pace (which is good, IMO).

Volkach is a town that enjoys its festivals; and the biggest one in town is the annual Wine Festival (called Weinfest here), with all sorts of varieties made within the Franconian Wine Region. OK, maybe this festival isn’t for the kids, but nonetheless it always makes the grown-ups happy.

Other festivals here include the Herbstmarkt or Autumn Market (mid-October), the Gourmet Market (early April) that’s all about the food, the Summer Market (late June), and there are always concerts going on at the Marktplatz (Market Square).

If you’re not here during anyone of these festivals, I assure you the kids won’t say they’re bored. The Franconian sunshine makes it perfect to go camping, canoeing, hiking, or biking. Then there are the walks through the vineyards and wine tasting. Oh, sorry — that’s for the mommies & daddies, again! ;-)

I know it’s hard to tear yourself away from all the wine drinking, but there’s more to see. There are two City Gates (one’s called the Diebenturm or Thief Tower) from the 16th century; both are the only remainders from the town’s original defense wall (called a Stadtmauer in German).

Then there is the church of St. Bartholomew. Even though the church was built 700 years ago, it has a Renaissance baptismal font and Baroque alter.

The Maria Immaculata Well that sits outside the Rathaus is older than the Town Hall itself. The well’s been there since 1480, the Town Hall didn’t come for 64 more years. But, the oldest of all of Volkach’s sites is the Maria im Weingarten, a pilgrimage church that was built in the 1300’s.

Volkach’s Local History Museum (Heimatmuseum) can explain a lot more of the area’s history. Although it’s only open from Easter Sunday to the 1st of November on Fridays from 2pm-5pm & weekends from 11am-5pm. That’s plenty of time to get to see it.

Lastly is the Carthusian Museum Charterhouse, a monastery founded in 1409. Its museum is open from 1 November to the 28 February on Sundays from 2pm-5pm.

After a few days here in Volkach, and a little German lesson from me on this page, you won’t hear “I’m bored” outta the kids once! ;-)

Alongside an artificial water canal and a solar power plant is the wonderful Upper Bavarian town of Töging am Inn.

Now, if you’re looking for the quintessential medieval castle, you’ve wandered into the wrong place. But, if you’re looking for a fun festival town… well then, partner, you’ve come to the right place.

But, first things first. A trip to Töging should start at the white Rathaus building on the Rathausplatz. Snap a few photos of the Hochzeitbrunnen (Wedding Fountain), then off you go!

Go where? Oh, sorry! How about to any one of Töging’s markets or festivals? Start the year off right with the Dreikönigssingen or Three King Sing, which kicks off in early January. Then there’s the monthly Flohmarkt on the Volksfestplatz, which is a Flea Market held on the last Saturday of the month; except July, December, and January.

On top of the Flea Market, there’s Töging’s Weekly Market (on the Rathausplatz) on Thursdays starting at 2pm. The Rathausplatz is also where Töging holds its Luziamarkt, a Christmas Market that takes place on the 3rd weekend of Advent.

There’s also a monthly Trödlermarkt, on the 1st Sunday of the month. This is an all day affair, starting at 10am and doesn’t end until 5pm! But, the Herbstmarkt (Autumn Market) only happens once a year — the 2nd weekend of October.

Are you all shopped out yet? There’s one more left before you’re done. But, it’s not really a market; it’s a festival. The Maibaumfest is an early May affair; and a great chance to try some local Upper Bavarian dishes and beer.

Oh, you don’t have to wait for a special occasion to try a famous German beer. Just pull up a chair at a cozy local beer garden and off you go!

All right, you’ve reached the end of the “sightseeing” in Töging. But, you’re not left without anything else to do. There’s always swimming, miniature golf, hiking, cycling, and golfing.

You know, an outdoor beer garden is a great way to enjoy Upper Bavaria. And I think you’ll think so, too. After a couple hefty Weizen, you won’t even miss the castle that isn’t here. ;-)

Teterow has a rockstar. Whoops! I’m sorry that would be Rostocker Tor.

Yeah, read that real fast like I did and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Actually the Rostock Gate is one of only two remaining gates to the original medieval defense wall. The other is the Malchiner Tor, which is now the town’s Local History Museum.

Teterow’s castle (known as Schloss Teterow) was built in the 16th century. No need to be nobility to come here these days, it’s got an attached golf course. Sweet! Or, should I say FORE! ;-)

Over at the Marktplatz is Teterow’s Town Hall (called Rathaus in German). While this building isn’t nearly as old as many other sites (1910), it’s still a pretty example of Neo-Baroque architecture.

From the Marktplatz you can see the Stadtkirche Sts. Peter & Paul, a late Romanesque and Gothic church that was built in 1215. Services have been held here for just about 800 years. Imagine trying to come up with that many sermons. ;-)

The only thing that remains of Teterow’s Jewish Community is its 18th century Jewish cemetery, that was used (is that the right word?) until 1932. The town’s synagogue and Jewish school were destroyed in 1938 and demolished.

Most visitors (and residents alike) like to come to the Teterower See, a recreational lake where you can swim or take a boat ride. Look out for the Burgwallinsel, originally a Slavic settlement; and there are quite a few observation points along the lake to bird watch.

The other big attraction in Teterow is the annual motorcycle race (known as Internationales Bergringrennen or International Bergring Race) that takes place at Pentecost. Its track is designed for you to go Mach 2 with your rear end on fire. No, I’m just kidding, but nonetheless does the motorcycle track attract 30,000 cycle enthusiasts from all over Europe.

So, Teterow might not have any rock stars, but you may very well find a motorcycle one!

You know, some folks like it warm and sunny, others like it gray, dreary, foggy, and drab. If you’re the type that gets upset when you go to London and it’s raining, Teutschenthal is just right for you, because it receives very little rainfall.

Chances are the bright sunshine will be waiting for you when you arrive in Teutschenthal.

Rain or shine though, the sites in town remain the same. What’s to see, then?

Well, you have the lovely Castle Teutschenthal and the late 15th century St. Lawrence Church. These old birds are really fantastic if you want a look at medieval art and architecture — there’s something really romantic about old stone churches, don’t you agree?

But, the oldest church in town is St. Vitus. It was built in 1129 with some Gothic additions made in 1675. There’s also the Rittergut Würdenburg, a manor house that’s actually a castle. If you want to stay in a Schloss you can, there’s a Castle Hotel in town; and no noble lineage is required to stay here.

In Teutschenthal you can go from the historic to the modern in a matter of minutes. The town is famous for its motorcross races and World Championships. If you don’t mind packing on a helmet and some pads, try the dirt track slopes and let it rip!

For something of a slower pace, then shopping at the obligatory Christmas Market (while drinking some mulled wine) would work. Linger around for a while, the town usually has concerts going on around to keep shoppers entertained.

The warmer weather (and all that sunshine) is great for enjoying the nearby swimming lake in Seegebiet Mansfelder Land. So much of Germany is family-friendly and that area really fits the bill.

You sun worshippers are going to love it here. The rest of you will like it, too. Just remember to bring some really dark sunglasses… ;-)