Don’t confuse yourself about the Frisian town of Sande. Yes, it’s in the Friesland part of Germany. But, it’s NOT in the tea drinking (spiked with rum in the winter) part of East Frisia.

This town is but a small jaunt to the beer making town of Jever and the harbor town of Wilhelmshaven only 7km away (and whose castle was destroyed by pirates in 1433).

With that History and Geography lesson over, it’s time to get down to business about what a tourist has to do in this small town. For starters, you could see the town’s landmark — the Marienturm or Marian Tower from the former 16th century castle.

There’s another castle to see. Oh, I’m sorry, it’s known as a Wasserschloss, which means it has a moat. But, visions of castles in my head ALWAYS have a moat, and it’s used throughout the year for various events, like the Castle Fest in May.

The other big festival in Sande is the Sander Market, which isn’t a market in the traditional sense… it’s a Folk Festival, held every July.

Another cool thing about Sande is that it’s along the Frisian Heerweg, a 400km cycling trail that goes through the German Friesland. Even if you don’t travel along the entire route, it’s still nice to pass along the canals and windmills, for which Sande has two of them (one of them the traditional Dutchman).

Cycling isn’t the only past time. You got canoeing, sailing, and paddle boating. I’m worn out just typing about it — let alone actually doing it.

I’m going to just wander about the Sculpture Path, check out Sande’s former synagogue, and take some pictures of the harbor. Then I’m going to grab my swimming gear, slather on some SPF 15 and soak up the rays at Sande Lake. Ahh, that’s a relaxed pace enough for me. ;-)

Now I can just talk one of you into running over to Jever to get me a beer… I’d have it made!

Just between the city of Osnabrück and Oldenburg is Steinfeld (Oldenburg) — a place of brightly colored houses, a Japanese Garden, and plenty of sports. Sounds like a great place to visit, no? Yeah, I think so, too.

It’s been said that bicycling is the best way to see Lower Saxony. But, in the case of Steinfeld I’m going to have to say that horseback riding is a very close second. In fact, the area of Steinfeld is known for horse riding. So, if you’re not afraid, giddy up! ;-)

Riding isn’t the only sport around Steinfeld. There’s bicycling (of course!), as well as swimming, tennis, Nordic Walking, and cricket. Yeah, you don’t hear that one everyday, do you?

If you’re not the animal loving or sports type, maybe a visit to the quiet and serene Japanese Garden is a better idea. Open on Saturdays from May to October, the Japanischer Garten, as it’s called in German, was the vision of a man after a trip East — including a tea house!

Over at the Heuer Haus is a museum looking into the rural life right here in Steinfeld, right down to the house’s original utensils. Another museum is the Mill Museum, and the Meyers Mill is one of the oldest in town (built 1556). No wonder Steinfeld finds itself on the Lower Saxon Mill Route.

There are two more museums in Steinfeld. One is the Carriage Museum filled with all sorts of carriages from various centuries (including “firetrucks”); and the historic tannery. Not so much a museum as it is just a look into the tanner, leather, and fur trade that goes back to around the mid-18th century.

And interestingly enough, there’s a Maritime School here in Steinfeld. Now, it’s not like you’re totally seaside here — so this is a pretty unique place to have a sailing school, which has been here for the last 180 years.

Another unique site here is the replica of Da Vinci’s Last Supper. No, I don’t mean someone repainted the Last Supper… this is carved from wood and the largest of its kind. You’ll find it at the Church of St. John the Baptist.

Pretty cool, huh? I told you Steinfeld was a great place to visit. I guess my work here is done. Now I can ride off into the sunset, just as soon as I can find my horse. ;-)

I’m not sure if I made a wrong turn somewhere. I was on my way to Storkow (Mark) in Brandenburg and found myself in Philadelphia. Philadelphia? Where was I? Did I slip into some sort of a cosmic black hole landing in some alternate universe?

No, I was in the right place… I was just in one of Storkow’s villages that was named by Frederick II of Prussia. And trust me, it might have the name of an American city, but this place is ALL German. :-)

What Storkow also has is 300km of cycling trails that run off through the area’s nature reserve; and plenty of hiking paths through some lovely forested countryside. Some of the most beautiful are around Lake Storkow with dunes that were created over 8,000 years ago.

Oh yeah, speaking of bicycles, Storkow has a bicycle museum including exhibits on the Tour de France and even rickshaws. Pretty nifty, I think!

Storkow even has a castle! Burg Storkow was a medieval wonder, built back in the mid-12th century. It has been changed, damaged, leveled by fire, and rebuilt over the subsequent centuries — the last being in 1978 when it was ravaged by fire & rebuilt in time for the town’s 800th anniversary. It was even used as a school for the Hitler Youth from 1934-1945.

Luckily, everyone get to come to the castle these days to enjoy concerts, theater & music performances often held in the castle courtyard.

It’ll be hard to pull yourself away from this magnificent castle but, if you don’t you won’t get to see the rest of Storkow. Like its historic 14th century Town Church (often holding music concerts) with its 36 meter high tower and all the little shops along the Marktplatz.

Look around a bit more and you’ll find Storkow’s War Memorial and a grand hunting lodge (built 1900).

The best way to see it all is to take a guided city and castle tour. This way you won’t miss anything & think you’ve warped through a black hole when you arrive in Philadelphia. ;-)

Grab the kids and make a beeline right to the town of Nalbach. There’s enough here to see and do to keep an entire family happy, including the most surly teenager or on-the-go toddler. ;-)

The historians in the family will no doubt love the Litermont Museum and Historical Park with its agricultural history and World War II bunkers.

Sports enthusiasts can get in on the 10km Litermont Summit Tour. The 3 – 4 hours it takes to walk this will fly by in a flash. Just a tip: Hiking poles are recommended.

Don’t sweat… there’s tennis and volleyball to do, too. Oh my goodness, my arms are jerking just thinking about this. ;-)

Got an artist in the family (you too?)? They’ll love the Sculpture Trail, filled with all sorts of amazing works of art carved from wood.

Don’t confuse this with the Willow Dome. Stretching 10 meters in diameter, this is a unique “dome” made from beech and willow; and quite the popular spot for weddings — so don’t be surprised if you see couples tying the knot.

Your family “inventor” will like the Optical Telegraph Station, where back in the 1800’s there was a telegraph station stretching from Metz (France) to Mainz (Germany). Pretty awesome how much communication technology has changed in less than 200 years, huh?

Adventurers will get a kick out of the Forest Trail. This “trail” is 2.5 kilometers long with 24 stations created from natural materials. Walk the labyrinth, feel the bark, and teach those little ones all about nature.

There’s also a Jungle Adventure, BTW.

Shoppers and partygoers unite! Nalbach has a Christmas Market (of course!), Carnival, a Peter & Paul Market, a Spring Fair, two Kirmes church festivals (one in September, one in late June/early July); that’s when both the Village Festival and the Primsurferfest (with fireworks) is also held.

Didn’t I tell you that the whole family could be happy? Maybe next time we’ll leave those surly teenagers home, though. ;-)

You’d probably have to travel to some far, remote place to find someone who hasn’t heard of mad King Ludwig II. What most folks probably haven’t heard about him is that he used to like coming to the Upper Bavarian town of Tutzing to fish (and do a whole lot more that he shouldn’t have ;-).

Now good ol’ mad Ludwig really did like the fishing off the shores of Lake Starnberg, ad he really enjoyed the “private meetings” on Tutzing’s Roseninsel or Rose Island. Located only about 170 meters off the Tutzinger beach, Rose Island has only one inhabitant — the fulltime groundskeeper! More than 4,000 visitors a month make it to Rose Island, so no clandestine meets like in Ludwig’s day!

Honestly, the Starnberger See has some of the best sailing, swimming, surfing, and water skiing you can imagine. Maybe this is why Bavaria is the most visited region of Germany? Who knows… I just know that Tutzing is pretty fantastic.

In addition to all its watersports, the town has some historical sites as well. Ludwig II wasn’t the only member of royalty to come here. Waldemar of Prussia (um, that’s easier to say than his full name of Wilhelm Ludwig Friedrich Viktor Heinrich, Prince of Prussia ;-) was buried in the Forest Cemetery when he died here in 1945.

Lucky for us common folk we can enjoy Tutzing, too. One of the most visited sites is the Kloster Bernried, built in 1121. A year later the monastery’s church of St. Martin was built. Although the farm and Baroque Hall wasn’t added for another few centuries.

But, if you only have the chance to see one monastery, make it the Kloster Andrechs. Yes, yes, it has a Pilgrimage Church, but this one makes beer. :-)

Another place to drink is the Buchheim Museum. Yes, a museum — this one has all sorts of sculptures but, it also has a bar.

Just save the drinking ’til after you’ve seen the old Roman Manor, the Vetterhaus (Tutzing’s oldest house), and the Bronze & Iron Age grave hills.

I know I’ve earned that drink after all this. Care to join me? Great — last one to the bar is a rotten egg!

When I first thought of Kirchberg in the Ore Mountains of Saxony I got a little perturbed. Why, you ask? Well, I thought about how these fantastic little towns somehow always seem to get passed over for the bigger cities. Like Zwickau, that’s only about 11km away.

Then, I thought, no. I won’t be upset. If not too many people know about places like Kirchberg, then we folks here at MyGermanCity.com get it all to ourselves. I guess it’s a matter of perspective, right? ;-)

Kirchberg’s landscape is surrounded by seven hills, making for a great panoramic shot on that digital camera of yours. And it’s not just what’s above that’s interesting, this was a mining town for centuries. So, we need to consider what’s underneath as well.

The Mine is open to visitors on specific days, the Altstadtfest (October), the Borbergfest (early June), and the Oldtimertreffen (June). Otherwise, if you’re not here on these days call ahead to prearrange a tour of this 17th century mine.

Back on the sunlit side of Kirchberg, come see a few of the town’s churches. St. Margareth is both a late Gothic and Baroque chapel, St. Marien Church was built in the 15th century (and still standing strong), and St. Katharinen has the oldest bells in all of Saxony.

There’s also a Luther Memorial, conveniently located on the Lutherplatz. Plus, there’s the King Albert Tower, that was built in 1848. I can’t forget to mention (like I almost just did) the DDR-Museum (Torstr. 9), which is an abbreviated version of saying the Museum of the German Democratic Republic — back from the days when this area was part of it.

And if you don’t mind, I’d like to go back to Kirchberg’s festivals (and other cultural events) for a minute. Come join Kirchbergers for the Classic Car Show (June), the Spring & Christmas Concerts, and the Winter Festival (February).

I don’t know if Kirchberg’s weekly market (Tuesdays, 8am-5pm from mid-January to mid-December) counts as a cultural event or not. But, one thing’s for sure… you’ll get a chance to buy some beautifully made lace AND try some yummy street food. And since Kirchberg’s not so crowded, there’s more for us to eat! :-)

Upper Bavaria is fun. No, it really is. And it’s places like Kirchseeon that make it that way.

Located only about 25km east of Munich, this small town with barely 9,500 residents is pretty great. Great for its sports, great for its people, and great for its wine.

OK, so you want me to put my money where my mouth is? What makes Kirchseeon so fun?

Well, for starters it’s a winter wonderland for skiing and cross-country skiing. When the mercury hits the higher temperatures there’s tennis, golfing (they’ve got a couple of golf courses, actually), tennis courts, walking paths, cycling trails, and swimming.

Upper Bavaria really is a place that’s best enjoyed outside (for any reason) and with all this to do, it’ll be hard to stay indoors.

So, what if you’re not the active sport type?

Don’t worry, Kirchseeon’s got you! You won’t have to do too much to just enjoy the forests, fields, and meadows in the distance.

Kirchseeson is fun, too, because of its festivals and markets. The Josefi-Markt is held on the last Sunday in March. Then there’s Walpurgisnacht, a “witches” festival on the 30th of April, as well as the Kathrein-Markt on the last weekend of November.

But it’s the Weinfest (Wine Festival) in June that brings thousands of visitors to town. I guess they’re all coming to try some of the locally gown vino.

The town of Kirchseeson has its fair share of historical & cultural sites to see, too. You have the War Memorial (built 1922), the church of St. Ursula (built 1879), the Local History Museum (called Heimatmuseum) from March til October, and excavations have found the remains of a 17th century bath house.

Before I forget, you should also see the Wild Game Park and the Forest Museum. I’m only sorry to say there’s no nearby castle. But, with all this to see and do, you won’t even miss it, right?

The awesome old Roman settlement town of Köngen is the starting point of the great medieval Römerstraße Neckar-Alb. It fits well because it’s got a more than 1,800 year old Roman fort and archaeological park.

Back in 1732 some farmers were plowing their fields (hey, a guy’s gotta eat, right?) and found a gold coin dating from the time of Emperor Antonius Pius. Eventually more than 500 coins from the 1st century A.D. were found, as were the foundations from the original Kastell Köngen.

Despite being from 2000 years ago, the archaeological park’s museum is a modern edifice — I guess all the better to contrast the age of the Roman finds! The entire complex is a UNESCO site, even highlighting Roman latrines (interesting, no?); and the restored Jupitergigantensäule (Giant Jupiter Column) was also here during the time of the original Roman settlement.

The Köngen Castle might seem downright young next to Kastell Köngen because it wasn’t built until 800 years later; and converted into a Schloss in the early 17th century. Only recently were the castle’s 18th century frescoes in the Knights’ Hall uncovered and restored to their original beauty. It’s for reasons like this that people wish they lived in castles, huh?

In addition to having all these Roman ruins and what was once a medieval castle, Köngen has some pretty awesome markets. Every Saturday from 7am to 12noon you can buy yourself the freshest produce and cheese to sink your teeth into.

It might (no, it will) be crowded during Köngen’s Pfingstmarkt that’s been taking place here since the 18th century. Held on Pfingstsonntag (Pentecost) more than 40,000 people flock to Köngen for food, fun, and games.

Nowhere near as many people join the Herbstmarkt (Autumn Festival) on the third Sunday in September, but it’s still a great time to be had by all.

As much as I think that the “golden age” of rail travel is not a thing of the past; the convenience of air travel is unmistakable, and the Autobahn is a speed demon’s dream (for which I admit that I’m one ;-).

Sometimes, though, it’s best to take your time and smell the proverbial roses.

There’s nowhere better to do this in Germany than on the German Avenues Route a.k.a. Deutche Alleenstrasse that is the true definition of leisure travel.

The German Avenues Route is the longest tourist route in all of Germany, managing to just about go through the entire country! If you were to travel all 2,900 km (1,802 mi) of it (hope you got a lot of vacation time), you’ll have gone through ten of Germany’s sixteen federal states; taking you from the Baltic Sea all the way to Lake Constance.

I’ve divided the German Avenues Route for you into thirteen sections in case you only have time to do a part of it, which would A) be too bad ’cause you couldn’t see it all; and B) give you an idea of which parts you really want to see if you didn’t have the time to do the entire thing.

“Officially,” the German Avenues Route is actually divided into ten sections instead of thirteen. However, you’d have to be on two sections at the same time that way, or they dismissed a crucial connection, or you’d mix things up fairly easily. So, I divided this route into (more logical) 13 Sections so you can better relate to them; and so that you always know where you’re coming from, where you’re heading to, and where to go next. Sounds good? :-)

There are going to be a whole bunch of avenues with trees left and right the streets. Just follow my “route plans” as outlined under each section’s headline, respectively, and you’re ready to fly.

German Avenues Route — Section 1 (Rügen – Rheinsberg)

Technically, the route starts on the northern tip of the island of Rügen (called Kap Arkona), which is part of Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania. It’s the largest island in Germany with chalk rock formations and Stone Age graves.

Stop in Sellin for a look at a grand Baltic coastal health resort and take a ride on its steam locomotive.

Arriving in Rheinsberg will give you your first look at the route’s castles. Schloss Rheinsberg was once home to Frederick the Great, now more famous for its Konzerthaus (Concert Hall) and photo perfect lakes.

German Avenues Route — Section 2 (Rheinsberg – Wittenberg)

Further south of Rheinsberg is Lutherstadt Wittenberg, hometown to none other than Martin Luther. Wittenberg’s Schlosskirche, or Castle Church, is housed with priceless works of art.

One thing to know about the Deutsche Alleenstraße is that just south of Wittenberg, the German Avenues Route splits off.

German Avenues Route — Section 3 (Wittenberg – Dresden)

If you travel to the southeast, you can head off towards the historic town of Dresden in Saxony that’s the center of art and culture, as it was before WWII. If you’ve come this far to Dresden, don’t forget about the grand Zwinger Palace and the Hofkirche.

German Avenues Route — Section 4 (Dresden – Plauen)

Looping around to Plauen brings you just about the Bavarian and Czech borders and the 1st McDonalds in East Germany. I wonder what the builders of the early 12th century Johanniskirche think about the nearby Micky D’s…

German Avenues Route — Section 5 (Plauen – Kaltensundheim)

Martin Luther might have been born in Wittenberg; but, he went to school in the Thuringian town of Erfurt, which is only 20km or 25 minutes north of Arnstadt, one of our big stops on Section 5 of the Alleenstraße. If it wasn’t for the ceremony at the Kaufmannskirche on the Main Square we wouldn’t have the work of Johann Sebastian Bach — his parents were married right here.

German Avenues Route — Section 6 (Wittenberg – Duderstadt)

Note that there’s an alternative route from Wittenberg to Dessau-Roßlau: via Radis – Oranienbaum-Wörlitz!

And another alternative is available from Köthen to Staßfurt: via Könnern – Alsleben – Warmsdorf (Güsten)!

Coming along the western part (instead of heading east toward Dresden part of the route) you’ll find yourself in Dessau-Roßlau in Saxony-Anhalt. It has a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Georgium Castle, and ten (!) churches to scope out for its artwork.

Then on it goes to Duderstadt, where photographing its massive half-timbered Town Hall building, built in 1302, is in order.

German Avenues Route — Section 7 (Duderstadt – Kaltensundheim)

When you get to Eisenach you must, must, MUST see the mighty Wartburg Castle. Filled with legends and interesting tales, the Wartburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

German Avenues Route — Section 8 (Kaltensundheim – Koblenz)

Fulda is another awesome stop along the German Avenues Route. Along many rolling hills and meadows is the St. Salvator Church of the famous Abbey and the Schloss Fulda. Plus, the Altes Rathaus is a fantastic example of framework architecture.

German Avenues Route — Section 9 (Höxter – Dortmund)

Höxter, in addition to having plenty of timber framed houses, is also a haven for skydivers, rowers, and hikers. Don’t worry about getting lost, its 18km hiking trail loops around offering plenty of lookout points.

Dortmund is next on the German Avenue Route and was once on the Medieval Salt Route. Its Opera House is divine and the Reinoldikirche has been here since the 9th century.

German Avenues Route — Section 10 (Dortmund – Koblenz)

After Dortmund, Bad Honnef is the next quality stop. Located near the former German capital, Bonn, Bad Honnef is a wine growing region, and there isn’t a much better way to end a day spent at the spa.

Koblenz is where East meets West; no, not literally — just where the German Avenues Route meets back up. Julius Caesar liked it here and so will you after you’ve seen the Stolzenfels Castle, taken a boat ride along the river, and scoped out the Königsbacher brewery.

German Avenues Route — Section 11 (Koblenz – Karlsruhe)

This Section 11 is wine country, my friends. Plus, Bad Kreuznach has spa services, a Roman Villa, a huge Kite Festival at the end of May, and an Egg Market in July.

So, as soon as I’m done with fine vino and the avenues traveled & photographed so far, I think I deserved a massage (or two)… :-)

German Avenues Route — Section 12 (Karlsruhe – Freudenstadt)

Now we’re getting to righteous Karlsruhe, extravagant Ettlingen, and mega gorgeous Freudenstadt, which has been visited by its fair share of dignitaries and famous folk.

Mark Twain might have written about life on the Mississippi River, but it’s possible the Black Forest might have inspired him a tad bit still. If not the Schwarzwald, maybe the ruins of Kloster Kniebis did?

German Avenues Route — Section 13 (Freudenstadt – Constance)

Our last section of the German Avenues Route takes us from Freudenstadt to Constance at Lake Constance, which is called the Bodensee in German. Take a good look around and you can see Switzerland from here, and over two million books at the University of Constance. That makes the Solms Library in Laubach (with over 120,000 books) look like child’s play.

A perfect end to your trip along the German Avenues Route is at Constance’s Botanical Garden. There isn’t any place more beautiful to sit and start reading all those books.

German Avenues Route Web Site

For more information feel free to visit the Web site about the German Avenues Route.

Oh, does Germany have a scenic route for you! Don’t think you’re going to have to rent a Mercedes or BMW for this one — it’s meant to be traveled by bicycle. Yes, bicycle.

The German Fen Route, in German known as Deutsche Fehnroute, is a 163km circular cycle trail through the heart of East Frisia along the waterways, moorlands and windmills of northern Lower Saxony.

Well, yes, you are free to travel this route by car, as well. As a matter of fact, there are two signs along the route: one for those who explore it by car and a second one for bicycle fans — with a number of different side routes along the way.

Now, since riding a bike is healthy, and many of the MyGermanCity.com fans are bike enthusiasts, I’m going to rake this virtual tour by bicycle with you.

Now don’t go worrying about not being able to cycle the entire route. Thankfully there’s the East Frisian Bike Taxi (approx €1.20 per kilometer) that can take you & your bike to other points along the trail.

OK, so you’ve got your bike. You’ve got your gear. You’re ready to ride!

Wait! Where are you riding off to? Where does it start?

Lucky for you, I’m here to help every kilometer along the way of the Fehnroute.

Proposed Starting Point Of The German Fen Route

Let’s start at its northernmost tip: in Wiesmoor, an air health resort only 30km south of the North Sea shore. From March to October its Blumenhalle is bright with color from all the flowers, and many come to see its water organ. Plus, in the first weekend of September starts the widely popular 5-day Blütenfest or Flower Festival.

Your next town of Uplengen also keeps up with the nature theme. Not flowers this time, but a moorlands nature protected area. Additionally, Uplengen’s two windmills give the town a charming, romantic coastal feel.

Augustfehn can be a bit confusing as there’s Augustfehn I, II, and III. However, they’re all part of the town of Apen. Ham making is big business here, so here’s your chance to try a mild smoked local variety. Wash it down with a delicious Lower Saxon beer — especially if you’re here for Oktoberfest.

Even if you speak German you might not understand what language they’re speaking in the next town of Saterland. Saterfrisian is widely spoke here and often found on signs around town. Saterland is a great place to enjoy some other sports besides bicycling including tennis, beach volleyball, and swimming in Hollener Lake.

Back to the German Fen Route and back to finding more bogs and windmills across the landscape. In Rhauderfehn, you’ve picture perfect postcards made right from the Windmills Burlange, Rhaude, and Hanetange.

Next stop Papenburg. Not only is Papenburg on the Fehnroute, it’s also on the European Walking Route that runs from the Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) to Portugal. They must all be coming to see the amazing artwork of the St. Antonius Church and the Nikolai Church.

Leer is the ultimate town along the German Fen Route. Since East Frisian tea is made here stop and try the drink that rules the region at an East Frisian Tea Ceremony. It’s drunken with Kluntje, a rock sugar candy to sweeten it and often served with cakes & cookies on weekends.

Tea isn’t the only reason to come see Leer; it’s a town with small winding lanes of cobblestone and brick. There’s an old Jewish Cemetery here, as well as the walls of what was once a medieval church. A beautiful example of mid-17th century Baroque architecture is found at the museum Haus Samson.

Hesel is next of incredible towns to see. No, there aren’t medieval churches or even other tourist routes through Hesel. It does deserve an honorable mention just for the fact that it’s an archaeology lover’s dream town. Think prehistoric burial mounds, a 10,000 year old fireplace, and a grand museum in the Villa Popken filled with prehistoric finds from the area.

After sightseeing in Leer and Hesel, it’ll be nice to ride through the lush green countryside of Moormerland. Just stop by the charming Reformed Church along the way of the countless fens and bogs.

Last stop before winding back in Wiesmoor is Großefehn. Here’s where you can camp out, snap photos of neatly painted houseboats along the canal, and find fens and windmills scattered throughout the landscape. It’s the perfect ending to a picture perfect route.

Now you know why many towns along the German Fen Route or Deutsche Fehnroute have the word “fehn” at their end.

German Fen Route Web Site

Here’s the official Web site about the German Fen Route (although, you may not feel the need to go there at all… ;-).