If you ask any resident in all of the twelve municipalities of Nohfelden what you should see in their town, you might get a myriad of answers. However, they will all tell you to go see the Bostalsee (see webcam!).

The Bostalsee is an incredibly clear lake (and the town’s largest tourist attraction) and has been since it was opened for fun since the 1970’s. Don’t let the word tourist fool you, however, even Nohfelden’s residents like to come play here. It’s got a sandy beach, water that’s great for swimming, a whole bunch of walking and bicycling trails; and to top it off — it’s even got an indoor wave pool.

If you rather not be splashing about, you could always commune quietly with nature in the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park. The nature park is over 2000 square kilometers, so it’s best to bring some super comfortable walking shoes.

Hard to top that, but, Nohfelden has a fantastic castle to see. OK, it’s in ruins; but, still awesome to see this 13th century edifice. Castle Veldenz’s donjon (tower) still stands over a hundred meters high! The only thing is, you can only visit the ruins between April and October when it’s open for visitors.

Although not from the Middle Ages, at least come see the Wolfersweiler Church built in 1788. Oh wait, that DOES come from the medieval time period (no, I’m not confusing my history), the church’s tower foundations were put here in the 12th century! It’s also where folks like to come and enjoy many concerts (churches have great acoustics). This too, is only open from May to October for visitors, though.

A more traditional style museum in Nohfelden is a bit unique. It’s a “costume” museum, but not like a Broadway or Las Vegas style costume. No, more like traditional clothing worn from days past (1845-1920).

If you’re here in Nofelden looking up some of your family’s heritage, don’t forget to look at the two Jewish cemeteries that mostly survived World War II, though parts of them were damaged during the National Socialist period.

It won’t matter your reasons for wanting to come to Nohfelden, you’ll love it all the same.

I could say that there’s only one reason to come to Nordkirchen in the Münsterland — Schloss Nordkirchen. This is no ordinary castle, Schloss, Burg, or whatever word you want to use. No, this is some of the most amazing architecture you will ever see in your lifetime. It’s no wonder that it’s the main attraction of why so many people come to Nordkirchen.

It’s not known as the “Versailles of Westphalia” for nothing. It’s the largest castle in this part of Germany and to say it’s massive doesn’t do it justice. You could spend a day wandering its gardens alone. Funny, there are three local parts to Nordkirchen and the castle is so big, I think it makes up one all on its own. ;-)

It was once a 16th century water castle (meaning it had a moat) but it’s now one of the most impressive Baroque castles in Germany. It’s chapel can be rented out for weddings and many of its rooms are open to the public. I can’t even begin to count how many rooms this massive Schloss actually has and my heart goes out to the person who has to clean them. ;-)

As much as Schloss Nordkirchen is the biggest attraction to the city, there are other little tidbits to see, too. If you like golf there’s a nearby 18-hole golf club.

There are also some great half timbered old houses scattered about, including a special one found on Ludwig-Becker-Platz.

If you prefer the cycling and hiking route, there are many of those; some leading off to the town’s indoor pool and sauna; and the 18th century church of St. Mauritius.

Also, with Nordkirchen’s great location between the triangle of Hamm, Dortmund, and Münster there’s plenty of reason to come see this marvelous town. Shopping during it’s Weekly Market (held at the Mil Park on Thursdays) is another reason to come.

Like you need much more? I’d think the Schloss alone would be reason enough to come to Nordkirchen. But, then again, some people prefer a bit more — thankfully, Nordkirchen has it!

The ultimate thing that could be said about music is that it doesn’t discriminate against gender, nor social class, ethnicity, or even age. Maybe this is what makes Niestetal, just east of Kassel, the best place for everyone. And I do mean EVERYONE.

Niestetal does have more traditional sightseeing for those interested, but it is its Chamber Music Concert Series that brings folks from all over. It doesn’t care one iota if you speak German, English, Dutch, or a dozen other languages; music transcends spoken words and speaks directly to the heart.

If you’re lucky you’ll be here when Niestetal holds several of these concerts within a span of only a week. But, there is always something going on. Mid-September brings on the Heiligenrode Course Run, but you don’t have to run — walking will do just fine.

When sightseeing is what you want, come see the churches in both Sandershausen and Heiligenrode; the two villages that make up Niestetal. There is also the English Garden in what was once Schloss Windhausen. There’s classical music that runs through my head when I walk through gardens like this. Drop me a line and let me know what you hear.

Sports are just as important as music and Niestetal has a bit to keep you occupied (hey, it’s gotta have something between all those concerts). At the indoor pool, Wichtelbrunnenbad (what a name!), there is a kid’s pool and quiet zone for peaceful relaxation. Oh, the water’s a comfortable 30 degrees (yes, Celsius — because that sure would be below FREEZING if it were Farenheit).

The outdoor swimming area is the best though. Framed by trees, it has a sandy beach with a beach volleyball court for a real outdoor experience. It’s open from 7am-8pm so it’s an all day experience for the whole family.

Swimming outdoors also doesn’t discriminate, everyone will just have the best time. You might even get a few of the family that won’t want to tear away to see one of Niestetal’s concerts.

Let ’em play and make that concert a special date night with your better half!

I get torn when I find out about places like the town of Flöha. It’s such a beautiful city right at the edge of the Ore Mountains; with the River Flöha flowing right along through the town with it’s romantic bridges and tree lined banks.

This minute town started off as just a little village back in the Middle Ages and transformed itself into a modern town, yet embraces its past.

That said, it’s also a place where a subcamp of the Flossenburg Concentration Camp was during the days of World War II. You’ll find a memorial monument at the Oberlungwitzer Textilwerke for the camp’s forced laborers. At the town’s cemetery is another monument for four Polish forced laborers who were given a proper burial. Flöha’s conflicting, yes?

I’ll tell you what else it is, it’s really a polished kind of town with all sorts of cultural activities including art exhibits at its Town Hall. It’s City Park is awash with green grass, tall trees, and a relaxing fountain.

It’s nice to be outside while here in Flöha, which is only 10km northeast of Chemnitz and not too far from the border of the Czech Republic, either. Many people come here to go camping or to rent a rowboat for a sail out on the Flöha. Either one doesn’t sound like a bad idea to me.

They also come to walk the seven tourist walking trails that will take you around the area. Some are relatively easy only going on for about 4km if you wanted to take it easy. Another goes on for about 9km, but the most ambitious of them all goes on for 32km all around and about.

I don’t know about you; but, I’m too old to walk that far. Maybe renting a bicycle would be a better idea for that one, yes?

Whether you walk it or bike it, you’ll like Flöha and not be so torn about it like me. ;-)

It’s easy to feel insignificant in this big world of ours; with faceless communications via texts, internet, and other electronic devices. Gone are the days of real human interaction and the sense we are connected to something bigger than ourselves.

Not so here in Friedeburg in the East Frisian part of North Germany. I’m not saying you won’t get any mobile phone service or WiFi signal around here. Oh, Heaven forbid, NO! It’s just that there are many ancient grave hills and natural beauty found within the town and the Ostfriesland as a whole; that we’re all part of something bigger.

For more centuries than its possible to comprehend, people have lived here in the area of Friedeburg near to the North Sea. They also died here and the Stapelstein is an area of Bronze Age grave hills where B.C. man (and women) were buried.

Other reminders of the past exist around Friedeburg and include a Bronze Age stone Sun Disk and a medieval stone trade route marker known as Oll’ Griess. The monasteries Reepsholt and Hopels (respectively) are gone.

Reepsholt was around for 600 years before being shut down in 1583. Not much remains of Hopels in the forested wooded area where it was built, but it, too, was operational for a few hundred years.

The Heimatkundliche Museum is grand altogether for examples of what Friedeburg looked like centuries ago with exhibits, maps, and pictures. It is open only from April 15 – September 30 from 3pm – 5pm Tuesdays – Saturdays and 10am – noon on Sundays.

The natural beauty of Friedeburg can be seen along the moorlands of the Lengener See and the Oak Forest. You might want to wander about in the warmer Spring/Summer months, because northern Germany does tend to be on the colder side.

One of the last hoorahs before winter sets in is the Friedeburger Festival, a 3-day affair at the end of September. It’s great fun for the whole family with music, shows, bands, and market along the main street. Come have some coffee and cakes at the Festplatz.

Oh, I’m sorry — that would be tea and cakes at the Festplatz. This is East Frisia where tea is always the drink of choice. Use some Kluntje (a rock candy) to sweeten it, or add some rum to warm the insides after the cold weather’s got you chilled.

After adding the rum, you won’t feel so insignificant — more like nice & toasty! ;-)

Who knew that 49km could pack such a whollop? For such a short distance on the Federal Highway B301 in Bavaria, the road is known as the German Hops Road. Called Deutsche Hopfenstraße (in German), it’s not to be confused with the Bavarian Beer Route (which is nearby).

This little green bud is the center of this entire route, for without it German beer wouldn’t be, well, German beer. All thanks to a duke from Bavaria who in 1516 declared that only a handful of natural ingredients be used to make beer, and hops is one of them.

The route starts in the very traditional Lower Bavarian town of Abensberg. You might not notice the fields of hops right away, but you will notice the medieval flair the town still has. I think it might have something to do with the stoned Maderturm, the gothic and white Herzogskasten (Duke’s Castle), or the historical Karmelitenkloster (Carmelite Monastery).

When you’re here the first weekend in July, come to the Bürgerfest where the entire castle is turned into a medieval camp. More modern approaches to partying are had at the Gillamoos, the largest fair of its kind in all of the Hallertau (the region around this German Hops Route); and held on the first Sunday in September.

By the way, the hops produced in the Hallertau region makes up one third of the hops produced and sold worldwide!

Traveling south on the B301 brings you past many hops growing fields towards Biburg. Stop here for its 17th century Pilgrimage Church and its 12th century Klosterkirche Maria Immaculata, a Monastery Church.

Another Maria Immaculata Church awaits you in Elsendorf, the next stop on our route. Of course, that’s not all. Perhaps you might decide to stay the night here because you’ve got hops & beer sightseeing to do. From here you can visit the German Hops Museum (and the whole reason you’re following this route), or bicycle around the 12km adventure trail where you’ll find all sorts of cool facts and information about hops (and beer) along the way.

Another bicycle sightseeing tour you can do around here is the Brewery Tour with some seventeen breweries along the way. If you get hungry, here’s a good time to try some rustic, hearty cuisine often made with asparagus — the other biggest crop grown in this region of the Hallertau.

As much as it will pain you to leave Elsendorf, keep moving south until arriving in Rudelzhausen. No, there aren’t any old monasteries or the like, just a fantastic friendly town with forested bicycling routes. If you’ve traveled this far by bike, then by all means rest at any one of the local beer gardens and enjoy that Gemütlichkeit (or social acceptance) everyone is talking about. The difference is, once you’re here you’ll experience it firsthand and not just hear about it.

The same could be said in Zolling, the second to last town on the German Hops Road. Zolling has a beautiful Pilgrimage Church. However, its Badesee is the most popular site. Who could resist sitting lakeside with family, friends, food, and beer? I know I can’t so I hope to see you there.

Last stop on the Deutsche Hopfenstraße is the big city of Freising. Some 50,000 people live here and it’s easy to see why — it’s so gosh darn pretty. Right on the Marktplatz you’ll see the Rathaus (Town Hall), the Town Church of St. Georg, and the town’s beautiful 17th century Mariensäule.

That’s not all, there’s more in Freising — you are in a worldwide popular town after all. Worldwide? Yeah, you have not only museums (the Domberg and the Bürgerturm), gardens, and chapel ruins, but also Germany’s second largest international airport, the Munich Airport [MUC], just south of the town!

Along these 49km, you’ve seen how amazing this little plant is and how vital it is to beer making. But, hopefully you were paying attention and noticed so many other products are made with hops, from liquor to crafts and even sausage. So, if you’ve followed the German Hops Road, you’ll be able to drink and eat all the other treats made with that stuff.

Now, if you’ll excuse me — there’s a hops brewed beer with my name on it… ;-)

Little did the residents of medieval Waldkirchen know that they would be ransacked quite a few times by some maurading Bohemians. Those rascally Czechs knew how important Waldkirchen was along what was then called the Goldener Steig or Golden Path. That should have been their first tip-off.

What this actually was, was a salt trade route between other parts of Bavaria and Bohemian; since Waldkirchen was (and still is) in the center of the Munich – Prague – Vienna triangle.

Those pesky marauders caused villagers to build a protective Ringmauer, parts of which still stand today. Actually, there are ten military and two gate towers that remain of this defensive Ringmauer.

Those days might be gone, but you’ll still enjoy it. Come to Waldkirchen’s Market Place (see webcam!) while you sit at an outdoor cafe enjoying a good beer. Did you honestly think I was going to tell you to come to Bavaria and not have a beer?

After a pint (or two, maybe three) come visit Waldkirchen’s St. Peter’s Church; otherwise known as the Bavarian Forest Cathedral. It did have to be rebuilt in 1945, but no need to get into that.

There are two other chapels in Waldkirchen that you need to see. The Karolikapelle is a grand Rococo design from 1756 and the Marienkapelle is a wee bit older, built in 1708.

As much as the nearby Bavarian Forest is great for walking, hiking, golfing (9-holes), and everything else that can legally be done outside, there’s also the Erlauzwieseler See. You don’t have to try and say its name, just go and enjoy all sorts of watersports. ;-)

If you can bear to bring yourself indoors (trust me, it’s HARD) go visit Waldkirchen’s small museum dedicated to art, nature, and culture.

As soon as you’re done, get back outside and shop at the Christmas Market in November or enjoy the Summer Celebration mid-July.

As I’ve said over and over, you’ll never go wrong with visiting anyplace in Bavaria. And, I can think of a million other reasons that Waldkirchen could (should) be on a Golden Path.

I don’t think it’s possible to go wrong when visiting any town, in any part of Bavaria — whether you got the Alps towering in the background or not. While the town of Werneck in the Lower Franconia region isn’t bursting at the seems of things to do, nor does it have an Alpine background, it’s still a fine place to spend a long afternoon checking it out.

Summer is probably the best time of year to do it, the days are a lot longer and it’s when Schloss Werneck puts on the Schloss Concert around mid-July. The other 364 days of the year, the castle is known for being a psychiatric facility.

Oh, but, don’t let its current use keep you from seeing this magnificent former summer palace.

This structure was built in the 1730’s, but a castle has stood right here since 1223. The Schloss is classic and timeless with the statues surrounding the palace still beautiful almost 300 years later.

Don’t let some snow keep you away from seeing it. What? This is Bavaria and it once snowed here on an Easter Sunday. I wouldn’t let it stop me and in fact, the snow give the castle a whole different type of aura.

To be honest, though, the castle gardens won’t be in full bloom if you’re visiting during the winter months. Maybe a trip over the the churches in the villages of Schleerieth and Schnackenwerth instead?

Don’t misunderstand me, the churches in Schleerieth and Schnackenwerth should be visited no matter the season. You just might have to skip the gardens while winter is still making appearances.

Maybe, the Nordic Walking trails would be better done when snow’s not on the ground either. But, it’ll still give you a good eight or nine months out of twelve to try it. It’s not all that difficult, but there are normal, regular walking and cycling trails around Werneck, as well.

They’re always good to explore, no matter the season.

When you’re a person and you’ve lived to be a good number of years I would say that you’re multi-faceted. You’ve probably learned some life lessons along the way, you’ve reinvented yourself, and there’s more to you than meets the eye.

Penig, a town in the extreme east of Germany (and not a person), is no different.

As with any grand lady, she won’t reveal her secrets all at once — you have to woo them out of her. Peeling away centuries of history and culture isn’t an easy task; but, you got to start somewhere and Penig’s Town Hall is a good start. Come see the Rathaus that’s been here since 1545 and start your journey from there.

From there wander over to the church Unser Lieben Frauen Auf Dem Berge (literally translating to Our Ladies On The Hill), built in 1515. It became a “Reformed” church less than twenty-five years after it was built; and has remained to this day. You might think they’re old but, that honor belongs to St. Ägidius when residents built it back in 1157.

Penig’s Wasserschoss (water caste), known in these parts as the Alte Schloss, was built in the 14th century and underwent major renovations in the 16th. This is the castle you see today.

What else you can see today in Penig is the Naturpark Köbe, a wooded area with sheep, goats, donkeys, and all other sorts of animals. You and the kids can enjoy a wonderful afternoon lunch by the park’s pond after checking out all the park’s creatures.

The town of Penig sits on the Zwickauer Mulde, a river that’s another great place to sit with a bite to eat. Don’t think of calories, you’ve got a few cycling trails leading off through town to work off any & all of ’em!

Penig even has a neighborhood that’s known as America and she once housed a concentration camp during World War II. So, you see, there’s much to learn from this layered Saxonian town — now, you’ll just have to come find some other hidden treasures out of her.

You might be asking yourself, Planegg? What could one possibly want to see there? I’ll tell you this much; by not going, you’re missing out on a completely cool community. Did you not get my memo that states that no matter where you go in Bavaria is totally awesome?

OK, maybe I didn’t phase it exactly in those exact words; but, you kinda get the idea.

Most visitors stop to see 17th century Schloss Planegg (located at Pasinger Str. 5), which is probably the most visited place in town. I’m sorry, that’s not entirely true. The castle is really older than that — but the original medieval structure is long gone. But, its Chapel of St. Magdalena is a Baroque beauty and its English Garden simply divine; so the changes made were good ones. :-)

Between me and you, there are a few other beautifully maintained mansions in the area — but none are as grand as the old castle. And I’m sure the old brewery was first on the list of sites to see before it became the town’s library. You will get to pretty much see them at the same time since they’re located right down the road from each other.

Also on Pasinger Straße near the River Würm is a monument that was erected here in 1989 in memory of those on a Death March in April 1945. (A copy of this monument sits at Yad Vashem — a Holocaust museum in Jerusalem, Israel.)

My vote for a must-see place in Planegg is the old Pilgrimage Church and Monastery Maria Eich. No, it’s the late medieval church of St. Elisabeth and her tower. Ah, I can’t decide. Better to see them both — just in case you’re afraid you’ll miss something.

Another good idea would be to sit at a local beer garden and plan the best course of sightseeing action. I’m thinking it’s a win-win situation all around. The beer gardens fill up fast during the Dorffest (end of July) so you better get here early or ask me to save a seat for you.