Have you ever heard of a Renaissance Fair? If you haven’t, it’s where everyday normal people dress and pretend they’re lords, ladies, and other folk back in the days of the Renaissance in a fun setting. It’s a cute way to look at life of a period long gone.

Kirchheim bei München in Upper Bavaria kind of has the same thing going on; just bring it back a few centuries before the Renaissance.

Welcome to the Bajuwarenhof (that’s a mouthful). Since Kirchheim was originally a 6th century (A.D.) village, it’s fitting that’s what you’ll find here. This is a modern day look at the early Middle Ages; with real life exhibits on everything from what people ate to what kind of housing they lived in.

The Bajuwarenhof is a fun outside museum that’s great for the entire family. It’s open every Sunday 11am-5pm, May through September.

Visitors to this town will find a few other sites to visit, including the St. Andreas Church. The church you see today was built back in 1671, on the spot of the 9th century original (the medieval has a recurring theme here). Many Andreas visitors also stop by to see the nearby chapel of St. Ulrich, too.

Another reason to come to Kirchheim is its festivals. The Dorffest or Village Celebration is in June, the Fire-brigade hosts a huge Carnival Ball (February), and on Easter Sunday is one of the largest celebrations in the whole area (called Ostertanz).

And no town would be complete without a Christmas Market. Just expect the area to be a bit colder than in the summer months.

Summer’s the best time to be at the Heimstettener See; a popular recreational area for locals and the city folk of Munich looking to get away from the heat of the city.

Hey, the city’s only a few minutes away and who could blame them? Kirchheim bei München’s pretty awesome for a pre-Renassiance town.

Isn’t one of the reasons people travel is to try different things, try different foods, and see exotic places? Burgstädt might not be exotic, but this town in Saxony sure is more than a pleasant place to come.

Burgstädt’s Tourist Board has a wealth of information for finding your way around town (located at Schillerstraße 15 next to the high school) with information on its history, hotel accommodations, and sites in the area.

The town’s local history museum is another place with loads of information about this old medieval town. It’s located right in the city center, along with the old Town Hall. That’s also where you’ll see Burgstädt’s landmark; its water or observation tower.

Other than that, most of Burgstädt is enjoyed outdoors. Try the Barefoot Way, a 2.5 km path where you kick your shoes off and experience everything from mud, grass, water, and everything in between. What kid wouldn’t love playing in the mud? Even if you’re not a kid, you’ll sure feel like one.

For more quiet reflection, walk around the Burgstädter Forest Cemetery (shoes are recommended). There are little walking paths throughout and shaded by large Spruce, Fir, and Red Beech trees.

It’s a bit more crowded and loud over at Wettinhain Park, but fun nonetheless. That’s where everyone goes for a leisurely stroll, or enjoy a concert, and during the summer the park has an outdoor cinema.

Another fun thing to do around these parts is a fun horse & buggy ride. Oh, the kids will love this or make it a romantic thing with just your significant other.

Speaking of romance, can’t get more romantic than an old castle; and there are three nearby. Schloss Waldenberg looks a lot more modern than the medieval castle it once was but, its English style garden is filled Roman and Greek inspired monuments.

Schloss Rochsburg (late 12th century) is just grand sitting high on the Saxon hillside (closed on Mondays) and finish off with Schloss Wolkenburg, a 13th century gem (that has undergone centuries of renovations — so it doesn’t look too medieval anymore) but filled with all sorts of beautiful art.

Who cares that Burgstädt isn’t too exotic, but it sure is more than just a pleasant place to visit. :-)

There are times when you take the expressway or other fast mode of transportation that you’ll pass by some pretty cool places. Then, there are times when they lead you right to it.

You’ll find Buchloe along the Autobahnn A96 and along the Lindau–Munich train line; a place known as the Gateway to the Allgäu.

Oh, the fact that Buchloe lies within the breathtaking Allgäu region says a lot of what you can expect to see around these parts.

Inasmuch as food plays a large part of daily life (in Buchloe as in anywhere), so does the Allgäu. So, why not combine the two? Try a locally made cheese known as Hirtenkäse (Herder’s Cheese) that goes great with delicious German breads and fresh fruits. Top it off with a good Bavarian beer and you’ve got yourself an incredibly yummy meal.

Some visitors to Buchloe might want to eat and some might want to find comets, stars, and planets. This can be done over at the town’s “People’s Observatory” where you’re able to stare off into the heavens.

Buchloe even has its own Schloss, just don’t go expecting some huge medieval military garrison castle. No, Schloss Rio is a turn of 20th century design and looks like an oversized Lego design (must be the cut of the mansion’s stones).

Visitors are able to learn more about Buchloe and the Allgäu region at the town’s Local History Museum. And you’ll find some beautiful artwork at the 18th century St. Maria Church.

If you want some great bird’s eye pictures of Buchloe then hop over to neighbor Lindenberg’s observation tower and start clicking.

When your feet are firmly planted back on the ground, then start walking, hiking, or cycling through the countryside. There are other sports in town, from tennis, to swimming, and everything in between.

See, sometimes the highways and railways lead you right to best spots, instead of passing them by. ;-)

There’s a multitude of reasons to come to old (and I mean OLD) historic town of Bad Windsheim.

First, it’s Franconia (and quite close Nuremberg). And if that’s not reason enough for you, this place is a health resort town (perfect for relaxing the body & mind) and it’s history dates back a millenia. Sounds like some pretty good reasons to visit?

When you first arrive, you’ll probably meet Roland; its the tall sandstone statue on the Marktplatz which was dedicated here in 1928. Roland is traditionally found in old medieval towns (which Bad Windsheim is) but his presence here stands as war memorial instead of marking the town as a “free” city.

FYI — on & over by the Marktplatz (in the Old Town) you’ll find all sorts of timber framed and multi-colored buildings framing the streets.

Well, you have a knight so all you need now is a lady.

You’ll meet her at the Frankish Outdoor Museum which is the edge of Bad Windsheim’s Old Town. The Thuringian Lady was buried here back in the 6th century and seems to have been of great importance; she was buried with all sorts of finery.

The Frankish Museum offers more than just old graves. Its Archaeological Museum has exhibits from prehistoric times through the Middle Ages and offers look into farming life from the 17th and 18th centuries. This museum might not be all high tech, but it is informative and interactive.

Interact with the beer garden there; they’re still brewing it here as they did centuries ago.

Phewww, with all that out of the way, it’s time to hit the spa. Bad Windsheim’s Hot Springs is a saltwater bath with just about the same brine content as the Dead Sea, has a sauna and other spa treatments for your total peace of mind.

Follow that up with an outdoor classical music concert for the ultimate in total relaxation. You’ll just have to come in July for those, though. Oh, that’s when Bad Windsheim holds its Altstadtfest a.k.a. Old Town Festival (1st weekend), too.

Don’t worry if you can’t make it then, there are other festivals and cultural activities held here through the entire year. For instance, the 2nd or 3rd weekend in March brings on the Weinturmlauf (a 10km run) and in July & August the outdoor theater holds all sorts of professional style shows.

Even Bad Windsheim’s City Hall gets in on the artists bandwagon with art gallery exhibits that change regularly. This way, you’ll always be surprised and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Just as there’s nothing wrong with Bad Windsheim.

It might not be so easy to describe the Sauerland town of Balve. What can you say about a town that likes to party in caves?

Caves? Yes, there are plenty of them in Balve and a few times a year residents hold festivals in them (otherwise they’re still open for exploration). The Festspiele Balver Höhle is a festival with an emphasis on the performing arts, including music and theater.

Balver’s Schützenfeste also take place in one of the town’s caves. Don’t worry, they’re brightly lit so no worry about it being all dark and creepy. ;-)

These two festivals aren’t the only ones that go on around here. Balve is proud of its bonfire on Easter Sunday, its Feuerwehfest on May 1st, and its Christmas Market.

Any other time of the year is still nice to visit. St. Blaise is a frequently visited place and houses the bones of a saint. It also helps that this old stone church is a great example of Romanesque architecture from the 12th century.

Visitors are welcome to come in and see the church daily from 9am-5pm. And annually on February 3rd, the church holds a special ceremony called the Blessing of the Throats.

Alongside St. Blaise on the Church Square is a cemetery that was found to hold the remains of 50,000 people. The cemetery is framed by some lovely old timber framed buildings.

Balve even has a prehistoric and early history museum. It is here that you’ll find prehistoric finds from the Balver cave including dinosaur bones.

Another interesting “museum” to visit is the Luisenhütte in the village of Wocklum. The building itself was once used for iron smelting during the Middle Ages and has an 18th century blast furnace (the only one of its kind remaining in Germany).

With the caves and all, sounds like Balve is one of kind itself.

Zella-Mehlis is a fantastic town for the sport enthusiast. Even if you’re “oh so not into sports,” Zella-Mehlis (the name just flows off the tongue, doesn’t it?) is great for anyone who likes to just be outside.

Situated right in the Thuringian Forest (which is actually a low mountain range), Zella-Mehlis has visitors come from all over to experience all the fun outdoor sporting activities. Which ones?

Glad you asked, because when you’re here you can find a few (quite a few) walking trails, Nordic Walking trails, bicycling trails, and mountainbiking trails. There’s also a 13 station Trim Path, designed to help with all around fitness & exercise, and balance. And these are just the ones you can do when the weather’s nice.

When snow blankets the Forest (beautiful in itself) that’s when the winter sports come alive. Ski, cross-country ski, snowboard, or even if all you do is just make snow angels — you’ll have a grand old time.

Thinking it’s time to come in from the cold? That’s the best time to enjoy a nice cup of hot coffee with some delicious Thuringian cake to go with it. If you prefer something a bit stronger, there’s always beer & sausages.

The Meeresaquarium Zella-Mehlis is another great indoor activity. Even though the aquarium is open daily, the public shark and crocodile feedings take place on Sundays at 2:30. The kids will LOVE this!

Kids, adults, anyone actually will love the Zella-Mehlis City Celebration which is held on the 2nd weekend in September, where thousands fill the city streets. April 30 brings on the town’s Walpurgisnacht Festival, which is usually celebrated with a bonfire and lots of dancing.

Seems like Zella-Mehlis is great for both indoor and outdoor activity.

The Ortenau town of Ettenheim isn’t one of those towns with an overabundance of museums (it has one), or a place where some super fantastic historical event took place. It’s more of a quiet town along the Black Forest with some fun sport activities (there’s quite a few), summer music concerts, and wine.

That’s not to say that Ettenheim doesn’t have anything historical to see. How could it not, the town’s about 1200 years old!

The town has a wonderful local history museum that’s housed in an old prison (that’s historical). There’s also an old medieval monastery known around here as Kloster Ettenheimmünster, which is actually older than the town itself.

After a visit to the old monastery, it’d be great to end the day with an outdoor music concert. Ettenheim holds a summer music concert series and you might be pleasantly surprised by what’s playing.

It’s OK if you’d rather be out in the Schwarzwald. We can’t all be sitting around eating Black Forest Ham or Black Forest Cake all day. Forget I said that. Yes, we can sit around eating all day. Pair it off with a great glass of locally made wine and you’re all set. ;-)

But, at least you’re burn off all those oh-so-delicious calories with miniature golf, beach volleyball, beach soccer, and table tennis which are located at the outdoor swimming pool alone.

Not to mention, there are walking, cycling, Nordic Walking, and mountain biking trails through the forest itself.

To experience all of Ettenheim, maybe it’s a good idea to spend the night (or more) here. One place is the Metzgereigasthof Rebstock, a local hotel with affordable accommodations and rustic restaurant. Don’t worry if it’s a good place to stay, they’ve been a family run hotel for 150 years; so they’ve had plenty of time to get it right.

Actually, that’s fitting of Ettenheim itself. She’s had plenty of time to get it right for resident and local alike. :-)

Rosdorf in Lower Saxony isn’t a huge tourist destination. It’s a place of rolling mountains and farms, a place where its landmarks are two sugar silos. As if that doesn’t tell you something right there. But, that doesn’t mean you won’t like it here.

There must be some sort of attraction to the area since the place has had people live here since the Stone Age. Now, only about 12,000 people call this place home. Maybe they like the many timber framed houses from the 19th century? And the old St. Johannis church is still in use after many a century.

Though, the oldest church in all of Rosdorf’s eleven villages is St. Martin’s in Sieboldshausen. It’s been here since the 9th century, though the church did have to be rebuilt around the same time the American colonies where fighting for independence from England (that would 1776 for you non-history folk).

Interestingly enough, while there isn’t too much sightseeing to be done around these parts; Rosdorf is home to a large conference hotel. The Freizeit Inn Hotel is a 4-star hotel, so even if you’re not going to see too much, you can at least stay in style. Freizeit Inn has a fitness center, swimming pool, and a fine restaurant offering delicious German cuisine.

Still, there are camping facilities available within the Lower Saxony countryside. Just in case you’d much rather be more in touch with nature. Even if you don’t stay the night, there’s always time to walk, hike, or bicycle through the area. This is farmland, so the area isn’t too densely populated, perfect if you’re looking to get away from it all.

Just as you thought that Rosdorf wouldn’t have something to offer a traveler, it surprises you with some wonderful places to visit. Maybe this is why so many people call Rosdorf home?

The Lower Bavarian town of Regen couldn’t get anymore interesting than it already is. Regen (and its 55 hamlets in 5 quarters) has a haunted castle, a glass forest, and is considered to be an air health resort town inside the Bavarian Forest.

Besides the unique, Regen does have the normal sightseeing including the lovely St. Michael, St. Johann, and Holy Spirit churches. Over at the 18th century Mariensäule statue, you’ll find many well maintained 19th century homes.

But, maybe they’re not haunted like the castle is reported to be. For real, a haunted castle? Yes, according to legend there have been reports of the “white lady” around the Burg Weissenstein. Some might just think that ruins of the place are just some old stones and brick, but most of these walls have been standing for more than 900 years.

That’s impressive in itself, add a ghost into the mix and you’ve got yourself a campfire story to say the least.

In the shadow of Burg Weißenstein is the Fressende Haus (part of a farm complex), now a museum with finds from the castle’s excavations and agricultural life. More about Regen’s history can be learned over at its local history museum.

Regen might be in the Bavarian Forest but, it has a glass one, too. The Glass Forest (Gläserner Wald) consists of glass tree sculptures that dot the Bavarian landscape. In winter, they reflect the snow and add drops of color on the white landscape.

Speaking of forests, you’d be hard pressed to find one as beautiful as the Bavarian one. It’s so large it encircles three countries (Germany, Czech Republic, and Austria), but I’m biased and the most beautiful parts can be found right here.

The forest (actually part of a low mountain range) holds all sorts walking and bicycle paths and you’ll be more than happy stopping along side little lakes or by the River Regen. It’s no wonder this place is considered an air health resort town, with all the hiking and biking, you WILL feel healthier.

But, come to think of it… you’ll be more than happy with all of Regen.

If time travel were possible and you could go back to the city of Roßdorf (including the village of Gundernhausen) during the time of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), you’d be in utter shock. The war and that horrid plague of the Black Death totally devastated the town.

Not so today.

Today, Roßdorf and Gundernhausen have risen from the ashes and are now a mecca for horse breeding and wine growing. Bet you thought I was gonna say beer. ;-) No, this isn’t Bavaria — it’s Hesse! The area is really known for its red vino, so be sure to try some.

Other than drinking a good bit, there’s only a few things to do in town. Being only a stone’s throw southeast of the city of Darmstadt, most of the real “happening” stuff goes on there.

What you will find in Roßdorf is a fine old church and there’s one in Gundernhausen, too. Honestly, if you appreciate fine artwork, you’ll like these two Protestant town churches.

Roßdorf’s City Hall is also a fine piece of art and history in itself. It’s been the center of life around town since it was built way back in 1575. Handicrafts have also been made around here for centuries and you’ll see just what’s been made over at the Handicraft Museum.

Hesse is also real pretty country, so it’s always nice to grab a bicycle (you never forget how) and ride off around town. Find yourself a little outdoor cafe and enjoy some Blechkuchen (cake) or Kreppel (a kinda donut) with a cup of coffee or Riesling wine (I told you this is a wine growing area).

You might wanna save the drinking for after you’ve visited Roßdorf’s outdoor swimming pool or its roller skating rink. Come winter, the rink turns itself over to those looking to ice skate.

After a day of doing that, you’ve really earned that drink. Now, pass that bottle of red and bottoms up! ;-)