The Upper Ruhr Valley in North Rhine-Westphalia has the utterly likable town of Wickede. Not only does it have some lovely old buildings to visit (with lots of artistic sculptures about town), but there also seems to be a village celebration or two going on.

Not too shabby since a few of Wickede’s five hamlets barely have over a thousand residents.

The most famous building in town is Schloss Echthausen, where the oldest part of this old manor house dates back to the early 16th century. Don’t get too excited to see the inside of the castle, no visitors allowed on this private property; so pictures of the outside only.

Echthausen has nothing on the Kloster Scheda (and they allow visitors). The old 12th century monastery was one of the wealthiest in all of Westphalia and lots of additional buildings (oh, more to see) were added through the centuries.

As if walking around the huge abbey isn’t enough exercise and sightseeing, there’s more. Wickede is located right along a bicycle path that goes on for about 230 km (approx. 143 miles) along the Ruhr River (maps are available at City Hall).

That’s also where you’ll hear all about many of Wickede’s festivals. June is the most festive with three of the town’s local city celebrations, known as Schützenfest (it’s kind of like pick a weekend in the month & there’s a festival). By festival hopping you’ll also have the chance to see some of the little village churches.

August brings on the Summer Celebration and the chance to eat some local delicacies, however, the big Potato Roast doesn’t happen until November. In the meantime, there’s more eating to be done during Wickede’s annual Harvest Celebration in October.

Wickede’s villages might be short on residents, but this truly fantastic town is really long on having a grand old time.

We don’t hear too much from the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania region of Germany. Too bad because places like Wolgast (all six hamlets of her) go quite unnoticed.

Let me be the first ones to fill you in. ;-)

Wolgast’s Old City might have most modern comforts, but remains relatively unchanged from centuries long gone. If you’re the type that appreciates those fairtytale half timbered houses then you’re in the right place.

You’ve also found the right town if you love artwork found in old churches. Petrikirche is the oldest in all of Wolgast, built back over seven centuries ago. A bit on the morbid side, you’ll find the graves of some duke’s family. Even if you don’t check out the old tombstones, make sue you climb the to the top of the church tower for the best view in town.

Another great church is the Gertrudenkapelle, a chapel with an influence of one of the holy city of Jerusalem.

Before you all go getting your knickers in a bunch thinking that all you’re gonna see around here is old buildings, nothing could be further from the truth.

Nature lovers are drawn to the Tierpark Wolgast. This zoo is real close to the Polish border and has become quite the family destination with visitors from both countries.

Right past the old castle island (did you really think a place like this wouldn’t have had one) is an old port museum. Being this close to the water, it only seems natural.

Oh, before I forget there are a couple of other museums, too. There’s a museum with the artwork of local artist Phillip Otto Runge, plus a local history museum. By hitting Wolgast’s local history museum first you’ll truly appreciate everything you’re visiting. Keep a look out for the town’s somber war memorial.

I hope you like Wolgast as much as I do. It’s a wonderful town that is too wonderful to keep going unnoticed.

Between the the low mountain range of the Spessart and the popular Vogelsberg Mountains is Wächtersbach. Yes, it has some fascinating historical sightseeing, but only by exploring the outside of this place will you ever truly understand its essence.

When you’re off shopping at one of Wächtersbach’s markets or fairs, you’ll have found the perfect blend of the outdoors mixed with the charm that makes this place unique. The Wächtersbacher Messe is one of the most popular. This retail shopping fair is held the week prior to Ascension Day (count 39 days after Easter Sunday).

About ten days later Wächtersbach holds a Marriage Market. For you single folk, don’t go expecting to buy yourself a bride or groom. ;-)

You won’t have to wait for a fair to get a great bargain on some dinnerware. The Wächtersbacher Ceramics Factory is known for its brightly colored cups and dinnerware.

OK, you’ve got your shopping out of the way — now it’s time to get down to some serious sports business. Oh, maybe some other sightseeing first? Hard to choose.

Either way, you can’t go wrong.

If you start with sightseeing, there’s no place better to start than City Hall. The building itself is a piece of 15th century Wächtersbacher history; considered to be the only one of its kind.

Before you get your lederhosen in a bunch thinking that’s it — there’s more. We can’t leave out the Evangelical Church which was built in 1354, but its military towers weren’t added on ’til a 150 years later.

It’s only fitting that this medieval town with cobblestone streets, historic church and city hall would have its own castle. Schloss Wächtersbach’s palace gardens are simply divine, but sadly the castle is private property (no visitors). :-(

I guess you’ll have to get your nature someplace else. Oh, like the too numerous walking and biking trails leading off towards the mountainside. We can’t leave out all the fishing, horseback riding, tennis, and even bowling that everyone in the whole family will enjoy. Though, if all you decide is to sit by the outdoor pool (think beach volleyball, too), you won’t go wrong.

Wow, with all of this it’s no wonder that I think Wächtersbach is pretty wonderful.

Whether you call it Harsefeld, Harsfeld, or Horse Field (English translation), you’re talking about the town in northern Lower Saxony, just west of the big city chick Hamburg. This hamlet of only about 12,000 residents lies on an area of land known as a Geest.

Even if you’re not an outdoorsy nature loving type, the Geest is an area of North Germany that could very well turn you into one. It’s pretty to say the least and quite historic at best.

Find a few walking or cycling trails in an area that was formed from receding ice after the last ice age and you’ll know what I’m talking about. It’s here that you can follow along paths traveled by Napoleon, by pious pilgrims, and by Stone & Bronze Age men. There are even ancient Stone Age grave hills along the way.

And, what kid doesn’t like climbing rocks? Which is exactly what they’ll be able to do at the Garden of Stones. Just don’t tell them that they’ll get a geology lesson while they’re doing it. ;-)

Well, everyone will enjoy a ride on an old 1930’s tramcar, which follows along the Harsefeld Museum Course.

Visitors also come to see the early 12th century monastery. Oh, c’mon! Did you really think you would come to a place this old and not see something from the Middle Ages? I didn’t think so…

You’ll be able to stroll along the foundations of the old monastery. Just as well visit the the church of St. Marien & St. Bartholomäi. Both the monastery and church had to be rebuilt in the mid-1600’s. If you appreciate the art of stained glass then there’s no place better than the church of St. Primus.

Not everyone will be able to visit during the warmer months, so don’t let winter slow you down. That’s when just about everyone in town heads over to the ice skating rink to try their hand at ice stick shooting.

I guess Harsefeld has the whole family covered for all season.

Agreed? :-)

Schongau is one of those timeless towns in the shadow of the German Alps. For as small as it is, it’s visited quite frequently; mainly due to its location on the touristy Romantic Road.

Whether you choose to drive or cycle the Romantische Straße, know that you’ll be passing through some lovely countryside and have plenty of places to stop and visit.

Most visitors to Schongau come to see its well maintained medieval Stadtmauer. Funnily, for years this fortification defense wall protected villagers by keeping people out & now it’s the reason for wanting to get in. ;-)

Take the stairs along the Stadtmauer‘s battlements to the Klosterhof, where you’ll find Schongau’s World War I and WWII memorial.

Another remnant of the Middle Ages is the 15th century Schloss Schongau. This old castle’s been through it all-parts of it have been torn down, blown up, and everything in between. Either way, it’s still a castle and by-golly we love our castles!

Get your camera ready, the 18th century Polizeidienerturm (or Police Servant Tower) is another big stop in town; just as the Kassel Tower does, too. The Kassel Tower’s another one of Schongau’s sites that been blown up (look for the Austrian cannonball); it was even occupied by the French for a while.

FYI: if you appreciate architectural art history then don’t miss the 13th century Frauentor (Woman’s Gate) with Baroque accents.

Oh yeah, speaking of Baroque… The St. George Church is probably one of the best examples of this ornate style. And, in the cemetery of St. Sebastian’s you’ll find some Baroque statues.

It’s with its stunning examples of various architecture that Schongau has earned its way onto the Romantic Road. It should also be because of its proximity to the Alps, which have an aura of romance onto themselves. When you get here you’ll see that Schongau is timeless, classic, and incredibly romantic-even if it wasn’t on the Romantic Road.

You’d think that any suburb living in the shadow of the great city of Berlin wouldn’t have anything for you to do. In the case of Schönefeld, think again.

For an interesting piece of history, Schönefeld and its six local hamlets were once cut off from the capital city by the Berlin Wall.

Don’t worry about ruckus from all the planes, they’re just taking off & landing at the city’s Berlin-Schönefeld Airport. Come to think of it, that’s a great way to find yourself here (ya got no excuses), as well as traveling along the Berliner Road, or the A10 or A13 Autobahn.

What you will find once you’re here is that many of the old local haunts are under historical protection — all the better to preserve history, my dears. One of the most beautiful places is the Dorfkirche and a great reminder of why people travel, to see places like this. The Friedhofskapelle, or cemetery chapel, is another one of those places.

If you’re looking for castles instead of churches Schönefeld proper doesn’t have one, you’ll have to head over to the area of Potsdam for the Castle Sanssouci. It’s worth the trek because this mid-18th century summer palace of Frederick the Great is both opulent and elegant. The castle might get thousands of visitors a year, but this grand place is far from touristy.

Speaking of tourists, they all need a place to stay. What Schönefeld does offer is smaller (economical) accommodations than what you’ll find in the larger cities (sorry Berlin, its nothing personal). The town’s accessibility to all points around Brandenburg really clinches the deal.

Sure, it’s tempting to run off and just stay in the ultra glamorous, fast paced, world famous city of Berlin. However, Schönefeld is pretty awesome in itself, otherwise it probably would never have had an airport named after it, would it? :-)

In East Germany, near Chemnitz and close to the border of the Czech Republic, is Stollberg (Erzgebirge). It’s an fantastic place in the Ore Mountains where the trees seem to be greener and the sky couldn’t be anymore blue.

Stollberg is also a historical town; which means at least a castle and few churches to visit. :-)

But, don’t start there. Start at the Cultural Center which is great for visitors and locals alike. It’s where to go for a bicycle rental when you want to traverse off into the countryside. Saxony is a beautiful area and you’ll never know what you might find (whether by bike or by foot).

It’s also a great place to stop and grab a bite to eat at its little cafe or come by once a week you can stop in and watch local crafters hard at work wood carving or making lace. Think of all the lovely souvenirs you can bring home.

Overlooking it all are the walls that were once the Burg Hoheneck. Well, it was a castle from 1244 to 1862 then it became a women’s prison for over 200 years.

Despite the castle’s age, the Marienkirche holds the honor of being the oldest building in town. It won’t take a history (or art history) lover to appreciate all the decorative details of this medieval church.

Another church that’s a must-see is St. Jacob’s, a beautiful Gothic work of art that sits right on the town square. Which is exactly where you’ll find Stollberg’s historical City Hall (Rathaus) and market place.

Stollberg’s Market Place is where its fun festivals take place, like the annual Christmas Market, Farmer’s Market, and the Old Town Celebration. Sounds like food, fun, and good times to be had by all.

Don’t skip the home of Carl von Bach either. Herr von Bach was a famous German engineer (great for you science people) and his childhood home is a large timber framed beauty (great for you history people).

It seems Stollberg has just about anything and everything you can think of; food, sightseeing, great crafts, and magnificent countryside. It’s so nice here you just might agree that the trees seem greener and the sky couldn’t be anymore blue. :-)

Schmölln? Never heard of it? Well, not anymore. ;-)

For starters, it’s a pretty cool place in Thuringia. Oh, that’s not a fair description, there’s a lot more to it than just a pin on the map.

From the looks of the place you’d never guess people have lived here from the time of the Bronze Age (yea, that long) and they got the archaeological finds to prove it. But, mostly it has retained its medieval flavor with all the modern day conveniences.

The best way to truly appreciate the beauty of Schmölln is to climb the Ernst-Agnes-Turm that rises over 30 meters or 90 feet high. From this vantage point you’ll see the towers of St. Nikolai and Town Churches. Both of which are beautiful in their own right — so make sure you stop to see them.

Another tower that you can see from the heights of the Agnes comes from Schmölln’s City Hall. It’s old and has seen centuries of daily life on the cobblestoned Market Square (a place that’s been buzzing with activity for over a thousand years!).

Other signs of medieval life remain such as the remnants of the town’s fortification wall (called a Stadtmauer).

Oh, we can’t forget about the nearby Schloss Dobitschen, either.

For quiet reflection, I can’t think of a better place than the tree lined paths of the City Park. Grab a hearty lunch and have a quiet picnic overlooking the water.

For a taste of true Thuringia try a local specialty known as Mutzbraten, a pork dish served with bread and sauerkraut. It seems the regional cuisine is partial to meat dishes (with rich sauces) but, some of the most delicious vegetables come from this area.

Schmölln is a lovely medieval delight with the most delicious food. It also has a few quaint boutique style hotels for anyone wishing to stay overnight.

Good idea, I can’t think of any reason to rush through this place — you’d be sorry if you did. ;-)

You got a few choices when you visit someplace new. You could do the touristy stuff, you can try to fit in with the locals, and you can eat. Then in cases like the North Rhine-Westphalian town of Mettingen you don’t have to choose, you’re able to do it all.

There’s no question that when you visit a medieval town you’ll have at least one old church to see; Mettingen’s got three. The Protestant Town Church, the Maria Ascension Church, and St. Agatha’s. Good old St. Aggie holds a super fun Herbstkirmes festival on the last weekend in April.

That will give you a chance to eat some really yummy Westphalian specialties, the most famous is its pumpernickel bread and potato pancakes.

Mettingen also has a wonderful Christmas Market on the 1st Sunday of Advent (4 weeks before Christmas). While you’re here try the Hähnchenförmiges, a pastry made with sugar and Kümmel spice that’s served around the holidays.

Other eating/shopping opportunities exist at Mettingen’s annual Farmers & Flower Market (Springtime) and in the Fall is the Ärrappelfest.

If the weather’s warmer take a picnic over by the town’s centuries old Oak Tree. But, a picnic over by the old Blood Beech tree would be just as wonderful. Imagine the stories this massive tree could tell, it’s been a fixture around town since 1792.

After relaxing under the tree’s shade head off to the Heimathaus (or Homeland House). The museum itself was created from a few timber framed structures (thatched roof included) with exhibits looking at the culture of daily life.

Mettingen even has a post office museum with the world’s first stamp (!) and one of the world’s first desktop telephones from 1903 (!!). Then pull out your little tiny cellphone and see how much technology has changed in the last century. ;-)

It’s a no-brainer that you really can do it all here, and I’ll bet a good bratwurst will taste great on that Mettingen pumpernickel bread; so eat up!

Talk about the best of both worlds; Bretzfeld is a town that sits within the Swabian-Franconian Forest in Baden-Württemberg. Meaning that you’ll get the best of the area’s long standing traditional culture.

What exactly does that mean? For starters, this is serious wine country and there’s no better way to spend an afternoon than wine tasting.

But, you can’t really do all that drinking on an empty stomach. Which brings me to another good point about Bretzfeld, it’s delicious blend of Swabian and Franconian dishes.

For some Swabian regional cuisine try the Gaisburger Marsch, a yummy beef & vegetable stew. Finish it off with some Knieküchle, a fried sweet bread that’s a specialty in the Franconian region. You’ll need your strength to do your sightseeing in Bretzfeld, so eat up!

It’s only fitting to go hiking (walking, biking, you get the point) within the Swabian-Frankish Forest since Bretzfeld is dead smack in the middle of it. Even if you’re not the outdoorsy type, it’ll be hard to pass up the shaded lanes that lead off to heaven-only-knows where. Isn’t that half the fun anyway? :-)

If you prefer not to commune with nature, there’s sightseeing to be done within the town proper. Most visitors stop at the town’s tiny Protestant Church and stop a spell at the 18th century historic Budaörser Heimatmuseum (what a name!); a local history museum with a special exhibit on the town’s Hungarian refugees.

One of the coolest attractions is the nearby ruins of Burg Löwenstein. Of course there is the typical tour of this 11th century castle, but you can also take a guided “ghost & fairytale” tour. Great! A haunted castle, what could be better?

Bretzfeld is a fantastic town that’s only about half an hour east of Heilbronn, has a great (haunted) castle, beautiful scenery, and just about all the wine you can drink.

When you’ve got it this good, I can’t think of any of reason to leave…