Borken (Hesse) is one of those towns where everywhere you turn there’s some type of contradiction. This is in no way a bad thing, it just gives the town pure character.

For example, if you’re looking towards Borken’s historic town center you’ll find modern automobiles parked right next a myriad of timber framed buildings.

Mining was a huge boon to the local economy, but no longer. Now, what was once its cash cow has become one of its largest tourist attractions.

Borken lays claim to a huge outdoor Brown Coal Mining Museum, a great chance to teach the kids a science lesson on energy. There have also been some prehistoric archaeological finds in some of the old mine shafts, many of prehistoric turtles that have been given a specific species name after the town.

The Borkener See (Borken Lake) is a wonderful blend of science and nature. At Borken Lake the entire family can have an awesome time, enjoying the Nature Park, swimming, hiking, volleyball, windsurfing, and Aqua Golf.

For the uninitiated, aqua golf is where you hit balls into the water; quite the opposite when golfers are trying to keep their balls out of the drink. Again, just another one of those Borken contradictions.

Leaving science and nature aside, you can have a good old history lesson, too. Within the neighborhood of Nassenerfurth there’s a grand church and Wasserschloss (water castle), both were built in the 15th century.

A most fascinating fact of Borken’s history comes from nothing short of homicide as Duke Frederich of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel was murdered here in the year 1400. A memorial stone cross stands for the unfortunate Duke in the neighborhood of Kleinenglis bearing an inscription that has yet to be deciphered to this very day.

Whether you choose to spend your time trying to deciphering Ferdinand’s cross or enjoying everything else in the Hessian town of Borken; you most certainly can’t go wrong.

If you find yourself on the A7 Autobahn between Hanover and Hamburg make sure you stop in the town of Bergen (Celle). What you’ll find here is nothing short of thought provoking; with a history spanning back to around 6000 years ago!

The oldest of any site here is known as the Sieben Steinhäuser, a group of five dolmen. Dolment are megalith (stone) tombs that have been found to date back to 4000 B.C., the time of the Stone Age.

When wanting to see the megalith be aware that its within a NATO military training facility so it’s only available for visits between 8am-6pm on weekends and holidays. There are also 45 younger Bronze Age Mounds on the edge of the forest.

There have been other prehistoric find in the area, most of which are now on permanent display at the Römstedthaus. Once an old barn from the 1660’s, it’s now a regional and local history museum with other exhibits of Bergen’s history.

There’s another place here in Bergen of historical significance, as the town was where the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp was located. It’s best to take a guided tour around this large facility so that you are able to fully understand the complex history of the place. There are many monuments throughout the facility dedicated to the 70,000 people who had lost their lives here.

If you who wish to see some lovely religious art then don’t miss St. Lambertus Church (built early 18th century). The center aisle is decorated with ornate stencil artwork using some sort of textile underneath to avoid cracking through the years.

If all this wandering around isn’t exercise enough, you can enjoy a jaunt along many hiking and biking trails throughout the countryside. There’s also a lush green nature park filled with many more trails to get to know Bergen even better.

Besides Bergen’s man-made history, its natural beauty alone make the trip here worth it.

When thinking about a visit to Germany most likely you’ll want to come to Bavaria, because of places like Dorfen. As this is where you’ll find small towns and villages that have been around for countless centuries; filled with churches with priceless works of art, pictorial countryside, and delectable local yummies and incredible beer.

Certainly, Dorfen fits the bill and a day spent here would be time well spent. :-)

Dorfen’s only about 50 km or 35 miles east of Munich which makes getting here quite easy.

Medieval Pilgrims made regular trips here to visit the Klassizisti Pilgrimage Church and very much still visited by tourists. There’s another beautiful church here (though not a pilgrimage church) which is St. Vitus located right on the Market Square since the 15th century.

At least you’ll have an easier time getting here than earlier Pilgrims, only having to hop on the Munich Mühldorf Rail Line.

To get to the Market Square you can enter the original old part of town through one of the three remaining tower gates. The tower gates make a great photo-op, but it’s so much more than that. You’ll really feel as though you’re walking through a portal to another time.

Tradition is important here and Dorfen’s weekly market, held on Fridays, has been held here on the square for what seems like a bazillion years, but actually since the 19th century. The market offers a chance to buy some delicious local goodies like fresh fruit, cheese, bread, and wine. You’ll also have ample opportunity to buy some Weißbier, the white beer, made according to the German Purity Laws but with wheat and barley.

It’s probably best to forage around the Bavarian countryside before you start drinking too much of the good stuff. Dorfen has an abundance of walking, hiking, and cycling trails through some incredibly beautiful lush landscape. Unless, you’re the type that feels lifting a liter of a fine beer is workout enough. ;-)

Only about 10 kilometers from Freiburg you’ll find the fabulous little hamlet of Denzlingen right on the edge of the mystic Black Forest (Schwarzwald).

Even though this town has been inhabited since the days of the Romans, it was destroyed during quite a nasty battle that took place here during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). Thankfully for us, it has been rebuilt allowing us to enjoy all that the town has offer.

As Denzlingen sits along the beautiful Black Forest, you’ll most likely want to spend as much time outside enjoying the scenery. However, there are quite a few old buildings around town that deserve just as much attention.

Do yourself a favor, spend at least two days here to experience everything. Don’t worry about accommodations as there are plenty of small local guesthouses in town.

If you’re going to experience the great outdoors first, know that you’ll have the opportunity to play some miniature golf (open only from April to November), tennis, and volleyball. It seems that all activities outdoors have some wonderful views of the forest mountains in the background.

Then there’s this fabilous Denzlingen’s outdoor pool and sauna. It went under a 10 million Euro renovation and the final results are well worth your visit. Not only a magnificent pool for swimming is there, but a new sauna and sweeping views of the Schwarzwald are also part of the package.

With all your outdoor activities taken care of, it’s time to visit some of the old buildings. One has stood here for more than a thousand years. The oldest (and most stunning) are the ruins of St. Severin. Built around the year 1000, it has been in ruins since 1547.

Remember to visit the Stork Tower, formerly known as St. Michaels. A former local artist, Mr. Theodor Zeller, painted a beautiful mural here after he returned to Denzlingen after his forced exile to Italy in the 1930’s. As Zeller was one of the town’s most famous residents, he also painted at St. Jakob’s Church, too.

As if this isn’t enough to keep you busy, there are plenty of wine tasting tours and cycling and hiking trails through this area of the forest in Baden-Württemberg.

There’s more if you can manage to visit the week before Lent, when Denzlingen holds its Fastnet celebration with local residents dressing up like ears of corn.

Any place where residents are willing to dress up like vegetables and party and has a history spanning back more than a thousand years is worth a visit anytime of the year.

On the edge of the famous Swabian Alb is the town of Langenau. There’s more than enough here to keep you entertained for more than a day, so be prepared to stay a while.

This town of some 14,000 residents on the River Nau, is also centrally located to neighboring Bavaria as well as the cities of Ulm and Neu-Ulm.

If you’re looking for great area museums, you’ll find plenty in the region. The Ulmer Museum has many great exhibits on Swabian arts and crafts, as well as archaeological finds from the Alb (Swabia has its own unique culture onto itself).

Not so much a museum, but just the Langenau archives you’ll find a collection of over 2000 pictures of the town in yesteryear, but only open on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. The kids might prefer a trip over to Legoland instead though (in nearby Günzburg).

The most unique of all the museums is the Lonetal Museum, where you’ll find thousands of years of history under one roof. Check out the 32,000 year old lion figurine and see how this area was once the stomping grounds of animals like the cave lion or woolly mammoth during the last ice age. But, actually the entire Lonetal is a living breathing natural environment and that’s the best museum of them all.

The town’s landmark, however, is the Martinskirche. This church was an evolving work of art from the 14th through 18th centuries.

The Swabian countryside is another work of art and is just brilliant here in Langenau. In fact, Langenau is probably best explored outside, like the Langenauer Ried filled with indigenous plants and animals. There are even natural caves that are just waiting to be discovered.

If that’s not your ballgame, there’s miniature golfing, swimming (indoor and outdoor pool), a sauna, hiking, cycling and jogging trails, inline roller skating, and great mountain roads for anyone brave enough to hop on a motorcycle.

At least you won’t have to worry about a wholly mammoth crossing the road. ;-)

Hagen am Teutoburger Wald, or Hagen a.T.W for short, is a wonderful little town (est. 1097) that’s worth getting to know. Completely surrounded by the Teutoburg Forest, you’ll find the most magnificent landscape to explore, as well as some charming festivals, and old historical buildings.

The town’s landmark building is the Parish Church Martinus (built over an older church), now the place for many concerts or other artistic pursuits.

Sadly, a fire destroyed the center of town in 1723 and many of the half timbered buildings come from later in the 18th century, though a few do remain from the 17th century.

One thing Hagen a.T.W. is known for is its cherries and the town’s cherry festival; there’s even a crowned Cherry Queen.

That’s not the only festival around town, every two years Hagen hosts an International Music Festival. Every other year seems to be the theme here, since the Outdoor City Festival, with several thousand partiers, is celebrated every two years.

Another bi-annual event is the Hagen Riding Tournament, great if you love the ponies. But, the Kirmes Folk Festival, with a cattle market, is held annually on the Monday after September 29th.

Since Hagen’s surrounded by forest, there are many great outdoor activities that everyone can enjoy (in this case, swimming in the indoor and outdoor pool optional) but there’s tennis and basketball, too. Though, horseback riding through the forest can be extra special.

There’s also over 35 miles of hiking trails through town and 100 km of trail on the “figure 8” Maple Way route that runs right through the town of Bad Iburg. And, don’t let a little snow in winter stop you from enjoying Hagen, it only adds to the town’s natural beauty, just minus the cherries. ;-)

Münster in Hesse is a small town in the Darmstadt-Dieburg District that is conveniently located only about a stone’s throw from Dieburg and about 30 km (20 miles) from the big city chic Frankfurt. That makes it quite easy for exploring the surrounding countryside while staying in this 750 year old town.

The Dieburg Museum has archeological exhibits that show people have lived here a lot longer than that.

Münster does have its own Local History Museum, located at Bahnhofstraße 46, with exhibits detailing some 7 centuries of life here. One of the newest exhibits is farming life in the late 1930’s. But, get here early in the month since the museum is only open on the 1st Sunday of each month.

The churches that can be found here in Münster are exceptional. One of the oldest can be found in the Altheim district, dating back to the 11th century. The Protestant Church, with its 45 meter high tower, is considered to be Münster’s most famous landmark. The Catholic Parish Church Michael is another beauty from a few centuries ago, so try not to miss it.

In a more recent time in history, during the days of World War II the neighborhood of Breitefeld had a huge ammunition facility (known as MUNA and sadly built by forced labor) that the Americans blew up during the last days of the war. The United States Army stayed here in Breitefeld for some 50 years, only having left in 1994 and their old army barracks can still be seen.

One of the most beautiful things about Münster is its countryside. There’s a popular lake with barbecue pits and a playground for the kids to run around. There’s also mountain biking trails or get in on a game of cricket.

The town’s indoor pool (with sauna) is an enjoyable place to end the day. Well, maybe not, since there’s almost always a classical music concert, book reading, or something playing at the town’s cinema. Now, that’s a perfect way to end the day, isn’t it?

On the Elbe River between Berlin and Magdeburg is the small history filled town of Genthin. Despite some of its darker history, Genthin is a spectacular town that’s just the place to be for art lovers and historians alike.

The best way to see Genthin is to get into the little villages (there are eleven) and see each one individually.

In Altenplathow, a neighborhood of about 3000 people, is the town’s landmark, the brick watertower built in 1934. Located right near the tower is the St. Marien Roman Catholic Church, built around the turn of the last century in an Art Nouveau style. It was originally built in a Romanesque style that was popular in Germany from the 11th through 13th centuries, and reason enough to be part of the Romanesque Route.

There are more historic churches to be found here in Genthin, fitting since the region dates back over a thousand years.

The Village Church Parchen’s foundations date back some 800 years and rebuilt in the 19th century. Ringelsdorf’s Baroque Church was also rebuilt over a Romanesque original. There’s also a 19th century castle that’s worth a visit and appropriately named Schloss Ringelsdorf. You can’t leave out a visit to Paplitz’s 16th century church, too.

There are some somber sites to visit here in Gethin, like the memorial dedicated to the Jewish cemetery that was once here and completely destroyed by the National Socialist regime. There are 68 people buried in one of the local cemeteries, victims of a local concentration camp (a satellite branch of the Ravensbrück Concentration Camp was here).

There are also more memorials dedicated to lives that were lost in the region during death marches and forced labor by the National Socialists. There’s another memorial at the main train station, dedicated to the 292 people who died, or were injured, in December 1939 on one of the worst train disasters in German history.

But, Genthin should be remembered for so much more. After you’ve spent some time here, you will.

In the old mining town of Aldenhoven in North Rhine-Westphalia there’s a perfect blending of old and new, where all things historical meet the modern world. One of the main attractions here is its Blausteinsee (Blue Stone Lake), a recreational lake filled with walking and biking trails.

There are two popular routes along the lake, one is the Water Castle Route that ambles along for 365 km (approx 280 miles). Only the really adventurous would attempt to cycle the entire route, but any stretch of it is just stunning countryside.

The other most popular route is the Historical Path Blaustein which passes around Blaustein Lake through old country villages. Don’t worry about getting lost, the trails are very well marked.

Aldenhoven really is much older than it seems. The Romans used to come through here on their way towards Cologne and even older Stone Age graves have been found. Archaeologists have even found 6th and 7th century Frankish graves, too.

The beautiful Schloss Dürboslar is a wonderful Late Medieval water castle, which means it had a moat. And, the 17th century tower addition makes the castle look more menacing, but gorgeous nonetheless.

There’s a 13th century manor house in Siersdorf, which has been in ruins since the 16th century and used to have an underground connecting tunnel to the 16th century Catholic Parish Church Johannes der Täufer.

Make sure to stop at the Marienwallfahrt, a 15th century church that used to be a popular pilgrimage site. Of all the medieval sites here in Aldenhoven, it’s the 15th century Old Tower that’s the town’s most famous landmark.

In more modern history and a boon to the local economy was the town’s mining industry. The Miner House Museum takes a look at how mining has changed through the centuries.

A bit on the morbid side, there’s an exhibit of 300 year old skeletons that were discovered in the mines.

Aldenhoven’s mining industry isn’t the town’s only claim to fame. Napoleon’s victories here in 1793 and 1794 will forever immortalized on the Arc de Triumphe and where Aldenhoven in the North Rhine meets the streets of Paris.

When thinking about great spa destinations Bad Salzdetfurth in Lower Saxony doesn’t exactly come to mind, but it very well should. Nestled in a scenic valley in the Hildesheim Forest, Bad Salzdetfurth has much to offer its visitors besides an incredibly relaxing wellness center.

There’s plenty of history here (the town’s been around since the 12th century) and a wonderful countryside with fun activities for the entire family (mountain biking is widely popular here, including the Mountainbike League Race).

There’s a local history museum in the neighborhood of Wehrstadt to help get you started on your way.

Long before the first spa opened here in 1856 many of the sites in the thirteen districts that make up Bad Salzdetfurth had already been built, like many of the timber framed houses in Bodenburg (circa 1670). There’s also an old medieval castle in Bodenburg.

The Heindner Church (in Heinde) is filled with centuries old art and wood cut alter and a far cry from time it was used as a prison.

That’s not the only church that will have you enchanted, there’s the Parish Church Cosmas and Damian in Groß Düngen that was built in 1733 and the 17th century Parish Church George.

You’ll just be dazzled by Schloss Oelber, originally a 12th century design (moat included), but the timber design you see comes from the 16th century. This romantic looking fortress is now a cultural mecca with concerts, antique fairs, and medieval plays that are often going on here.

After all this, some relief at Bad Salzdetfurth’s town spa will be most welcome. The town’s wellness center has two outdoor pools and five different styles of sauna to invigorate and/or relax you. There’s also aromatherapy or hot stone massages on the menu, or have a moorland mud bath, all designed to relax those aching muscles.

For centuries the saltwater baths here have been promoted for easing arthritis or any other ailment you might have. But, after some time in Bad Salzdetfurth, what could possibly be wrong? ;-)