On the border of Germany and France is the small historical town of Breisach am Rhein, only 20 km west of Freiburg im Breisgau. For the serious history buff, a trip to Breisach on the River Rhine, is just what the history professor ordered.

Even though the town officially celebrated its birthday in 369, people have lived in this beautiful “Mother of the Breisgau” for more than 4,000 years!

The Museum of Urban History, an incredibly beautiful Baroque building, traces Breisach’s history back to a few thousand years B.C. and makes the ultimate first stop in town.

Amazingly enough, there is still plenty to see here although 85 percent of the town was destroyed by Allied bombings in the last days of the Second World War. All the better to fully appreciate the medieval buildings found here in town.

A few of those medieval buildings can be found in ruins, but it doesn’t make them any less beautiful. There are ruins of three medieval castles around the area… Castle Alzenach (13th century), Castle Breisach (12th century), and Castle Üsenberg, the oldest of them all, built sometime in the 11th century. This is serious castle country, because even the Romans had built a castle here, too.

More medieval wonders are the impressive churches that call Breisach home. As if the Romanesque St. Stephanmünster Cathedral isn’t beautiful enough on its own, the artwork found within this church is nothing short of astonishing. One of the most beautiful pieces in its collection is a 15th century silver reliquary casket.

With many historical sites wherever you turn, an avid history buff will fall in love with this marvelous town. It really is, just what the history professor ordered!

Right between Hamburg and Lübeck is the early 14th century medieval village of Bargteheide. Well, it’s actually much older since people have lived here from the Bronze Age, but a Lady never reveals her true age. Or does she? ;-)

Age aside, you’ll come to know Bargteheide as a beauty that’s worth spending a day or two visiting this region of Northern Germany.

Bargteheide, if anything, is just pretty with its green meadows and flower lined lanes with tall majestic trees in the background (makes for great scenery while you’re frolicking in the town’s outdoor pool). Little things mean a lot here, right down to the town’s coat of arms created out of beautiful flowers in the market square.

Famous for not only its lovely countryside, Bargteheide is known for its many historical timber framed houses and its church has stood here for more than 700 years.

The Local History Museum is a fabulous place to go to learn more about the area’s history. Such as where to find an old mile marker from the 19th century when this Schleswig-Holstein region belonged to the Denmark. But, don’t get it twisted, Bargteheide’s steeped deep in German culture.

Another great way to learn more about the town’s history is to take the “Street Name Tour,” all the better to learn how these winding tree lined streets got their names. Afterwards, wander around looking for the town’s many art gallery exhibits. It’s a superb way to spend the day!

When you’ve finished your culture tour, stop at the Utspann (it’s a dialect and means “relax”), an old community center from the 1770’s, that’s now a popular restaurant.

When looking for a perfect blend of history, culture, and art think of Bargteheide. It’s where little things mean a lot and you won’t even bother to ask how old she really is. ;-)

In North Germany you’ll find a beguiling town known as Bergen auf Rügen. Right off the bat, the local history museum is a great place to start since it explains the region’s history all the way back to the days of the Stone Age.

Bergen is quite a populated town and it’s no wonder… the hilly mountain countryside is outstanding; created by receding ice during the last Ice Age.

Forest Rugard is probably the most fun and a wonderful way to enjoy the countryside. If you climb to the top of Moritz Arndt Observation Tower you’ll be handsomely rewarded with sweeping views of the lush green forest below.

You’ll also find hidden within the forest an awesome alpine rollercoaster slide known as Sommerrodelbahn. This isn’t your typical amusement ride, since it’s not motorized it uses gravity to propel you down a mountainside track, with an adrenaline rush thrown in for good measure.

If you’ve managed to survive the alpine run, here’s your chance to visit the many historical buildings found around town. Get your camera ready for many picture perfect timber framed houses, with the oldest one dating to 1538.

A few other historic buildings that are a must-see are the ruins of a nearby 12th century monastery, a former monastic church (also 12th century), and the Parish Church Bonifatius which has some amazing stone artwork.

If you’re looking for art and culture (on top of everything else) in Bergen auf Rügen, the place to be is over in the neighborhood of Sozio. This is THE place to be for any number of concerts, book readings, or an art exhibits that are held here all year round.

Bergen auf Rügen is where history and culture meet modern day fun and visitors to this town, so close to the Baltic Sea, will be more than happy with what they’ll find once they get here.

When hearing that Bissendorf translates to Bite Village it might conjure-up visions of some stereotypical vampire movie that’s set in an old medieval village, but you’re not going to find any kind of supernatural beings here.

What you will find is that Bite Village is just a 12th century town which, in reality, is just wonderful with lots of old castles (some in ruins) and farms — bordering the green Teutoburg Forest in Lower Saxony.

In all actuality the town’s much older since there have been old graves found here from the days of the Bronze Age. So, let’s dig in and take a bite out of “Bite Village!” ;-)

One of the most special sites in all of Bissendorf is Schloss Schelenburg, a water castle that dates back to the 12th century. It was remodeled in the popular Renaissance style after a fire destroyed the castle in 1530. It’s military tower is impressive with walls over six feet thick.

One of the original owners was a friend of none other than Martin Luther himself and the castle is just filled with so much history. You’ll be able to explore it more if you stay the night, since it’s now a superb hotel with lots of romantic little bridges over the water ditches.

Holter Castle isn’t a hotel, but just some old romantic ruins from the 12th century to explore. The stunning red tiled Holter Church (also from the 12th century) is a local landmark.

Another place that shouldn’t be missed is Parish Church Dionysius, housing priceless works of art from as far back as Roman times.

But, old castles and churches aren’t the only things that our good ol’ Bissendorf has for you. Forest Bath is a wonderful outdoor pool that’s solar heated with commanding views of the countryside. The views from the 18-hole golf course are just as fabulous and the entire family will be entertained on the miniature golf course.

With everything to see and do here in Bissendorf, I guess you’ll be taking a big bite out of “Bite Village.” ;-)

On the Upper Swabian Baroque Route, stretching along for some 500 km or 311 mi, as well as the Swabian Spa Route, is the oldest therapeutic bath town in all of Baden-Württemberg, Bad Wurzach. Once you enter it for the first time you’ll know you’re bound to see one of the most precious of what Germany has to offer.

The Parish Church Verena is a little white church with an exceptionally tall tower (definitely a photo op!). Even more stunning is the larger church found in the Hauerz district. Sitting high on a hill, it looks more like a castle than a place of worship with its miniature turrets and clock tower.

Gottesberg is where you’ll find the Pilgrimage Church (known as Salvatorianerkloster). Built in 1709, it hosts the Festival of the Holy Blood (the church has a holy blood reliquary) on the 2nd Friday of every July.

But stop… There are other historical sights to see here in Bad Wurzach that shouldn’t be missed. (You didn’t think you were going to relax in one of the spas here that easy, did you? ;-) Schloss Bad Wurzach is another Baroque creation from 1728, which has been used as (besides a castle) a Catholic Seminary and POW camp for French Officers during the war. It’s now the place to enjoy concerts.

Ironically, Bad Wurzach, a fantastic spa town, once had its own Leprosy Colony. The former Leprosorium is now a museum with works from the famous German painter, Sepp Mahler.

Peat cutting was once a huge industry here, so fittingly enough, there’s a Peat Museum in town, too. The kids will probably rather go see the Alpakahof, though — a local animal park and petting zoo.

At the end of the day filled with with exhaustive sightseeing, and after visiting the cheese factory for some yummy local goodies, relax in any of the thermal bath spas that can be found here. The hot springs and mud brought in from the moorlands will work wonders in restoring your physical and mental health.

It might be difficult to tear yourself away from the hot springs, but the countryside is equally beautiful with many cycling and hiking trails for exploration. So take a close look when you hop to the next German city. ;-)

If you thought that the big city chic Frankfurt would overshadow its scanty neighbor Schwalbach am Taunus, you are in for a surprise!

Being so close to the big city, you would think that you wouldn’t find any old historical buildings, but please… this is Germany!

One of its oldest sights are the ruins of the 14th century Schwalbach Castle (it has been uninhabited since the late 16th century). Besides, this area has been inhabited since the Stone Age, then by the Romans and Merovingians. Guess they, too, loved the mild winters and knew a good thing when they saw it.

Not only ancient visitors liked what they saw. International companies like Jaguar, Samsung, SANYO, and Land Rover felt inspired enough to call Schwalbach am Taunus their remarkable German home.

Living true to the surrounding Taunus, Schwalbach has a large Arboretum with over 600 varieties of trees and bushes. Hidden with the forest trees you’ll find the Honour Mark, a memorial dedicated to soldiers from the First World War with an addition added to the soldiers of the Second World War.

After a visit there, go grab a beer at one of the most famous pubs in town (ex., the Mutter Krauss), or stay at Zum Schwanen, a historic hotel that dates back to 1668! There are also plenty of decorative half-timbered houses in the old part of this town.

The Limestadt District, by the way, is mostly residential but it’s the place to go to catch the S-Bahn train or shop at the town’s market.

And if that weren’t enough, Schwalbach is very close to the neighboring spa communities of Köningstein and the famous Bad Soden, which certainly makes this magnificent place even better.

Just remember, while Schwalbach am Taunus has plenty of international companies making this place home, it still retains the feel and flavor of a cute small town.

Bebra is a small hamlet with six local neighborhoods that’s been around since the late 8th century.

Within these small neighborhoods, you’ll find ornate old churches (most of the area’s churches had to be restored after bombings from the Second World War), plenty of half timbered houses, and nature trails to explore the countryside.

Bebra’s town hall is a half-timbered beauty and the kids will certainly go nuts over the old Toy Museum. Strangely enough, Bebra also boasts a Railway Museum, but hasn’t had a train station in decades!

One of the most interesting of Bebra’s neighborhoods is Weiterode. While it dates back to the mid 11th century, it has a magnificent 13th century military church if you’re looking for something historical to feast your eyes on.

The area is really stunning and best enjoyed if you get out on any one of the cycling or hiking trails. Party with the locals at the Weiterode’s Village Celebration which held annually on the 3rd weekend in October. Try a local Northern Hessian specialty called Awl Sausage (just don’t ask how it’s made ;-).

Breitenbach is another little jewel. Besides being famous for its village and Osterfeuer festivals (a big bonfire celebration the Saturday before Easter), it has a stunning 11th century church dedicated to St. Michael.

If you want to see a real gem, head over to Gilferhausen where you’ll see a smashing half-timbered tower church. Get your camera ready, because this church will make the most beautiful snapshot memento to take home with you.

Don’t think you won’t find some great castles and ruins while exploring the countryside of Bebra, either. Look around and you’ll find Rodenberg Castle (15th century), Rotenburg Castle (16th century), Rittershain Castle, and Ludwig Castle which was built in 1400.

As far as events are concerned, folks get into the party spirit during the Spring and Autumn Festivals. And during summer you’ll fall in love with a brightly colored sky, simply known as KiteFest.

With something to offer everyone and every age group, Bebra’s will just utterly amaze you. Again, just don’t ask how they make their sausages! ;-)

Herzberg am Harz comprises of five local villages and is actually considered a health resort.

Herzberg proper dates back to around the mid 12th century and wouldn’t be complete without its own castle and old church.

Schloss Herzberg, built in 1510, has a tin figure museum with many historical exhibits on the surrounding forest and the castle itself. And the Parish Church Nicolai was rebuilt in 1845 after the original was destroyed.

Now lets walk through each of Herzberg’s other districts…

The Lonau district is the least populated with only about 350 residents and more famous for its camping and golf facilities. It’s also a very quiet place, since most of the village’s traffic goes away from it. All the more better to enjoy the natural countryside here, I’d say, like the Lonauer Waterfall. There’s also the Hanskühnenburg (with an observation tower) in the nature park with plenty of walking paths and beautiful rock formations.

The neighborhood of Sieber is only slightly bigger in terms of population but unique and retains a rural feel. Once a mining town, it’s not uncommon to see sheep herds crossing the small village roads on your way to the village park and swimming pool.

Pöhlde has been inhabited since the 2nd century A.D. and has the ruins of what is called a fleeing castle (used in times of war and hiding from invaders) with an old monastic church that just shouldn’t be missed.

It’s in Pöhlde where you’re going to find the infamous Rhumequelle, one of the largest water springs in the world.

The most interesting of all the villages, however, is Scharzfeld. It’s here where you’ll find the 10th century ruins of the Scharzfeld Castle, destroyed in 1761. The ruins of the castle are romantic and the view of the forest below is dazzling.

For ruins that date back even further, there’s the Scharzfelder Steinkirche, a cave from prehistoric times that was converted into a church and cemetery at the end of the 8th century and used until 1586.

For more cave exploration, head over to the Scharzfeld’s Horn Cave with beautiful natural rock formations.

You can get a grand view of Scharzfeld from what is known as the Großer Knollen (it translates to “large tubers” and sounds MUCH better in German). It’s an observation tower on top of one of the mountains with a little cafe at the top. Imagine lunching with THAT view!

The town of Ritterhude in Lower Saxony is located just a stone’s throw from its big sister, the big city chic Bremen, and less than an hour from the refreshing North Sea. It’s also located close to two of the largest breweries in the country, which is reason enough to visit.

Ritterhude’s real claim to fame is the story of the Ries Brothers who left for America at the turn of the 20th century.

Living frugally and working diligently, the two brothers lived the American dream, made a fortune but never forgot where they came from. They donated a excessive sum of money to their home town, which Ritterhude then used the money to build a new City Hall. It’s where you’ll find a memorial stone in dedicated to these local homeboy benefactors.

If you rather have a good German beer (and who wouldn’t), go visit the Becks and St. Paulie Girl Brewery in Bremen. One thing’s for sure, this is serious beer country! At the Schlachte, an old medieval harbor, there are lots of bars and pubs to drink some of the brewery’s different flavored brews.

If beer isn’t your thing, there’s always the beautiful Botanical Gardens to stroll around.

Ritterhude sits right in the middle of historic old windmills on lush green meadows with fun boat rides offered on the moorlands. Get out on the many bicycle trails (if you haven’t had too many St. Paulie Girls) to further appreciated this scenic countryside.

Why not cycle over to the Lower Saxony Artists Village in nearby Worpswede, or the Bird Museum; you most certainly won’t be disappointed.

Another great thing about Rittershude is not only does it have an indoor and outdoor pool, but the crystal clear lakes make for great swimming.

Ritterhude is a town that takes great pride in its festivals, especially the Hammefest, held on the 1st weekend in September. That’s right around the Harvest Celebration. So, grab a Becks and have a good time!

More than a thousand years ago, the tiny town of Isny in Allgäu was a strategic locale within the Holy Roman Empire.

Today, it’s a popular health resort town that sits on the Upper Swabian Baroque Route, a German scenic route that stretches for 500 km and highlights some of the region’s most popular Baroque buildings.

For you fans of medieval life, there are plenty of buildings and churches from that time period to see, as well. A great first stop in town is the Watergate Museum filled with exhibits on the region’s cultural history (all the better to appreciate this bewitching village).

Another amazing place to visit is the Prädikantenbibliothek. It’s this library that houses historical letters and books from as far back as the year 1200 and writings from none other than Martin Luther himself.

If you’re wondering why Isny is on the Baroque Route, look no further than the Parish Church George and Jacobus Monastic Church, originally built in the 11th century. It was reconstructed in a beautiful ornate Baroque and Rococo design, as was the Chapel Parish Church Josef.

If looking for a good old-fashioned medieval church, then put the Nikolaikirche on your itinerary — remaining true to its medieval style, even after is was restored in the 15th century.

Because of Isny’s strategic importance within the Holy Roman Empire it remained vulnerable to fighting warlords and invaders. So, the town built a Stadtmauer and moat for its protection. Most of the wall is now gone, but the Thief Tower still remains attached to the Stadtmauer (built in 1402), so called because it once housed two prisons.

The Espantor, a 13th century gate tower also remains. One of the most impressive of the towers is the tall white Blaserturm; attached to Isny’s former cloth house, it was used as a lookout for fire and marauders.

Don’t worry; no one will think you’re an invading warlord when you come to town for the annual Opera Festival in July, the Theater Festival at the end of August, or to see Isny’s Art Center. ;-)