Lübben (Spreewald) was founded around the same time as its castle was built in 1150. Surprisingly enough, Lübben is actually a spa town, as well as a historical site.

Here in Lübben, the historical sites are intermingled with the cultural ones. The early 18th century Staendi Country House now holds the town’s cultural meetings. Schlossinsel Lübben has the most beautiful gardens and hosts many wonderful summer concerts.

The Renaissance style Schloss Lübben is the home of the town’s city and regional museum. There’s a quaint little castle restaurant here, too, in case you want to dine feeling like royalty.

The town did have a 14th century Stadtmauer, sadly there are only two little sections remaining today.

In a more modern day history, you’ll find a memorial dedicated to Lübben’s Jewish community, as the town’s only Jewish cemetery was destroyed in Kristallnacht in 1938.

One thing sure to stick out is how the town’s countryside is simply idyllic with green meadows, lush forests, and crystal clear rivers. To get the full experience get over to the Pension Lehnigksberg for a true spa and sauna experience. Besides, there’s also the chance to go paddle boating, rent a boat, or bicycle to see the landscape.

There’s great sports to be done here in Lübben with plenty of walking, cycling, and Nordic Walking trails to keep you busy. While you’re out there look for the Lübbener Hain & Liuba Stone in the Oak Forest, a statue dedicated to a pagan goddess.

Spring, summer, and autumn are the town’s more popular seasons since many of the festivals and concerts are held during this time of the year. Speaking of festivals, there’s the Island Music Summer, with concerts held all summer long; and the Spreewald Festival — complete with fireworks — held annually on the third weekend in September.

But, Lübben doesn’t let a little cold weather stop it, since it hosts many winter concerts, too.

Here’s a four-season town that is sure to enthrall you any part of the year, giving you the option of joining in on any of its festivals, or just cycle down its landscape and peddle down along the rivers!

Petersberg is an exceptionally tiny town of only eleven neighborhoods in the Fulda District of Hesse dating back to 836 A.D.

Formerly bordering the famous Fulda Monastery in the 9th century, there’s not so much to see within Petersberg itself — it’s just that is location makes it perfect for exploring the surrounding countryside.

That’s really not to say that you won’t find anything worth seeing here, because that’s definitely not the case.

The best of Petersberg is the Nature Park Hessian Rhön. This large nature park encompasses not only Hesse, but also Thuringia and Bavaria. You’ll find all kinds of lakes, moor- and grasslands and the Milseburg Tunnel, which is a great walking and cycling track running right through the mountainside.

If golfing is your thing, there’s an 18-hole golf course in nearby Hofbieber.

Besides the usual swimming pool that can be found in just about every town in Germany, Petersberg has a unique Wassertretbecken, an outdoor water step for some great hydrotherapy to get the blood pumping in the legs.

Walking around Petersberg will also get the blood pumping so take a walk over to the Parish Church Antonius. Johannes Kirsch, a former resident of Petersberg, created some spectacular artwork at the church. Also be sure to see the Parish Church Peter whose original foundations date back to 836 A.D.

For some other historical sites check out the Active Museum, a museum dedicated to the old rural customs of the region. Customs of the aristocracy might have been a bit different and you’ll learn more when you visit Schloss Bieberstein. Built high atop the mountainside, the castle was originally a 13th century design, but redone in an ornate Baroque style in 1710.

Schloss Bieberstein has been used for various purposes through the years — once as a hospital during the war –, and it’s now a boarding school. Everyone should be so lucky to go to school in such beautiful surroundings.

Nevertheless, visitors to this enclave can rejuvenate their bodies and spirits through hydrotherapy, long walks, and bicycle rides — with a picturesque mountainside as eye-candy.

Told you, there were things worth seeing here! ;-)

Niedernhausen is a rustic Hessian town that sits right in the middle of the Rhine-Taunus Nature Park.

For a town that’s been inhabited since the Stone Age, it hasn’t been overdeveloped too much and remains about sixty percent forest giving it a scenic rural feel. If trees could talk imagine the stories Niedernhausen’s majestic 500 year old Oak Tree could tell!

Before that forest Oak was even a sapling, the Romans were here making their mark in town. A replica of a watchtower that the Romans built is one of the town’s main attractions.

At least getting to Niedernhausen now is much easier than the Romans had it, as you can get here via the Autobahn or by rail on the Frankfurt–Cologne Line.

Truth be told, Niedernhausen isn’t a huge tourist destination and a day spent around town may be time enough to see all the rest of the town’s attractions.

Like the Johanneskirche, considered to be the most historical building in town since its foundations date back to the year 800, but the church you see today was built in 1220. Niedernhausen’s old Catholic Church is now a local community center and in the neighborhood of Engenhahn, neighborhood’s city hall dates to 1768.

For some historical trivia, the French once occupied Niedernhausen after the Great War (a.k.a. World War I). During WW II the town was slightly damaged by air raids in 1944 and 1945. And, the town’s infamous for lynching three United States Airmen who parachuted from their planes in one of those air raids and a location of a Hitler Youth Training Facility.

Now Niedernhausen is a town that’s more famous for its festivals held on the traffic free Bahnhofstraße. Try many different local wines at the town’s wine festival, or shop till you drop at the Christmas Market. The Forest Walk Family Fest, held annually on the third Sunday in September, is something the entire town (and region) enjoys.

If you have a green thumb, you’ll be in heaven at the annual Orchid Festival or at the town’s wine festival. Or, if you like to get dressed up then the TuFuMaBa, a Fastnacht Masquerade Ball, might be just up your alley.

Horse lovers, no doubt, will get a kick out of the yearly Great Dressage & Jumping Show. For more international and cultural events the Rhein-Main-Theater hosts plenty throughout the year.

With a history that spans back a few thousand years, yet a modern day city filled with fun, you’ll come to love Niedernhausen for everything it has to offer. Now, if we could just get trees to talk. ;-)

It’s not often I get to write about someone specific who lived in a particular place, but it wouldn’t be right to mention the Upper Bavarian town of Pöcking without talking about royalty from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Austrian Empire? In Upper Bavaria?

Yup, you see, Pöcking was where a lovely Empress Elisabeth of Austria spent her summers as a young girl — long before she married Franz Joseph I of Austria, and was just the daughter of a Duke and Princess.

Oh, she had other royalty to play with, her cousin was none other than King Ludwig II. Yeah, the “Mad” king who gave Germany its Neuschwanstein Castle.

Oh, I’m getting off point, sorry…

Anyway, Elisabeth loved Pöcking on the shores of Lake Starnberg and its vicinity strewn with local resorts that offer various leisure ops; and I’m pretty sure to gander that she loved Schloss Possenhofen. It was built a few centuries before Elisabeth was born, and destroyed and rebuilt again long before she was born, too.

Elisabeth was so beloved here, it seemed like the right place to put a museum to her. The Empress Elisabeth Museum is located in the old train station, a mere few minutes walk from her castle. And if you didn’t know, Empress Elisabeth has her own scenic route known as Sisi’s Road, so called for her childhood nickname.

Come to think of it, Ludwig’s got his own scenic route here in town — the König-Ludwig-Wanderweg, or King Ludwig Trail; but that’s besides the point. ;-) Either way, this trail takes you along the foothills of the German Alps, along Lake Starnberg and through some of the most scenic spots in the region. So, put on your walking shoes and let it lead you! ;-)

The good duchess was also the great-aunt of Charles I, the last ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire — but it was his son, Archduke Otto von Habsburg, who made the impact on Pöcking. He lived here until his death in 2011 (at the ripe old age of 98), with some still thinking of him as the Crown Prince of Austria. When he died, the town laid him in “repose” for some 13 days at Pöcking’s St. Ulrich Church before burying him in Vienna.

When you visit places like the church (or Pöcking as a whole, for that matter), you can think of the human factor that makes towns like Pöcking really come alive.

Being in Pöcking also puts you close to the Roseninsel, or Rose Island, with a population of one. Yeah, one — the caretaker lives on Lake Starnberg’s only island.

Whatever the season is when you’re here, you’re bound to enjoy yourself. A winter wonderland awaits in villages like Maising, which isn’t so bad on the warmer months — it’s even got a nature reserve area if you’re into the whole flora & fauna stuff.

Have I missed anything? Yes, I have. I forgot to tell you about the frescoes at the St. Bartholomew Church, and the 13th century medieval one in the village of Aschering. Ohh, and the tour boats you can hop on around Lake Starnberg, too.

And the town’s medieval charms are best experienced in the old farm houses of Putzbauten and the Flachsatteldach dating back to the 18th and early 19th centuries. These used to be homes of peasant families and still retain the coziness and warmth of a bygone era.

The Town Hall is another architectural delight with a baroque façade, as is St. Sebastian’s Church from the 13th century.

Then there’s the Eßsee, a marsh which in winter starts to resemble a fairy tale land.

All in all, one can see that Pöcking has a relatively calm exterior which often beguiles visitors into a placidity that is a perfect beginning to any tour. So, whether you come to Pöcking and pretend you’re royalty, or come just to enjoy the Upper Bavarian sunshine — you’ll love it, just like Sisi, Otto, and Ludwig.

Riegelsberg (and its neighboring district of Walpershofen) are only about 9 km north of the large city of Saarbrücken. The region itself once belonged to the French during the time of the French Revolution (1789) and then again after the Second World War.

Though extremely German, some remnants of French influence have remained to this day, especially true in terms of local cuisine. Many restaurants in the area pride themselves on receiving that coveted Michelin Star rating. If anything, you gourmands will have a field day just eating your way through town. ;-)

Riegelsberg isn’t one of those large towns that’s famous for sightseeing, but that’s not to say that there isn’t anything to see or do here.

One of the town’s most famous monuments is the Hindenburgturm. It was built in 1934 as a monument to the Great War and the 222 men from the area who lost their lives to it, it now stands as a peace memorial. Nearby is the West Embankment Shelter which also comes from time of the Second World War.

For something a bit more cultural (and less war related), Riegelsberg’s National Stage is the place to be for concerts and plays. There’s also the “Garden Without Borders,” on the old trade routes between Germany, France, and Luxembourg. The spectacular gardens really are the pride of the town and stretch along through all three countries.

Part of the “Garden Without Borders” meets up at Schloss Dagstuhl, an 18th century castle (now an old age home). At least that’s not in ruins like nearby 14th century Burg Bucherbach. It was once one of the important (and strategic) castles in all of the Saar.

Another important castle in the area was the Baroque style Schloss Saarbrücken (the medieval original was called the Castell Sarabruca), once partly destroyed by the French Revolution (1789) and World War II, now houses a historical museum.

There’s no better way to spend your days there than eating delicious French inspired German cuisine and walking around a beautiful old culture filled town. If this is your idea of a good time, then Riegelsberg is the place for you.

Glued at the city of Ulm in South Germany is the town of Blaustein, which translates to Blue Stone. The little villages of Arnegg, Ehrenstein, Klingenstein, Herrlingen, Markbronn, Weidach, Wippingen, and Blaustein proper each have their own history and character, and are worth seeing on their own accord.

For example, Herrlingen is one of the most unique of the villages and dates back to around the 11th or 12th century when Schloss Oberherrlingen was built. The castle today looks more of a Renaissance style than the original medieval castle it once was. Unfortunately, it is privately owned and doesn’t allow visitors.

Herrlingen’s most notorious resident was none other than Erwin Rommel, one of Hitler’s highest ranking officers. The town has the Rommel Museum with many of his personal effects, maps, and diaries. He committed suicide in October 1944 after his involvement in an assassination attempt on Hitler was discovered. A marker nearby indicates the spot where he died.

In some sort of Nazi propaganda, he received a full Nazi state funeral and was buried right here at Herrlingen Cemetery beneath a grave marker of just a single cross. His house in Herrlingen, once belonged to part of a Jewish Boarding School complex.

Markbronn is comparatively young, having only been around since the 14th century. It has a great local village museum and an annual (can you say, delicious) baking house celebration.

Not to be outdone, Klingenstein once had the largest castle in the entire Blue Valley. The castle has been uninhabited since the 16th century and now lies in ruins, but it’s still beautiful and shouldn’t be missed. Close to the castle ruins is the magnificent light-colored 18th century Schloss Klingenstein, so head over there after exploring the ruins.

A trip to Blaustein doesn’t have to be all historic, though. You can party (or, shop) like a local. The town is home to a fairly large Christmas market, and on the last week in June get ready to party hard with a two day forest celebration. Better yet, learn all about local Swabian life (the customs, culture, even the dialect) at the Poet Pilgrimage, held at the ruins of the Klingenstein Castle.

You really don’t have to be a history buff to fully appreciate all of what Blaustein has to offer because this likable town just has so much more.

Kalletal and its sixteen neighborhoods in the Teutoburg Forest / Eggegebirge Nature Park is truly remarkable. It’s a great place to spend more than just a day or two. This way you’ll really get a chance to see and experience all that the town has to offer, like the many half timbered buildings, the castle, and many outdoor activities hidden within the forest.

With so many neighborhoods it’s best to take each one on its own merit. If you’re looking for historic half timbered houses, Brosen is the place to be. Interestingly enough, Brosen’s been inhabited since the 6th century A.D.

Varenholz also has plenty of half timbered old buildings, and boasts a castle as well. Schloss Varenholz was originally built in 1188, but it was renovated into a Renaissance style a few hundred years later. It’s now a private boarding school for high schoolers, but its castle gardens are open to the public if you want to go looking around (highly recommended!).

For some old churches, you need to see Hohenhausen’s Romanesque church built around the year 1100. And in Lüdenhausen, there’s a wonderful military church, built in 1200 out of wood. It has an impressive stone tower where villagers through the centuries took refuge in times of war.

Bavenhausen seems to be one of the oldest of Kalletal’s charming neighborhoods, as archaeologists have found Stone Age grave hills here.

Hiedelbeck is another district whose history also goes back a long way. Its Renaissance castle dates to 1596 and even older is the castle’s mill and Möllenbeck Monastery.

Heidelbeck is the place where you’ll find the fascinating Forest Museum. Come to the museum here.

You’ll find that the Teutoburg Forest has many great cycling and hiking trails that just go on through the countryside. You’ll be surprised by all the brooks and ponds you’ll find along the way, which can be great for fishing. The Forest’s Nature Park has some 400 km of walking paths with over fifty kinds of flowers, even those hard to grow orchids.

For some other great outdoor activities, the Weser Leisure Center is a popular place with campers and cyclists and has a fun miniature golf course that the entire family can enjoy.

What’s to say about Ottweiler in Saarland, located only about 32 km or 20 miles north-east of Saarbrücken, other than it’s filled with some unique museums, old historical buildings (castles included, of course), and picturesque hiking and cycling trails? Well, if that’s the case, then Ottweiler is off to a great start.

Ottweiler has an insect museum with over 50,000 exhibits, not bad to check it out if you don’t have a bug phobia!

Rest assured, there aren’t any bugs over at the Local History Museum, only a look into the cultural life of the town from long ago. Also take the kids back to school at the School Museum, a look at a 1000 years of school history in Germany.

After the museums, head over the the Designer Outlet stores for some fabulous shopping.

Shopping has been big here for years since Ottweiler was once the place to be for buying some of the famous porcelain that was produced here at the factory in the 18th century. It produced some of the most beautiful porcelain in the world but stopped production sometime in the 19th century. It’s incredibly rare and only a few museum pieces remain in the entire world.

Ottweiler once had its own brewery, but sadly that’s closed now. However, its former old blue & white building still stands. You can still get a beer since there are plenty of beer gardens in town.

Try your hand at the miniature golf course after imbibing a few brews for a good laugh!

Ottweiler does have its own Renaissance castle, right by the old Stadtmauer. As pretty as Schloss Ottweiler is, the nearby ruins of 13th century Lichtenberg Castle steal the show. It’s really two castle combined and is the largest of all the castle ruins in all of Germany. The castle’s first gate is quite imposing with its thick stone walls, but the third gate seems to have a softer side. That’s where the castle’s youth hostel, restaurant, and museum are located. It’s also where the castle holds its annual Jazzfest.

More festivals around Ottweiler are the Kindist Crafts Market in May, the Old Town Festival in June, and the town’s Vintage Car Festival held every summer. There’s also a large Christmas Market in the town square. While you’re there try a local specialty cake called the Fornaro Cake.

With so much to do in Ottweiler everyone in the family will have some great memories to take home with them. So, after getting off to a great start here, you’ve gotten yourself a perfect ending.

Garching bei München is a small suburb of Munich along the River Isar in Upper Bavaria.

To be frank, this hamlet is overshadowed by the much bigger city to the south. That said, its close proximity to Munich (and Dachau) makes just a good town, great.

As in complete Bavarian tradition, Garching takes pride in its beer gardens. You’ll find one sitting quietly under some chestnut trees, the other near the former mill in the Mühlenpark. Because of Bavaria’s snowy winters, these two famous beer gardens are only open from March to October.

For other types of refreshments, you’ll find many great street cafes in Garching’s pedestrian zone. If you want to eat like a local try some traditional Bavarian food like white sausages eaten with sweet mustard and pretzels.

For cultural entertainment Garching’s Community Center is the place to be with many ballet, opera, and concerts held here throughout the year.

For some outside entertainment, get over to Garchinger See and the chance to enjoy the Bavarian countryside. Take a swim, play some beach volleyball, enjoy barbecue, and have a jolly good time!

The farmer’s market in Garching is held every Wednesday afternoon and Saturday mornings, often with some kind of entertainment going on. The best is the Garchinger Bürgerwoche (Garching Citizen Week) with many cultural and sporting activities — usually held the first week of July.

The Autumn Festival is held every two years in September with much fanfare in Garching’s pedestrian district and at the community center. Of course, if it’s an off year in Garching there’s always nearby Munich holding its two week long Oktoberfest at the end of September.

When you come to Garching you’ll be central to some of the most cultural and historic sites in all of Bavaria. Guess that’s what makes a good town, great!

There aren’t a lot of little villages that make up Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, just the combining of two fishing and farming towns in the Upper Rhine Valley. The town of Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen is a charming suburb of the city of Karlsruhe (only about 15 km or 7 miles north of the city center) and borders the famous River Rhine.

Because the town is so close to Karlsruhe, it’s convenient to enjoy all of its wonderful sites and festivals. For instance, the Karlsruhe Palace is just magnificent and the Botanical Gardens are a delight! You’ll also have a choice location to be near a three day festival in July, simply known as Das Fest.

Leopoldshafen’s local history museum, housed in one of the town’s old half timbered buildings, is filled with exhibits of life here at the turn of the 20th century (and that’s just on the first floor). You’ll be more than pleasantly surprised by what else you’ll find out about Leopoldshafen’s history here. When you’re done, catch a ride on one of the old ferries on the Rhine since, again, the town sits right on the river.

After Leopoldshafen get over to Eggenstein, a town that’s been around for “only” about 12 centuries. Although, Eggenstein didn’t come into its own until a few hundred years later when the Monastery Gotesaue was built. This historic monastery survived almost 800 years until it was partly destroyed by Allied bombing in 1944. It was restored a few decades later and is now part of the Karlsruhe University (talk about a history lesson).

Not as old as Gotesaue (but, beautiful nonetheless), is the Parish Church Vitus & Modestus which was built sometime around the turn of the 16th century. You will have to get pictures of only the outside as this beautiful church isn’t open for sightseeing.

But, everyone can get in on the Kirchweih (also called Kirchtag), traditionally a celebration of the consecration of a church, traditionally held every year in October. But, here in Eggenstein-Leopolshafen you can celebrate twice since Leopoldshafen holds their’s a week after Eggenstein. ;-)

After celebrating church-style, head on over to the local brewery Andreasbräu for, if you dare, a Red Dragon brew!

Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen’s history and culture will make for quite a memorable trip. The great local brew is just icing on the cake.