Towards the end of the Second World War the United States found itself learning about the small town of Remagen in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. It happened when the Ludendorff Bridge (the last remaining bridge on the Rhine River) was captured by the 9th Armored Division of the United States Army.

While war historians have debated the strategic importance of the capture of the bridge, that killed some 28 soldiers when it collapsed on March 17, 1945, there’s no debating Remagen is just a charming historic town to visit. In other words, for the history buff in you, a trip to Remagen will be right up your alley! ;-)

Remagen’s history dates back to the times of the Romans, who built a fort west of the Rhine. You’ll be able to see the ruins of the Roman castell at the Roman Museum dating from the 1st to the 4th centuries, as well as what life was like for the average Roman soldier.

The Parish Church of Saints Peter and Paul has its origin from the Dark Ages. While the church you see today dates from 1248, it was built on the foundations of a 5th or 6th century church.

When you walk along Remagen’s Rhine Promenade, you’ll love the scenery of the Marienfels Castle and the majestic mountains in the distance.

Also, when you’re wandering around make sure to take notice of Milk Lane with its half timbered houses and the remains of the 14th century embankment. There are also plenty of churches around Remagen dating throughout the ages, such as St. Laurentis, a Catholic Church from 1131. There’s also the Parish Church Remigus from 1250 and Parish Church Gertrudis, a cemetery chapel with frescoes also from the 13th century.

Make sure not to miss the Tenth Yard, a castle from 1276 with it’s tower built on Roman foundations and the Rolandsbogen, the ruins of a medieval castle. Just make sure to wear your tennis shoes, as it takes about a half an hour to walk from the parking lot.

Not all of Remagen’s history can be romanticized, some of it being dark and sinister. The Roman Place is the sight of Remagen’s synagogue that was burned down on November 10, 1938. A plaque at the sight tells the details of those dark sinister days.

Also, as in the case of the Chapel of the Black Madonna, built from donations in memory of the 300,000 German prisioners of war held here from April to July 1945, you can also see the famous Bridge of Remagen and its Peace Museum. For that alone, it’s worth the trip!

It’s hard to imagine how a city like Hünfeld with its surrounding fourteen villages manages to fill all of its 120 square kilometers (or approximately 74 square miles) with art, history, culture, and sports so elegantly. Yet still, it’s easy to see just how beautiful this town is, right down to the flower box framed City Hall.

Situated in the shadow of the Basalt Mountains, the surrounding forest, and the Rhön Mountains in the Fulda District of Hesse, Hünfeld technically dates back to the year 781 but with plenty of evidence that it has been inhabited since around the Stone Age.

It was the founding of the town’s monastery that really put Hünfeld on the map, along with its strategic location on the medieval commercial route between Leipzig and Frankfurt.

Today, the town’s monastery St. Bonifatius plays host to some 8000 guests a year.

Much of Hünfeld’s medieval buildings were destroyed when a fire ravaged the city in 1885, but rebounded when it had to rebuild just about everything.

Hünfeld was the home of Konrad Zuse, the inventor of the first functional computer (way to go Herr Zuse!). Go visit the Zuse Museum dedicated to the life of one of the town’s most famous residents. There’s also plenty to see and do at the City and Historic District Museum (Stadt- und Kreisgeschichtliches Museum).

Since art plays a significant role in the town’s daily life one of the best sights to see is the open air art museum, completely built without walls! Even the town’s train station gets in on the art action with its Gallery of Young Artists’ Circle. And the town is home to yet another art museum, the Museum of Modern Art.

Besides art, sports are of great importance here, too. It definitely is a equine-friendly city with a chance to see it on horseback. There are also cycling and Nordic Walking routes to get you moving in the great outdoors.

Or perhaps a round of golf is on the agenda with both an 18-hole and 9-hole courses available? Or what about its requisite outdoor swimming pool for a refreshing dip?

When it’s wintertime, you’ll only fall in love with Hünfeld more as you enjoy the scenic countryside while skating on the frozen Haselsee lake.

Finally, plan to visit during the Gaalbernfest in August/September and you’ll be treated to some of the area’s best wine and regional cuisine as well as great performances from local artists.

Not to be confused with a Thai beer of the same name, Mittweida is a 1000 year old town in the German state of Saxony.

Sure, through the centuries of the Middle Ages and even into the 20th century the town also had a dark sinister side as it was once home to a subcamp of the Flossenberg Concentration Camp. Today, though, it is a charming academic town with a 19th century historical university with over 5000 students.

Mittweida and the surrounding municipalities that make up the area are home to a few historical castles.

One being the Burg Kriebstein, built in 1384 on the Zschopau River. There are plenty of period rooms with the original furniture. Most notable are the wall paintings in the castle’s chapel, as well as the castle’s Hunting Room, Knights’ Hall, and has its very own treasure vault! This 600 year old castle was recently renovated and is considered to be one of the most beautiful in all of Saxony.

The Schloss Rochsburg, which somehow translates to the “smelling castle,” dates to the late 12th century (1170). The Schloss Rochsburg is an impressive Romanesque building with a medieval chapel and monastery church.

The Schloss Rochlitz on the River Mulde is an ornate castle with two massive imposing towers, called jupem. Built a thousand years ago the Schloss Rochlitz, while foreboding, is an art lovers delight from the Romanesque to Renaissance periods.

Here you’ll be able to see what cooking was like in medieval times in the 14th century kitchen, or imagine life in a Middle Ages dungeon. You might feel like you can see forever when you climb the castle’s towers some 34 meters high!

Another way to have an aerial view of the town is to take one of the many hot air balloon rides available.

Also, now with the renewal of the Berlin – Mittweida Rail Line, the Vogtland Express, getting here is even easier. Once you’re here, a boat ride on the Kriebstein dam (a.k.a. Talsperre Kriebstein) or one of the little mining trains will only just enhance your trip to this scenic village.

On the River Wupper in North Rhine-Westphalia lies the town of Hückeswagen, officially around since the year 1085.

Hückeswagen, being only about 49 km or 30 miles north-east of Cologne, has quite a bit of history and points of interest to visit. It offers everyone something to do or see, from hiking along the Wuppertal dam, to wandering around the foreboding medieval castle, or exploring around 16th century churches.

With a bit planning, you’ll be visiting the town during its yearly Old Town Festival or Altstadtfest. On the Schlossplatz, you’ll be treated to two days of food, entertainment (music and jugglers included), children’s attractions, and art exhibits. The Old Town Festival, with its warm charm will really make you feel like you’re visiting family and will give you the chance to explore the historic city center.

After wandering around the city center, take your time exploring the historic Paulus Church, built on the foundations of the Nikolaus Church (dating from the 15th century) after it was demolished in 1753.

Of course, there are plenty of water sports and recreational activities, such as hiking, available at the Beaver Dam and Wuppertal Dam for those of you who prefer it.

Textiles fueled a large part of the local economy in the Middle Ages and you can still visit the Hückeswagner Mills today.

While you’re out and about, make sure you see the Swan Pond in the town park, too!

But the crowing glory of the town is the Hückeswagen Castle. Having been built sometime in the late 12th century, the castle today houses the Local History Museum. The Scoundrel’s Tower, from the 13th century, is now a whopping 23 meters shorter than when it was built due to its reconstruction.

There are so many detailed exhibits into daily life, such as cooking utensils, furniture, religious life, and even warfare of the day. It’ll be easy to imagine yourself as an 11th century Count or Countess strolling the halls or holding court in this grand old place. :-)

The town of Halstenbek in the Pinnenberg District of Schleswig-Holstein has lived in the Hamburg‘s shadow for centuries, located not 17 km or 10 miles from that city’s center.

The area of Halstenbek has been inhabited since the early Stone Age and excavations from the 1920’s and 1930’s have found urn graves from the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages.

Truth be told, there’s not too much for sightseeing here in this suburb of Hamburg, but sleepy Halstenbek has a long rich (and sometimes dark) history. The village’s name wasn’t officially recognized until 1296 even though people had lived here millenia before.

They once even belonged to Denmark! During the Thirty Years’ War (1618 to 1648), Halstenbek had been continuously ravaged by the Danes. The Industrial Revolution helped maintain Halstenbek’s economy and the railroad made its way here in the 1880’s. By this time, though, Halstenbek had come under Prussian control.

Another resource that helped fuel Halstenbek’s economy were the forest nurseries. It was Halstenbek in the 1840’s that supplied the lumber from the forests for the rebuilding of Hamburg after a fire had destroyed most of the city.

The mid 20th century was a bit hard on the town as it was forced into allegiance with the Nazi Regime. The Neuengamme Concentration Camp is located near here. Since most of the buildings are preserved it serves as a memorial to 106,000 inmates (almost half died) of the camp.

During the Second World War, many of Halstenbek’s nurseries had to be converted into raising crops for food.

Today, Halstenbek is a thriving community of around 16,000. When you’re here you’ll have a chance for some beachside recreation at Krupunder Lake (which is fed by underground hot springs) with plenty of eateries, bathers, cabanas.

Halstenbek is also not too far from Wadden Sea National Park for some more beachside action. And, since Halstenbek is quite famous for its lumber you might like the chance to shop on its “Furniture Mile.” ;-)

Hohenstein-Ernstthal in the north of the Erzgebirge is a merger of two cities in 1898, though the area has been around for much longer.

Hohenstein-Ernstthal was once a great mining medieval city, with the mining of silver, copper, and gold some 500 years ago. The fact that the medieval town had market rights and even better, brewing rights, made it quite popular back in the day.

There’s no doubt that you’ll just love wandering through this place. Its City Hall is a test of true medieval engineering, having been built in 1564.

Of the five or so local churches in the area, make sure to see the Parish Church Christophori, built in a Baroque style, but the marble baptismal font dates to 1610. Then there’s the St. Trinitatis which was built in 1687.

The oldest of the churches is the Wüstenbrander Kirche built in 1581, while the church’s crucifix dates to 1608. Wüstenbrand, now part of Hohenstein, stood as an independent municipality for some 850 years.

For a more in-depth history of the area, head over to the Local History Museum in Waldenburg, in the Schloss Waldenburg a.k.a. Forest Castle (of course, there’s got to be a castle!).

The castle was originally built in 1165 and destroyed in 1430. It was quickly rebuilt and destroyed again in 1619, and rebuilt and destroyed several more times throughout the centuries. It now serves for festivals, weddings, and concerts in addition to housing exhibits on local history.

Karl May, the famous German writer was born here and his birth house is also a museum. You can find it in Karl-May-Straße 54. (Yup, the street bears his name also.)

Today, Hohenstein-Ernstthal is also home to the Sachsenring (or Saxon Ring), the legendary racing course around since 1927. For the racing enthusiast, enjoy watching cars or motorcycles run the circuit.

Besides the history and racing, there’s also the Stausee Oberwald (Upper Forest Reservoir), an artificial lake where you can rent a wonderful bungalow or a rowboat. Or take advantage of playing table tennis, volleyball, or miniature golf (my favorite!).

With everything Hohenstein-Ernstthal has to offer, it may be more popular today than it ever was way back in the medieval days.

Damme is a unique and interesting town, not too full of medieval places of interest, but great outdoor fun for the entire family.

Even though Damme has had permanent residents for thousands of years, the town itself wasn’t officially founded until 785 A.D., just about the time the first church was built here. Archeological finds have also found large stone graves dating back to around the Bronze Age.

Besides the historical aspect to the city, including once being an iron ore mining town, this is a place that knows how to MOVE, as sports play a large part of daily life here.

You can really find yourself learning the local flavor here when you visit the City Museum. Founded in 1992 it’s filled with plenty of local and regional history, including all about how the mining of iron ore contributed to the town’s growth.

The Wassermühle Höltermann is a medieval mill with the oldest part dating to 1643. The mill was updated throughout the years to keep up with modern technology, including replacing the water power with motorized power in 1930.

If you truly wish to experience Damme, then you must be here for the annual Carnival celebrating Mardi Gras. Damme has truly learned how to party heavily, as they’ve been doing it every year since 1614 right before Lent. For two days, enjoy the tens of thousands of visitors with bright colorful costumes and delicious food!

Best of all about Damme are all the outdoor activities for the entire family to enjoy. There are 11 Nordic walking trails available from beginner to advance. The best part is that it’s quite easy to learn!

From mid May through Mid September, Damme’s summer season, the baths (outdoor swimming pool) and the children’s water play garden are open for everyone to enjoy the water and bright sunshine.

And speaking of swimming, you’ll most certainly enjoy spending a day at the Dümmer See a.k.a. Stupid Lake (the name certainly gets lost in the translation and I suggest you go just for the name alone). Don’t think for a minute that Damme rolls up the sidewalks though as the cold weather and snow come for the winter. When the lake freezes, residents get out and start ice skating on the frozen water.

Stupid Lake? I don’t think so! Sounds like a jolly good time to me! ;-)

Neustadt bei Coburg has been around since the later part of the 1200’s when the Count von Wolweswac built his castle.

Having once lied on a major trade route from Nuremberg to Leipzig, Neustadt had suffered terribly because of its strategic location during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) — despite its try to remain neutral. Ultimately it was a fire in 1636, not related to the war, that destroyed most of the small village (and once again in 1839).

Despite fires and war that have ravaged the city throughout the centuries, this town can look beyond the past and get down to celebrate big time.

The annual Kinderfest held every summer is testament to that, as once a year the town’s turned over to the children. They get to enjoy a costume pagent with lots of playing and dancing on the Schützenplatz.

Another great event is the Swing in the Park Festival, with two days of music and entertainment. Even the town hall gets in on the action with once-a-month music concerts held here.

Besides the festivals and music, there are plenty of other reasons to get outside and explore Neustadt. There are plenty of hiking and cycling trails all calling for you explore. The Prinzregententurm, or Prince Regent Tower, built in 1905 standing some 28 meters (~90 feet) high dwarfing the surrounding evergreens, will give you an excellent view of surrounding Franconia and Thuringia.

And, not only is Neustadt bei Coburg famous for its tower, hiking, and biking trails, but is in the Guiness Book of World Records for the longest fistball marathon in 2005.

Told you this was a town that knew how to party! ;-)

Schneeberg (Erzgebirge) is a neat little town in the Erzgebirge a.k.a. Ore Mountains. For over 500 years the mining of silver, cobalt, and bismuth had fueled the local economy in a town that was once on the “Silver Road.”

Although, from 1946 through 1958 uranium was mined here and the town saw a economic and population surge. You’ll learn all about that at the local Uranium Mining Museum.

Since mining had always been huge in Schneeberg, the town’s Lichtelfest is just a highlight celebrating the miners. On the second weekend of Advent, just before Christmas, this celebration is quite a large (and famous) pre-Christmas pagent, glorifying — what else, light, since miners very rarely saw the sun during the winter months. ;-)

Join in the festivities with concerts, crafts, and lectures, with plenty of activities for both adults and children.

The most prominent building in all of Schneeberg is the St. Wolfsgangskirche, a 16th century church built on the highest peak of the town. The alter once stolen in 1633, was luckily returned some 16 years later. The townspeople saved the Late Gothic church from fires in both 1719 and 1945.

The Parish Church of George and St. Martin doesn’t have quite such a colorful history, but having been around since the 1200’s, it is the oldest church in the the Western Ore Mountains.

Schneeberg’s medieval Town Hall from the 1500’s was replaced in an elegant Baroque style sometime in the 19th century, standing majestically at the end of the town’s marketplace.

If the town’s mining and medieval history isn’t enough for you, the Snow Mountain city (“Schneeberg” in English) offers plenty of hiking trails throughout the mountainous region or you could just choose to relax by the Filzteich lake. A reservoir once used in local mining and created in the 1400’s, the lake has been a bathing beach in the local area since 1933.

The Filzteich now plays host to concerts, dancing, and an open air cinema in the summer.

When one wanders around small towns and visits sights of a foreign place, little do we think about or appreciate generally how old something really is. Nor, do we give much thought to the life changing experiences throughout the centuries that have managed to give a place or residents an indelible mark on the present.

The city of Vilshofen an der Donau, known as the Three River City and precariously sitting on the Danube River, is just this kind of place.

At over 1200 years of age, the town has seen its fair share of flood, plague, and war. But despite the cracks caused by these unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances, the town is only more attractive now having survived it all.

Vilshofen was first mentioned in 776, but wasn’t actually a city until some 500 years later when Heinrich I built his castle here in 1206. The city’s church came 30 years later in 1236. Just as important is the town’s brewery, but that wasn’t built until 1591, and it is still going after 400 years.

Despite the fact that throughout the 17th century the Thirty Years’ War raged on and the Black Death was a constant visitor, the city somehow managed to build the Pilgrimage Church Maria complete with Italian stuccos in 1691. Also built in the 1600’s was its monastery and hospital.

The town saw a few devastating fires, but it was the one in 1794 that destroyed most of the city, including the Parish Church Johannes. The last of war the city saw was in 1945, when the SS blew up the Danube Bridge on April 29th, as the Americans entered Vilshofen on May 1.

Today, the town flourishes and plays host to a variety of festivals, including the yearly Folk Festival. The fireworks display over the Danube, held on the second weekend in July, is one of the grandest in the region.

The Christmas on the Danube Festival is visited by revelers as far away as Austria and the Czech Republic. Not to be outdone, at the New Year’s Concert you’ll be treated to orchestra music from local and visiting foreign orchestras.