I thought there was something vaguely familiar about the Hessian town of Limeshain — I’d been here before. In all fairness, it had been a couple of months, a “lifetime” since I’d traveled along the German Limes Road.

Oh, you know, that totally awesome (and totally long) scenic route that treks hundreds of kilometers along what used to be the end of the massive Roman Empire. Limeshain’s contribution to the German Limes Road is its reconstructed Limes Watchtower. And nearby is the Kleinkastell Auf dem Buchkopf, once an old stone fort.

Limeshain’s history dates to even before the Romans, as 4,000-year-old grave mounds have been found.

As for the town’s medieval history, there’s the Barbarossa Fountain, named for the 12th century Holy Roman Emperor who stopped by here on his travels.

I’d have to say the Archaeological and Nature Trail has to be one of the best ways to learn (and appreciate) the exceptionally long history of the region — as would a visit to the Local History Museum.

On a much lighter note (and one that could be appreciated by the Romans) would be Limeshain’s Wine Festival every October. Just as I’m sure they’d have no problem getting into the party spirit at the numerous Oktoberfests, the Kartoffelfest (Potato Festival), Spring Festival (April), Lindenfest (May), and/or Summer Festival (July).

You’re not limited to just Limeshain’s Roman history or its festivals, there are a couple of other scenic routes (of sorts) winding their way though the Hessian countryside. The Vulkanradweg is a goodie if you’re into the whole volcano thing; and from May to October you can hop on the Vulkan Express when you need a break from all that bike riding. Foodies will no doubt love the Cider and Orchard Route, for sure.

Warm weather isn’t even a must for trekking through Limeshain — guided winter hikes and winter BBQs are totally fun, so long as you don’t mind the chill. Hey, the winters couldn’t have been too bad — the Romans were here for centuries. ;-)

Lucky for me, it’s high time again — I’m super excited to tell you about Lommatzsch.

Usually, it’s all about the history and castles and old churches. Not this time, Friends, it’s about the food.

Yeah, who knew such culinary delights awaited in a small town? I sure didn’t, but wasn’t it a delight to the belly to find it was. ;-)

If you like to eat, I’d wholeheartedly recommend coming for Lommatzch’s Cherry Festival every June. It’s a weekend long event that’s all about the fruity goodness — cakes, brandy, and everything in between. You’ll also find all kinds of locally made cheeses, delicious hams, and even potatoes are a big crop out here.

Speaking of food, if you’re lucky enough to come for the annual Christmas Market, make sure you try the Bratapfelwurst, a local delicacy.

With all the eating, you best start moving around to burn it off. Stroll along the Marktplatz where you’ll see the town’s Rathaus (Town Hall), which was built around 1550, and almost two hundred years later came the Postmeilensäule, or and old Mile Post.

What’s really remarkable about Lommatzsch is what you don’t see while walking around. The town has this network of underground passages that were once used as 14th century storerooms. Not all of the passages are passable today, but still, you gotta hand it to the folks back then — ingenious.

Even older than the old tunnels is the Wenzelskirche, or Wenceslas Church, whose origins go back to around 1190 even though mostly what you’re looking at was built around 1500. Still, it’s walls go back to the days of the Romans — so it really is much older than it lets on.

I’m so busy stuffing myself, it’s best to double-check to see if I missed something. Cherries? Check. Ham and cheese? Check. Ah, yes, the September Krautmarkt — more chances to eat your way around town. And there’s also the City Museum to visit, which originally opened its doors back in 1911.

With that all done, is it time to eat again? I sure hope so. ;-)

Thirty kilometers west of Kiel, and a mere 18 km northeast of Plön, is the small town, and Collective Municipality, of Lütjenburg.

West of this, northeast of that — that makes it…? Correct, Lütjenburg is near, or at, the Baltic Sea.

If you’re a Low German speaker (writer?) you’d call it Lüttenborg, but I’m just calling it peachy. Fantastic would work, too. So would swell and terrific. And before I could go through every word in the thesaurus, I better get to writing about Lütjenburg, and why it’s so marvelous. ;-)

As if you haven’t noticed by now, I’m a history nut. So, it’s no surprise that I’m gonna be all gung-ho about the Turmhügelburg. This place is a treasure trove of history and archaeology, whose sole purpose is to bring history of the Middle Ages to life at this outdoor museum. The good thing is, they’re open year-round — so no excuse not see this 13th century medieval fortification. So what if it’s a replica, a minor technicality.

Ok, trip over; nothing more to see here. Move along.

Just kidding… There’s kilometers to go before I sleep to paraphrase Robert Frost. No trip to Lütjenburg should be without stopping at the health resort village of Behrensdorf, a hamlet with its own beach area and campsites. But, if you really want the whole beach experience, then I’d have to say it would be in the village of Hohwacht, found right on the Baltic Sea coast.

Not the beach person? Try swimming at the Selenter See, a lake within the village of Giekau, which also has some great hiking and bike trails through the pastoral countryside.

When you absolutely want to see some great half-timbered, thatched-roof cottages — look no further than the village of Helmstorf — which is also within the Kossautal Nature Reserve area, BTW.

However, my quest for history isn’t finished. So, it was off to see the 13th century St. Marian Church; followed by the the Gothic/Baroque church in the village of Blekendorf; and the Church of St. Michael found within the Old Town Square of Lütjenburg proper.

Not too bad for a town that started off as a simple Slavic settlement, then plundered heavily during the Thirty Years’ War, huh? No wonder I think Lütjenburg, or Lüttenborg, is divine, excellent, and all around splendid. ;-)

Here it is, another late night of burning the midnight oil. I do it with a pure heart, so that everyone can learn all about towns like Engstingen. You’ll have to forgive me if I jump around a little bit, this is my fifth town in this state in less than a week — it’s been a whirlwind, and I’m a tad tired.

Don’t think it won’t happen to you around here; this isn’t a sit back and rest kind of place, ya know. It doesn’t matter what season it is, you’ll definitely find something to keep you busy. In addition to the ski lifts, there are numerous cross-country skiing trails (some long, some short).

I’d have to say it’s best to do a Ballonfahrt (ballooning) for when it’s warmer outside though. Which, by the way, might be the right season to go around hiking through the Fehlatal, full of BBQ areas for a bite to eat after a full day of hiking and cycling through the Swabian Alb.

The splendors of Engstingen reach below the surface as well. From here you’re within easy reach of the Bärenhöhle, the Nebelhöhle, and the Olgahöhle — caves full of wondrous stalagmites and stalactites.

Just as the caves are a natural wonder, Schloss Lichtenstein is a man-made one. Built right on the edge of a cliff, this is a 19th century castle deemed gorgeous enough for a German postage stamp.

The other man-made wonders of Engstingen are its two churches, the St. Martin Church and the St. Blasius Church. They’re equally lovely, but to tell the difference between them — the church of St. Martin has a more rounded dome atop its tower.

Now it’s time to tell you about Engstingen’s Auto Museum. This museum dedicated to entirely to the German love of the automobile is open weekends from Easter to October.

Some of the other things that go on in this town between Easter and October are some of its festivals. One of the biggest ones is the Köhlerfest, held around April/May. Don’t worry, if you’re here for the winter activities you’re in luck to enjoy the town’s Krämermarkt, and Christmas in the Forest celebrations. While there isn’t any Christmas Market held in town, you’re close enough to many of them held in neighboring towns.

Oh, more towns — like I’m not tired enough. ;-)

Why does it always sound like a cliché when I put the words Bavaria and beer together? That’s not always what you get, at least not when you’re talking about the town of Eltmann — even if it’s known as the “Beer Town of the Steigerwald” because of its four breweries. ;-)

Located along the Steigerwald, Eltmann is a town of pretty houses and old churches on the Main River, kilometer upon kilometer of hiking trails, and old churches. Oh yes, you can’t forget about those.

Having nine districts, there seems to be about that many old churches to see. I believe the oldest one is the Pilgrimage Church in the village of Limbach, despite having had a total Baroque makeover. That’s right, the Church of the Visitation of Mary dates back to the Middle Ages.

Your church visits don’t end here, ya know. I loved the small, gray-stoned church in the village of Dippach, even though the village is probably more famous for its herons.

The other heron famous village is Roßstadt, but it’s also known for its onion-domed/clock tower church — and its Kirchweih celebration on the third weekend of October.

Another old church is the Kreuzkapelle, located at the old graveyard. So what if that sounds creepy, how else do you expect to see this early 17th century chapel? You think that’s old? Please, that’s nothing — the Ölbergkapelle has been a place of religious worship for almost eight centuries.

Do you know what else they’ve been doing around here for that long of a time? That’s right, making wine. The town’s Heimatmuseum (Local History Museum) does a great job explaining the viticulture around these parts. I guess Eltmann should be the Beer and Wine Town of the Steigerwald…

As for something else old, you need to see the Wallburg — a watchtower from an old castle. If you think the tower’s height is impressive at 27 meters, you should’ve been around when it stood at 43 meters. Um, except you probably would’ve had to been around when it was built a thousand years ago to have seen that… ;-)

I wouldn’t mind spending a millennium here… it is, after all, the Beer Town of the Steigerwald. ;-)

Welcome to what’s known as the Tölzer Land, an area of Upper Bavaria, in and around the town of Bad Tölz — or in this case, Egling. Located not too far from Lake Starnberg, Egling is comprised of some 33 districts, and found along the Isar River.

Sounds like some fabulous real estate, doesn’t it? You betcha it is!

Now, I’ll be totally honest, if you’re looking to visit a ton of castles, that’s not gonna happen. But, if seeing one outstanding one will do — then hurry on over to Schloss Harmating. The oldest parts of the castle come from the late Middle Ages (sometime in the 1200s), but you wouldn’t know it from its current Renaissance style. The castle was once famous for its library, housing over a thousand books.

It seems as if Egling has a thousand little churches and chapels, too. So what if that’s an exaggeration; all I know is the Pfarrkirche St. Martin is worth your time to visit. And the St. Valentin Church in the village of Aufhofen is an excellent blend of Gothic and Baroque art and architecture.

There’s also something to be said for the Chapel of St. George, flanked by some creepy looking trees when their leaves fall off. Don’t let my description keep you from seeing it — personally, I really liked it that way. ;-)

Creepy trees, or not, you’ll certainly love Egling’s countryside. With the Bavarian Alps in the distance, there are all sorts of hiking trails to keep you busy. Plus, there’s a nature reserve area full of tall majestic trees, that make great shade for all the cyclist and inline skaters that love to comet through.

It might be better to use the power of your own two feet if you’re coming to see some of the rare birds that call this part of Egling home. Yeah, best to walk — this way you can take your time looking at the various forest, meadow, and marshy landscape.

Of course if you want something a bit more active, Egling is happy to oblige. Try Nordic Walking, swimming, mountain climbing or biking during the summer months; or cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, or tobogganing during the winter ones.

If the rest of the Tölzer Land is just like Egling, I don’t think I’ll ever want to leave — and neither will you.

Here’s a first, I have no silly or sarcastic quips when it comes to the town of Ebstorf. I don’t know, it just didn’t seem right since Ebstorf has kind of a sacred feel to it.

Perhaps the Stone Age “Royal Tombs” had something to do with it; prehistoric graves that are the final resting place of a long-gone people from some fifty-five hundred years ago.

I’d have to say the Kloster Ebstorf also has a hand in giving the area a holy aura, it’s been a place of religious worship and devotion since the year 1160. Religion certainly played a vital role in everyday medieval life, because on a tour of the monastery you’ll see the Ebstorf World Map — using Jerusalem as its very center.

We know these days the world looks much different, but that doesn’t mean we have to lose our spirituality. You’ll no doubt find it along the Schöpfungsweg, a 5.8 km religious route on all things about Creation. There’s also the Inspirationsweg, 7.2 kilometers designed to inspire and reflect. The shortest route is the Auferstehungsweg, designed with 13 stations to take you on a spiritual journey about the Resurrection.

It isn’t all about spirituality, they’re also about all things Low German — offering meetings about Low German culture, plays, and literature. Besides, whether you speak Low German, High German, English, or whatever, everyone’s welcome to join in all the fun at the annual Advent Market and Advent Bazaar; or the Himberger Markt, an event that’s been taking place for more than 300 years on the first Tuesday after September 1st.

FYI: the only time you won’t find this market going on is if the first Tuesday is September 1st. Drats, you’ll have to wait until the following year. Oh well, you’ll have to find something else that time to keep you busy.

Ooh, I know, how about a visit to the Waldemar, a swimming area where the water’s at a constant balmy 25 degrees Celsius, which is 77°F, with a 73-meter waterside, a children’s area, and beach volleyball court.

Sounds like a good time to me — just as cycling around the pretty Lüneburg Heath is. If you really like it, camping’s always an option, as is trekking along one of Ebstorf’s Nordic Walking trails.

Sounds like another good place to reflect and inspire, don’t you agree?

Right bank. Left bank. Whatever bank, I don’t care what side of the river a town falls on.

I’m not saying it to be sarcastic, but really, all you need to know is the town of Ertingen lies along the Danube River. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt Ertingen lies along the Upper Swabian Baroque Route either. Right?

Since I mentioned the scenic route first, it would be only right to mention the town’s Marienkapelle — as that’s the reason the place lies along this magnificent route. If you have the time, then a visit to the Kloster Heiligkreuztal (founded in 1227) to see its elaborate stained glass would be a great idea.

However, if you’re looking to go further back in German history, then you’ll want to see Burg Ertingen. Ugh, I take that back, as nothing remains of this 12th century castle. The same fate befell Burg Hailtingen, as well.

It’s possible to go even further back into history, since you’re really close to the Heuneburg. These reconstructed Celtic homes brings to life what it was like to live around here around 8,000 years ago. A few centuries after the Celts where here, the Romans called this place home; and they, too, left their mark on the town — as the village of Erisdorf has its own Villa Rustica.

No wonder so many Swabian poets were inspired to write; Michel Buck being one of ’em. Not only was he a famous Swabian poet, but he was a doctor and historian, too. Seems only right to have a Literary Museum in the town where he was born.

You might be inspired to write, paint, sculpt, or do anything else creative after traveling the Danube Bike Path, or trekking in the Upper Danube Nature Park. Hey, I was inspired to write this, wasn’t I? Except, I’m not anywhere as talented as Doc Buck.

Oh well, I guess I’ll have to drown out my pitiful writing skills at one of Ertingen’s festivals. A good German wine, some great music, and cheerful laughter is all that’s needed to make anyone feel better — so the Weinfest seems like the best choice to accomplish all that.

Come to think of it, maybe it is important to know why it’s important to know which bank of the Danube this town is; otherwise how else will you find all this Swabian goodness? ;-)

How much greatness can you stuff into just eleven square kilometers? A whole bunch if you measure it by the town of Dettenhausen.

The first thing you might notice about Dettenhausen is its countryside. Not easy to miss, I’d say, considering it’s found along the edge of the Schönbuch Nature Park. You’re also close to the Schaichtal Hiking Region (and this is the Neckar-Alb Region), and a region that morphs from the Swabian Alb to the Black Forest, so no matter what direction you head off in — you’re gonna love it.

A great place to stop is by the Sulzeiche, an old, gnarled Oak tree whose truck is over six meters in circumference. Some might say this mangled tree isn’t much to look at, but think of what stories this 450-year old tree could tell.

Think of the stories the cops at the local Polizeimuseum (Police Museum) could tell, as well. Housed in an old half-timbered building itself, the museum has all sorts of exhibits on uniforms and equipment used by law enforcement over the years. Luckily it’s open from 7:30 am – 5 pm, when the police station is open.

The other must-do museum is the Schönbuch Museum. Open on Sundays and holidays, this museum delves into the history and lore of the region, with exhibits on everything from its sandstone to hunting.

As with many people who come to Germany, they wanna see castles. I wanna see castles, too. A unique looking one is the Einsiedel Castle; and before you say this doesn’t look like a typical medieval castle, you’re right — it’s not. It got its start as a 15th century hunting lodge, and now it’s a Youth Hostel.

You’re awfully close to the castle in the neighboring town of Kirchentellinsfurt, so if you got time — head over to that castle museum, while you’re at it. Just be sure you’ve gotten to see the Johanneskirche (built 1830s) in Dettenhausen first, OK?

And didn’t I tell you greatness could be packed so nicely within a small space? I knew you’d agree. :-)

In 1813 the idyllic town of Großpösna in Saxony wasn’t quite, ummm (what’s the right word?), so — ok, idyllic. Perhaps we could use the word tranquil.

Why, you ask? It all has to do with an epic battle some two hundred years ago.

You see, it was here in 1813 that the Battle of Leipzig took place. Now before you look at me funnily, I know I said Leipzig — but the city itself is just a mere 13 km away.

Either way, the village of Störmthal saw quite a bit of action during this 19th century war, with Napoleon’s French troops fighting against Prussia, Austria, Russia, and Sweden.

The Störmthal you see today with its graceful Baroque church and tidy farms is a far cry from its war-ravaged days of yesteryear. A nice place to just relax is at the Störmthaler See, a lake where you’ll find a nature reserve, along with a Geological Trail with some 15 information Stelen, or information boards.

Großpösna’s village of Seifertshain was right on the edge of all the fighting as well, but sadly that’s nothing new to this village. You’d never know Seifertshain suffered quite horribly with looting and plague during the Thirty Years’ War, and again was plundered during the melee with Napoleon.

Today the little hamlet is more famously known for its windmill (with these funky little arms), its Hospital Museum housed in an old school, and its 250+ year old Rectory. But, if you want a little more of 19th century history, you’ll find the grave of Count Alberti di Poja, a military man buried with distinction, laid to rest in the local cemetery.

What have I missed? Oh yes, the village of Dreiskau-Muckern. What started out as two individual 7th century Slavic villages, is now the modern day village of Dreiskau-Muckern, which is both quiet and family friendly. No way could you tell after the fall of East Germany in the early 1990s only 50 people remained.

Don’t go thinking with all this historical stuff Großpösna isn’t any fun. Nothing could be further from the truth, because the town hosts an annual Volksfest (late August/early September), a Summer Festival, and an Indie/Rock Music Festival — known as the Highfield Festival.

Isn’t it nice to see Großpösna’s star is on the rise? I think so, too.