It’s back to the Black Forest again, this time to the nationally recognized health resort town of Neubulach that will both take your breath away — and give it right back to you.

Now you know I’m going to have a good tidbit of information to back a statement like that up, right?

I already told you that Neubulach lies within the Black Forest, so this naturally pretty countryside is just absolutely stunning — hence, taking your breath away. But, underground is where you can get it back…

The old Silver Mine offers something known as tunnel therapy, a pollen free environment to help alleviate allergy and other breathing ailments. See, told ya, you get your breath back.

What’s really funny is, it doesn’t seem out of the ordinary to find 20-plus people all wrapped up in sleeping bags as they’re relaxing on lounge chairs way below ground level. However, if you’re keen on the idea of being above ground, you’ll find a whole bunch of things to do.

Neubulach boasts all sorts of hiking trails and bike paths (find some that run along the many fields of purple crocus flowers — so pretty), as well as miniature golfing (located near the Spa Park), and even a Kneipp Spa area.

You’d better have your health about you if you want to enjoy the very best of Neubulach’s many festivals. There is everything from an annual Dorffest (Village Festival), to its Maibaum and Maypole celebrations, to the Wein- und Zwiebelkuchenfest every September. You’ve also go the Easter Market and Autumn Market to look forward to.

Plus, Neubulach has a historical side, too. You’re awfully close to the Hirsau Abbey (in Calw), a medieval Benedictine monastery from the 11th century. The Burgruine Zavelstein is also conveniently located, offering up a chance to see what was once a castle from the Middle Ages — now all crumbling stone and half-taken over by nature. Simply beautiful, even after all these years.

That’s a good description for all of Neubulach, simply beautiful. No wonder it had to find a way to give you your breath back — it keeps taking it away.

In other parts of Germany they celebrate beer, the Romans, all sorts of scenic routes, and a myriad of other things. Here in the town of Uelsen, a nationally recognized health resort town, they really celebrate the Bronze Age.

That’s not to say people are only using prehistoric tools to get things done, or they don’t have indoor plumbing. No, it’s a modern 21st century place.

It’s just that with the Bronze and Iron Age graves they found around here, it seems only right to highlight the town’s prehistoric past.

The absolute best place to see this is at the Bronzezeithof, which is open from April to October. This outdoor museum offers events, seminars, and everything in between to tell you what life was like on a Bronze Age farm.

A lot more can also be found out at the Local History Museum, or Heimatmuseum, housed within the Alte Rathaus (Old Town Hall).

Plus, if you visit the Spöllberg, keep your eyes peeled for the ancient grave hills. The hiking and bike routes along the Spöllberg traverse through some awfully pretty countryside, so it might be hard to pay attention — you don’t want to find yourself in neighboring Netherlands, do you?

Ohh, a terrific place to really see the countryside is at the lookout point in Lönsberg.

One of Uelsen’s many hiking trails will bring you along some of the town’s old mills. Aren’t they just romantic? The Schoneveld’s Mühle is one of the oldest, built in the 1200s. Of course it had to be restored in the 20th century, but it’s still quite old. And the Nordbeck’s Mühle is also quite old. First mentioned in the year 1610, it’s said that its farm already existed a few centuries before that.

Speaking of old, the oldest building in town is the Evangelical Church, whose tower juts 52 meters skyward. It saw a renovation during the Reformation in 1588, but the heart of the church is still medieval Romanesque.

In addition to all the amazing historical stuff, Uelsen isn’t stuffy. It loves a good time, which is evident during all the Maibaum events, Craft Fair, and Christmas Market — to name a few. However, I think the Archaeology Festival (last weekend of July) and the Bronzezeittage (Bronze Age Days) are two of the best.

Do you see why it always comes back to the Bronze Age in Uelsen?

Here it is, the end of another week, and I’ve positively chosen one of the best places to spend it in — the nationally recognized health resort town of Freyburg (Unstrut). What’s not to love about a historical wine town on the banks of the Unstrut River? Absolutely nothing, right?

So, where is this charming piece of wine-drinking heaven? I’ll tell ya, just north of Naumburg (Saale), and 63 km to the west of Leipzig.

Now that everyone knows where they are, it’s off to see the home of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn. Before you go asking, Friedrich who… I’ll tell ya. Mr. Jahn is the founding father of modern gymnastics, and he once lived and worked here; hell, he’s even buried here.

One thing I can tell you, you’ll be doing somersaults for joy when you’re here. Maybe it’s the wine… Who knows, but it is a town with some pretty awesome festivals. So, mark your calendar to be here for the September Winzerfest; the Christmas Market; the Wine & Chocolate Events; and the community wine walks, which are a great way to kill a couple hours on a Saturday to hear about the thousand years of wine making in the region.

All this partying goodness is a far cry from the days of the Witch Hunts during the 17th century. But, that’s all part of history, right? And speaking of that, Freyburg is sure chocked full it.

Where to begin about the centuries upon centuries of history? Ohhh, I know, the medieval castle is a great place. Schloss Neuenburg was built way back in the 11th century, and has played host to everyone from poets to kings to emperors like Barbarossa himself. Even if you’re not a history buff, I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy the medieval music events every June here at the castle.

The castle wasn’t the only thing constructed during the Middle Ages. The Church of St. Mary (13th century), as well as the town’s city walls were constructed during this time period.

This all sounds great, doesn’t it? Well, you can see it in an even better way — take a Night Watchman Tour. C’mon, it’s only 90 minutes out of your evening, and you start at the City Information Center at the Marktplatz.

It’s nice to be around other people, but sometimes you do want to experience nature all alone. Well, sorta, the Unstrut Cycle Route isn’t really a “crowd” activity thing to do — but it is popular. Probably because the countryside is just so gosh-darn pretty.

Maybe this is why it’s so easy to love Freyburg — although I’m sure all that wine and history have something to do with it. ;-)

If you are spending some quality time in the Palatinate, between magnificent Speyer and industrial Ludwigshafen, what about heading over to the town of Waldsee?

You’ll find Waldsee where the Old Rhine meets the current Rhine. The Upper Rhine Valley is just perfect for hiking, cycling and beach side camping around the outlying countryside — like the Neuhofener Altrhein Nature Reserve or the Wolfangsee.

Sounds like a good idea, but be sure you plan time to visit the town’s Church of St. Martin, a pretty neo-Romanesque church from the 1840s. A couple of decades later the Wolfgang Chapel was built, which is right about the same time as many of Waldsee’s half-timbered houses were built.

Your sightseeing tour doesn’t end here, you still have to go visit the Church of the Assumption (built 1889), the old Jewish Cemetery, the World Wars I and II Memorials, and the St. Remigius House from the 1750s. And of course, much of Waldsee’s history can be learned by a trip over to the Heimatmuseum, or Local History Museum, in a beautiful, historical stony building.

It appears the 18th and 19th centuries were good to this town. Waldsee will be good to you in the 21st century if you’re lucky enough to come for one of its many (many, many) festivals throughout the year.

The 2-day Bratkartoffelfest (Fried Potatoes Festival) is a good one (who doesn’t love sausages and potatoes?), as is the Wine Festival, the Autumn Festival, and the Kerwe (Church Festival) — these last three being in October. What a busy month!

The above festivals aren’t even the half of it here in Waldsee. June’s a great month to visit, that’s when the Biergarten Festival takes place, followed by the Hoffest, and then the 3-day Karpenfest.

This isn’t half bad for a town that isn’t even thirteen square kilometers, is it? As if you haven’t eaten and drank enough as it is, come grab a bite at one of the local eateries — were you’ll find everything from bistros, ice cream parlors, pizzerias, as well as local specialties.

Ohhh, with all this good eating, I better get out on another one of those hiking trails. ;-)

Anyone whose grand idea of a “perfect” vacation involves palm trees, snorkeling, or a beach of any kind might find the Saxon town of Thum on their grand plans. However, if mountains and crisp winter air are your kind of thing, then you should definitely add this former mining town to your “places to visit” list.

Thum is actually great to visit anytime of year, but I really like end of November/early December. You see, that’s when its Christmas Market is going on — where the town’s decked out in twinkling lights, a youth orchestra’s playing, and mulled wine is warming you up quite nicely in the chilly Ore Mountains air.

Plus, Saxon Folk Art is often for sale at the market, making it a great gift for loved ones back home.

I love it cold as much as the next person, but I’d rather wait until it warms up some to visit nearby Schloss Wolkenstein, a medieval castle whose role it was to protect an old Bohemian trade route. A grisly part of the castle is its torture chamber — life was a tad rough in the Middle Ages.

As the mercury rises, a hike to see the Greifensteine, a natural rock formation, is really fantastic. And if it gets too cold for you, come inside to the Schnitzmuseum, full of Saxon Folk Art exhibitions.

When the call of the Ore Mountains has you hankering to get back outdoors, come to the Tiergarten — a zoo that’s got animals like snowy owls, goats, and all kinds of fuzzy and flying things in between.

Thum is also where you’ll see a cute (is that the right word) narrow gauge railway, and information on the railway’s history through the region.

One other piece of the town’s history involves beer. The Dampfbrauerei made the stuff here for about 600 years, eventually being sold to a company in nearby Chemnitz — so if you get a chance to try Thumer Lager, remember it all started right here.

You can keep your palm trees and sandy beaches, I’ll take the mountains of Thum over that any time. Care to join me?

You know what’s really rotten about visiting a town late in the year? I’ll tell you, it’s because you sometimes miss out on some pretty amazing events held much earlier — such as it was in the town Dasing, and a Collective Municipality of the same name.

Oh well, I guess I’m going to have to take pleasure in Dasing’s Christmas Market; and I guess I’m gonna have to go visit some of Dasing’s historical sites until another festival pops up — like the Karl May Festival, celebrating the works of the famous German writer.

Maybe I should have come when it was warmer, how else was I going to see all the amazing creatures found within the Ecknachtal? Do you think the butterflys, yellow warblers, and water lilies are flying and blooming in the dead of winter? Ohhh, that means no snakes though — oh yeah, the Ecknachtal is great to visit that time of year. ;-)

Even if you decide not to hike through the Ecknachtal in this part of Bavarian Swabia, you can still enjoy the great outdoors.

Come to see the Burgstall Dasing, once an outstanding 13th century medieval castle, that sadly didn’t survive the Thirty Years’ War. And the Ringwall im Kirchholz was another medieval castle, albeit an even older one. The information boards are great for learning more about this archaeological site.

When the winter chill gets to be too much, you can always come inside to one of Dasing’s churches. The Pilgrimage Church Maria Birnbaum is a very good one — it’s been here for more than 350 years; while the Church of Sts. Peter & Paul might’ve started out as a late-Gothic church, it’s now more Baroque after its last renovation.

Lovers of the Baroque period will no doubt love the Church of St. Martin, located at Kirchstraße 6; while the Rectory from the 1690s is also worth stop. Come to the village of Rieden to see the St. Vitus Church, a blend of Baroque alongside its Gothic tower.

Well, so what I might’ve missed out on a festival or two, but it gave me plenty of time to see the rest of Dasing — but thankfully no snakes. ;-)

Baden-Württemberg has to be one of the most glorious of Germany’s federal states. It’s just that you never know what you’ll find, and in this case, it’s the town of Kirchardt, located within the delightful Kraichgau.

The serene countryside of the Kraichgau isn’t what first caught my attention. It was its history — where Bronze Age man, the Celts, Romans, and even the Allemanni used to call this place home. In fact, it was the village of Berwangen (one of Kirchardt’s three villages) that was once an important stop on the Ancient Romans’ road to the far reaches of its vast empire.

No wonder there used to be a Jupiter Column here… the one you see today is a replica of the original.

Berwangen’s history doesn’t just stop when the Romans picked up and left. Oh no, the village continued to thrive. Plus, it once had a bustling Jewish community from the 17th through 20th centuries. The old Jewish Cemetery is found near the Obere Mühle, or Upper Mill, and the former Jewish school dates back to around 1845.

That’s not too old considering Berwangen’s Evangelical Church is more than two decades older, and the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) is a grand half-timbered building from the 1780s.

I can actually tell you that Kirchardt has even older half-timbered houses (one all the way back from 1578), and its Evangelical Church of St. Giles has been tending to the spiritual needs of the community since 1496. Whooo, that’s a whole lotta sermons. ;-)

Inasmuch as Kirchardt is proud of its past, it is just as proud of its modernity. Today you’re able to do everything from hike along its Forest Trail (an easy 3.5 km), grill some brats at its BBQ areas, or party the day and night away at either the DorfFest (Village Festival, last weekend of June), or its popular Silvesterparty on New Years Eve.

You’re also more than welcome to join in all the fun at the Kerwe (October), the Schlachtfest (November), or the Advent Bazaar (also in November), or shop for delicious wine at the Glühweinstand in December. Sounds like a good time to me.

Now do you see why I think Baden Württemberg, and Kirchardt, are just glorious?

The English translation for the town of Kuchen is cake. Sweet tooth that I have, any place that’s got a name like that has my heart, that’s for sure. All I need now to go with me on this trip of cake (I mean Kuchen), located right next door to Geislingen an der Steige, is a cup of strong coffee. ;-)

Figuring out where to go first in Kuchen is the hardest part of any trip here. Do you go meandering along the banks of the Fills River? Or, do you venture out to an area known as Orchards Paradise? The latter is comprised of a few villages with thousands and thousands of fruit trees.

Fruit lovers, this truly is paradise.

No doubt history lovers will enjoy a visit to the ruins of Burg Spitzenberg. At this point in time, this 11th century castle has been in ruins longer than it stood intact from it 665 meter high vantage point — destroyed more than 700 years ago in 1311. Say what you want, but I think there’s something tragically romantic about a castle ruin.

Another one of Kuchen’s medieval sites is its Jakobuskirche, known for its Romanesque reliefs in the town’s oldest intact building — because technically the Cathedral of St. James is younger than Burg Spitzenberg, having not been built until 1220.

Another one of Kuchen’s historical sites to see is the Arbeitersiedlung, or Historical Workers Settlement, from the late 1860s. Guided tours are available by appointment, giving you an insiders look into this community.

When history isn’t what you’re looking for, perhaps you might want to try coming for one of Kuchen’s festivals. You’ll find many of them throughout the year, with the Pfingstmarkt in May, Lampionfest (Lantern Festival) in July, the Autumn Festival in September, and the Christmas Market in December, to name just a handful.

Since man can’t live by cake alone, if you get hungry there are all sorts of international cuisines to choose from — right down to Chinese, Italian, traditional German, and even Mongolian.

Err, I take that back, I can live by cake alone — so long as it’s this kind of Kuchen. ;-)

You know what really stinks? Coming to find a pleasing little town like Moosinning later on in the year — when much of its summer activities and events are done for the year. Some folks would have packed up their bags and gone home.

And had they done that, they’d never have gotten to know about Moosinning’s Pfarrfest in September, or its Wine Festival in October. Plus, if you don’t come later on in the year, you’d never get to experience the town’s Christmas Market in late November and early December.

Isn’t it grand to realize things aren’t over when the Summer season is? I think so. Don’t worry, the cooler weather won’t hurt you, I promise.

At least the crowds will have mostly gone, leaving you plenty of time and space to explore around its eleven villages. Be sure to visit the Nature Reserve Zengermoos — a nice place to experience the nature side of this small town, which lies between Munich (south) and the Munich Airport (north).

And as you’re roaming about, you’ll find quite a collection of little chapels. I don’t think I have a personal favorite (they’re all quite lovely), but I’d have to say of them all, the former Plague Chapel of Saints Sebastian and Rochus (built 1651) stands out the most.

No, it’s got to be the St. James the Elder Church in Kempfing (it started out as a Romanesque one). Ugh, I loved the octagonal chapel from the 1830s, too.

Ahhh, I loved them all. It only took wandering around the little lanes, and a round of golf at the town’s golf course (in the village of Eichenried) to figure that all out. What can I say, I love old architecture.

Even though it doesn’t look like much, you’ll find an old boundary stone marking where the Electorate of Bavaria met up with the Bishopric of Freising.

Ok, so you might not really care about Bishoprics and Electorates (I don’t know the difference), but what you should care about is how friendly, fun, and even historic, Moosinning can be — no matter what kind of weather you’ll find outside.

Oh, I love it when there’s a German town that just rolls easy off the tongue. Say it with me, Neukieritzsch. It’s a workout for the mouth, isn’t it?

While it might be hard to actually get the word out, it’s a town that’s quite easy to fall in love with. And no, I’m not just saying that.

So, where is this exasperating name of a town? Right in the Leipzig Lowlands of Saxony, that’s where. But, I gotta tell ya, its countryside isn’t the only thing going for it.

Over in the village of Kahnsdorf you’ll find a moated castle — and what’s not to love about one of those? You can take a guided tour of this medieval castle if you want.

Kahnsdorf, by the way, started out as a Sorbian settlement, but now it’s a charming German village with (besides a castle) a pretty 18th century church built over the original one from the year 1004.

Neukieritzsch is also known for its numerous festivals. The Dorffest is held every year in the village of Lobstadt, while the Parkfest is a Kahnsdorf staple, and the Heimatfest is held in Neukieritzsch itself.

The villages of Neukieritzsch were once known for mining (more specifically Lippendorf), but today you’ll find more people staying above ground rather than below it. How else are you going to trek along the Pleiße-Radweg? The Pleiße-Radweg, a wonderful bike scenic route, will take you right past the old St. Nikolai Church. Keep your eyes pealed for some of the town’s other churches, too.

The outdoor pool is a nice way to hang out, too. It’s got a sandbox for the kids, as well as a beach volleyball court and a place to play some table tennis for both you and the little ones.

It’s all right the name Neukieritzsch isn’t an easy one to say, but you’ll find it’s easy enough to like.