I consider myself a manly man, a guy who couldn’t tell the difference between Prada and pansies.

Nah, I’m just kidding, I’m a cultured guy, so I’m not afraid to say I thought the fields of crocus all over the Saxon town of Drebach were just divine.

Don’t make fun of me because of flowers — because I’m not the only one who gets excited when these purple beauties make their annual spring appearance, so many people flock to Drebach to walk along the endless fields of blooming flowers.

The best time to experience the crocus blooming season is March and April, and they’ve even been known to bloom under snowy conditions — which isn’t exactly unheard of in this part of Germany.

Even if the Nackten Jungfern, or Naked Virgin (as the crocus are often called) aren’t blooming in meadows everywhere, you’re not to be disappointed with the great outdoors. There are plenty of hiking and bike trails to keep you quite busy — so if you got the time, trek along the E3 Footpath, or bike along the Zschopautal Bike Trail.

Please, it’s not that arduous, a mere 7.5 km.

There are some 11 different colored trails that lead you around Drebach, like the Krokusrunde (6 km, yellow dash route), and two that’ll take you around the Upper and Lower Heidelbachtal — which is a great place to come if you’re into bird watching, or just love all things nature.

The Zeiss Planetenwanderweg is another great trail, where a mere 6 km will bring you to the far reaches of space. You’ll learn all about the sun, and all the planets — including Pluto.

I don’t care what anyone says, to me Pluto will always be a planet. You know what, you can debate the issue at the Planetarium — you can’t miss it, it’s the only silver domed building in town.

Another trail leads up to Scharfenstein Castle, while another is a historical trail around the medieval structure. Kind of makes sense why some of the guides look like something from a Robin Hood flick. No doubt the kids love that sorta thing.

Anyway, besides Maid Marian and Hood’s Merry Men, the castle has a fantastic exhibit on Folk Art — yet I’d have to say the Castle Tavern was one of my favorite parts. There’s even a castle shop where you can buy goodies to bring home with you.

A bit further way, but no less wonderful, is Schloss Wolkenstein. The medieval castle once protected a thriving trade route to/from Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), and now the white walled/gold accented castle is a Local History Museum. Sorry, Robin Hood and his Merry Men not included. ;-)

No worries, there’s plenty of time to be merry at one of Drebach’s annual events. The Christmas Cheer is in full swing at the annual Christmas Market, and if you can’t make that one — there’s another held at Scharfenstein Castle. Autumn is a pretty time to be here, which is good, ’cause that’s the season for Drebach’s Kirmes.

Hey, I might be cultured enough to appreciate the finer points of the crocus — but I’m also down-to-earth enough to appreciate the finer points of a good German party. ;-)

Suppose you go to bed one night, totally care-free and independent; only to wake up the next day to find you’ve been “attached” to some five others just like yourself?

That’s kind of what happened to the Thuringian town of Nesse-Apfelstädt. Up until November 2009, it used to be six independent municipalities, all neatly tied together now.

Whether anyone is happy about it or not, I don’t know. What I do know is you won’t be hard-stuck to find something to see or do here.

Within the town of Apfelstädt itself, you’ll find a smashingly gorgeous 11th century church (St. Walpurgis), and a Romanesque tower that once belonged to the Church of St. Mary. Add in a visit to the Local History Museum to learn more about both.

Gamstädt is the northernmost village of Nesse-Apfelstädt, a charming little hamlet with half-timbered houses. The village of Kleinrettbach also has its fair share of half-timbered houses, too; it’s own quaint church, and a landscape that’s dominated by agriculture.

To the east we’ve got Ingersleben, a village that’s been said to have been founded back in the year 1111. I’m not a historian, but there’s been proof that people have lived here a lot longer than that — the Neolithic Age to be more exact.

There was a period where no one lived in the old Duchy village of Kornhochheim for a while, thanks in part to the Thirty Years’ War. Today it’s a wonderful place to see some of those framework houses that Germany’s famous for.

Save Neudietendorf for last, not because it’s small at only seven square kilometers, but because it’s got some fantastic history behind it. Mostly because of its plain and simple Moravian Church, and one of the oldest Moravian graveyards.

Too creepy for you? I understand, go see Neudietendorf’s gorgeous yellow Church of St. John, and two old grinding mills. This is also said to be a meeting place between Generals Bradley, Patton, and Eisenhower at the end of World War II.

Interestingly enough, it isn’t the history of Nesse-Apfelstädt that’ll keep you sticking around longer, it’s the fact that it lies within the Thuringian Forest. I guess if you’re going to be attached to something — it might as well be as good as this. ;-)

I once had a conversation with a nice lady from Munich, who had spent the last 20-plus years living in the United States. She admitted she wanted to go back home to Germany to visit, and we talked at length about all the wonders of each region of of the country, but also admitting she didn’t know too much about what was to see in what was once East Germany.

This meant she didn’t know about places like the Thuringian town of Frankenblick.

Truth be told, no one could really know about Frankenblick before 2012, since that’s when the “town” was officially created by merging a whole bunch of smaller villages together. However, the baker’s dozen of Frankenblick’s villages aren’t just a 21st century creation — most of its villages date back to the Middle Ages.

Take the ruins of Burg Rauenstein, for example. The castle itself was constructed way back in the 1300s, only to be destroyed during the ugliness of the Thirty Years’ War. The hamlet itself is quite charming, right down to its half-timbered houses (many found along Lehnergasse), ad its 15th century Church of Sts. Mary & George.

Frankenblick isn’t a one-pony show when it comes to churches. If I did my homework correctly, the Evangelical Church of St. Kilian is the oldest church of them all, dating back to the 12th century. The Cemetery Chapel in Rabenäußig seems to only enhance the natural surrounding beauty, and the Evangelical Church of St. Catherine is a grand design of 18th century architecture.

The same century saw the building of the Evangelical Christ the Saviour Church in Meschenbach, but this village is where you’ll also find a limestone cave known as the Zinselshöhle.

The natural landscape of Frankenblick is definitely worthy of your time — and these days the area isn’t a “no man’s land” because of its proximity to the West German border. Nope, since Germany’s reunification, anyone and everyone can enjoy the 50 kilometers of cross-country skiing trails, the Nordic Walking trails, alpine skiing, and all the biking, hiking, and paragliding one person can handle along the Rennsteig, the Franconian Forest, and the Thüringer Schiefergebirge.

Too bad the village of Korberoth didn’t fare so well during its East German days, but a memorial does stand in recognition of the place demolished because of its location along the Inner German border. Another “war” memorial stands at Freiherr vom Stein Straße 20, in honor of those who died during the First World War.

Yes, Frankenblick does have some somber places to see, but that doesn’t stop it from having a good time now and again. Come for the Kerwa here in Rauenstein every June, and there’s even a Forest Festival at the end of May.

I’d say these are great opportunities to get to know Frankenblick as the great place I know it to be — and Mrs. H, I hope you now know it, too. ;-)

I should be frustrated with some German bureaucrat for changing the borders of some German towns, but then I’d probably wouldn’t have ever gotten to see the Saxon town of Lossatal otherwise. Created on January 1, 2012, the present day town of seventeen villages is worth getting excited about — not any other emotion.

Located next to Wurzen and not too far from Leipzig, Lossatal gets to boast of its castles and museums, its Bronze Age beginnings, and its idyllic countryside around the Geopark Porphyrland.

Sounds perfect for a few days of fun, right?

As I said, Lossatal is a town of more than a dozen villages, and I think Falkenhain might actually be my favorite. Here you’ll find not only a Bronze Age cemetery, but also a charming village church, and the Schloss Falkenhain.

Frauwalde’s beginnings also date back to the Bronze Age, so it does seem the right place for the Museum of Pre & Early History (located at Erlenweg 7).

Another museum is the Heritage Museum in the village of Großzschepa, which is only open by appointment, so it’s best to call ahead. At least the Museum Steinarbeiterhaus has more regular opening hours.

And you’ll find yet another museum in the village of Kühnitzsch. The Schloss Kühnitzsch (the present building from only the 17th century) and church seem to be the same ocher color, so consider them a matching set. Its Bockwindmühle is also an attraction you shouldn’t miss, even if the mill you see today is not the original from the 1500s.

You’re never too far from an old building here in Lossatal, for which Schloss Dornreichenbach is one of them. The original use of the castle is a far cry from its use today, a grand park with its own game reserve. And Schloss Thammenhain can be rented for special events, or just a locale for a private picnic.

Speaking of special events, Lossatal seems to always have something extraordinary going on. The fun kicks off at the Hexenfeuer and Maypole celebrations on April 30th and May 1st, with the Summer Festival taking place in June, while the Park Festival goes off every August, followed by both the Fischerfest and Pumpkin Festival in September. The Wine Festival is always an October delight, and the Christmas Market is just a fantastic way to enjoy a cold November day.

After all this, I should thank those German bureaucrats for changing things around — I think I love Lossatal exactly the way it is now. :-)

I’m starting this off with a little prayer: Dear Lord, please let me find the Thuringian town of Wachsenburggemeinde. Oops, sorry, I mean the town of Amt Wachsenburg.

Maybe instead of crying out to the universe, I should buy a new map — since Amt Wachsenburg didn’t officially exist before December 31, 2012.

Technically, Amt Wachsenburg is named for the Veste Wachsenburg, a wonderful castle that dates back to the 10th century. What you see today isn’t from the Middle Ages, it’s from the 17th to 19th centuries — and is both a museum and restaurant.

The Middle Ages, by the way, saw a building boom here in Amt Wachsenburg (I mean Wachsenburggemeinde… whatever). In the village of Bittstädt, a village of just about 600, is a lovely village church. And you’ll find another 12th century medieval church dedicated to St. Nicholas in the village of Haarhausen, yet another in Sülzenbrücken (St. Wiperti, 12th century), plus one more in Röhrensee (St. Nicholas, 12th century).

It’s funny to think these churches are old, but that’s nothing compared to the Neolithic tombs found in the town of Ichtershausen, which was first mentioned in the year 947. This hamlet was more known for its 12th century Klosterkirche Ichtershausen, which was a Cistercian Monastery until the 1530s. The monastery has been gone almost 500 years, but the church is still around — and one famous pastor was poet, Wilhelm Hey. Right next-door to the church is a monument in his honor.

Nice, Mr. Hey, but I’m more in awe of the church’s medieval paintings.

Oh, who am I kidding, I couldn’t run fast enough to the Bratwurst Museum. Yes, I’m aware that bratwurst is stereotypical of Germans, but that doesn’t mean these sausages don’t taste so gosh-darn good.

After eating (and learning) about Bratwurst, there’s no place better than hiking through some of the nature areas around Amt Wachsenburg. Every March the daffodils bloom, bringing people from all over to enjoy the early Spring flowers. The nature reserve area near the Salzquelle (Salt Spring) has more than 120 different species of beetles — so you won’t find me there. ;-)

Besides, I’d much rather be in the middle of town to enjoy such fun festivities like the Maypole Celebrations, the Summer Festival, and Christmas Market.

And I kind of like finding more historical sites, like the Preußengrab, a mass grave of Prussian soldiers who fought against Napoleon a few hundred years ago.

Thankfully my prayers to find Amt Wachsenburg were answered. Now, where did I put that new map, ’cause I’m bound to get lost again — and Heaven forbid should I stop and ask for directions. ;-)

The year 2011 was a banner year for Germany, as it created yet another brand-spankin’-new town for everyone to enjoy. By combining the two towns of Brotterode and Trusetal, you get two Thuringian towns for the bargain price of one. Awesome!

Life is nice here in the Thuringian Forest, with fun things to do in the great outdoors. The Großer Inselberg makes the best backdrop while you’re out hiking in the region; and if that’s too slow an activity for you, then try Geocaching.

If you’d rather have a “theme,” then follow Brotterode-Trusetal’s Nature Trail or Mining Trail. A mining trail seems appropriate, as the town of Trusetal used to be famous for iron ore mining for centuries.

Between you and me, I’m not all that interested in mining, I was more enamored with the man-made marvel of the Trusetaler Wasserfall. That’s right, the beautiful waterfall you see was the creation of man, not nature. Which, by the way, is why they only turn it on from April to October — otherwise it would freeze in the harsh winter climate.

However, those cold winters are just what you need in order to go ice skating, alpine skiing, winter hiking, and tobogganing. Wait, you don’t need the deep freeze to go tobogganing, the track runs even in the summer. Whatever the weather, there’s nothing more exhilarating than careening 705 meters down a mountain with your butt on fire.

Sorry, I mean the sun and wind on your face. ;-)

For something calmer, I’d say visiting the Evangelical Church in Trusetal and the Evangelical Church in Brotterode. The former’s a pretty white painted village church on Karl-Marx-Straße, while the latter (located at Kirchstraße 9) is constructed of dark grey stone.

Then again, a hike along the Rennsteig could also be a more calming activity. Either way, you’re sure to revel in the delights of Brotterrode-Trusetal, wouldn’t you say?

I’m pretty sure I’ve missed something, so thankfully the lovely people at the Tourist Office (Eisensteinstraße 91) are around to help anyone who needs some additional guidance. Hey, at least they won’t hang you from the gallows that were once frequently used in the village of Auwallenburg. ;-)

Sounds harsh, right? Well, I’ve said it a thousand times… the Middle Ages weren’t exactly the most enlightened of times. The time period, however, did give us the most amazing castles; Burg Wallburg being one of them. The castle’s construction started in the 1200s, and even had its own moat.

There’s so much to keep you busy in Brotterode-Trusetal, so good thing there are all kinds of overnight accommodations where you can rest up. Your choice if you want something as cozy as a cabin, romantic as a cottage, or rugged as a farm stay.

For me I don’t care where, I just need a place to sleep — the two towns of Brotterode-Trusetal wore me out. I guess that’s what happens when you get two for the price of one. ;-)

Before we even get started, let me begin with: this is not about the Bavarian Königssee (a lake in in the Berchtesgadener Land). Nope, this MyGermanCity.com page is all about the Thuringian town of Königsee. And just because it might not be as famous as its namesake, doesn’t mean it’s any less enjoyable.

Wait, something’s not right here… Oh yes, to make things even more confusing, in 2012 the town joined forces with the town of Rottenbach, merging into the all-new Königsee-Rottenbach. Hmm, now there’s no confusing it with the lake, is there?

Whatever you choose to call it, these days it’s 17 districts of charming towns & villages with half-timbered houses, great cultural events, and marked “scenic routes” like the Klosterweg, or Monastery Trail.

The Klosterweg, by the way, might not be that long (just 11 km) but it’ll take you past monastery ruins in the village of Paulinzella. This old Benedictine monastery was founded over a thousand years ago, and even inspired Schiller to write about it. Also in Paulinzella is a grand Jagdschloss (Hunting Lodge) housing a museum about the castle and neighboring monastery.

By the way, Paulinzella is also the reason why this town is part of the 300 km long Classics Road, another scenic route.

Now that I think about it, increasing its number of villages increases its number of festivals, doesn’t it? Whoo-hoo! Yeah, bring on the Easter bonfires, the Carnival celebrations, the Straßenfest every May, the Christmas Market (1st weekend of Advent), the Kirmes and Walderntedankfest in October.

Wow, I’m tired and I haven’t even done all this yet. I will cheer on the runners for Königsee’s annual marathon — but there’s not a fat chance in hell that I’ll run it. I will, however, trek along parts of the Thüringenweg — with 23 “stations” spread out over 410 km. ;-)

Heck, I’ll even gasp in awe at the Stadtkirche, a neo-Gothic church of dark stone from the 1860s. And without a doubt, I’ll be happy & content to enjoy a summer concert at the monastery ruins — taking in all the amazing medieval architecture.

And I’m in awe of the recently created Spiralbohrer (spiral drill) in front of the Town Hall in Königsee proper. With a length of 2.2 meters and a weight of 88 kg, it’s said to be the world’s biggest spiral drill. Good ol’ German engineering.

Yeah, the other Königssee might be more famous, but not for long — I’ll be singing this Königsee’s (excuse me, Königsee-Rottenbach) praises to anyone who’ll listen.

One thing you’ll never say about the Thuringian town of Südeichsfeld that isn’t anything to do or see here, despite the rural feel to the place. Each of Südeichsfeld’s eight villages is unique, giving you the opportunity to experience something different each time.

Diedorf, more famous for its outstanding Kirmes celebration (the last weekend of September), but its Village Green has been the epicenter for village life for more than a thousand years. Plus, there’s even a Hosiery Museum located here.

Faulungen is the place to be if you enjoy beautiful mountain scenery; and its St. Martin Church is a terrific example of Baroque architecture. As stunning as St. Martin’s might be, I think it’s the Kirchenruine Katharinenberg that’s my favorite. The old chapel might be in ruins, but you can still see this early Gothic grandeur — right down to its gracefully arched windows.

The village of Katharinenberg itself also has more modern history; so here at the Grenzturm you can see an East German watchtower; built since Südeichsfeld is located right next to the Hessian border, in what was then West Germany.

Heyerode is another of Südeichsfeld’s great villages, perfectly located as a starting point to tackle the Sengelsberg — a mountain that’ll give you great views of the countryside. The cycling trails through town will also do that, but be sure to bike on by the old railway bridge and the Catholic Church.

Hildebrandshausen isn’t to be outdone with its Village Church, the Church of the Holy Cross, built in the 1860s. Its rolling hills all seem to lead right to it.

Lengenfeld unterm Stein, the northernmost village of Südeichsfeld, is also known for its church — Mariä Geburt, or the Nativity of the Virgin, constructed in the 1880s. And everyone seems to love the Eisenbahnviadukt, a German engineering marvel at 237 meters long, and soaring 24 meters high.

Sounds good, right? What’s the absolute best of Südeichsfeld are all its cultural events. Try to plan a visit to coincide with its Country Festival in May, or its 3-day Heimatfest in June, or its other Kirmes (also in June), the Oktoberfest in September, or its two Christmas Markets in December.

Yup, it seems you’ll always have something great to experience every time in Südeichsfeld.

If you were to read an encyclopedia story on places like the Thuringian town of Ellrich, you’d learn things about its geography (how it’s near the town of Nordhausen and that it borders Lower Saxony); about how it’s only about 69 square kilometers; and that it has a population of around 5,600 people.

What gets lost is its human connection. Isn’t it the people who’ve lived and died here that make the town?

Yeah, I think so too. I will be honest, not all of Ellrich’s history is pretty; but that doesn’t change that the fact that places like its Hospital Church (built in 1506) was used as a Parish Church long before it became a modern day concert and events venue.

It’s nice to know that the Church of St. Viti offers services in a stunning Baroque church once a month, right? Wouldn’t it be interesting to hear how the tiny 8th century St. Mary Church on the Frauenberg was once used to house horses — and better yet, why?

And yes, an encyclopedia story might tell you about the memorial site over at the Juliushütte, but not explaining that it sits on the very spot of a crematorium of a World War II Concentration Camp (a subcamp of Buchenwald). And how its 8,000 prisoners where shipped off to Bergen-Belsen on a Death March on the last days of the war.

A good bit of Ellrich’s history can be learned at the Museum Ellrich, which breaks its exhibits into grouping like nature; crafts; and early history. Even better the museum is housed in a charming half-timbered building.

Ellrich’s countryside (it’s right on the edge of the Harz Mountains) is also as varied as its history. One of its biggest outdoor attractions is the Waldbad, an outdoor swimming area (the season opens in May) that’s got a real fun waterslide for the kids, or you, if you got the nerve.

Anyone wanting to stay dry might prefer to take one of the marked hiking trails instead. The Sulzberg route is probably one of the shortest for anyone not all into the whole walking thing.

So you see, whether you live here, or you’re just visiting, are the ones who truly make towns like Ellrich what it is — and you won’t find that on any encyclopedia page, will you?

Tucked ever so nicely in the state of Saxony, not far from the Polish and Czech Republic borders, lies the town of Kottmar

Yes, there also exist a mountain with the same name, which even belongs to this town.

As for the Kottmar Mountain, think of it as a great place to experience some great outdoor recreation. Kottmar’s location close to the Kottmar makes it easy enough to see the Spreequelle, one of the sources of the Spree River. There’s a fun 4.5 km Spree Source & Legends Trail, detailing much of the local folklore on (and around) the Kottmar Mountain.

I know not everyone appreciates the great outdoors, so for you folks there are six village churches you can come see. Each are beautiful in their own way.

For example, the Village Church Eibau (one of Kottmar’s seven villages) is a lovely Baroque church that’s picture perfect in the full bloom of Summer; while the Village Church in Kottmarsdorf is a striking contrast to the fall foliage colors; and Obercunnersdorf’s Village Church looks so lovely after a freshly fallen snow. The latter’s Baroque interior, and large organ, make the church’s insides just as lovely as its exterior.

Obercunnersdorf is also a great place to be if you like half-timbered houses; and it’s a great starting point for many cycling and hiking trails leading off to the Kottmar Mountain, and through the Upper Lusatian countryside as a whole.

As if this isn’t enough, Kottmar has a few museums that should pique your interest. The Heimat- und Humboldtmuseum, located in Eibau within the so-called Faktorenhof (an 18th century mansion), has exhibits on both local and natural history. You’ll even find a museum here on hairdressing (Friseurmuseum); and yet another history museum known as the Museumsheimatstube, also known as Pfarrer-Heinz-Leßmann-Stube.

For me, the best of Kottmar are its festivals. Germans love cars, so it’s great every year for the Oberlausitzer Oldtimerwandern — which only allows cars to participate if made up until 1983.

The Dorf und Abernfest in September is a great time for carriage rides, eating lots of potato dishes, and there’s even a market for buying other kinds of goodies.

One of Kottmar’s other markets is the Jacobimarkt in the village of Neugersdorf every July. The market’s steeped in history, going back some three centuries — although those old ones didn’t end with fireworks like they have these days.

A great festival is also held on Deutscher Mühlentag, or German Mill Day, on Whit Monday; but even if there’s no festival going on you can come see the town’s charming Bockwindmühle in Kottmarsdorf.

It seems Kottmar (the town) has everything you could possibly ask for — even a mountain. ;-)