I learn something new every day. Ok, some things I really don’t need to know (and could’ve spent the rest of natural born days all the better for not knowing). Then, lo & behold, there are things that I’m so glad I’ve stumbled upon.

What I learned in Wanzleben- Börde falls in the latter category.

Wanzleben-Börde is where you’ll find the Komturei Bergen. Yeah, I didn’t know what this was either (hence the whole learning something new).

It was a 13th century estate (still is, as a mater of fact) that once belonged to the Teutonic Knights. In the mid-17th century during the Thirty Years’ War, the Swedes took possession of it.

The oldest part of the Komturei is of a Romanesque/Gothic design, which you can see at the Gutskapelle, the former chapel. Within the chapel’s walls aren’t just centuries of art and architecture (like the Baroque altarpiece), but it is where no less than four Knights are buried.

As old as the Komturei Bergen is, it’s centuries younger than Burg Wanzleben. The first time anyone heard about this castle was in 968, so that’s the “official” year that’s given to the Burg — but it’s possible that it’s even older.

The part of the castle that is at least that old is the 30 meter high donjon. I guess you better be up high, since this is a lowland castle — you gotta keep your eye on things somehow.

The municipality of Wanzleben (where you’ll find the castle with the same name) also has a 13th century church (St. Jacobi), and two medieval towers (built 1438).

As beautiful as you’ll find all this, they’re not the reason Wanzleben-Börde is on the Romanesque Route. That’s reserved for the St. Paul church in the village of Seehausen.

I’ve droned on enough about history, so I’ll give you the skinny on the fun side of town. Every November there’s the Lantern Festival with all sorts of singing & dancing. Just about a month earlier, in early October, is the Harvest Festival.

Wow, history and cultural festivities mixed with scenic routes… I’m so glad I learned all about Wanzleben-Börde.

Politicians. They did it again. On January 1, 2010 they combined a few handful of towns and villages (most of which where established in the 10th and 11th century) into one cohesive new town: Hohe Börde.

What they should’ve done was vote to add all villages to the Romanesque Route, or as it’s called in German: Straße der Romanik — because it seems like there’s a whole bunch of Romanesque art in this new town in Saxony-Anhalt.

Some exaggerating is being done right now (ha-ha), but not about the village of Bebertal. It really is on the Romanesque Route, because of its Romanesque Marktkirche. And while it might seem a bit morbid, you shouldn’t miss seeing the cemetery chapel.

Over in the village of Bornstedt there’s another Romanesque church, this time it’s the Church of St. Mauritius. Another medieval church is found in the town of Irxleben.

Irxleben is awesome, not just because of its 12th century church. Who can resist taking lots of snapshots of half-timbered buildings, the stony Bismarckturm (Bismarck Tower), or the Völkerschlachtdenkmal (which is a “peace” memorial, not a “war” memorial).

You should visit Ackendorf too. Not just because of its graves of POWs and forced laborers at the village cemetery. But, because this village of only around 400 people is where you see the “real” Germany.

Ahh, I’ve come this far without mentioning any castles. Until now. ;-)

It’s back to Bebertal where we’ll find the Burg Alvensleben, a.k.a. Veltheimsburg. This one was built in the 13th century, over atop one that was built in 1180 — which in turn was built over an even older castle. Its age isn’t what was Alvensleben is known for. Nope, it’s famous because of its extensive underground tunnel network.

You should have known I was gonna find a castle somehow, someway. ;-)

Not everyone is going to want to see a castle, or churches. This is why I’m glad that Hohe Börde has an extensive network of cycling and hiking trails. The countryside here west of Magdeburg is quite lovely.

Then take a ride along the Holunderradweg (Elder Cycle Route), which goes through a number of nice villages as well as along elder plants — enough to make you forget about life’s little worries.

Speaking of worries, I wonder if the government is going to combine another two handfulls of villages. Oh well, I guess that gives me another excuse to find more medieval churches and castles. ;-)

This is a good week here for me at MyGermanCity.com, it’s a week spent in Franconia, very close to the town of Ansbach. Today it’s Dietenhofen — and all of its 27 villages.

It’s hard to determine what are the best things about this town, for which part of it lies within the Frankenhöhe Nature Park.

Because of Dietenhofen’s natural beauty, it’s only right to start off your trip getting to know its many biking paths and hiking trails. Some have “names,” like the Biberttalweg, but even without a moniker these routes lead off into the bright sunshine and romantic Franconian countryside.

Anyone liking the water might do good to hike around the numerous Lakes in the region — sounds good, right?

Color me silly, but I think Germany’s castles are quite romantic, too. I especially love the Burgruine Leonrod, a medieval castle (technically a Water Castle) from the 13th century. If you listen hard, you’ll hear the clamor of a knight’s armor from a period long gone.

See, I’m a romantic at heart. ;-)

And Germany’s Christmas Markets are romantic, too, so it’s nice to find one here in Dietenhofen. Romantic might not be the right word for the rest of the town’s festivals (I’d go with entertaining or lively), but whatever you want to say it is, trust that you’ll have a grand time at community events like the Kirchweih every June.

Informative is a good word to describe many of the other things you’ll find around here. Think about how they really built stuff to last many centuries ago when you’re looking at medieval stone crosses, or the 15th century St. Martin Church (now Lutheran). And if you think that’s old, the St. Leonhard Church was once a fortified one from the 1200s.

You most certainly can’t say a trip to the Heimatmuseum (Local History Museum) isn’t educational either.

After a long day of making Dietenhofen’s acquaintance, it’s really nice to kick back at a local beer garden or ice cream parlor. Anyone wanting to spend the night will be warmly welcomed at any one of the guesthouses or Bed & Breakfasts.

Not only was it a good week for me, but it can be for you as well when you visit Dietenhofen.

Leave it to Germany to have a town that’s not even connected.

That might not make sense to you at first, but the Thuringian town of Dornburg-Camburg was made with the merging of these two distinct towns — as well as a few other villages in between. The funny thing is, they’re separated by the village of Wichmar — which is part of the Collective Municipality Dornburg-Camburg. I’m so confused… ;-)

Its geography might be a bit screwy, but the town of Dornburg-Camburg is kinda interesting, and a whole lot of fun. And if you like a place where history meets a good time, then by all means, come visit.

One of the most visited places is Burg Camburg, a castle from the 11th century that’s now in ruins. I gotta tell ya, its 37-meter high tower is still in good shape. Some prehistoric finds from the castle area are now housed in a museum in nearby Jena, BTW.

Ruin, or not, Burg Camburg is a fantastic example of a medieval castle. An even older ruin is found in Dornburg-Camburg, the Cyriaksruine. This old basilica got its start sometime around 900; the fact that it’s in ruins is all part of its charm. Also from the Middle Ages is the Stadtkirche (City Church), built here about eight hundred years ago.

What else would I tell you to see? I’d suggest visiting the Heimatmuseum (Local History Museum), and the lighthouse looking Rathaus (Town Hall). Don’t look at me like that — go see, and tell me for yourself.

And when I saw the manor house over in Tümpling for the first time, eerie (a scary-movie scene was more like it) was the first thing that popped into my head. What? It was a grey, dreary day with snow on the ground — don’t judge. ;-)

For something totally cheery, go to Zöthen, a town known for its riding schools and jumping tournaments. To go back to Tümpling for a minute, that’s the place to be in October for the Fountain Festival, and again in December for the Advent Bazaar.

Hey, Dornburg-Camburg is even found on a scenic route, the Saale Radwanderweg (Saale Cycle Route). You know what that means, great biking (and hiking!) trails through the countryside. Idyllic doesn’t even begin to cover it — but it still doesn’t explain why the towns don’t touch.

Oh well, I won’t ask why, let’s enjoy it for what it is, shall we?

My destination today? None other than the town of Hambrücken, a town along the Bertha Benz Memorial Route and the Baden Asparagus Route.

Oh, you know you’ve got it good when you’re on one of Germany’s scenic routes right from the start. ;-)

As much as I’m grateful to Miss Benz and the King’s Veggie, my head was spinning when I found out how many festival Hambrücken hosts every year.

Known as the Fifth Season, Hambrücken is a place that really livens up in November to kick off the festivities. Before that, though, they really get into the whole Oktoberfest thing, and they host both an Advent Bazaar and Christmas Market.

Spring and Summer are also great time to be here. The Summer Festival (held in June) is loads of eating, drinking, and dancing fun — but then again, so is the Grillfest in May, along with all the Maypole events.

Oh yea, I almost forgot about the Hambrücker Straßenfest (always on the last weekend of August).

Not too shabby for one of the district’s smallest towns (only 11 square kilometers), is it? No, I didn’t think so.

Upon first arriving in Hambrücken, you might’ve noticed the St. Remigius Church — which is said to be visible from all directions. Despite being typically German, to notice such things, sadly I didn’t. What I do know, is this church is the town’s landmark, as well as a nice example of early 20th century Gothic Revival architecture.

Pretty as the church is, I’d have to say the countryside is just as lovely. Follow the Nature Trail, Fruit Trail, or any one of the hiking trails through the nature reserve area — and you’ll see what I mean as you pass through forests, meadows, and wooded areas of the Upper Rhine Valley.

After (or before) passing through those wooded areas, near the Grillhütte lies the Lußhardt-Generationenpark, a small but great place to work out and improve your fitness (for all ages).

What started out as a simple medieval village, is now a shining star. No wonder Bertha Benz stopped here.

If it wasn’t for scenic routes like the Schwäbische Albstraße, even I, German Traveler Extraordinaire, couldn’t know about places like Böhmenkirch — located in the Swabian Alb. But, now that I’ve found this amazing piece of Heaven on Earth, I will shout its wonders from every platform I can find.

What grabbed my attention the most, was all the cultural events and other activities held throughout the year. You’ll find everything from a Classic Car Festival (who doesn’t just love old cars), a Gemeindefest (Community Festival) every June, followed with a Summer Party, Village Festival, Schuppenfest (Shelter Festival), and Brunnenfest (Fountain Festival) in July alone.

Whew, what a party animal you are, Böhmenkirch. Oh yes, and I haven’t even mentioned the Spring Festival (April), the many Maypole events, the Straßenfest (Street Festival), or the Pfingstmarkt at Pentecost, or the Christmas Market and Christmas Concerts yet, have I?

Don’t let Böhmenkirch’s good cheer fool ya, it wasn’t always like this. If you visit the Galgenlinde, just remember that’s where they used to hang you, way back in the medieval day.

Thankfully, they don’t do that anymore — but another medieval site you might want to see is the Burgrest Ravenstein. That is, you could see it, if this 11th century castle wasn’t demolished way back in 1765. A little imagination is all you need to see where its mighty walls once stood, that’s for sure.

Imagination may not be needed when paying a meek visit to the Lourdes-Grotte in the Treffelhausen district. Not sure if that’s the reason for the town belonging to the Way of St. James, though.

Böhmenkirch’s churches are also nice to see, like the St. Vitus Church — all graceful with its arched windows. It looks like a typical Gothic church, but it’s of a neo-Gothic design, not built until 1865. I think the Patrizkapelle is probably the prettiest of them all, especially after a freshly fallen snow.

As for snow, winter’s a great time to visit. You got your choice of three different ski lifts, and four cross-country ski trails for loads of winter fun. I’d save the various Nordic Walking trails for warmer weather, ranging from 5.5 km on the Blue Route to 10.5 km on the Black one.

Trust me, this is the Swabian Alb — no matter which one you travel on, you’ll just love it. For me, it’s Friday, so I’m going to see what goodies I can find at the Weekly Market. See ya there!

What’s great about the power of the pen (keyboard), is I have the power to inform.

Take the town of Biesenthal in Brandenburg, for example. Just 31 km northeast of Berlin, I could simply write this page extolling all the virtues about just Biesenthal, but (and that’s a mighty big but) if I left out telling you the rest of the villages in the collective municipality of Biesenthal-Barnim, I’d be doing everyone a major injustice.

Before you say anything, yes, a collective municipality means each place does retain its own (what’s the right word here) — autonomy, but maybe you should consider them when coming to a place like Biesenthal, the largest town in Amt Biesenthal-Barnim.

That being said, Biesenthal is quite lovely in its own right. The gorgeous half-timbered Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) from 1762 awaits, as does the New Town Hall built over a hundred years later.

However, of all of the town’s sites, it was the Evangelical Church that won me over. It’s a simple building of stone with a red tiled roof — and you can just feel how old it is without ever having to go inside.

Visiting the Heimatmuseum (Local History Museum) is another way of finding out just how old the place really is — right back to its days of being a Slavic Settlement at one time.

One can’t live by history alone, you have to enjoy the present — and no more so than at one of the many festivals throughout the year. Summer’s the most fun, when the town hosts the Wukenseefest, Youth Rock Fest, and Harvest Festival in the month of August alone. Just as summer’s over, the Street Music Festival is going on in September; and the Christmas Market is something everyone looks forward to late November/early December.

Here’s the good part about the collective municipality, you can enjoy what the other towns have guilt-free. Honestly, if I had to say the best things to see in small Brandenburg villages, it’d probably be the many village churches. The 13th century one in Rüdnitz is quite striking (especially in late autumn for some reason), and the stone village church in Klobbicke stopped me right in my tracks.

It was a debate within on the village church in Sydower Fließ, it had this amazing stone tower bottom — but a much newer brick top. Go see it for yourself, tell me what you think. ;-)

For the really ambitious, see if you can follow along the 416 km long 66-Seen-Wanderweg — a hiking and cycling trail that’ll bring you along 66 lakes right over to Melchow, another town in the municipality. Don’t worry about getting lost, just follow the big blue dot on a white square signs for it.

See, by telling you about Biesenthal’s collective municipality, I’ve increased its size from 60 square kilometers to over 197 square kilometers, doubling its population to over 11,000, and I’ve increased all the wonderful things you’ll find in between them.

To think you might get through all eighty-five villages of the Lower Bavarian spa town of Bad Birnbach at one time seems like such a daunting task.

Let me tell you, it is. And if you tried, you’re doing yourself the biggest disservice imaginable.

Bad Birnbach lies in an area known as the Bäderdreieck, or Spa Triangle. Say no more, that means you’re in a sweet spot where the thermal waters and gorgeous countryside are all you need to make yourself feel better. Heck, just talking about it makes me feel better already. ;-)

Seriously though, the thermal baths are a great place to unwind and relax; and you’ll need it after you’ve gone and seen the best of the place. It seems as if every village and hamlet has an old church.

It feels like it’ll take forever to see just the 15th century St. Leonhard in Asenham; the 15th century Church of St. John in Aunham; the Church of St. James (14th century) in Brombach; St. Martin’s in Hirschenbach; and the Pilgrimage Church of St. George (13th century) in Hölzlberg.

Yikes, I forgot to mention the Romanesque 13th century Church of St. Ulrich, and the ever pretty Pfarrkirche (Parish Church) Maria Himmelfahrt.

So sorry, Bad Birnbach, if I left out any other one — there were just too many of them.

The town’s churches are only outnumbered by its many sporting activities. A great way to see much of Bad Birnbach is by a hot air balloon ride, but feel free to enjoy a guided walk on one of its many hiking trails (with 51 km of Nordic Walking trails), or a leisurely bike ride if you’re more comfortable with your feet on the ground.

It might make good sense to stay on terra firma when Bad Birnbach has a festival or other event going on (how else are you gonna enjoy it). The Christmas Market is a good one, as is the Leonhardiritt — the precious horses there look so pretty. The Maypole is quintessentially Bavarian, while the Spring and Autumn Fairs are just good old fun.

But, if you only get to come to one, you might want to make it to the Bräunlfest every May. It might’ve got its start from survivors of the Plague, but these days it’s just a great way to spend the day with family and friends.

This is just a snippet of what you’ll find to see and do in Bad Birnbach. No wonder it’s plain crazy to tackle all its many villages at one time; and no wonder they need a spa to relax, I’m exhausted…

It starts out like a sick joke: What do a medieval fortress and a women’s prison have in common?

Ah, well, I can answer that — but you’ll have to stick around the Saxon town of Jahnsdorf (Erzgebirge) first.

Don’t complain, Jahnsdorf lies right in the middle of the Ore Mountains, which is exactly where you’ll find the Nature Park Erzgebirge/Vogtland.

In case that means nothing to you, let me tell ya, it’s some gorgeous countryside. And from this high up (ranging from 342 to 548 meters above sea level), you’ll think you can see forever.

Too bad the poor guys that had to go down into the silver mines didn’t get to enjoy the great outdoors of Jahnsdorf as much as you can today. But, when the mines opened back around 1510, things were quite a bit different.

Mining wasn’t Jahnsdorf’s only industry, either, as weaving was once a big boost to the local economy. I’d gander to say when the Flugplatz Chemnitz-Jahnsdorf opened in 1926, that must’ve helped too. What’s that? That would be a local airfield, that was once used for military aircraft during the Cold War. The airport’s still open, by the way.

Speaking of the Cold War, I can now answer the question of how the Middle Ages meets up with a women’s prison. Jahnsdorf lies right near the Frauengefängnis Hoheneck (over in Stollberg), a women’s prison back when Jahnsdorf was part of East Germany. Before that it was a 16th century Jagdschloss, built right over its medieval fortress beginnings.

See, there you go — it wasn’t a sick joke. ;-)

The old prison isn’t the only thing left over from the Middle Ages. Over in the village of Leukersdorf (one of Jahnsdorf’s four), there’s a pretty village church from 1782 that has medieval origins. And you’re really close to Burg Rabenstein, thought to be the smallest castle in all of Saxony. In this case size really doesn’t matter — who wouldn’t love to see a castle that was built more than 800 years ago?

Want to know what else you’ll love? How about the Hoffest (Farm Festival) every July, or its guided hiking and cycling tours? Heck, even just a stroll in the Ore Mountains would be good enough for some.

Look, if you’re looking to jam pack your day with castle after castle, church after church, or one sport after another — then maybe Jahnsdorf isn’t for you. However, if you’re looking to see the real heart of Germany, then Jahnsdorf is it.

Aahhh, Germany, why do you love to confuse everyone so much? Here I am, minding my own business (ok, no I wasn’t), trying to learn all I can about Neuenkirchen — only to find out there are a dozen of them. And, get this, six of them are located in Lower Saxony alone.

Hello, that’s where I’m supposed to be — Neuenkirchen in Lower Saxony. Yeah, which one?

Thankfully, all is well — and I’ve found the right Neuenkirchen, the one located in the Lüneburg Heath. That very name alone should tell you that you’ll enjoy some fresh air — and nature lovers, hikers, and cyclists will have found their very own happy place.

Lovers of the great outdoors will appreciate the Freilichtmuseum Schäferhof, an Outdoor Museum. This real working farm is also a wonderful learning experience for everyone, including city-dwellers and the kids. Aww, look at those little lambs… sooo cute.

Darn, no time to get distracted now, there’s a Potato Festival going on. Every September a new Potato King is crowned, totally surrounded by the Beer Queen, the Asparagus Queen, and the Potato Princess.

Ha-ha, cute, but I’m off to try and win for the thickest potato; and then I’m going to eat all the potato soup and fried potatoes I can handle. When you can’t eat anymore, enjoy the music — and don’t forget to let the kids run off to enjoy the amusements set up just for them.

While the Potato Festival is (most likely) the biggest event of the year, it’s not the only one. The Schützenfest (Marksmen’s Festival) is held every May, while the Mühlenfest (Mill Festival) and the Harvest Festival are both held in August. October brings the Apfeltag (Apple Day) event, which is the same month as the Lantern Parade. For those willing to brave a northern German winter, come December when there are community hikes around the countryside.

Oh, did I mention the Mühlenfest without first mentioning the 19th century windmill? My fault, but that potato party had me beside myself.

All you’ve got left to see right now is the “Art Village,” some 30 sculptures found throughout all of Neuenkirchen. Get yourself a map at the Rathaus (Town Hall) to make finding them so much easier. And as soon as someone figures out what that big orange twisty sculpture is all about, could you fill me in? Please?

In the meantime I’ll be eating more of those delicious potatoes — for which I’ll remember the rest of my days, never to confuse this Neuenkirchen with any other ever again. ;-)