Welcome to the Gateway to the Weserbergland. Welcome to Auetal in Lower Saxony.

Even though there are sixteen villages, which are totally surrounded by forest, doesn’t mean you can’t get to know each one. An extensive network of foot and bike paths make it possible.

Bernsen, which includes Bernser Landwer, is very small with well-kept houses and tidy lawns.

Borstel, might have a 5-acre nature park, but in 1988 it won the Unser Dorf soll schöner werden competition. That would be the “Our Village is Beautiful” award. Who cares if that was like 30 years ago — it still is beautiful. Even better that Borstel hosts the annual Harvest Festival.

Over in Escher, the tower to its old Mill is still there, even if the wings are gone. This 300 year old Mill acts as the village’s landmark. Rightly so!

Hattendorf is where you want to be if you’re looking for a Local History Museum (called Heimatmuseum; open on the 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month), or to see a 12th century church. St. Eligius, which by the way, is now an Evangelical Lutheran one.

Kathrinhagen has its own medieval church, which is also an Evangelical Lutheran one, while Rehren has an old Gothic church to see, too.

Auetal has a number of small hamlets, the smallest being Westerwald with a population of just 55 people. Altenhagen is tiny too, but has almost double the number of residents. Klein Holtensen is almost as big, but filled with all sorts of farms.

The folks over at the Tourist Office (Rehrener Straße 25) will help you find whatever it is you’re looking for. But, I’ll give you a heads-up. The village of Wiersen has a charming Village Square, regional bus service that’ll take you to all of Auetal’s villages, and an Oktoberfest that might not be as big as, say, Munich’s, but still a good time nonetheless.

All that’s left to do here in Auetal is play some miniature golf, take a carriage ride, or buy something at one of the little Farm Shops.

Wow, who knew all the wonders of the Weserbergland? I guess you do now, huh?

The Eggegebirge is neatly tied into the Teutoburg Forest, forming the Teutoburg Forest / Eggegebirge Nature Park, or Naturpark Teutoburger Wald / Eggegebirge in German.

Seriously though, it doesn’t matter all too much of its location within Germany, as much as what you’ll find within it.

What is in it? Where to start?

It’s got all sorts of wildlife, hiking trails, scenic routes (some of which are hiking trails), rivers (like the Weser), and awesome towns.

Follow me, and I’ll take you along a few hot spots, going to a height of 464 meters above sea level (the Velmerstot mountain). So, no need to worry about climbing into the clouds — just bring a jacket, just in case. ;-)

Our trip through the Teutoburg Forest / Eggegebirge Nature Park begins at its southern edge in Warburg. This town is most famous for its 12th century Kloster Hardehausen with its 14th century cemetery chapel shaped in an octagon. They’re awfully proud of their old Oil Mill too.

You’re going to really love Höxter, our next town. It’s quite historical. Charlemagne decided to fight the Saxons here over a thousand years ago — and the Imperial Abbey of Carvey (with its 67,000 books) soon might be listed as one of the next UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany.

In the mean time, take an interactive City Tour while checking out all the framework houses.

Willebadessen‘s thirteen villages lie along the Eggegebirge, where you’ll see its millennia old Oak. No trip here is ever done before you’ve visited the Tierpark (game park), the Vituskapelle (belonged to the former monastery), and the Schweckhausen Castle.

Paderborn is another town proud to be in the Teutoburg Forest / Eggegebirge Nature Park with its 200 springs, and a medieval saint is buried in its Cathedral. The Pader, Germany’s shortest River, starts & ends here. For a piece of modern history, go see the Computer Museum.

Look at that, another river has its start in the Teutoburg Forest / Eggegebirge Nature Park — the Emmer starts in Bad Driburg — at the eastern edge of the Eggegebirge. In addition to see where this river gets its start, how about stopping at the Josefkapelle, the St. Martin Church, the St. Satumina Church, the Synagogue Memorial, the Glass Museum, and the Church of Sts. Peter & Paul.

Ugh, I can’t believe I forgot to type in the early 14th century Burg Dringenberg. Can you imagine me, of all people, forgetting a castle? ;-)

Right within the Egge is Altenbeken, home to the Eggemuseum. Yup, the hilly harrow along the Rhine-Weser Watershed has its very own museum.

Altenbeken has its very own nature reserve areas too, and a watermill, an an old viaduct, and the Chapel of the Cross — a really pretty Baroque church building.

Think this is good so far? Wait, it gets better. Welcome to Horn-Bad Meinberg, which is actually along the 156km Hermannsweg and the 70km Eggeweg scenic routes. It’s also where you’ll find the highest point of the Eggegebirge, the Velmerstot, and the Externsteine, a natural rock formation.

Horn-Bad Meinberg is a spa town with gorgeous spa gardens, a 12th century Protestant church (which wasn’t Protestant when it was built), a castle museum, and lots of half-timbered houses.

When we get to Hanseatic League and former Holy Roman Empire town of Bielefeld, we’re finishing up our tour through the Teutoburg Forest / Eggegebirge Nature Park.

I don’t want to leave all that quickly, so I’m taking my time to see the Botanical Gardens, the Art Museum, and to stare at the 81.5 meter high towers of the St. Nikolai Church in its Altstadt.

Plus, I’m in love with the Sparrenburg Castle. The tower and catacombs aren’t open year-round, from April to October — but the coolest tour of the 13th century castle are only held three times a year. It’s because of the bats that call the place home, in case you’re wondering.

Don’t be so shocked about the bats. If you’ve come this far you’ve probably already seen wildcats, eagles, storks, and even European bison in the Teutoburg Forest / Eggegebirge Nature Park.

I am so in awe of Bielefeld, a town so great it once printed money on linen. What? Yes, linen was big business here — so why not print currency on the product that helped spread the money around? ;-)

Oops, rather than just Bielefeld, I really should say I’m in awe of the entire Teutoburg Forest / Eggegebirge Nature Park!

Did you know that more than 9 million people a year visit the southwest Sauerland to see the Ebbegebirge Nature Park, which includes the small Ebbegebirge mountain range itself?

How about making it 9 million and one? No, two, because I’ll go with you.

It’s simple enough to get here, as the Autobahn A45 wriggles through it. Yeah, means nothing on its own, but once you get to any part of this 777 square kilometer region you’ll be mighty impressed.

The highest point of the Ebbegebirge Nature Park is the Nordhelle mountain at 663 meters above sea level. You’ll find it (as if you can’t see it, ha ha) in the town of Meinerzhagen.

Meinerzhagen is really outstanding, and not just for its hilly landscape. The Volme River makes its appearance here, there are countless hiking trails, not to mention a bazillion winter sports spread out over Meinerzhagen’s thirty-five plus villages.

One of my favorite places to see is the Magdalene Church, especially all lit up and covered with snow.

Following the Volme River around to Kierspe, we’re still able to enjoy the coniferous and deciduous trees of the Ebbegebirge. Kierspe is one town where you’ll find one the 10 dams along this ridge of hills.

And we can’t leave out seeing the 19th century distillery, the 12th century church (that’s now got a partial Baroque design).

Herscheid is where the Ebbegebirge meets the Rhenish Slate Mountains. The town offers all kinds of hiking trails, biking paths, and swimming opportunities; but you can also see its 11th century Church of the Apostles, the Altena Castle Museum, a Railroad Museum, and plenty of half-timbered houses.

This is the time where we’ve reached the middle of our journey through the heavily wooded Ebbegebirge. Believe it or not, just about two-thirds of this large nature park area is forested.

That would explain all the beech trees, wouldn’t it? ;-)

It’s not all trees, though. Along the way you’ll see bogs and heaths, mixed with grassland. It’s a hodge-podge of landscaping, right?

Inasmuch as there are types of land, that’s about how many castles you’ll find in the next town of Plettenberg. Schloss Grimminghausen and Schloss Brüninghaus are just two of them, yet it’s the ruins Burg Schwarzenberg that I really like — and I think you will too.

Plettenberg boasts another one of the Ebbegebirge dams (the Oesterdam), and also has an old railway that’ll take you back in time.

There’s a lot to do in Attendorn, the second to last town on our trip around the Ebbegebirge. This town of more than 30 villages was once part of the Hanseatic League, and is now where you’ll find the Südsauerland Museum, a 14th century Rathaus (Town Hall), the Church of St. John the Baptist, and the Atta-Höhle (one of the many caves).

Attendorn is also a town that like to seriously party. Easter is a big deal with a huge bonfire, but the Gauklerfest is a kid-friendly, cabaret summer event, as is the Feuerwehrfest with the fire department on the last weekend of June.

However, if you can only make it to one festival in Attendorn, make it the Schützenfest (Marksmen’s Festival) on the 1st weekend of July — it kicks off with a beer tasting.

Oh, I’m so in. ;-)

With the mention of beer at Attendorn’s festival, I’m going to stay here — so you’re off to the Biggesee on your own. This 8.7 square kilometer lake lies totally within the center of the Ebbegebirge Nature Park, and is super popular with water sports enthusiasts that love all the swimming, sailing, and windsurfing.

One of the coolest ways to get around the lake is with boat tours that have pick-up and drop-off at five locations around it.

I guess that makes the Ebbegebirge Nature Park more than just a natural geographical location. We’ve caught up with nature, history, castles, and best of all, festivals. ;-)

You hear the word “bay” and usually the first thing that comes to mind is water. Lots and lots of water. Not in the case of the Cologne Bay, or Kölner Bucht in German. Think lots and lots of towns and villages.

If I were to sit here and list all 32 towns and 90 municipalities I’d probably be here for the rest of my natural born life. It would then take another lifetime to list the 325 castles and fortresses along this “bay” in the southwestern corner of North Rhine-Westphalia.

What’s really crazy is, I don’t know how long my natural born life’s gonna last considering the area is “seismically active.”

Yeah, ain’t that just some dollar-fifty words for volcano? No wonder since the Cologne Bay lies just next to the volcano having Eifel. Plus, the Rhine River flows through its eastern half.

But it’s not just the volcanoes that make the sensitive Cologne Bay shake up a bit. It’s the African Plate (yes, the oceanic crust) pushing against the European Plate starting south of Italy and Spain/Portugal.

One town along the Rhine that’s the first on this triangular stretch of land is Bonn, the former capital of what was once West Germany. Everyone comes here to see its 11th century Minster, but I won’t let anyone forget that Beethoven was born here.

A stop to the Rheinaue (a recreational area) is just what the “doctor ordered.” OK, I’m suggesting it — so let’s not split hairs, huh?

From here we’re going to go west a bit to Zülpich, along the edge of the Eifel where you’ll find Roman Springs among medieval sites.

We need to go a little further west right now to Aachen. You’ll love it here with its late 8th/early 9th century Cathedral (built by Charlemagne), which is the one sight, if any, that you must see.

I would wager that any soccer fan would much rather see all the sites listed on the German Football Route instead. ;-)

It’s Düren next, which lies along the middle of the Cologne Bay between Cologne and Aachen. This town started as a Celtic settlement, only to be made “famous” by Charlemagne, and its weeklong festival at the end of every July.

Next up is Kerpen, an old mining town. Peat mining was big business — and how could it not, the peat bogs were found to be some 270 meters thick (and created 30 million years ago).

Nearby to Kerpen is Brühl, a town with a couple of UNESCO sites to see.

If all of the Cologne Bay (and its scenic routes & UNESCO sites) is this great, no wonder 3 million people live within its “borders.” No worries of those volcanoes for us Germans — we’re a hearty stock. ;-)

From here we’re going eastward to Rösrath and the Wahner Heide. Great, a nature area within a nature area.

What would the Cologne Bay be without one of the most visited cities in Germany, Cologne. If you think Cologne’s Cathedral spires are tall at 157 meters, wait until you see its Television Tower at 266 meters.

Oh, I think I see its 12th century Stadtmauer from this height. I think I see Greece from this height.

Nah, it’s just the Japanese Gardens in Leverkusen, our next town. Here’s one of those 325 castles I mentioned. And this one’s got a moat to boot. Who wouldn’t mind living in one of those, which overlooks the foothills of the Bergisches Land.

Our next to last town in the Cologne Bay is Langenfeld, once ruled over by the medieval Franks. They’re the ones responsible for building the original St. Martin Church. But they didn’t have anything to do with all the modern day watersports that go on here now.

Lastly we’re in Neuss, along the left bank of the Rhine. When the city was founded back in 16 B.C., it was called Castra Novaesia; going on to become a Hanseatic League city and housing the relics of a saint at its Münster.

You know, the Cologne Bay might not have a lot of water (the Rhine is quite enough), but it has wonderful cities, fun scenic routes, nature areas, cathedrals, and who could ever forget — volcanoes and Plates. ;-)

The Oxen Trail, or Ochsenweg in German (Hærvejen in Danish), isn’t just about the German version of a cattle drive. No, this area was once teeming with Vikings and pious pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Funny, they couldn’t have been at the furthest ends of the human spectrum. No one ever talks about Vikings on some sort of spiritual quest — they were always out invading some place or another.

It was also where peasants and merchants in the 19th century tried to meek out a modest living in northern Germany. And Denmark for that matter, since some areas once belonged to the Danish.

You might hear the Oxen Trail also being called the Heerweg or Army Way, since many soldiers used the cleared trails on their way to plunder and pillage somewhere.

Oh, just like the Vikings.

This isn’t about them though. This is about the cattle and people who came to Wedel, an important city on the banks of the Elbe; just west of Hamburg.

Many centuries ago people flocked to Wedel for a huge cattle market. Wedel was taken over for a few weeks as people from all around came to town to buy or sell tens of thousands of cattle.

Today the city of Wedel is looked after by Roland (the town’s landmark from 1450), and you’ll find some great marshland to hike. Every Spring (until the Fall) ferry service to/from the island of Helgoland is available.

From Wedel the cattle and their owners traveled north towards Uetersen. The Oxen Trail meets up with the North Sea Cycle Route, but no matter what scenic route you’re traveling on — you’ll get to enjoy Uetersen’s Wine Festival, Rose Festival, Christmas Market, Rock Festival, and Wedding Fair.

That’s a whole lot of festivals going on. Break up all the festivities with a visit to the Local History Museum, the Shoemaker Museum, and the old Convent Church.

Itzehoe is the next town on the Ochsenweg, and where you can see graves from the Bronze Age. The prehistoric isn’t all that Itzehoe offers, this is a charming medieval town with a 1km long Pedestrian Zone with shops and cafes.

The Prinzeßhof (from the 16th century) is now a District Museum, and I wouldn’t travel any further before seeing the Church of St. Laurentii and the Klosterhof (part of a Cistercian Monastery) from the mid-13th century.

The other Roland town along the way is Bad Bramstedt, where the route meets up with the Altona-Kiel Road. Sure there are 69km of biking trails (as well as canoeing), but a mud bath at the spa would be just as good.

OK, maybe better. ;-)

Neumünster started out as a simple 9th century settlement. What it grew into was a city of almost a hundred-thousand people that has a Cloth & Textile Museum, a sculpture park, a Game Park, and a place with a City Festival on the 1st Thursday in June.

We’re about half-way through the Oxen Trail when you arrive in Rendsburg. You’re also meeting up with the Kiel Canal that links Schleswig with Holstein and the German Ferries Route.

Follow the Blue Line (a real blue line) that’ll take you through the city’s best sites, including the Old Town Hall at the Old Marktplatz, the town’s oldest building from 1541, the Jewish Museum, and the Evangelical Christ Church.

Our next town of Lohe-Föhrden might be German now, but it once belonged to the Danish. Even though it’s mostly agricultural it was the site of a real bloody battle during the Great Northern War in the early 18th century.

Dannewerk wasn’t always German either, although this place was known for the Vikings who lived here instead of the Danish. The marauders are long gone now, but their defense wall is still around (it measures over 3.5km long, by 7 meters high, and 2 meters thick).

Hmm, guess the Vikings did more than just invade Europe and North America. ;-)

What the Vikings did plunder they had to trade somewhere for it, right? That was in the next town of Schleswig. Found along the Brautsee, the city was once a Viking trade center.

There’s so much to see and do here in Schleswig, I’ll see if I can sum it up. In regard to its Viking beginnings, the Wikinkgertage are known as the Viking Summer Days. Then there is the Annettenhoh Castle, the Old City, all the fishing cottages, Gottrup Castle, the State Museum of Art & Culture, the Archaeology Museum, and the State Theater & Symphony.

I almost left out the St. Peter Cathedral and the Castle Festival. Goodness gracious, that would’ve been bad not to tell you about those. ;-)

It’s pretty quiet in Munkwolstrup (part of Oeversee). Really quiet. Especially at the Arnkielpark, an archaeological park of prehistoric graves. You can even see the centuries old plow markings that’ve been preserved. See, that’s what the oxen were used for.

The last town along the Oxen Trail in Germany is good ol’ Flensburg, the home of a former naval base. They still speak Low German around here (there’s even a Low German Theater), and it’s where you’ll find a Danish Library, a Harbor Museum, and Art & Culture Museum, a Shipyard Museum, a 12th century Church (St. John), and a Gothic church (St. Nicholas) too.

I like the Rum-Regatta in late May/early June, and the Christmas Market that’s held in the city, which is along the Danish border.

The Ochsenweg ends its German journey here, but does continue on to Viborg in Denmark — giving it a total of 540km from start to finish.

One thing though, this isn’t a driving route. You’re going to have to hoof it like the oxen did, or you’ll have to bike it since a number of the roads are impassable by car.

Oh, it’s not so bad. It’s really quiet, the land is pretty flat, there are plenty of bicycle rental places along the way, and the countryside is great for a picnic just about anywhere.

Just be careful where you do that, though. You don’t wanna sit where the oxen might’ve left their… uh, calling card. ;-)

Oxen Trail Web Site

Here is the official Web site of the Oxen Trail.

Chances are if you’re following the Moselle Slate Route, or the Moselschiefer-Strasse as it’s known in German, you know a thing or two about slate. Even if you don’t know anything about slate, you still might enjoy following this 110km route through the Moselle Region.

For those of you not familiar with slate, it is often used for roofing and floor tiles; and made of either clay or volcanic ash. Because the Moselle Slate Route is located in the Eifel (in what was once a volcanic area), I guess we can guess what the quarried slate was made from, huh?

Start of the Moselle Slate Route

The route is circular, so it doesn’t matter too much where you start — you’ll always wind up back where you started. So, I threw a dart at the map, and figured I start where it landed.

Monreal was where it landed, and considering the Romans were mining slate here a couple thousand years ago, it was as good of a place to start as any. It also lies on the Eifel Slate cycle Track, which is another way to enjoy getting around.

After scoping out the Roman used slate pit, Monreal has half-timbered houses, a Local History Museum, the Löwen und Philippsburg Castle, the Holy Trinity Church, and the Klosterruine Mädburg to visit.

Upon leaving Monreal, head east towards the Katzenberg. Here you’ll find a Roman Watchtower using lots of that mined slate the Romans wanted so much.

Mayen is next on the Moselschiefer-Strasse, and along the volcanic Eifel. What you’ll find is 2000 years of mining, making the mining pits the oldest slate quarry in Germany. Most of that long history (with details of places like the nearby Schiefergrube Bausberg) is explained pretty darn good at the Eifel Museum, I’d say.

Want to see what’s done with all that slate mining? Go to Mayen’s Church of St. Sylvester, which not only has a slate roof, but the saint for whom the church’s named is the Patron Saint of slate mining.

Here’s where the Moselle Slate Route gives you choices. You could bike your way to Polch, or you can drive around which’ll take you to Hausen. Either way there’s no point traveling on the Moselle Slate Route if you don’t see the Moselschieferbergwerk Margareta (in Polch-Nettesürsch) — another one of the route’s mining pits.

Polch is charming enough with a Heritage Museum, the medieval Abbey St. Matthias, the Parish Church of St. Stefan, and a 19th century synagogue that’s now a cultural events center.

By this time someone on the route is going to want to see a castle (OK, it’s me), so luckily I’ve found one over by Münstermaifeld. Actually, I found three. And, oh yeah, I found the Moselschieferbergwerk — a mind that goes some 220 meters deep. And the Jakobskapellechen has got a slate roof (that they’re real proud of, BTW).

I had to put the mine thing in there — this is a slate mining route. Now back to the castles.

Burg Eltz is said to be haunted, and it’s one of only a handful never to have been destroyed in 800+ year existence. Unlike Burg Pyrmont (about 5km away), which suffered some during the Thirty Years’ War — and is now a City Museum. Burg Bischofstein is another beauty, which almost pales in comparison to the view from its keep.

Heading to Lehmen, we’re finally reaching the Moselle River. Advancing to Löf, stopping in Treis-Karden is an absolute must. The Church of St. Castor’s museum houses two millennia of the region’s history, not to mention it has castle ruins and a Gallo-Roman Temple Complex.

It was the Romans that kicked off this whole slate mining thing, so let’s give it up for the Italian guys. ;-)

Klotten is next, which is close to the Moselschiefer Haus. Come to think of it, if you skip over Klotten, you’ll miss out on seeing the 10th century Burg Coraidelstein, the 19th century Jewish cemetery, a bunch of centuries old churches & chapels, and some half-timbered houses with slate roofs.

Again, this is a slate route — gotta see it where you can.

As for the Moselschiefer Haus, it was a center for slate shipping for years. All the quarried slate wasn’t just used locally, ya know. You can see it after leaving Klotten and before you arrive in Cochem. Because once you’re there, you’ll be checking out the Moselle Wine Express.

The Moselle Wine Express runs from April to November, leaving every 30 minutes from the city’s Old Bridge. It’s a cute (and very inexpensive) way to see the city — going around to the Church of St. Martin, the Monastery, and giving you great views of the castle.

You also get a tour of the surrounding vineyards, and a chance to sample some of the wines grown in the region. Three cheers for Cochem!

My Moselle Slate Route tour ends in the town of Kaisersesch, which is where you can idle away the time on the Slate Pit Walking Way, or check out the slate roof of the 13th century St. Pankratius Church. You’ll miss it if you don’t ever come in from all the hiking and Nordic Walking trails that you’ll find around Kaisersesch.

Another place to stop in town is the old prison, where there are exhibits on the legal system of the Middle Ages. And trust me, if you know anything about medieval life, you know I’m using that term very loosely. ;-)

It’s a good thing those slate tiles found on many of the roofs along this scenic route are as loose as that, huh?

Moselle Slate Route Web Site

Here is the official Web site of the Moselle Slate Route.

From the outside it looks like the town of Röhrmoos is just your typical, average town. A place where normal people go to work, and do everyday things.

That’s not entirely wrong; as from the inside, you’ll find Röhrmoos to be a town with a long history and a cultural hot spot.

Many of Röhrmoos’ fourteen districts date back to the Middle Ages, mainly the 8th and 9th centuries. There isn’t anything from this time period at all in Röhrmoos, mostly added throughout the subsequent centuries.

Take the St. Johannes a. T. Church, for example, that’s a late-Gothic design. So is the St. Martin Church in the village of Biberbach, by the way. It might be hard to tell that the St. Margareth Church was a Gothic church, since it’s now got a bunch of Baroque accents.

The St. Andrew’s Church in Arzbach is a tad different, as that was originally a Romanesque one, but it saw major renovations in 1775. All these churches are still much older than the 19th century Lourdes Chapel, but don’t let its young age keep you from seeing it.

You’d think with all these medieval churches that Röhrmoos would have at least one castle. Sorry to say, it doesn’t, but you will if you really, really need to see one… Head to neighboring Haimhausen to see their castle (the outside only), or to Dachau to see the Dachau Palace.

Since the town of Dachau is so close, you can visit the Dachau Concentration Camp while you’re here; albeit a dark piece of German history.

For something lighter, perhaps enjoying a Symphony Summer Night program? That isn’t even the half of it, Röhrmoos has Opera, Jazz, Folk Music, Cabaret, and even Choir concerts and events taking place throughout the year.

Ohh, can’t leave out the lederhosen wearing Oompah Bands, either.

Yes, Röhrmoos is a place where everyday people do everyday things. They just get to do it in the wonderful Upper Bavarian countryside.

At this point in the game it seems there are two kinds of German towns. Ones that are fantastic for visitors, and ones that are fantastic for its residents. I think the town of Rochlitz falls to the former category. Not bad, considering Rochlitz isn’t even 24 square kilometers.

Yeah, sure, it’s got this totally awesome castle (Schloss Rochlitz) that was built way back in the mid-12th century, was once used as a POW camp by the Americans, and a museum during its days when the area was part of East Germany.

History aside, this castle’s two towers are a fantastic feat of German castle building.

Also as a reminder of Rochlitz’s East German, Soviet occupied days, there is a Soviet War Memorial in town.

Rochlitz even has its own medieval church, St. Petrikirche, that’s now Evangelical Lutheran. Another must see church in Rochlitz is the 15th century Kunigundenkirche.

At the Marktplatz, the location of Rochlitz’s annual Christmas Market, you’ll find the town’s 19th century Rathaus (Town Hall). And not all that far away you’ll see its Muldenbrücke, a brick bridge from the 1930s; and the Hängebrücke, a teensy-tiny bridge — both of which go over the Zwickauer Mulde.

One of the best places to see anything in Rochlitz is from atop the Friedrich-August-Turm. Of course the many walking trails also offer great views. The Rochlitzer Berg has a 2.7km trail, another is some 12.5km, and the Walderlebnispfad Wechselberg is 9.5km.

The length of the hiking trails remind me to tell you about the old Postmeilensäulen, or Post Distance Columns, built long before GPS and little kilometer markers marked every, well, kilometer. ;-)

What’s missing in Rochlitz is an overabundance of festivals. No biggie, since you’ll find concerts held in the local church once a month. You might not even miss them.

Wait, there is one. The Oldtimer Club holds an event right on the Marktplatz in September. The really bad part about that is most of you young kids today think the 1980s were back in Olden Times. I don’t feel old.

It’s all right if you think that — so long as we can all agree that Rochlitz totally rocks. ;-)

Sometimes, and I’m ashamed to admit it, I’m a “one and done” kinda person. For instance, all towns in Germany are (without a doubt) wonderful — because they’re German. However, sometimes they don’t have a lot to offer, so I tell you about it once & then I’m done. See? One and done.

Not so when it comes to the town of Saarburg. You see, I’ve been this way before — once when I was following the Saar River. Oh yes, I remember its Altstadt (Old Town) with an 18-meter waterfall deadsmack in the middle of it. What’s even better is along side the cascading water are 17th and 18th century homes.

The Amüseum is right here too, an old mill that’s now a craft and guild museum. If you take one of Saarburg’s guided tours (offered in German, English, Dutch, and French) you’ll see all of this, and more.

My only hope is that I don’t forget anything about Saarburg.

Drats, I should’ve written this when I first fell in love with the place. Must’ve been the wine. Riesling grapes are the most popular today, but wine’s been made around here since around the year 50, when the Romans used to make it.

What else is remarkable about Saarburg is that it is (was) home to Siegfried of Luxembourg’s castle. He built it here back in 964, while today it’s in ruins above the Saar River.

Saarburg’s other historical buildings include its medieval Burg, the St. Laurentius Church, the old Jewish Cemetery, and the Church of the Visitation (1516) with its Grace Chapel from 1479.

It doesn’t end here. Saarburg has this awesome chairlift where you get a birds-eye view of the surrounding countryside, a summer tobogganing track where you careen down the surrounding countryside.

The town has lots of cafes along the water, where you can sit under an umbrella with a cold drink or much needed jolt of caffeine.

For some much needed wine, come for the Wine Festival in September.

Oh yea, that’s why I had to come back. See, it was the wine! :-)

You might hear about the town of Bad Rodach being called the Perle am Grünen Band, or the Pearl of the Green Belt, a scenic route that was once the divide between East & West Germany. I, however, couldn’t get past the word “Bad,” as that’s a clear indication of a spa town.

Oh, as much as I love history, I love a good massage. Toss up. Damn, hate when that happens. ;-)

With a clear conscience, I’ll hit up the history first — then it’s time to relax…

The Heritage Museum on the Schlossplatz, in the former Jagdschloss, is a wonderful start. How museums sum up so much history in one space is totally beyond me.

The Nightwatchman does a fantastic job, too. You’ll find him at the Pulverturm on Wednesdays from May to September.

If you’re curious to see where West Germany ended and East Germany began, the village of Grauerstadt is where you want to be — since it’s close to the Thuringian border in the Lange Berge (Long Mountains).

The Rodach Bridge is quite romantic, as is the Old Bake House and the half-timbered Rectory.

Make sure you’ve got your camera ready in the village of Heldritt. At least the Oberschloss, Nicholas Church, and Rectory are all close together.

Everyone’s earned a massage at this point, don’t ya think? The ThermeNatur is all about the hot springs. And you don’t have to leave for any reason since the joint’s got a restaurant & bistro, as well as offering summer events and art exhibitions on top of the bubble jets and lazy river.

Cultural activities aren’t limited to the ThermeNatur. The Waldbühne Heldritt is an 800 seat open air theater that’s famous for its Children’s plays in August. And you shouldn’t forget about the Bake House Festival or Maibaumfest in May.

The Fischerfest and Dorffest (Village Festival) come around a month later^, so stick around. You will have to come back for the Christmas Market, though, which isn’t held until the third weekend of Advent.

In the mean time, there are some seven Church Fairs throughout August, September, and October to keep you busy.

Now if that ain’t something to keep you occupied when you’re not getting massaged… ;-)