Elisabethkirche is one of Germany's oldest pure Gothic cathedrals, and its stained-glass windows telling the story of St. Elisabeth's life are spectacular.

The building is best known for its role in the Christmas market, when its windows become a giant Advent calendar. The beautifully restored 17th-century buildings along Engelgasse (Angel Alley) and the surrounding streets offer some of the finest examples of half-timbered houses in Germany. Fishing boats line the quay and sell fresh seafood sandwiches called fischbrötchen at lunchtime, and several boats offer sailing cruises. Climb to the top of the 136-meter tower for views of the town and surrounding orchards. Townhouses on Obermarkt, Mittenwald's main street, are decorated with ornately carved gables and colorful painting that can be as simple as Baroque flourishes and tromp l'oeil window frames or extend to elegant murals. This is where we were based for part of our trip through Brandenburg and just fell in love at first sight.
The first capital of Bavaria, Regensburg, is one of the only surviving medieval towns in Germany. Wismar has two of these; the 36-meter-tall nave of St. Nicholas, built in 1381, is one of the tallest. Besides that, Würzburg has also considered the gateway to Germany’s Romantic Road, which you know is full of beautiful small towns in Germany and romantic castles! Accommodation: Where to Stay in Quedlinburg.
The High Watch Tower was built in the 14th century and offer a bird's-eye view of Esslingen; the Burg gardens are a nice place to stroll. Explore the medieval streets and stroll along some of the three kilometers of canals to admire the half-timbered houses, then stop to see the beautiful 13th-century stained-glass windows in the choir of the Stadtkirche St. Dionys. Videos, Travel Insurance More than 1,500 colorful turned wood decorations and toys fill this Christmas wonderland. The city is also on the edge of the Black Forest, so it’s a great branching-off point for exploring some of Germany’s most scenic landscapes as well. Across the Mosel in Kues are more historic buildings, including St. Nicholas's Hospital, founded in the 15th century, which contains a collection of astronomical instruments. Next up for the most beautiful old towns in Germany is the incredibly charming town of Lübbenau. Take as much time as you need, and don’t forget your camera. Its history kicks off in the 12th century when it was the connecting hub for Germany’s medieval trade routes and the town eventually became one of the biggest producers of textiles in Europe. The Baroque city center and the castle are just two aspects that you can’t miss. Lübeck gained its fame and wealth through its status as a trading city, especially beginning in the 14th century when it became the unofficial Queen of the Hanseatic League. Expanding horizons led to prosperity, the construction of As it wasn’t an important target during the Second World War, it escaped Allied bombing, so the city that you see when you arrive is the city that grew organically over the centuries. Deep in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) region, Annaberg-Buchholz celebrates Christmas all year-round. Many famous German movies were made here from propaganda films during Hitler’s regime to being Europe’s Hollywood today where films like ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’ and ‘Bridge of Spies’ were filmed. Handcrafts and foods of the era are demonstrated and sold from colorful tents while costumed jugglers and minstrels stroll the streets. Even local Germans wonder what it is about Cottbus that we love so much as this Germany town was under the Iron Curtain and isn’t your typical storybook village or romantic town in Germany to most. And each traveler would have had trouble narrowing the selections down to a few. The architecture here is reputably elaborate and florid in design, most notably the Residenz Palace, which was built in the 18th century. First up, the city of Würzburg situated in the Northern Bavaria and Franconia regions of Germany. Later Gothic construction was marked by upper floors extending out in layers from the lower ones, and by the addition of carved decoration. The church's stone tower was originally built as a watch tower, later incorporated into the city walls before the church was built. In the heart of the Mosel Valley, the twin towns of Bernkastel and Kues face each other across the river below vine-covered hillsides. Transform your photos with just one click. A Charming, Rainy Day in Kromeriz, Czech Republic, Incredible Things to do and See in Potsdam Germany, All the Incredible Things to See in Würzburg Germany, Amazing Things to do in Regensburg Germany, Incredible Things to do in Bayreuth Germany, 5 Reasons to Fall in Love With Spreewald Germany, This site uses cookies to enhance your experience and to make it load faster.

We truly enjoyed all the great things to do in Cottbus including wandering the parks, cobbled lanes, and strolling the streets in this small town in Germany. Its position on the Rhine river has always made the city accessible (and at times quite strategic), and therefore it has always had a certain level of influence. Written by Barbara Radcliffe RogersDec 16, 2019. Get lost wandering the streets of the Potsdam historic center where you can stroll through the charming Dutch Quarter, the largest outside of the Netherlands, or make your way to the Russian colony where you feel like you’ve went around the world in just a short walk. Located in the Brandenburg region, Cottbus is the easternmost of all the towns in Germany. While it did suffer significant damage during the war, many of the monuments and buildings were either rebuilt or preserved, so you can still see things like the old town square and several churches from various architectural periods. [Disclaimer] 

Travel Tips  The Violin Museum preserves 200 instruments made in the Mittenwald workshops. And each traveler would have had trouble narrowing the selections down to a few. Heidelberg takes charm to a whole new level.

You get a blend of the communist era architecture as well as the old beautiful historic architecture which all tells the history of this city through its buildings. What makes this Germany town famous are its prestigious wine and vineyards. You'll find more small towns in Southwest Germany described in our page on the tourist attractions in the Black Forest, and to see German towns at their most colorful season, see our page about the best Christmas markets in Germany. Depending on where you go, you might find Roman ruins, medieval villages, sparkling new cities, or Baroque city centers. The extensive Manufaktur der Träume (maker of dreams) museum not only displays examples of all the local Christmas carvings and wooden toys but shows how they are made. As a history lover, I have always sought out ancient cities and landmarks in my travels … It is a beautiful city, resplendent with palaces, parks, lakes, and many gardens. It is one of the better-preserved old towns in Germany and looks pretty much unchanged over the last three hundred years which makes it so special. Depending on where you go, you might find Roman ruins, medieval villages, sparkling new cities, or Baroque city centers. A stop along the German Half-Timbered Road, Schiltach owes its early prosperity to the Kinzig River, which was a major transport route for the Black Forest's timber trade from the 13th century. There are even several sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, mainly because of their association with two major movements: Weimar Classicism, spearheaded by such literary luminaries as Goethe and Schiller, and Bauhaus, which was created in the city.

© 2019 All Work is Owned by Bobo & ChiChi. Cottbus is also famous for its world-class park, Branitzer Park, built by Prince Hermann Ludwig Heinrich von Pückler-Muskau.

Looking to plan an unforgettable trip filled with the most charming and best towns in Germany to visit that make you feel like you’re living in a real life fairytale? Few small towns in Germany are better known than Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, which along with neighboring Dinkelsbühl is the highlight of Germany's oldest tourist route, the Romantic Road or Romantische Straße. The Nuremberg Trials are probably the first thing most people think of when they hear the name of the city. It continued this way until the 17th century when a large fire destroyed much of the city’s production capacity. Other good viewpoints are from the Castle Gardens and the tower of the Rathaus, one of the finest town halls in Bavaria. Luckily, there still are some of the old medieval and historic buildings in the town center which makes this town in Germany so unique.

It sits on an elevated plain with majestic views looking down at the Tauber River. Despite wars and the zeal for modernization, thousands of houses dating from the Middle Ages still survive, as do Gothic and Baroque churches. Also, take the chance to enjoy the beer scene; visit local bars and make a pilgrimage to the most comprehensive beer museum in the world: Maisel’s Beer Adventure World. Walking through the stone-paved streets, you can trace the history of half-timbered construction, beginning with one of the oldest half-timbered houses in Germany. This pretty Bavarian town is ideally situated at the end of the Romantic Road and is close to lakes, mountains and King Ludwig’s famous castles, Neuschwanstein and Linderhof, but it also has a lot to offer in its own right. In all, Quedlinburg has 770 protected historic buildings, and you can learn more about the architectural styles and construction at the Fachwerkmuseum im Ständerbau. Our next pick for best small towns in Germany is what we consider under the radar. The feeling of walking through one of the Grimms' stories is intensified by landmarks on the city's Fairytale Trail. This historic destination will make you feel like you’re living in a storybook with its gorgeous hilltop castle, beautiful river, ruins, and wine scene you can get swept up in all the romance of this place.