If you are looking for fine German wine and food, you should consider the Nahe region of southwestern Germany. You may even find a bargain, and I hope that you’ll have fun on this fact-filled wine education tour in which we review a local Riesling Kabinett, a wine made from grapes that haven’t fully ripened.

The Nahe wine region is a relatively small area that runs along the Nahe River, a tributary of the famous Rhine River. This region, a neighbor of many other German wine regions, lies at the other end of Germany from the capital of Berlin. Nahe ranks seventh in total wine production and vineyard acreage among the thirteen German wine regions. While about 90% of its production is white wine, its red wine production is on the upswing. Its three most important white grapes are Riesling, Mueller-Thurgau, and Silvaner. A mere 2% of Nahe wine is the bottom of the line Landwein. Some three quarters of the local wine is medium quality QbA wine, wine that permits chaptalization, which is adding sugar to the fermenting mix. The remainder is higher quality QmP wine which interdicts this somewhat controversial process.

Bingen is a city of some twenty five thousand people in the Rhine castle country. It developed largely because the local Nahe-Rhine river intersection was unnavigable. It was also the crossroads of Roman trade routes. Bingen has been and still is a commercial wine center. If you are in the neighborhood check out the annual Winzerfest in late August and early September. Other attractions include the Basilika St. Martin built at the end of the Eighth Century replacing a Roman temple and the Rochuskapelle (St. Roch chapel). You may want to stay at the luxurious Johann Lafer’s Stromburg hotel and eat at its restaurants, one of which has a wine list featuring some 200 Nahe wines. To get there you drive through the beautiful Binger Wald (Bingen Forest).

Before reviewing the Nahe wine and imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. Start with Ochsenschwanzsuppe (Ox-Tail Soup). For your second course enjoy Spansau (Roast Suckling Pig), an autumn dish. As a dessert indulge yourself with Frittierter Vanille-Pudding mit Nougat und Mangosauce (Fried Vanilla Pudding with Nougat and Mango Sauce).

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed

Prinz Salm Schloss Wallhausen Riesling Kabinett 2006 9.5% alcohol about $18.50

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. Here is an excellent opportunity to discover the Rieslings of Nahe. The first mention of this acclaimed winery was in the year 1200! It has remained in the Salm family’s hands to this day, making it the oldest, continuously family-owned estate in Germany. The estate produces vibrant Rieslings with lovely aromas of lime, tangerine, and mineral tones. Terrific with pan-seared scallops.

My first pairing was with breaded turkey cutlets, brown rice, and Turkish salad. The wine was lightly sweet, pleasantly acidic, and quite round. This was one fine wine. Frankly, I was tempted to finish the bottle then and there. I didn’t mind the sugar at all, even though the food did not call for sweet wine. With slightly sweet, homemade plain cookies the wine became more acidic and lost its sweetness.

The next meal consisted of fried chicken liver with green beans. The Riesling was applely and very pleasant. It was lightly acidic but a bit short.

The final meal was a store-bought barbecued chicken breast, potato salad, and Caponata, an Italian eggplant dish including tomatoes, onions, celery, and green olives. This wine was light and in fact feathery, delicate, and subtle. Personally, I am happy to drink a low-alcohol wine. It became more acidic when paired with the acidic Caponata. It became somewhat sweeter when facing the potato salad.

The first cheese pairing was with an Italian Mozzarella di Bufala, a Mozzarella made from the milk of Water Buffalo. This cheese brought out the wine’s sweetness and feathery quality. This was a rare wine and cheese pairing that I actually liked. The second pairing was with a French Morbier that was starting to smell. The cheese had an aftertaste but the wine remained fine.

Final verdict. This is my second Riesling from the relatively unknown Nahe wine region and the second winner. I’ll be looking for more.

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Heidelberg

A picturesque town featuring picturesque Heidelberg Castle and picturesque postcards, it couldn’t be more picturesque. Visitors rarely miss a stroll along the Hauptstrasse through the old town.

Reichstag, Berlin

Germany’s past and future are represented in no other building quite like this one. Construction started in 1884, and a decade later it was the parliament for Bismark’s German Empire. After the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, British architect Sir Norman Foster’s glass dome has capped off the Hitler-tainted building’s rebirth as a united democracy. Visitors can walk right up to the dome and even have a meal there.

Cologne Cathedral

The dom is a positively enormous thirteenth-century Gothic cathedral in the centre of the city (a few steps from the central train station) that makes a trip to Cologne worthwhile on its own.

The Marienplatz glockenspiel, Munich

This hyperactive cuckoo clock in central Munich forms part of the town hall’s Gothic façade. Time your visit for 11a.m, noon or 5p.m and you’ll get to see the re-enactment of Duke William V’s wedding to Renata von Lothringen.

Neuschwanstein

If you’re one of those picky travelers who’d rather see the original than be satisfied with the Disney replication, you’ll need to brave the crowds and make a pilgrimage to this famous “Sleeping Beauty” castle. (Extra Bonus; there’s now also Musical Theatre Neuschwanstein, a nightly performance based on King Ludwig II’s tragic life.)

Dachau concentration camp

No matter what you’ve read or how many movies you’ve seen on the subject, it’s hard to appreciate what happened under Hitler’s regime without a trip to a concentration camp memorial. Dachau wasn’t the largest such death machine but it was the first to be built, and a few hours of wandering the grounds will likely leave a powerful imprint in your soul.

Soak in a spa at Baden-Baden

Germany’s most famous spa lies in the heart of the Black Forest. Its famed curative mineral waters bubble up from thermal springs at temperatures over 68.C. The Therme of Caracilla is popular with families, but for a more upscale (and less clothed) experience, try Friedrichsbad

Cycle along the Danube

The cycle path that runs along the Danube river passes monasteries, castles, meadows and forests on a route that is littered with UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If you get hooked, you can continue all the way down to Vienna and Bratislava.

Windsurf LakeConstance

Near the Swiss border, the winds of Lake Constance lure German windsurfers by the dozen. Rent a board at Strandbad Eichwald. If your arms get tired, you can also fish the lake (with a permit) for pike, perch and eel. Or head to Lindau, rent a bike, and circle the water on two wheels. Or just take a dip; the mountains surrounding the lake provide magical backdrop for a swim.

Mountain bike the Black Forest

The Black Forest park has the largest network of mountain-bike trails in the world – about 1400km worth, and with routes for all levels. There are several places to access the trails: the Elz and Simonswalder valleys, Triberg, Schonach, Schonwald, Furtwangen, St Georgen, Hardt, Lauterbach, Schramberg and Tennenbronn.

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Kassel is known as a very valuable city for the cultural facet of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is an economic, cultural and social nexus of the area called Northern Hesse in heart of Germany. It is a very picturesque, diverse and innovative city, and the magnificent surroundings give its inhabitants as well as travelers from all the corners of the world an unforgettable experience. Here are a few attractive features of the town of Kassel:

• The attractive downtown is a vibrant retail and service focused center.
• Commercial structures with important technology institutions and attractive settlement possibilities
• The wide range of art modules at the University of Kassel, the old-arts school and highly qualified research center.
• Numerous public and “exclusive” organizations in the sport, leisure and recreation areaA cool social infrastructure, with great health care.
• A city with a charming historical city center, and pretty residential areas.
• And last, but not least the very rich cultural, high-quality offer of the renowned museums and the Documenta, as the largest exhibition of contemporary art, theaters and art festivals, not to mention the free, very active, Kassel art and culture scene.

This is a place that has become the home of the country’s most venerable and most prodigious exhibition: Documenta, the hub of modern art. But even abroad, the Kassel Documenta is found in the top art exhibition locations in Europe. Wihelmshohe Palace holds one of the largest and most remarkable collections of Rembrandt in Kassel including the famous Apollo.

And not far from the town towers (which are observable from a distance), glitters the “piece du rezistance” of the city, the Hercules Monument. This is a stupendous ancient structure, on top of which stands proud a big, metal statue of the legendary demigod Heracles. The base is a wide, stone octagon and on top of it there’s a tall pyramid, entirely built out of stone, and on top of the pyramid there’s the statue. The locals are very proud of this monument, and trust me… it’s absolutely worth seeing.

At the Natural History Museum, once the country’s first theater building, you can find the renowned works of Goethe and the world’s single wooden library. Unique are also the Wallpaper Museum and the Museum of Sepulchral Culture. Kassel is also known for the Grimm Brothers Museum telling us about the creation of the renowned linguist who spent decades of her life in the town of Fulda, where she collected all the fairy tales and legends in her publications.

Kassel is found in the middle of the country, in the heart of Europe (incidentally, Central European Time is measured at this longitude). By road or by air, Kassel is easily accessible. This is only one of the arguments that make Kassel a very popular convention site. The Congress Palais Kassel Stadthalle, created in neoclassical style, ensures an attractive atmosphere. Kassel is quite a extraordinary place to go for people who like to see the world, because of the big number of reasons I presented in this short review. Choose this city and admire the old town quarters, the Hercules monument, the wonderful museums, the wooden library, the locals. You’ll have a great time, be sure of that. For me, Kassel is one of the most relaxing, interesting and all in all attractive cities in the entire country.

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The Eifel mountain region in Germany is a great place to go for a holiday, but why not hire a car and travel to one of the most famous racetracks in the world: The Nurburgring?

The Nurburgring is located 43 miles south of Cologne and 75 miles northwest of Frankfurt. Situated in the Eifel Mountains and built around the town of Nurburg and its medieval castle, the track was originally opened in 1927 as a showcase for German engineering and driving talent. Over eighty years later, the ‘Ring is still regarded as the most challenging purpose-built racetrack in the world. At roughly thirteen miles long and boasting corners of every type, the track will severely test even the most experienced racing driver.

When originally built, the Nurburgring consisted of a North loop (Nordschleife), a South loop (Sudschleife) and a start/finish area linking the two with pits and grandstands. Although the southern loop is now derelict and the start finish area is now part of the short Grand Prix circuit currently used for F1 and Touring car races, the Nordschleife still exists and you can drive it!

Despite being a racetrack, the Nordschleife is classed as a one way toll road, allowing anyone to drive it for a fee. However beware, this track is incredibly demanding and will bite hard if you do not drive within your limits. Also ensure that you check the official website for track opening times as the ‘ring is used regularly for manufacturer test sessions and driver training.

Before you go on the trip do some preparation by learning the track on a console or PC game. There are several games which have fairly accurate reproductions of the ‘ring, including Gran Turismo 4. When you are at the circuit, you can pay to be driven around it on a ‘Ring Taxi’ to allow you to familiarise yourself with the many challenges the Nordschleife offers.

If you want a break from driving (and it is advised that you do so), there are many things to see and do at the ‘ring. The Schloss Nurburg is a 12^th century castle that over looks the start/finish area of the circuit and is an ideal attraction for non-drivers. This year sees the opening of the Warsteiner event complex, Nurburgring arena, four-star hotel and shopping mall, close to the start/finish area of the Grand Prix track.

Car hire in Germany – Driving the track

It is not advisable to take your road-going hire car onto the Nordschleife, as car rental companies have now become savvy to such use of their vehicles. Some companies will give you a hefty fine for doing so and one company in particular will ban you for life. To assist them in preserving their cars, GPS tracking is sometimes used and locals are employed to spot them in the Nurburgring car park. If you have driven a hire car from the airport, do not leave it there!

Instead of breaking their cars, you can find several local German car hire firms that provide cars specifically for driving on the ‘ring. For more information on these companies and more general information about the circuit, visit Ben Lovejoy’s website.

The capital city of Germany, Berlin, is also the country’s largest city with a population of 4.5 million in its metropolitan area alone. The city’s roots are quite multicultural and lend the city a unique social atmosphere. Berlin is also known for its nightlife and sights of historic interest. Here are a few reasons why you should visit Berlin, Germany.

For architecture enthusiasts, Berlin is a must see. This is because the architectural style of the city varies from place to place as most of the buildings in central Berlin were reconstructed after World War II. Some medieval structures still stand near Alexanderplatz while very modern glass and steel buildings were built in Potsdamer Platz providing a very interesting contrast.

Although German is the main language of the city, tourists will be able to find travel information and travel literature in English and sometimes in French. Owing to the World Cup 2006, all public transportation staff in the city received language training and they are now able to converse in English for the greater convenience of visitors. Berlin has a highly efficient public transport system and travellers will not have any difficulty in exploring the city.

Berlin has so many museums to offers its sightseers that it is almost impossible to visit the city’s numerous museums in a day. If pressed for time, sightseers may limit visits to historical and art museums. Deutsches Historisches Museum is known for its comprehensive coverage of German history. Museumsinsel features an extensive collection of ancient Greek, ancient Middle-Eastern and Islamic art. Gemäldegalerie houses thousands of European paintings from the 13th to 18th century. Most museums charge admission fee for guests who are 16 years old and older. Fees range from €6 to €8.

There are also some architecturally interesting and historic churches in the city that are guarante3ed to impress architecture enthusiasts; the biggest and most impressive of which is the Berliner Dom. Another is Nikolaikirche, which is the oldest church in Berlin, with its foundations dating to the 13th century.

To really see the city many visitors to Berlin like to view it from a height. The impressive cityscape can be viewed from a number of observations decks scattered in the city. The TV tower Berliner Fernsehturm in Alexanderplatz is Germany’s tallest structure standing at 368 meters high and this observation deck is located 204 meters above ground. Visitors need to buy tickets to gain entry to the tower. As of November 2008, tickets cost €9.50.

Tourists may also sign up for walking tours around the city. Information regarding walking tours is usually available at the hotel’s front desk. Insider Tours provide English language walking tours for which reservations are not needed. Sightseers are only needed to show up at a pre-designated time and place.

Berlin also has a lot of theatre houses, opera houses, cinemas, and concert halls. Cultural events take place all year round, and visitors can watch excellent theatre plays, operas and films if so inclined.

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If you happen to be travelling across Western Europe, you might want to visit the more unusual places in Germany. Places like Propeller Island, Dachau concentration camp in Munich, or the Treptow crematorium in Berlin. You might also want to stay in a castle or two while you’re there.

Germany is rich in history from the grand castles of the Bavarian empire to the monuments arising after World War Two. It is full of things to see, places to visit, and food to eat. There are many unique places in Germany which could appeal to all sorts of people. There are also many activities to do while in the country from having a drink in the local beergartens to watching a photography show at a small hole in the wall gallery.

Anyone with a penchant for history or an appreciation for modern art would find Germany a very interesting country to explore. Going to the more unusual places would give you a different side of Germany, one that is not often seen on the usual tours. Most parks would also have sculptures of monuments commemorating a significant event or person.

Art enthusiasts might enjoy dropping by or even spending a night at Propeller Island in Berlin. There the entire interior of a room is a work of art. You might see anything from furniture bolted to the ceiling a bed made inside out or even beds that float off the ground! It would definitely by an experience. Propeller Island is guaranteed to be beyond the usual.

There are also a few modern art galleries to visit and local cinema to watch. If you like music perhaps you can ask some locals to recommend a jazz club or a concert hall for some local sounds and homegrown bands.

Those interested in history might find a tour of an authentic concentration camp in Dachau, Munich a very educational experience. It represents a part of the darkest period of Germany and humanity in modern history. These places often evoke strong emotions from visitors.

The German countryside is littered with beautiful castles, palaces, and gardens. They are an impressive view of the architectural magnificence dating around the end of the Bavarian kingdom. Some of these castles and palaces have been converted into museums or hotels. If you want to live like Royalty for a night perhaps you would like to take up brief residence in Schlosshotel Schnburg in Oberwesel. It is an authentic castle converted into a modernly equipped luxury hotel.

For those with a more, gothic taste, old cathedrals, the Treptow crematorium, and grand cemeteries might hold some interest. Cemeteries are definitely one of the most unusual places in Germany you can visit. You might find someone famous among the gravestones, like the memorial grave of Karl Marx, to provide some very memorable pictures.

The most unusual places in Germany often provides the most interesting and memorable experience of a country. It is an alternate itinerary to the customary tourist attractions and gives you a more authentic feel of the region.

It is always an experience to walk off the beaten path and discover unique places to create equally unique memories in. So when you find yourself in Germany, be sure to drop by at least one of the unusual places for an offbeat adventure.

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Within the Main River Valley, just east of where the Main meets the Rhine, sits the prevailing city of Frankfurt. Presently and historically considered a nerve center for commerce, banking, and transportation, Frankfurt am Main of west central Germany possesses many aspects of the old world that function as a viable part of this contemporary city.

Visitors to Frankfurt am Main, not to be confused with Frankfurt (Oder) a small city in northeastern Germany, will find its location ideal. Situated on both sides of the Main River, this hilly region is totally surrounded by rich forest; settlement in the area goes back to 1st Century Roman times.

Significantly, Charles I held a royal court in Frankfurt in the 800’s. During the Middle Ages, kings of the Holy Roman Empire were elected here, and, later on, emperors were crowned in Frankfurt. In the mid-1800’s, Germany’s new parliament first met here. Consequently, Frankfurt has been at the forefront of German and European change.

Currently, Frankfurt is at the heart of economic growth for the region. The European Central Bank, a number of major German banks, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange together have made this city a major financial center of the European Union. Many international companies call Frankfurt their home away from home.

Frankfurt has traditionally been known as a marketplace for meeting and exchanging goods. More than fifty trade fairs and exhibitions are still held in Frankfurt yearly. Most notably, the Frankfurt Book Fair in mid-October and the International Automobile Exhibition in September.

Frankfurt offers travelers varying means of transportation in, out of, and around the city. The Autobahn converges at the city. The Frankfurt Airport is considered one of Europe’s busiest. A train station is located at the airport as well, making intercity travel quite convenient. Within the city, public transportation includes buses, above ground trams and the S-Bahn and U-Bahn underground train lines. Additionally, bridges in Frankfurt connect the banks of the Main River. Most notably, the Eiserner Steg (Iron Bridge) has been open to walking traffic since 1869.

One of Frankfurt’s cultural attractions, the Museumsufer (Museum Embankment) contains a varying array of museums, located along the Main, with themes ranging from history, to art and architecture. An end of the summer cultural festival, Museumsuferfest, attracts over three million visitors every year to this area.

Numerous historical attractions entice visitors. The Romerberg area of old downtown was a series of houses that were acquired in the 14th Century from a wealthy merchant. The main house is the site of the city’s first town hall. The area was rebuilt to original specifications after the Second World War.

Saint Bartholomeus’ Cathedral is a gothic structure built during the 14th and 15th Centuries. It’s known as the main church of Frankfurt. In 1867, the cathedral was destroyed by fire, but was subsequently rebuilt.

Saint Paul’s Church was established in 1789. Germany’s first parliament met here in 1848. The interior of the church was partially destroyed during the war, but was built up again with modern fixtures.

Visitors can also experience the Frankfurt Opera, site-see at the Saalburg, an old Roman fort, and become enlightened by activity at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University. Named after the celebrated writer and poet born in Frankfurt in 1749.

Frankfurt’s extensive history is preserved, but the city has been renewed in order to meet present-day needs. The ancient city’s marketplaces where trade and commerce took place have been updated. Frankfurt now promotes economic stability for the entire region. The city’s many skyscrapers reflect this while postulating the direction of Frankfurt’s further growth.

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AUSTRIA

The world’s best music festivals. The world’s biggest and most famous music festival is the Salzburg Festival. Other important Austrian melomaniac delights include the Haydn Festival in Vienna and the International Chamber Music Festival. Tickets to the festivals are cheapest if you buy them in Austria. “Tickets for Events in Austria” is an information sheet which is available from Austrian National Tourist Office, tel. (212)944-6880; website: http://www.austria-tourism.at.

The world’s best horsemanship. The 400-year-old Spanish Riding School, located in the Hofburg, trains the noble white stallions that descend from the Spanish horses imported to Austria by Emperor Maximilian II in the 16th century. The horses dance to Viennese music, guided by expert riders wearing the traditional gold-buttoned brown uniform and gold-braided black hat. Performances are held at the school most Sunday mornings at 10:45 a.m. and occasional Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. from March to June and September to December. It’s difficult to get tickets; write six months in advance to the Spanische Reitschule, Hofburg, A-1010 Vienna, Austria; tel. (43)1-533-9031.

The most romantic hotel. Less than an hour from Vienna, the Schloss Durnstein, tel. (43)2-711-212, presides over a wide curve of the Danube River. Located deep in the wine district of Wachsu, this magnificent castle is surrounded by distinctive vine-clad hills, age-old ruins and timeless picturesque villages with one-lane streets. According to the legend, it was here that the imprisoned King Richard the Lionhearted was reunited with his faithful minstrel, who had sung his way across Europe searching for his master. Also intriguing is the wine cellar (which can accommodate 8,000 “buckets” of wine), the arch-crossed cobbled courtyard and the 33 rooms all with chandeliers fronting the Danube.

GERMANY

Heidelberg, the most romantic town. Heidelberg is the hub of German Romanticism. Schumann began his career as a Romantic composer in this pretty town and Goethe fell in love here. Heidelberg is also the oldest university town in Germany and the site of scenes from the movie and opera The Student Prince. The best place to ramble in Heidelberg is the Haupstrasse, which is lined with coffeehouses and little shops. Have a drink in one of the cafes beneath the rathaus. Or meander along Philosopher’s Walk, where Goethe and Hegel wandered. From the path you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of the city and Heidelberg Castle. Don’t leave town without visiting the Electoral Palatinate Museum, where the 500,000-year-old jawbone of Heidelberg Man is kept.

Germany’s best fish market. The best fish market in Germany is held on Sunday mornings in Hamburg. This raucous but fun affair is located by the docks in Altona and begins at 5 a.m.

Worms: the strangest history. The city of Worms has a strange name and an even stranger history. It was named for a legendary giant worm with fangs and webbed feet that lived in the Rhine and demanded human sacrifices. Worms was the fifth-century capital of the legendary Nibelungs. The tribe left the area, according to legend, after the wicked Hagen slew their hero, Siegfried and threw their treasure into the river. A huge statue of Hagen commemorates the story. The town was destroyed in A.D. 436 by Attila the Hun. In the center of the town’s old section is the tall, spired Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, built in the 11th and 12th centuries. Worms has a huge statue of Martin Luther; the oldest synagogue in Germany, built in the 11th century and restored in 1961; and the oldest and largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. Tombstones date from the 11th century.

Hitler’s favorite hideout. The Kehlsteinhouse (also known as Eagle’s Nest), perched on a rocky crag above the town of Berchtesgaden, was Hitler’s favorite hideout. No wonder-the view from the hideaway-turned-restaurant is exhilarating. Anyone could develop delusions of grandeur here. Alpine peaks rise above cottony clouds at this level. The snow at their summits glistens in the sun. Below, a thick carpet of dark green pines stretches toward the valley. The road to Eagle’s Nest is so steep and dangerous that cars are not allowed to use it; you must take a special bus from the Obersalzberg-Hintereck parking lot. You can dine in the restaurant from mid-May through mid-October.

The world’s best passion play. Every 10 years, the world’s most moving passion play is performed in the shadows of the Alps in the little artisan town of Oberammergau. From May through September in years ending in zero, local amateur actors put aside their daily professions and devote themselves entirely to the play. Written in the 17th century, it enacts Christ’s suffering between the Last Supper and his death. Villagers have performed the play every 10 years since the 17th century, when they vowed they would perform the passion if the black plague ceased. It did and they have. The picturesque Passionsspielhaus (Passion play Theater) can be visited any time of the year. The immense open-air stage holds 700 actors and the theater’s wooden benches hold 5,200 people. You can see the elaborate costumes used during the passion play when you visit. Performances begin at 8:30 a.m. and finish at 6 p.m., with a two-hour break for lunch. The best hotel Oberammergau is the Alois Lang. This quiet place has rooms with private bathrooms and three good dining rooms.

The world’s best asparagus. Every spring, Germans go stalk-raving mad, gorging themselves on the country’s Weisser Spargel, or white asparagus. The German asparagus, introduced 2,000 years ago by the Romans, is plump and ivory white with delicate purple tips. It is prized among epicures, who come from around the world every April, May and June to the world’s asparagus mecca. Asparagus is especially big business in Finthen, near Mainz, where all 5,000 inhabitants are engaged in the cultivation of the white vegetable; in Lampertheim, between Worms and Mannheim, where every housewife grows the prized vegetable in her back yard; in Schrobenhausen, the center of the only area in southern Bavaria where asparagus is grown; and in Tettnang and Schwetzingen, known together as the asparagus capital of Germany.

The German state of Bavaria (Bayern) has some of the most interesting sites for the tourist to visit. The countryside is lovely, with wonderful views and rolling hills. Many castles can be found in Bavaria, in both restored condition and in ruins. It is the best place for castle viewing that I know of.

Here is a short listing and description of castles located in Bavaria, with names beginning with the letters A to D.

Abenberg Castle

Abenberg castle was built around the year 1020. It was originally built of clay bricks and wood. In the beginning of the 12th century it was replaced with a castle made of stone. In the year 1296 the castle was extended and renovated. Abenberg castle now houses the “House of Frankish history” and the German Lace-Making Museum and is open to the public.

Altenburg Castle

Altenburg castle was built around 1109 and sits above the city of Bamburg. It was destroyed by fire in 1553 and later restored. In the 1950’s and 1960’s the castle was famous for the bear that lived within the castle walls. The bear is no longer there, and interior of the castle is not open to the public. However, the tower and grounds are open to the public, with a small restaurant located there as well.

Achberg Castle

Achberg is now a residential structure, which dates from the 17th century. Part of the structure is built on the remains of 12th century fortified walls. It is not open to the public, but well worth admiring from a distance.

Burghausen Castle

Burghausen is a castle that tourists simply must see. It dates from around 1025. It is a huge complex, stretching out over a narrow hilltop nearly half a mile. It is fully restored and open to the public, with much from the history of its medieval past remaining. Six courtyards divide the complex into sections. A cafe and two museums are located within the castle. Tours are also available. It may be the largest castle in all of Germany.

Burgthan Castle

Burgthan castle dates back to 1141. The original castle was almost completely destroyed. Portions of the ring wall and round tower remained. It has been partially preserved and is privately owned. It is not open to the public, but still worth having a look from the outside.

Breitenlohe Castle

Breitenlohe castle has four corner towers, one of the types often thought of when imagining a castle. At one time this castle was surrounded by a moat, but it is gone now. It is a private residence and not open to public. It dates from the early 1300’s.

Coburg Castle

Coburg castle is one of Germany’s largest castles. It dates back to 1225. Today it is home to three museums. One is the Ducal Palace, with many furnished rooms of the Dukes of Coburg. It includes the apartment where Martin Luther lived in 1530. The second museum is the Armory, containing the largest collection of medieval armor and weaponry in Germany. The third is the Art Collections museum.

Colmberg Castle

Colmberg castle dates from the 11th century. As it was never conquered or suffered much damage from attack, the castle is in very good condition. It has been restored and offers both a hotel and a museum, and of course is open to the public. It is one of Germany’s nicest castles.

Donaustauf Castle

Donaustauf was built between the late 890’s and early 900’s. It was built to protect traffic on the Danube river as well as the town of Regensburg. It was burned to the ground within a few centuries and never rebuilt. Before it was destroyed it was the occupied by Henry the Lion in 1161. The castle is in ruins, but the public are free to explore the remaining structure.

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There are many cities worth visiting in Germany, and here is where you will find out some pointers about four interesting locations on the country’s map. Some travelers will have not heard about some, but they will surely like what they will discover. They are small cities, but they are considered precious jewels for people who want to travel to beautiful places, relax and unwind. There are mostly German visitors to these places, but all tourists are very welcome.

First, lets talk about Bad Reichenhall, a spa-city that looks like it’s been dragged in the real world straight from fairy tales. With a population of about 20000 inhabitants, this town is considered a spa-heaven. The Bavarian health resort Bad Reichenhall lies amidst a beautiful nature setting. It is located in the mountains of the Alps, and it will let you experience a nice mix of nature, health and culture. Known because of the large quantities of salt in the surrounding mountains, it was one of 2009’s most popular spa and holiday destinations in Bavaria. Apart thermal baths, it offers guests attractive activities like hiking, golfing and the cultural events that the town officials often organize.

Baden Baden is another spa-city, a great rival for Bad Reichenhall in this field. Baden Baden is known better abroad, and proof is the visit of the former president of the United States of America, Bill Clinton, who at the end of his stay said that Baden Baden was a town so pleasant they had to name it twice. Actually “baden” means “bath”, so Mr Clinton didn’t know exactly what he was talking about, but the fact remains that this comment was very flattering for that small town in south-western Germany. It also is rich in history and the medieval buildings and churches you can see there are a testament of the locals’ proud heritage.

The city of Straslund, on the other hand, focuses on culture, history and knowledge. It is a very special place for people who want to learn more about Germany in the Middle Ages or the wonders of the sea. Totally unrelated, yet these two topics live well together in Straslund. This is an old Hanseatic city, and it has restored many town houses which surround the imposing brick churches, which are also restored. There is a great variety of valuable evidence of the Hanseatic League, which you can discover by going there. Also, another cultural influence that characterizes important buildings in the city is from the Swedish culture.

Finally, we arrive at Hennigsdorf, a small urban settlement just outside Berlin. It practically is border-to-border with the nation’s capital. It is the perfect place to stay if you want to go to Berlin, because, in contrast with the big capital city, it’s peaceful, quiet and most of all, offers cheap accommodation. More and more tourists every year choose to book a room in a hotel in Hennigsdorf, using it as a launch pad for their touring raids in Berlin. Of course, Hennigsdorf has attractions of its own, like water tourism, well designed bicycle routes and green surroundings.