{"id":2504,"date":"2019-02-13T13:57:32","date_gmt":"2019-02-13T13:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/com.sx-magazine-wp.sixt.io\/magazine\/?p=2504"},"modified":"2019-07-23T09:47:27","modified_gmt":"2019-07-23T09:47:27","slug":"best-small-towns-in-germany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com\/magazine\/travel\/best-small-towns-in-germany\/","title":{"rendered":"The Top 5 Most Charming Historic Small Towns in Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nestled in stunning scenery like the Bavarian Alps and the Rhine Valley, Germany\u2019s small towns are great destinations all year round. They have magical Christmas markets to warm you up in even the coldest winters and outdoor adventures nearby for all seasons. Here we pick 5 German towns offering that quintessential fairytale charm. If you are thirsty for more, we highly recommend a look at some more destinations on the Romantic Road between W\u00fcrzburg<\/a> and F\u00fcssen in Bavaria and Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. Qu<\/b>e<\/b>dl<\/b>i<\/b>nburg<\/b>, Saxony-Anhalt<\/b><\/h2>\n

This ancient town is perched in two hills divided by the scenic River Bode in Saxony<\/strong><\/a>. Its fascinating history includes being the birthplace of the German nation, being ruled by women for 800 years and having the first female doctor in 1754. The market square is a delightful blend of medieval and renaissance architecture while houses such as the Gildehaus zur Rose are finished with ornate and detailed decoration. The abbey\u2019s treasury holds some of the most valuable medieval religious artifacts in Germany. To add to Quedlinburg\u2019s allure, the Harz Mountains are just a stone\u2019s throw away and offer endless hiking trails through magnificent geological formations.<\/p>\n

\"Medieval
A view of the medieval architecture in Quedlinburg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. F\u00fcssen<\/b>, Bavaria<\/b><\/h2>\n

F\u00fcssen is a fine historical town on Germany\u2019s Romantic Road. Many people use the town as a base to visit the nearby 19th Century fairytale castle, Neuschwanstein and the equally impressive Hohenschwangau Castle. Situated in Bavaria<\/a>\u2019s beautiful countryside and next to the River Lech, the town is bursting with baroque churches and medieval houses. St. Mang\u2019s Abbey is well worth a visit for the oldest mural in Germany and its opulent interior. The town also has a fascinating violin and lute display housed in the City of F\u00fcssen Museum.<\/p>\n

\"Hohenschwangau
Hohenschwangau Castle, about a 10 minute drive from F\u00fcssen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Rothenburg<\/b> <\/b>ob<\/b> der Tauber, Bavaria<\/b><\/h2>\n

In Bavaria\u2019s Franconia region lies Germany\u2019s best-preserved walled town, Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Once you pass through the towering city gates, the architecture inside is no less impressive. Huge half-timbered grain stores line the streets and you can walk the walls to get great views of the medieval architecture. If you\u2019re into traditional Christmas crafts, Rothenburg\u2019s seasonal market is known for authentic ornaments and the town is even home to the German Christmas Museum. Franconia also has superb wines grown in the nearby vineyards that are well worth checking out.<\/p>\n

\"Rothenburg
An entrance through the old wall surrounding Rothenburg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Mittenwald<\/b>, Bavaria<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re into Alpine scenery, Mittenwald is a fabulous destination. The town\u2019s pretty, colorful houses are set amid the Alps and forested paths lead you out of the town in all directions. The town has two fantastic mountain lakes nearby, Lautersee and Ferchensee, that are great for bathing in the summer months. Many of the houses and buildings are painted in colorful frescoes, a great example being the Geigenbaumuseum that also has an amazing collection of violins. We also recommend taking the Karwendelbahn, a gondola that runs out of Mittenwald to the top of Karwendel Mountain, with its staggering panoramas.<\/p>\n

\"Lautersee\"
Lautersee outside of Mittenwald<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Monschau<\/b>, Rhineland-Palatinate<\/b><\/h2>\n

Monschau is situated in the Eifel region near Belgium. Its half-timbered houses perch directly over the Rur river and the town is a gateway into the Eifel National Park with its cycling paths and wilderness walks. Narrow cobbled streets run through the historic old town and Monschau Castle dates to 1198. You can walk up to the Haller Ruin to get a great view of the Rur Valley, the castle and the town center. Monschau is also known for its al fresco dining, with restaurants and hotels moving their tables outside in the summer months.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nestled in stunning scenery like the Bavarian Alps and the Rhine Valley, Germany\u2019s small towns are great destinations all year round. They have magical Christmas markets to warm you up in even the coldest winters and outdoor adventures nearby for all seasons. Here we pick 5 German towns offering that quintessential fairytale charm. If you are thirsty for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":2507,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2504","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nThe Top 5 Most Charming Historic Small Towns in Germany | SIXT rent a car Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Nestled in stunning scenery like the Bavarian Alps and the Rhine Valley, Germany\u2019s small towns are great destinations all year round\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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