Germany's 10 most beautiful towns you've never heard of

Travel & Tourism

Quedlingburg , Saxony Anhalt - Situated just north of the Harz mountains, Quedlinburg is as picturesque as it gets. Its castle majestically looks down onto the town that has some of the best preserved medieval and Renaissance buildings in Europe. Luckily the town was largely spared from bombing during the war.   Photo: Shutterstock

Germany's top ten towns you've never heard of

Published: 13 May 2015 17:07 GMT+02:00

  

Going beyond the big cities like Berlin, Munich and Hamburg, we delve deeper into the German hinterland to find some of its undiscovered gems. From quaint medieval towns to breathtaking natural beauty, Germany's got it all.

Germany is one of the most in-demand tourist destinations in the world, as tourists from the world over flock to experience the history, culture and sense of grandeur embodied by Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and other great cities.

Even smaller towns  like Heidelberg and Regensburg have become ever more popular stops on the tourist trail. That's why we're bringing you the ten most beautiful German towns you've probably never heard of, so that you when you're planning your next trip you can enjoy unspoilt charm in the serenity it deserves.

 

The stunning beauty of certain regions like Bavaria and the Rhineland is well documented, but the northern and eastern states also have incredible places up their sleeves.

Because so many German towns and cities were flattened during the war, places that were left unscathed and still have their original old towns are all the more marked out by their rarity.

While over 70 million people visited Germany from abroad in 2014, a record high, Germans themselves also like to explore their own back yard, perhaps a tribute to the tremendous variety.

Check out our gallery:  Germany's 10 most beautiful towns you've never heard of

By Matty Edwards

Going beyond the obvious destinations and big cities like Berlin, Munich and Hamburg, we delve deeper into the German hinterland to find some of its undiscovered gems. From quaint medieval towns to breathtaking natural beauty, German has got it all. --Check these out. I've only been to 2 of them. --rsb

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2.

Meersburg, Baden Württemberg - Right on the idyllic Lake Constance, Meersburg is a southern paradise. The upper and lower parts of the town are connected by steep stairwells, and from the upper town the view out onto the lake is astonishing.

 3.

Fulda, Hesse - Right in the heart of Germany, Fulda offers a stunning array of architecture of different styles, especially the impressive cathedral pictured.

 4.

Görlitz, Saxony - Germany's most eastern city lies on the Neisse River and just across the water is the Polish town Zgorzelec. From Renaissance to Baroque, and from late Gothic to art nouveau, Görlitz's beautiful buildings have it all.

 5.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria - Considered as Germany's ultimate medieval town, this gem in northern Bavaria offers a journey back in time as you wander the cobbled streets. This region of Franconia is particularly striking.

6.

Monschau, North Rhine Westphalia - This small resort town in the Eifel region of western Germany is known for its half timbered buildings and narrow streets. Monschau is also the site of an annual open air music festival that attracts punters from all over Europe.

Photo: via glasseyes view: http://bit.ly/1cwBikY 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. 

Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg - On the edge of the Black Forest, Freiburg is both German's sunniest and warmest city. It is best known for the Bächle, small streams that run through the streets of the old town. According to local superstitions, anyone who accidentally steps into the Bächle will inevitably marry a Freiburger.

8.

Trier, Rhineland Palatinate - On the banks of the Moselle and near the Luxemburg border, it is the oldest city in Germany, dating back to the first century BC. The combination of Roman history and homely comforts makes Trier a must-visit. 

9. 

Celle, Lower Saxony - The largest town between Hanover and Hamburg, Celle boasts one of the largest areas of half timbered houses in Europe, making it a picturesque highlight of the German Timber-Frame Road, a popular tourist route. 

10.

Wismar, Mecklenburg Vorpommen - One of Germany's former hanseatic cities, this northern port is the setting of the famous novel and film Nosferatu. Not far from other beautiful spots like Lübeck and Schwerin, Wismar is the perfect example of the beauty the north has to offer.

 

----------Did you put any of these places on your bucket list?

Mexico D