Charming German Villages You Need To Visit
If you love quaint villages and stunning scenery, then you need to see the beautiful German villages. These villages are tucked away in the most beautiful locations – surrounded by rolling hills, pristine forests, or placid lakes. It’s like stepping into a fairytale world.
Each village has its unique charm and character – from the half-timbered houses and flower-filled gardens to the traditional festivals and markets. There’s something for everyone in these enchanting villages. Plus you can visit some amazing German Fairytale Castles.
So don’t just head to the big cities like Berlin and Munich. You will miss out on the charm that makes Germany special.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos
Melissa from Parenthood and Passports
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a quintessential German village. An easy day trip from Munich, this storybook town looks like something out of a Disney movie. It is one of the most well-preserved medieval towns in the world. Although the town only has about 10,000 residents, it is one of the most popular tourist towns in all of Europe.
While there are many fun things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of the best ways to spend your day is to just wander through the streets lined with colorful, half-timbered buildings.
Right inside one of the gates to the town, Plönlein is the most photographed building in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The yellow house is located at the tip of a forked street that splits into upper and lower lanes. The historic center of the town remains walled, and you can actually take a stroll along the walls, and take in the beauty of both the town and the surrounding Bavarian landscapes outside Rothenburg.
Although summer is the peak tourism season in the town, this beautiful German village is enchanting year round. In winter, the town hosts an impressive Christkindlmarkt. And for holiday lovers, the Christmas Museum in the heart of the town is a must-visit. This festive museum will put you in the holiday spirit any day of the year.
Oberammergau
Photo Credit: Travel Collecting
James Ian from Travel Collecting
Oberammergau is one of the most beautiful villages in Germany. It’s famous as the location of the Passion Play. When the village was spared from The Plague in 1633, the villagers made good on their promise to perform an outdoor version of the Passion Play every ten years, and have done so faithfully for almost 400 years! It has become big business and “outdoors” is now a huge 4500-seat theater with open air walls. The season lasts for 5 months and most of the villagers drop their everyday lives to participate.
Consequently, the village is richer than most in Bavaria, and therefore they have had the money to maintain their painted houses. Most of the houses and hotels in the center of the village are hand-painted with scenes from fairy tales, folklore etc. They are incredibly beautiful and wandering around town is like walking through a fairyland. The village is set amongst the Ammergau Alps, so the setting is also incredibly beautiful.
The third thing the village is famous for is the woodwork, and there are many samples of classic woodwork that you can buy in one of the many gift shops in town.
You can visit Oberammergau as a day trip from Munich, but it is worth staying overnight to truly appreciate this magical town.
Freiburg
Photo Credit: Berlin Travel Tips
Freiburg is a gorgeous small city in the southwest corner of Germany, and it’s one of the best places to visit in Germany. Even if you’ve never heard of Freiburg, you’ve probably heard of the Black Forest, and that is where Freiburg is located.
The old town in Freiburg is very charming and mostly pedestrian. Two of the city’s medieval gates still stand: Schwabentor and Martenstor. While walking through the center of town, you’ll notice little canals between the street and the sidewalk. These are called Bächle, and legend has it that if you step into one, you will marry a local.
The Freiburg Cathedral sits in the middle of a beautiful square that holds a fresh market every day except Sundays. Climb the cathedral tower for sweeping views of Freiburg and the surrounding forest. Castle Hill is even higher up, and there’s a beer garden up top.
If you’re interested in the Black Forest, Freiburg is the perfect place to be. You can easily see the trees of the Black Forest around the edges of town. It’s popular town for those who enjoy the outdoors but also want some of the perks of being in a more urban area. This makes for a good base for day hikes, trips to nearby lakes, and more exploration of this region of Germany.
Monschau
Photo Credit: Ipanema Travels
by Daniela of Ipanema Travels
Monschau is one of Europe’s most charming small towns. With its half-timbered houses and the River Rur meandering through the town, it looks as if it comes straight from the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales.
For the most romantic experience, take a walk along the narrow streets and relax at the Market Square. Then climb the hill to the ruins of the old watchtower Der Haller and admire the stunning views of the town. From Der Haller, on the other side of the river, you can spot the Castle of Monschau, built in the 13th century.
In winter, Monschau transforms into a picture-perfect snow-globe village and as a bonus one of the most famous Christmas markets in Germany is organized there. If you are in search of winter magic and romance, you’ll find it for sure there. When visiting the Christmas market in Monschau, don’t miss to try the local Printen (traditional Christmas cookies). And what is Christmas without Glühwein (mulled wine) and Reibekuchen (fried potato pancakes), which you will find in abundance there.
Monschau is located in the picturesque Eifel region in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), close to the border with Belgium. It can be easily visited on a day trip from Aachen, Cologne and Bonn in Germany, Liege in Belgium, or Maastricht in the Netherlands.
Goslar
Photo Credit:Hamburg and Beyond
Located at the base of the Harz Mountains in Germany, the enchanting town of Goslar is dotted with half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and historical locations. The old town of Goslar and nearby Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany, having provided wealth and culture to the region for over 1,000 years. After finding silver deposits in the region around the 10th century, the town of Goslar was elevated to the status of an Imperial City. Subsequently, the Holy Roman Emperor constructed the Kaiserpfalz Goslar (Imperial Palace of Goslar) to capitalize on the wealth of the city. This palace, now over 1,000 years old, is still standing and is one of the most well-known palaces of the former Holy Roman Empire.
Regensburg
Photo Credit: Wander In Germany
LeAnna Brown from WanderInGermany
Regensburg, Germany isn’t exactly off the beaten path but it is often extremely overlooked and passed over on trips to Germany. This is what makes this gorgeous city an absolute underrated gem! The entire Altstadt (Old Town) is actually a World UNESCO Heritage Site. No, not just a street, not just a building….the ENTIRE INNENSTADT! Why? Unlike so many cities in Germany, it was able to escape bombings to the Old Town. That leaves a stunning area that actually has portions that date back 2000 years!!! There are even some original buildings that are 800 years old still standing and still painted in their original pastel colors (it is illegal to paint them a different color now).
Quedlinburg
Photo Credit: Bulgarian On the Go
by Lyubomira at bulgarianonthego.blog
Cochem, Germany
Photo Credit: The Spicy Journey
by Soujanya at the Spicy Journey
Schwabach
Photo Credit: Places of Juma
Recommended by PlacesofJuma
The city of Schwabach is a real insider tip among the most beautiful, enchanting towns in Europe. The village of about 40,000 inhabitants is known for the production of gold leaf, which can be discovered in many places in the old town. Today, there are still 5 companies that master the traditional craft of gold beaters. Famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace in London, Orthodox churches in Ukraine, palace domes in the Emirates and the Sultan’s Palace in Brunei have already been decorated with Schwabach gold leaf.
The historical center of Schwabach is really charming and here, too, everything is under the sign of gold: Worth seeing is the town hall with the golden roof, which is one of the most famous attractions of this town. Really stunning are also the famous Golden Hall, which is decorated with 14,000 sheets of Schwabach gold leaf, and on the high altar of the town church.
When visiting Schwabach don’t miss a visit to the city museum, where you can explore exhibitions on various topics. For example, this museum presents Europe’s largest egg exhibition with over 10,000 specimens. Another part of the city museum is dedicated to model trains, another part to the history of the city and the gold-beating trade.
Schwabach’s cozy market square invites visitors to linger, with many stores and good coffee houses in the beautifully restored half-timbered houses. The 300-year-old fountain in the center of the square also contributes to the pretty town’s cape.
I hope you have enjoyed learning a little more about the charming German villages. I also hope it inspires you to spend some time in Germany and enjoy the small towns and villages’ beautiful countryside and hospitality.
Like this post? Here are some other beautiful places to visit in Europe.
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