Just realized our trip is heavy on cities (Munich and Berlin) and does not include any smaller, older towns. We loved Bayeaux in Normandy France and I loved Rothenberg and Salzburg ( excuse the spelling please).
We have one unplanned day in Berlin and am traveling by train. Was thinking of going to "Lutherland"- Wittenberg - would that fit the bill?
or other suggestions?
Thanks
If you consider Wittenberg (where I haven't been), also take a little time to include the nearby Garden Realm of Wörlitz (which I have visited). Basically, a large English-style park with several interesting buildings, grottos, and gardens scattered throughout. The adjacent village of Wörlitz is cute enough, if not spectacular. Fairly typical for that region of Germany, though.
If you get a whiff of smoked trout drifting through the air, don't hesitate to try it from one of the local restaurants. Delicious and fresh from the surrounding lakes.
Hi,
How about going to a small town near Berlin which is also the town of Germany's greatest novelist of the 19th century, certainly of Realism, Theodor Fontane if you're into German literature. The town is Neuruppin., ca the same distance as Lutherstadt Wittenberg but in the opposite direction.
Berlin is in the middle of nowhere, there aren't that many preserved towns close to the city... and certainly no Rothenburg. The towns you imagine are all at least 2 hours away by train, in Saxony, Thuringia, the Harz mountains and the Baltic coast... all good places for a few nights away from the big city btw., especially the Baltic coast.
Less than 2h away are Tangermünde, Schwerin and Wittenberg for instance. I would recommend Schwerin, which is the most diverse of the three. There is a nice old town, a beautiful fairytale castle with a park, and lakes (the castle looks best on a boat tour). Tangermünde could be compared to Rothenburg, because of the town wall, but it's a smaller. The town is off the beaten path, but highly recommended. Wittenberg is the most famous one, but also the smallest. And because of the coming celebrations some of the sights could be closed.
If you are one of the persons who would do Rothenburg from Munich (more than 3h by train) you could do Quedlinburg from Berlin. Quedlinburg is just like Rothenburg, but bigger, older, more important, and a World Heritage Site. On weekend there is a direct train between Berlin and the town.
BTW: you could stop somewhere bewteen Munich and Berlin, in Thuringia, Franconia or Saxony, and see dozens of such towns.
Wittenberg Lutherstadt will fit the bill, but they are gearing up for the 500th anniversary of Luther's posting the 95 Theses. Google street view to see what's going on before you decide.
I really liked Nurnburg, Erfurt and Bamberg (closer to Munich than to Berlin).
