Germany: Hidden Gems

Eltz Castle

A well-preserved medieval hilltop castle hidden in a wooded valley near the Moselle.

💡 Did you know? The castle has belonged to the same family for over 850 years.

Externsteine

A striking group of tall sandstone rocks in the Teutoburg Forest with old reliefs and chambers.

💡 Did you know? A medieval relief of the Descent from the Cross is carved into one rock.

Saar Loop

A spectacular tight loop of the river Saar, viewed from a lookout and treetop walk.

💡 Did you know? It is regarded as the landmark of Saarland.

Spreewald

A watery landscape of hundreds of small Spree channels, travelled by flat-bottomed boat.

💡 Did you know? The famous Spreewald gherkins are grown here.

Lüneburg Heath

A wide heathland that blooms purple in late summer: one of Europe's oldest cultural landscapes.

💡 Did you know? The heath is kept short by Heidschnucken, a hardy breed of sheep.

Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe

A vast hillside park above Kassel with the Hercules statue and cascading water features.

💡 Did you know? The water features flow downhill by gravity alone, without any pumps.

Mainau Island

The ‘flower island’ in Lake Constance with lush gardens, palms and a butterfly house.

💡 Did you know? Thanks to the mild climate, even citrus fruits grow outdoors here.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

A medieval town with a fully preserved city wall and half-timbered lanes.

💡 Did you know? Its little corner ‘Plönlein’ is one of Germany's most photographed scenes.

Schwerin Palace

A romantic fairy-tale palace on an island in Lake Schwerin, today seat of the state parliament.

💡 Did you know? It is called the ‘Neuschwanstein of the North’.

Rakotz Bridge

A slender arched bridge in Kromlau park that forms a perfect circle with its reflection.

💡 Did you know? Because of the circle it is often called the ‘Devil's Bridge’.

Merchants' Bridge Erfurt

A medieval bridge entirely lined with inhabited half-timbered houses.

💡 Did you know? It is the longest continuously built-up bridge in Europe.

Naumburg Cathedral

A late Romanesque-Gothic cathedral famous for its lifelike founder figures, above all ‘Uta’.

💡 Did you know? ‘Uta of Naumburg’ is considered one of the most beautiful female figures of the Middle Ages.