Visit the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin to See 19th Century Art

Caspar David Friedrich Alte Nationalgalerie Berlin

The Alte Nationalgalerie on Berlin’s Museum Island is filled with art from neoclassical and the romantics to the impressionists — the full spectrum of 19th-century paintings and sculptures. The Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery) in the shape of an antique Greek temple is one of the smaller museums on Berlin’s Museum Island. It is home … Read more

Top Sights in Gunzenhausen & the Altmühlsee, Germany

The Bavarian Altmühl Lake & Great Fossils and Lithography Museum

Gunzenhausen in Bavaria has an excellent Fossils and Lithography Museum while the nearby Altmühlsee (Lake) is popular with nature and water sports lovers.

Gunzenhausen-Blasturm

The main attraction of Gunzenhausen is its excellent fossils and lithography museum, one of the best of its kind in Germany. The Altmühltal is famous for fossils and the local museum in Gunzenhausen has an excellent collection.

Although Gunzenhausen once had a Roman fort and sports a written history going back to 823, the town itself is less interesting than its population of 17,000 would suggest. From the 14th century, Gunzenhausen belonged to the burgraves of Nürnberg (Nuremberg), who gave it some Baroque buildings, but nothing that compares with the Baroque splendor of nearby Ansbach or Eichstätt.

However, it is worth stopping in Gunzenhausen for the museums. A further draw for tourists is the nearby Altmühl Lake. The completion of the Altmühlsee (Altmühl Lake) in the 1980s gave Gunzenhaseun a growth spurt, as it became a popular starting point for water sport on the lake and in the valley.

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Top Sights to See in Wolframs-Eschenbach, Germany

Visit a Romantic Small, Wall-Enclosed Town in Bavaria

Bavarian Wolframs-Eschenbach is a romantic small Bavarian town completely encircled by its town wall. Troubadour Wolfram von Eschenbach, writer of Parsifal, lived here.

© Die Burgenstraße
© Die Burgenstraße

The Bavarian town Wolframs-Eschenbach is mostly visited to see its old town walls and to visit sights associated with German medieval troubadour Wolfram von Eschenbach, who lived here from 1170 to 1220. In 1917, to honor him, “Wolframs” was added to the town name by royal decree.

Eschenbach’s history goes back to the mid-8th century but its golden age was the late Middle Ages when Eschenbach was half the size of Ansbach but twice the size of nearby Gunzenhausen. Its history was determined for six centuries by the Teutonic Order, which controlled the town up to the late 18th century.

Wolframs-Eschenbach is a lovely small town of less than 3,000. The old town is fully encircled by its original defensive wall and worth the slight detour from the Altmühl Valley. Wolframs-Eschenbach, 20 km/12 miles south of Ansbach and 10 km/6 miles north of Gunzenhausen, is best reached by private transportation.

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Top Sights to See in the Altmühltal Valley Germany

Fossils, Romans, Teutonic Order, and Outdoor Adventures

The Bavarian Altmühl Valley is famous for water sports, cycling, hiking, unique fossils, Baroque Eichstätt, roman treasures, and other historic castles and sights.

Jura Museum - Eichstätt - Rhamphorhynchus intermedius

The southernmost parts of Franken, and some parts of northern Upper Bavaria, have been incorporated in to the Naturpark Altmühltal (Altmühl Valley Nature Park). This is one of the largest nature parks in Germany and a true haven for nature lovers and outdoor pursuits.

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Top Sights in Weißenburg in Bavaria, Germany

See a Former Free Imperial City with a Roman Heritage & Treasure

Weißenburg was a Roman garrison town and a free imperial city before becoming part of Bavaria. Major sights to see include the old town and Roman treasure and sites.

Weißenburg - Ellinger Tor

In AD 89, the Romans forced the local Celtic population out of the Weißenburg area and founded a garrison town. Around two centuries later, Aleman tribes forced the Romans back across the Danube and the town was forgotten until a royal court was erected in Merovingian times. By the end of the 13th century, Weißenburg became a free imperial city, a status it maintained, although it had to buy itself free twice, until it became part of Bavaria in 1806.

The town of 18,000 has an attractive old town with well-preserved town defenses but the main attraction is the Roman heritage.

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