Historic city gates, church towers and
half-timbred houses – Germany has many towns with well-preserved Medieval architecture,
much of it on the UNESCO World Heritage list. These Medieval town centers are uniquely
beautiful, each telling a story of their own. Stay tuned to find out where to find them,
and join us on this journey back in time! We begin in Trier, a city in Germany's southwest
on the banks of the Mosel River. It was founded 2,000 years ago
by the Romans, who built the Porta Nigra, Latin for black gate among other things. Today, Porta Nigra is one s of
the city s best-known sights! After the end of the Roman empire,
Trier evolved into a Medieval city. Trier Cathedral, for instance, was built
in the location of a former Roman residence. Consecrated around 300 AD, it is considered
one of Germany's oldest churches. This mix of Roman and Medieval heritage
makes Trier well worth visiting! Next up: Charles the Great,
who ordered the construction of countless stunning edifices in Aachen.
The most impressive is Aachen Cathedral, completed around 800 AD –
an absolute must-see. Inside, you can admire
Charles the Great's golden tomb. And his throne – where German kings
were crowned for hundreds of years, making Aachen a Medieval power center. Also be sure to visit Aachen's Christmas market
and sample some Aachener Printen, a type of gingerbread said to date back
to the Middle Ages. The city is as famous for this festive treat
as it is for its magnificent cathedral. Now, we head to the town of
Quedlinburg, in eastern Germany, with its Collegiate Church of St Servatius
already visible from afar. It was founded by King Henry the first
in the 10th century, who also made Quedlinburg a wealthy town. This is evident from the cathedral treasures,
comprised of precious gold and ivory objects. The church is surrounded by over 1,000 Medieval
half-timbred buildings, the largest number anywhere in Germany! It's a major tourist
magnet, so its alleys can get very crowded. Moving on to Erfurt, a city that became
a powerful trading center. Being located on the ancient Via Regia
trade route made Erfurt a prosperous place, as visitors can tell from the richly
ornate old town facades. When in Erfurt, don't miss out on the iconic
Krämerbrücke, or Merchants' Bridge. It is lined with half-timbered
buildings like in Medieval times where today visitors can shop, visit
galleries and cafés. We've got a culinary tip, too: treat yourself
to a real Thuringian sausage or why not two? From eastern Germany, we travel north
to the port city of Lübeck, another major trading town in Medieval times. Holstentor, Lübeck's red-brick city gates with the
twin towers, welcomes visitors to the old town. Its layout has remained unchanged
since the Middle Ages. And Lübeck's churches and remarkable town hall
are bound to leave an impression on visitors. The city could afford to build such gorgeous
buildings thanks to the lucrative maritime trade. Ships brought almonds
and exotic spices to the city among other things key ingredients
for making marzipan. Lübeck marzipan is very popular,
and you should definitely try some. There's even a minute old town
made from marzipan to admire! From northern Germany we head south,
to Bamberg. Notice something unusual about the town hall? It was built in the
middle of the river! According to legend, the bishop didn't grant citizens any
land for the town hall, so they took matters into their own hands, rammed stakes
into the river and built it there instead. Bamberg old town boasts plenty of
quaint buildings, alleys... and great pubs! With so many different kinds of beer brewed
here, some regard Bamberg as Germany's beer capital. Definitely try a glass of
aromatic smoked beer when visiting. Our last stop takes us to another Bavarian
town that's popular like no other: Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Practically unchanged
since the 13th century, it offers lots and lots of well-preserved Medieval architecture. What
better place to experience history firsthand? Its ancient 3-kilometer-long
city wall is fully intact, encircling the old town – a rare architectural gem! And don't forget to climb the
town hall tower for a grandiose view of the Medieval old town below!
