Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I might make a little extra spending money, at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own and these products/services have been found useful during our travels and come highly recommended to you from yours truly!
I’m just gonna say this right now, and if you’re a regular reader, you already know what I’m about to say! … I’ve done it again! I’ve found more adorable, picturesque, quaint and charming half-timbered towns. And no, not just one, but 3!!! And if you’re a regular reader or at least follow me on Instagram, then you already know I am OBSESSED with these stupid pretty little towns that are straight out of a fairy tale book.
And it dawned on me last night while writing this, WHY I am so addicted to half-timbered towns. Ever since I was a little girl, my mother always set up a Christmas village on our tables, with little lamps to light up the town, figures I could play with, covered in white snow. And now every day, I get to live that childhood memory when we visit these towns!
I have quite the knack for sniffing out and finding some of Germany’s best kept secrets and hidden gems. I love searching for the small quaint towns that are not yet over run by mass tourism, that still hold fast to their authenticity and where I get starred at by locals who are so unaccustomed to seeing people walking around their adorable little towns with a camera strapped around my neck.
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As you probably know, Germany has many different road trip routes to take, for example, the Romantischestrasse (Romantic Road). Welp, you guessed it, there’s also a route for half-timbered towns! And guess what, I’m in heaven! It’s called the Deutsches Fachwerkstrasse (German Timber-Frame Road) which stretches the River Elbe in the north to Lake Constance in the south, divided into 7 sections for a grand total of nearly 1,864 miles (3,000 km) of half-timbered bliss!
I don’t just love them because of the beautiful architecture and the colorful, romantic streets but because here, time moves more slowly. People casually stroll down the streets, they sit longer and enjoy their coffees outside soaking up the sunshine, there’s a quiet humming chatter and children laughing in the distance. Even the birds sounds more chirpful! Yes, I said chirpful!
Visiting big cities like Munich, Nuremberg or Frankfurt is all fine and dandy but sometimes, you just gotta get away from the hustle and bustle of our fast moving world and slow it down for a bit, if only for a day, to recharge. Taking time to stop and enjoy the simple things in life.
Plus, the drive to towns like these are usually down winding roads, through some of the most beautiful and scenic regions in Germany, which alone makes for a relaxing Saturday road trip to some of the cutest small towns in Germany that are definitely unknown outside of the country. If you’re looking for unique places to visit in Germany, then I would say all of these cute little towns qualify and are some of the BEST Day Trips from Frankfurt!
So, have I intrigued you yet? Are you ready to be introduced to 3 adorable towns? Hold on tight! I’m about to knock your socks off!
Miltenberg, Bavaria
Just near the border of Bavaria in Lower Franconia, you’ll find the small town of Miltenberg, with a whopping population of 9,000 people! Located on the left side of the River Main, this is the only of the three towns you’ll visit today that is along the Deutsches Fachwerkstrasse. The town is nicknamed “the Pearl of the Main” and for good reason too!
Here, you won’t find sooo many things to do in Miltenberg, but you will find one colorful half-timbered house after another, leading you from one end of Hauptstrasse (Main Street) to opposite end with no shortage of picture perfect moments. With 150 historic half-timbered houses, you should have enough to feed your addiction! While walking around, be sure to look for the dates on the buildings and find some of the oldest half-timbered houses in the town!
Of importance here, is the Hotel zum Riesen (The Giant), Germany’s oldest inns, dating back to at least 1411 and has been in continuous use ever since! Now that’s impressive! Elvis Presley has even stayed here and I’d say, is probably the best place to stay in Miltenberg!
Near the Old Market Square better known as “Schnatterloch”, you’ll find the Church St. Jakobus, many little cafes and a fountain, which is decorated during the Easter season, a tradition most commonly found in the Franconia region. If you’re looking for a yummy recommendation to eat, it is here at the cafe, Domus bei Toni, we had the most delicious Flammkuchen and enjoyed the early spring warm sunny day we were having!
Just past the Old Market square, you’ll venture into the „Schwarzviertel” (Black Quarter), which is the oldest part of town, nestles between the Main River and the mountain Greinberg. Here, you can actually smell the history of the buildings, as you stroll through the alley. It’s the perfect setting for spooky stories and scary legends, which you can enjoy during a city tour, otherwise, take a peak inside of the wine cellar a bit further down!
Michelstadt, Hesse
Just a 30 minute drive away down winding roads and farm land, across the border into Hesse is the town of Michelstadt. Set among the hills of the Odenwald (forest), the town has dozens of perfectly preserved half-timbered houses and presents an idea of life during the medieval ages, and is one of the oldest settled locations in the region.
Upon arrival, you’ll immediately discover the imposing Kellerei, a Frankish medieval castle built around the 16th century. To the left of it you’ll discover the Diebsturm (Thieves’ Tower), which is said to have existed since 650, possibly once part of Burg Michelstadt, before being turned into a holding place for thieves.
But what draws many people here is the Rathaus (city hall), dating back to 1484 and was once used on a national stamp, making it one of the oldest city halls in Germany. This is no ordinary town hall, as its ground floor was once used as the market hall in days long gone, today now provides a bit of shade, while the official business is upstairs. In front of the Michelstadt City Hall is the main market square, with a few quaint cafes and shops, but there is more to discover than just this area.
Don’t be afraid to wander and get lost down streets of half-timbered allies and crooked streets. You may even stumble upon a biergarten set in a courtyard of a half-timbered house. Beer and a half-timbered house? Yes, please!
Heppenheim, Hesse
On the edge of the Odenwald, a 45 minute drive from Michelstadt is the romantic half-timbered town of Heppenheim, located along the Bergstrasse, a 50 mile long ancient trading route. Set along gentle rolling hills lined with vineyards, this town has a special characteristic unlike any other.
Not only is the Heppenheim Rathaus absolutely dreamy but the street lamps tell a story. I first discovered it on Pinterest and knew I had to go! It was the most unique, adorable half-timbered city hall I had ever seen, standing tall and dominating the market like a Queen! I definitely feel that it’s one of the most beautiful city halls in Germany and by far one of the most unique!
Each side of the lamp depicts a scene from fairy tales throughout the state of Hesse. Throughout the year, there are guided tours to teach you about each saga.
- May – September: Every Saturday 10pm
- December 26-31: 7pm
As it’s only natural for a town located among vineyards, the town also has a yearly wine festival for those who love to travel and sip on wine! (Me, me, me!!!) With 450 hectors of vineyards, it was once Germany’s smallest self-contained wine region up until the reunification of the country, now however, it’s the second smallest.
- Bergsträßer Weinmarkt – wine market in late June
Coming here is like hanging out with the locals, watching children play in the squares and enjoying a glass of wine on a warm summer day! There’s not much to do here, but you couldn’t certainly find enough to fill your time! You could even explore the castle perched on the hill opposite the town, which is also a Youth Hostel! (Jugendherberge Starkenburg DJH Jugendherberge Heppenheim)
Don’t skip out on a peak inside of the Bergstrasse Cathedral which was actually built in 1904, although its origins date back to 755.
I highly recommend visiting each of these towns as either a mini-road trip or visit each town one day at a time. Either way, you worries and stress will wash away when you come to these towns. Time moves slower here and you can soak up every minute, stop and smell the roses and put your feet up while you drink a glass of wine!
If you’re interested, there are many other small half-timbered towns in between that you could easily stop at, should any pique your interest, as you’re in the heart of Germany’s Timbered -Framed Road (Fachwerkstrasse)!
If you’re interested in visiting Germany and are looking for more information, I highly recommend using the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide! Without these guides, I would be lost! This is my travel Bible!
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I might make a little extra spending money, at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own and these products/services have been found useful during our travels and come highly recommended to you from yours truly!
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So cute! I love half-timbered houses 🙂
My former colleague lived in Heppenheim, so I have definitely heard of it, although I’ve never been there 😉 I have also heard of Michelstadt, but I’m not sure how.
Maybe you’ve been following me on Instagram?
You have found some lovely towns, I will definitley be adding them to our list.
Also the Deutsches Fachwerkstrasse (German Timber-Frame Road), we love our road trips.
We’re a big fan of road trips! It’s a great way to see a lot!
yes, you’re right, never heard of them:))
You’re right! I’ve never heard of any of those half timbered towns! So cute. Nice photos.
These 3 places are pure fairy tale! I can see why you love them, they have a picturesque story book charm I can see myself skipping through the streets with Disney animals following in my wake. Beautiful. #CityTripping
Haha yes exactly!!
Like you, I’m obsessed with these towns as well. I mean how can you NOT like them? It was one of the main reasons why I wanted to visit Germany a couple of years ago. Love finding out that there’s not a shortage of these charming towns!
Definitely no shortage and I haven’t even scratched the surface!
It’s been years since I visited Germany and I absolutely love those cities! Loved all your Instagram photos, so I’m pinning this post for future use! #mondayescapes
Thank you! Hope you make it one day and love it as much as we did!
I’m going to sound stupid when I ask this, but is “half-timbered” the style of building? These places look straight out of Thumbelina or Pinocchio! So quaint. #WanderfulWednesday
Half-timbered are houses made with the wood beams 🙂
GASP!! Oh my goodness, these villages are absolutely straight out of my childhood dreams!! I’m so happy that villages like this have been so well preserved – they have so much character, and are exactly what I imagine when I think of a German village. 🙂
Right??? I feel the same way!!
How is it possible that you keep finding more of these adorable towns?! Are there just that many in Germany? My mom used to set up a Christmas Village as well, so I have to say this looks like a true fairy tale experience!
There realllllly are that many and I haven’t even scratched the surface!! I have so many more I plan to visit!! 🙂
I have heard about the first two but not about the last one. I have a book about German road trips and that is how I learned about those towns. It will be nice to visit all three (plus the other ones you have found). #wanderfulwednesday
Oh fun! What book is this?
Love love loved hearing your background story for why you love half-timbered towns! AND I didn’t even know that there was a name for that type of house, they are so cute and German 🙂
Thank you! So many wonderful childhood memories!
Thank you for sharing these half-timbered towns. I definitely want to visit at least one of them!
Haha, Germany has a driving route for everything! Looks lovely, I’ve done the Romantic Road and part of the castle one (somewhat disappointing) but not this one. Will have to add it to the list of things we want to do in Germany!
As far as I know this isn’t a particular route but just three towns I found close to each other that were all adorable!
These towns look so cute and I love road trips, so this looks perfect for me. I pinned for later. #TheWeeklyPostcard
I’m all about the small towns, small crowds, authenticity than bigger cities with fake people
Oh my gosh, these towns are beautiful! Pinning this for future reference, thanks for the great post! 🙂
So beautiful!! I would LOVE to go here. They’re really like something out of a fairytale. As I live in Germany I really should be doing this!
Definitely! There’s so much to see!
All these towns look adorable! I love half-timbered houses. I travel to Germany at least once a year, so I have to add all these towns to the list of places I need to visit 😀
Oh my gosh, those are so cute! They look straight out of a fairy tale! I definitely want to visit them now!! 🙂
How quaint! Germany will have to wait, but I am visiting Switzerland this summer and I have a feeling I may see some half timbered houses there, too! #TheWeeklyPostcard
Oh then stay tuned for my Lucerne post coming on Monday!! We were just there! And there were some quite half-timbered houses we found over by the Löwendenkmal
These houses are gorgeous! They are so specific to Germany that even if you don’t know where the picture was taken you can guess. Beautiful pictures also, Lolo.
Thanks Anda! Germany has such a unique style, a little different compared to for example France (although the Alsace region looks the same as it was once German)
I would have never thought to do a post on something like this! Love it and love Germany! <3
Oh I’m obsessed and have done lots of other posts!
I love all of these places! They look so cute and I definitely want to visit them now!!! Great post!
Beautiful photos of beautiful towns! I was just in Bavaria a month ago, and I can’t believe I missed these! I guess I will have to go back. I did manage to hit up Füssen, Mittenwald, and Neuschwanstein fortunately 🙂
I looooove the towns! So adorable 🙂 I live in the Czech Republic so I really want to explore Germany more since it’s quite close. Putting these on my list! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
All of these places are so pretty!! I’ll definitely need to try to stop at them when I’m in Germany again!!
These are beautiful. I love German architecture. I’ve been to a couple of the more famous half-timbered towns along the Romantic Road and they’re just beautiful.
It’s like you read my mind because we were looking for these type of wonderful, quaint places during our Eurotrip. We had to trim our trip due to lack of time and need to reach our destination faster, but we are sure to keep this post so we can visit them all. So beautiful, so glad you shared this.
So much to see, so little time! Hope you can enjoy these one day! 🙂
OMG, they are so adorable! I can’t believe I haven’t been to any of these…I am German!! Guess I have to travel around my home country a bit more 😀
I actually find many Germans don’t do a lot of traveling (or just as much) especially within Germany.
These towns are seriously SO cute! I love half timbered buildings too, but unfortunately I don’t have plans to be in Germany anytime soon :(. I totally agree that sometimes you just need to get out of the big cities. Life always moves slower in these small towns and you just feel so much more peaceful.
As always, very nice inspironal photos 🙂 I really should go often to Germany. Thanks for sharing #TheWeeklyPostcard
Love fairytale-like towns! Great post. Thanks for sharing these locations.
Omg, these towns are so cute! I want to visit all of them!
Just beautiful! In my head, these places seem like they can’t be real. When vacationing across the pond, I find the slower pace of the people in Europe to be quite nice. Makes me wonder why we’re always in such a rush here in the US! Perhaps if I lived in such a pretty place, I’d slow down a little, too. 🙂
I think that was one of the things that drew me back here!
We’re huge fans of road trips, so we’ll be pining this away for future reference! Thanks for sharing such great tips!
I LOOVVEEE these type of houses! They are so cute. They truly transport you to another time. I didn’t get to see them in Germany but at least I found them in France!
I was in Germany last month and now I have yet another reason to return – thanks for your post!
Never heard of any of these! Absolutely amazing! pinned for my future trips! Will make sure to visit them when in Germany! Thanks for sharing #TheWeeklyPostcard
Haha, I had assumed I had already read this because surely you couldn’t find more half-timbered towns, but clearly I was incredibly wrong! You must have some sort of half-timbered-radar. They all look so quaint and charming, but if I had to pick one to visit it’d probably be Miltenberg. Germany is definitely calling me at this point. #wednesdaywanderlust
Yes, my radar points me to the most adorable unheard of towns! And yes, you should come to Germany!! Would be fun to meet!
OH MY GOODNESSSSS these towns are a dream! Fairy tale places are just the best, don’t you think? Places that make you think, “how is this place real?”! Thanks for your suggestions! Definitely pinning this for future trips.
Ooooh, those houses are so cute! They seem to be from a fairytale. I’ve never been to small towns in Germany before, these definitely just earned a place at the top of my wishlist 😀 Thanks for sharing all the cool tips!
These towns are very cute. It’s interesting how may different types of half-timbered buildings there are.
Three more beautiful towns! And this is exactly the time of year to be out exploring them. Don’t you just love the decorated wells and springs during Easter? Thanks for another inspiring link up! #wkendtravelinspiration
Easter is definitely the cutest time of year to visit some of these smaller towns!
I love your blog! Thanks for showing and sharing the beauty of Germany. I’ve visited Michelstadt and was mesmerized. I’ll be sure to put Miltenberg and Heppenheim on my list now too. Thanks for showcasing them for us. I’m planning a Christmas Market trip in December and have included Monschau since your Sept 8, 2015 timbered house village post. I Can’t wait! Again Thank you!!!
Oh you’re going to love it!!!
‘Love this! So cute!
I haven’t heard of these towns, and I live in Germany! I guess it’s time for a visit!
I always find the hidden gems! Stay tuned for more!
Wow, those towns look incredibly beautiful and charming! What great photos. I’ve only been to Germany once, but I’m dying to go back and explore more! Thanks for the great information, I hope I can visit sometime soon.
Hope you have the chance to visit these towns! They’re definitely off-the-beaten-path!
I love Miltenberg!! Our very first trip to Germany 10 years ago we rented a flat in Miltenberg for 12 days. It was the top floor of one of the houses behind the fountain. I think I remember seeing something about the house being built in the 1400’s. It was by far my favorite house/flat we have ever rented, even though we had 60 something steps on a spiral staircase to go up or down to our flat. Waking up Easter morning to the church bells next door, going to the post office across the square or the bakery down the street made me feel like we lived there. Miltenberg by far is my favorite half timbered town!!
Sounds like a wonderful experience!! Glad you loved it so much!