The Thrifty Gypsy's Travels : April 2016

London. Rome. Dinkelsbühl. Wait, what?

Even those who don't travel are familiar with the big names, the "must sees" if you will, of Europe. London's Big Ben, Rome's Colosseum, and the Eiffel Tower of Paris, just to name a few. But there's more to Europe than the tourist hot spots, and if you're looking for a break from the hordes, a hidden treasure like Germany's Dinkelsbühl may just tickle your travel fancy.

--> Where in the world is Dinkelsbühl?
Short answer: Bavaria. Long answer: in the middle of the most beautiful, bucolic, and bewitching part of Germany you can imagine, but I may be a tad bit biased. Roughly a thousand years old and still retaining its medieval walls, Dinkelsbühl (more or less pronounced as "Dink el shpool") is the sister city to the more well known and tourist-heavy Rothenburg o.d. Tauber. It also happens to be the town where my husband spent summers growing up while visiting his Oma and Opa. They'd do cool things like biking around the countryside, stopping at random little churches and eating picnic lunches with quintessentially German towns as a backdrop. Cue total jealousy.

--> What the heck is a Dinkelsbühl?
"Dinkel" is spelt or hulled wheat, which has been in existence since 5,000 B.C., and has been a vital part of the region's economy over the centuries - hence the name and the coat of arms featuring three wheat sheaves. As for what "sbühl" means, well, your guess is as good as mine.

--> Why should I visit Dinkelsbühl?
Excellent question! For one, it just oozes Teutonic charm. Having emerged unscathed through both world wars, the altstadt or old town portion essentially looks the same as it has since between the 15th and 17th centuries. There are half-timbered houses, the St. George's Minster (circa late 1400s), cobblestone streets, and of course the medieval city walls with an assortment of different shaped towers (the onion-shaped Segringer tower is one of my faves). And if you come during the third week of July, you can witness the raucous festivities of the Kinderzeche festival, in which the entire town celebrates its survival of the Thirty Years' War by reenacting the events and then breaking out into one huge party (complete with a genuine Bavarian beer tent!). It's an awesome experience even if you don't understand a lick of German!

So the next time you're contemplating a trip with a little less tourists and a little more legit home town feel, try on Dinkelsbühl for size. I'd wager you won't be disappointed.

Ever visited or passed through Dinkelsbühl? (I'd be crazy surprised if you have!) What are some of your favorite hidden treasure locations?

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Travel Tuesday with Bonnie Rose and her co-hosts

It's the last Tuesday of the month, and you know what that means - it's theme week! Post your favorite "hidden treasure" places in your own backyard or across the globe. It's all about being off the beaten path and enjoying places that aren't the big name sites!

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An InLinkz Link-up

One of the best things about the Bavarian region of Germany is just how darn cute and photogenic it is. You turn a corner and bam! picture-perfect, half-timbered houses practically scream "look how quintessentially German I am!" It's enough to make a grown man squeal with glee.

There's no need to seek out big name cities such as Munich or Rothenberg o.d. Tauber to experience Bavaria. In fact the smaller towns and dorfs (the uber cool German word for "village") will provide a less touristy, more genuine experience. We found the college town of Eichstätt to be a pleasant way to spend the afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of big name sites and simply enjoy the laid-back Bavarian life.

We had no agenda for the afternoon. We wandered. Ate a delicious meal (I was pregnant and craving all the foods at that time). Visited a chapel dedicated to Saint Walburga. And attempted to visit the castle Willibaldsburg until we realized there wasn't enough time left in our day.

Example of a medieval torture device.

While I wouldn't necessarily recommend going out of your way to visit Eichstätt (although the castle Willibaldsburg is probably worth it!), there's enough charm and little eateries to keep yourselves well-occupied for a few hours enjoying the slow pace of Bavarian life!

Have you visited Eichstätt or Bavaria in general?