Medieval city walls, beautiful half-timbered buildings, well-worn cobblestones. Old towns invite you to wander and pause for a while. Strolling between the old houses takes us straight back to times gone by. The city walls, which provided military protection in the Middle Ages, are now souvenirs of previous centuries.
Preserving historic buildings and protecting surviving structures allows residents and travellers to reach shops on foot. City centres remain less (mostly) congested or even car-free, which helps to prevent CO2 emissions from increasing further. But that’s not all: old buildings are considered exceptionally sturdy, provided they are well maintained. After all, they have already survived several centuries. In addition, demolition and new construction mean many times more harmful emissions.
Preserving medieval buildings, therefore, conserves resources in the long term and also contributes to the local community’s sense of belonging. Apart from that, the historic old towns preserve a large piece of history and culture, as well as the old construction and architectural knowledge of those times.
This newsletter presents seven old towns worth seeing that can be perfectly combined with a sustainable stay in one of the Green Pearls® hotels.
To Bolzano by Cable Car
The old town in Bolzano, South Tyrol’s capital, is well worth a visit. For guests of the Hotel Weihrerhof, the APIPURA hotel rinner and the ADLER Lodge RITTEN, Bolzano is easy to reach by cable car and with the RittenCard, even free of charge. With its traditional and modern shop windows, the town at the gateway to the Dolomites surprises and invites you to take an extended stroll.
In the centre is the fruit market, which Goethe also enthusiastically visited on his trip to Italy in 1786. Bolzano’s cultural offerings are also impressive. There is a large selection of museums and theatres. The Talfer meadows in the centre of Bolzano are a “green oasis” and a popular meeting place for young and old. They begin not far from the western end of the pedestrian zone. Those who want to explore Bolzano a little further off the beaten track can follow the insider tip of the Hotel Weihrerhof and visit the Runkelstein Castle with its unique frescoes.
Füssen – Royal Castles from a Fairy Tale
Not far from Hotel Das Rübezahl lies the romantic old town of Füssen, Bavaria’s highest village. With more than 2000 years of history, it invites its visitors to wander through the medieval alleys, admire historic and lovingly restored buildings and visit the old city wall. But above all, Füssen is famous for its royal castles.
The old town’s three castles, Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and the Hohe Schloss (German for castle), look like something straight out of a fairy tale. The Benedictine monastery of St. Mang is also well worth a visit. Neuschwanstein Castle, by the way, can be easily enjoyed from the hotel’s outdoor pool. Some of the rooms also have a view of the castle. And an overnight stay in the redesigned romantic suites creates an authentic fairy-tale atmosphere.
Picturesque Old Town Baden-Baden Around the Collegiate Church
Some places are simply magical. This is also true of the picturesque old town in Baden-Baden, which frames the Collegiate Church with its winding alleyways. Small boutiques, goldsmiths, antique dealers and wine producers line up here. As you stroll along the centuries-old cobblestones, splashing fountains and romantic staircases around every corner tempt you to take a short break. If you haven’t had enough of medieval history yet, you should visit the 12th-century monastery of the Cistercian Order nearby.
The starting point for excursions into the past, but also into the nature around Baden-Baden and the town of Bad Herrenalb, which is also worth seeing, is the sustainable Hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA. From here, you can also start hiking tours on the most beautiful German hiking trail, the Panoramaweg, visit the Alt Schloss zum Hohenbaden or spend a few hours in the Frieder Burda Museum. Afterwards, relaxing in the spacious spa area or over a gourmet dinner feels even more well-deserved.
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck – A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Lübeck was founded as the first port city on the Baltic Sea as early as 1143. The old city centre is surrounded by water and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. A stroll across the old town island reveals past architectural monuments from more than eight centuries ago – it is like a journey back in time. The variety of protected buildings, brick architecture, townhouses, collegiate courtyards and churches characterises the image of the port city.
Culturally, Lübeck has a wide range of museums, theatres and events to offer. To immerse yourself in the city’s exciting history, the team at Lifestyle hotel SAND recommends the Hansemuseum. The hotel is located just 25 minutes out of town in the famous holiday paradise of Timmendorfer Strand. The “Adults Only” hotel is conveniently close to the sea, so extended walks along the beach start 
almost directly in front of the door. You can enjoy the relaxed Nordic flair on the roof terrace in the evening.
View Over the Old Town Erlangen From the Tower of the Huguenot Church
Erlangen is considered the smallest large city in Bavaria. The foundation stone of the historic city centre also formed the basis for the construction of the Huguenot Church in 1686. The Creativhotel Luise insider tip is that the church’s tower offers the best view over Erlangen. The sustainable hotel actively promotes a green Erlangen. But it does not stop at environmental protection. Only recently, hotel manager Ben Förster opened Marga’s Lädele, a 24-hour food vending machine that fills a gap in the supply of its neighbourhood.
The Creativhotel Luise also recommends a walk through the old town’s narrow streets, where there are many small restaurants and unique shops, for example, the paper shop in Wasserturmstraße, which many customers call the “most beautiful shop in Erlangen”. Other recommendations from the hotel are the castle garden and the botanical garden, both within easy walking distance.
Korcula – In the Footsteps of Marco Polo
The small Croatian town of Korcula is often called “little Dubrovnik”. This nickname is no coincidence. The medieval walled old town has the same Venetian-style buildings with typical red roofs as Dubrovnik. St Mark’s Cathedral stands in the city centre, an impressive Gothic and Renaissance church. During a visit to the town museum, visitors can learn more about the history of Korcula, for example, about Marco Polo.
Some say that the famous traveller from the 13th century was born here. Korcula can be reached from the Eco Aparthotel, The Dreamers Club, in a few minutes by bicycle. The bicycles are available to hotel guests free of charge. If you get hungry after a long stroll through the city, follow the hotel’s recommendation and stop at the Aterina restaurant.
One of Europe’s Oldest Cities: Stari Grad
Stari Grad translates as “Old Town” and is one of the oldest in Europe. Stari Grad was founded as early as 384 BC as the second-largest Croatian town on the Adriatic. The narrow streets are lined with typical old stone houses.
In the town museum, visitors can discover more about the culture and history of the harbour town. Next to the museum is Tvrdalj Castle, which once served as a defensive fortress and is also open to interested visitors. The plateau behind the city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, and in 2017 the 2400-year-old place was nominated for the “Best European Destination 2017” award. From Maslina Resort, it is only a 6-minute drive to the “Old Town”. After a long day on their feet, guests of the luxurious resort can relax in the Mediterranean Pharomatiq Spa.
More information about the sustainable hotels from which the picturesque old towns can be explored can be found at Green Pearls® and the hotel’s respective websites.
Edited by: Jill Walsh
