Picturesque Dinkelsbühl is full of charm, colorful historic homes and rich history. (Designed by Daniela Gammon)

The charming medieval town of Dinkelsbühl is tougher than it may appear. While it is highlighted on the German Romantic Road and deemed one of the prettiest towns in Bavaria, it has also survived several sieges during the Thirty Years War and the bombings of World War II, coming out nearly unscathed. Because of this, Dinkelsbühl is a historical hidden gem.

Historic old town of Dinkelsbuhl, reflecting in the river (Massimo Santi- Adobe Stock)

Here, you will find a well-preserved town wall, built in 1440, surrounding buildings, patrician houses and half-timbered homes that are 200-600 years old. Signs and business names written in old German script and colorful architecture makes it easy to get a fairytale-esque feel for what living in the Middle Ages may have been like as well as for scenic photos. You can even rent a horse for the day to get around, very medieval indeed.

July is a wonderful time to visit Dinkelsbühl as the town will be celebrating its premier event, the Kinderzeche (children’s’ feast). It is a nearly 400-year-old tradition deriving from the Thirty Years War. Through a town-wide reenactment, Dinkelsbühl celebrates its 1632 surrender to Swedish troops. Children dressed in traditional costumes gather to witness the event and are gifted chocolates and candy. The name “Kinderzeche” pays homage to the child who stood up to the Swedish troops who were threatening to burn the city to the ground.

Die Gartenlaube (1899) (Ernst Keil’s Nachfolger (Wikimedia Commons) )

Local legend claims that it was a child who saved the town. The gatekeeper of Dinkelsbühl’s daughter, Lore, learned that the Swedish army commander, Colonel Klaus Dietrich was grieving his youngest son’s death. Lore bravely gathered a group of children and blocked the Swedish charge. To the Swedes surprise, one boy stood out and approached Dietrich. The boy resembled Dietrich’s lost son so strikingly, he decided to spare the town saying, “Your children are the rescuers of Dinkelsbühl. Always remember the debt of thanks you owe them.” Thus, the Kinderzeche was born.

In 2025, the festival is occurring July 18–27. Along with the re-enactment, for two weeks, there will be plenty of rides, festival foods and market stalls. For more information, visit Kinderzeche.de.

Whether you rent a horse for the day, cycle the length of the city wall, or simply stroll along the cobblestone streets, there are plenty of sites to take in.

Medieval houses and St George church tower in Dinkelsbuhl, Bavaria state, Germany (Matyas Rehak (Adobe Stock) )

Visitors can climb 222 steps up the tower of the Church of Saint George for a panoramic view of the town. The construction of the late gothic cathedral was complete in 1499 and is in the heart of the city. For history buffs, peruse through the Haus der Geschichte (House of History) which covers the town’s over 800-year-history extensively. The Weinmarkt (Wine Market) in Dinkelsbühl is unique in that it is not in a central commercial square or rectangle like other cities in Germany, the streets where goods were sold make a funnel shape. Along the Weinmarkt, visitors can admire the different styles of historical houses and the former council tavern that provided accommodations to royal guests like the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, in 1546 and the King of Sweden, Gustav II Adolf, in 1632.