Winner of the German Tourism Board’s prize in 2005, Arnstadt is a delightful town that is steeped in history. Situated in Ilm-Kreis and on the Gera river, it is home to the first German Bratwurst Museum and has a population of roughly 25,000 residents. Walking around the town, you can take a tour from the Arnstader Brewery and meander through the streets to the museum in Hozhausen.

The composer J.S. Bach’s family lived here and he is thought to have composed some of his most famous works in the area. Many traces of Bach can still be felt in the city; the Bach Church even holds an annual Festival to celebrate its most famous export.

Aside from this, it is well worth taking in the beautifully constructed scale doll town, ‘Mon Plaisir’, and the Church of Our Lady – an impressive gothic structure. The town’s many cafes and bistros also provide stopping points for your tour.