We stopped in Wernigerode, in the Harz Mountains region, for a break on a long ride across the country. It is a town worthy of at least a few hours of exploration.
The town center is nothing short of picture-perfect, with superbly preserved half-timbered houses alongside its Old Town streets. The variety of ornaments adorning the houses is unbelievable. A splendid Rathaus presides over the main town square, Marktplatz ♥, but there are many visual delights in various corners of the largely pedestrian city center.
A fairy-tale Schloss Wernigerode ♥♥ sits high above town, reachable by a mini-train. It houses the art collection of local erstwhile rulers and offers great views of the surrounding area from its ramparts.