Fritzlar

Fritzlar is not only known for the romanesque church of St. Peter, but as well for the pretty well conserved center, still protected by a wall and some towers. After Saint Bonitatius had chopped down the sacred "Donar Oak", this one of the starting points of the evangelisation of the germanic tribes, living east of the Rhine. Charlemagne had an imperial residence here. In 919 an Imperial Diet was held in Fritzlar - Heinrich I (aka "Henry the Fowler") was elected German king then, being the first of the Ottonian dynasty. During the 10th and 11th century this was a very important place, where kings and emperors resided frequently.

Now Fritzlar is a small town (pop. 15000) - with nice half timbered building standing all around the market place.