Other Bavarian towns may have more to offer by way of grandiose mediaeval facades, historic museums, or lively festivals, but thorough travellers would be remiss to leave out Erding. Settled since prehistoric times, this city between Munich and Landshut is a pleasant country escape where the wheat beer flows freely.

Erding is a primarily agricultural area and ideal for those in search of pastoral views. Local crops include carrots, sugar beets, kohlrabi, turnips, strawberries, and a veritable rainbow of cabbage varieties. Erding’s greater claim to fame, however, is the Erdinger brewery, the world’s largest brewer of wheat beer. The city’s penchant for record breaking doesn’t end there. Erding is also home to the 36-acre wellness centre Therme Erding, which is the world’s largest thermal spa.

S-Bahn trains regularly arrive from Munich, which lies about 45 kilometres to the south-west. The ride from Munchen Hackerbrucke station is just shy of one hour. Erding is quite closely situated to the Munich airport and plenty of taxis are available.

Like most Bavarian towns, Erding was officially founded in the 13th century, but, more unusually, there has been evidence of prehistoric settlements on this site. A deer antler axe indicates the presence of hunter-gatherers as early as 6000 B.C. Ancient dwellings and Bronze Age graveyards show the area was settled as far back as 2500 B.C.