Bensheim, Germany

With a population of just 41,758, Bensheim is a small town with an outsized bureaucracy. The climate may be Germany's mildest, but it comes with a persistent headache - the town's complex history has left it with 557 protected cultural monuments, requiring endless paperwork for even minor renovations. Still, Bensheim's blend of Odenwald charm and Rhine plain convenience could appeal to those seeking a slower pace of life.