Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Cultural region in southeastern Pennsylvania, United States.
Pennsylvania Dutch Country is a region in southeastern Pennsylvania that spans multiple counties and includes cities like Lancaster, York, and Reading. The landscape is marked by farms, markets, traditional homes, and roads where horse-drawn carriages share space with modern traffic.
German settlers from the Palatinate arrived in this area in the early 1700s and founded farming communities that preserved their customs. These communities evolved over time and continue to shape the region's culture and appearance today.
The Pennsylvania Dutch speak a German-derived dialect and shape the region through their traditional way of life and handmade crafts. Visitors notice their presence everywhere: horse-drawn carriages on roads, homemade quilts at markets, and homes without modern technology.
Visitors can explore farm markets throughout the region where fresh produce, handmade quilts, and traditional foods are sold. It helps to allow extra time for driving, as there are many small places to discover and the road network can be indirect.
Many barn roofs throughout the region feature hex signs, geometric patterns that come from German folk art traditions. These colorful symbols are a striking visual detail that reveals the craftsmanship tradition of the residents.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
