Castles, Beers and Bayreuth: A journey through Upper Franconia | All media content | DW | 25.07.2022
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Castles, Beers and Bayreuth: A journey through Upper Franconia

The famous Richard Wagner Festival in Bayreuth opens on July 25. Through August, Richard Wagner's works will be performed on stage. Let's take this opportunity to explore the beautiful region in Bavaria.

  • The front facade and gardens of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus theater

    Bayreuth Festival

    The annual Richard Wagner Festival is held at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus theater, pictured here. The first performances in 1876 were a fiasco. Over time, however, Wagner's concept of opera as a Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art) developed into a major social event. Wagner fans from all over the world will gather here again in 2022. The festival begins on July 25 and runs until September 1, 2022.

  • The front facade of the orangery and surrounding gardens with pond of the Hermitage in Bayreuth

    Bayreuth

    Of course, Bayreuth has a lot more to offer beside the festival, most notably magnificent Baroque buildings. These include the New Palace in the city center and the Margravial Opera House, a lavishly designed Baroque theater that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Hermitage, a historical park with an orangery (picture) on the outskirts of the town, was a retreat for courtly life.

  • The bridge leading to the island in the river where the historical Town Hall building is located in Bamberg, Bavaria

    Bamberg

    Strolling through Bamberg feels like visiting an open-air museum of the Middle Ages. The entire historic old town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The old town hall, which stands on an artificial island, is one of the most memorable buildings. It marks the boundary between the former domain of bishops and that of citizens on opposite sides of the river.

  • Marketplace with historical buldings in Coburg, Germany

    Coburg

    Medieval Coburg, along with Bayreuth and Bamberg, is one of Upper Franconia's larger towns. More than 41,000 people live here. Its showpiece is the marketplace, including representative buildings like the town hall (pictured). Since Coburg was formerly the seat of the dukes of Saxony-Coburg and Gotha and thus a meeting place for European high nobility, it was supposed to make an impression.

  • The fortress on a hill in Veste Coburg

    Veste Coburg

    High above Coburg towers the fortress of the dukes, popularly known as the "Franconian Crown." The nickname is no coincidence. It is one of the largest and best-preserved castles in Germany. Walls, iron gates and other gates made the bastion an impregnable fortress. Today it is a museum, and houses important art collections.

  • People on the high plateau of the Staffelberg Mountain looking out at the surrounding countryside

    Staffelberg

    Staffelberg near Coburg also has a nickname: The "Mount of the Franks" stands out from afar because of its steeply sloping rock edge. This is ideal for climbing, but only a limited number of routes are open. If you prefer a less-strenuous approach, you can take a short walk from Romansthal up the mountain and enjoy the view of the surrounding countryside from the high plateau.

  • Aerial view of the Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers in Upper Franconia

    Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers

    From Staffelberg you can see the pilgrimage church Vierzehnheiligen. Those visiting the Basilica ask themselves why such an imposing church is situated in the middle of a forest. The construction was based on a legend: 14 children who performed miracles are said to have appeared to a shepherd here. As a result, people seeking help came to Vierzehnheiligen — which in English means fourteen saints.

  • Historic houses next to the rock formations in Tüchersfeld, Franconian Switzerland

    Franconian Switzerland

    Franconian Switzerland is one Upper Franconia region wonderful for hiking. More than 4,500 kilometers (2,796 miles) of hiking trails lead past idyllic villages and bizarre rock formations. Many millions of years ago, the region was covered by the sea, where limestone layers were deposited. Over eons, this gave rise to the rock formations typical of Franconian Switzerland, like here in Tüchersfeld.

  • Beer Queen Christina Pollnick and Check-in presenter Lukas Stege enjoying a beer

    The land of a thousand beers

    Hiking makes you thirsty. But in Franconia, you are never far from the next tavern. The region has the highest brewery density in the world. The population of 1 million has around 200 breweries and 1,000 different types of beer. Numerous hiking trails lead from tavern to tavern. From full-bodied to tangy — there is something for every taste.

  • Bayerischer Schweinebraten mit Kartoffelknödeln

    Hearty Franconian cuisine

    Speaking of good taste, the Franconians hold the title "Region of pleasure" in high regard, and also live up to it — in Bavarian style. The regional cuisine is hearty: sausages, pork shanks and roasts are featured on a typical Franconian menu. People who don't eat meat might try 'Kloss mit Soss' — which means dumplings with gravy.


  • The front facade and gardens of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus theater

    Bayreuth Festival

    The annual Richard Wagner Festival is held at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus theater, pictured here. The first performances in 1876 were a fiasco. Over time, however, Wagner's concept of opera as a Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art) developed into a major social event. Wagner fans from all over the world will gather here again in 2022. The festival begins on July 25 and runs until September 1, 2022.

  • The front facade of the orangery and surrounding gardens with pond of the Hermitage in Bayreuth

    Bayreuth

    Of course, Bayreuth has a lot more to offer beside the festival, most notably magnificent Baroque buildings. These include the New Palace in the city center and the Margravial Opera House, a lavishly designed Baroque theater that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Hermitage, a historical park with an orangery (picture) on the outskirts of the town, was a retreat for courtly life.

  • The bridge leading to the island in the river where the historical Town Hall building is located in Bamberg, Bavaria

    Bamberg

    Strolling through Bamberg feels like visiting an open-air museum of the Middle Ages. The entire historic old town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The old town hall, which stands on an artificial island, is one of the most memorable buildings. It marks the boundary between the former domain of bishops and that of citizens on opposite sides of the river.

  • Marketplace with historical buldings in Coburg, Germany

    Coburg

    Medieval Coburg, along with Bayreuth and Bamberg, is one of Upper Franconia's larger towns. More than 41,000 people live here. Its showpiece is the marketplace, including representative buildings like the town hall (pictured). Since Coburg was formerly the seat of the dukes of Saxony-Coburg and Gotha and thus a meeting place for European high nobility, it was supposed to make an impression.

  • The fortress on a hill in Veste Coburg

    Veste Coburg

    High above Coburg towers the fortress of the dukes, popularly known as the "Franconian Crown." The nickname is no coincidence. It is one of the largest and best-preserved castles in Germany. Walls, iron gates and other gates made the bastion an impregnable fortress. Today it is a museum, and houses important art collections.

  • People on the high plateau of the Staffelberg Mountain looking out at the surrounding countryside

    Staffelberg

    Staffelberg near Coburg also has a nickname: The "Mount of the Franks" stands out from afar because of its steeply sloping rock edge. This is ideal for climbing, but only a limited number of routes are open. If you prefer a less-strenuous approach, you can take a short walk from Romansthal up the mountain and enjoy the view of the surrounding countryside from the high plateau.

  • Aerial view of the Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers in Upper Franconia

    Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers

    From Staffelberg you can see the pilgrimage church Vierzehnheiligen. Those visiting the Basilica ask themselves why such an imposing church is situated in the middle of a forest. The construction was based on a legend: 14 children who performed miracles are said to have appeared to a shepherd here. As a result, people seeking help came to Vierzehnheiligen — which in English means fourteen saints.

  • Historic houses next to the rock formations in Tüchersfeld, Franconian Switzerland

    Franconian Switzerland

    Franconian Switzerland is one Upper Franconia region wonderful for hiking. More than 4,500 kilometers (2,796 miles) of hiking trails lead past idyllic villages and bizarre rock formations. Many millions of years ago, the region was covered by the sea, where limestone layers were deposited. Over eons, this gave rise to the rock formations typical of Franconian Switzerland, like here in Tüchersfeld.

  • Beer Queen Christina Pollnick and Check-in presenter Lukas Stege enjoying a beer

    The land of a thousand beers

    Hiking makes you thirsty. But in Franconia, you are never far from the next tavern. The region has the highest brewery density in the world. The population of 1 million has around 200 breweries and 1,000 different types of beer. Numerous hiking trails lead from tavern to tavern. From full-bodied to tangy — there is something for every taste.

  • Bayerischer Schweinebraten mit Kartoffelknödeln

    Hearty Franconian cuisine

    Speaking of good taste, the Franconians hold the title "Region of pleasure" in high regard, and also live up to it — in Bavarian style. The regional cuisine is hearty: sausages, pork shanks and roasts are featured on a typical Franconian menu. People who don't eat meat might try 'Kloss mit Soss' — which means dumplings with gravy.