Top Reasons to Go to Franconia and the German Danube

A Living Altstadt: This one isn't just for the tourists. Bamberg may be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it's also a vibrant town living very much in the present.

The Fortress at Nürnberg: Holy Roman emperors once resided in the vast complex of the Kaiserburg, which has fabulous views over the entire city.

The Bridge in Regensburg: The Golden Gate Bridge may be better known today, but the 12th-century Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge) was its match in terms of engineering ingenuity and importance in its day.

"God's Ballroom": Vierzehnheiligen, a church on the Main north of Bamberg, is spectacular both inside and out. Fourteen columns, commemorating a vision of Christ and 14 saints, preside over the scene of swirling rococo decoration and light that earned it the nickname "God's Ballroom."

An Organ Concert in Passau: St. Stephan's Cathedral has the largest church organ in the world: 17,774 pipes all told. You can listen to the mighty sound they create at weekday concerts.