Best things/places in Franconia
 

Please provide your opinions as to the best places and things to do in the Franconia region of Germany.

We will be in the area for 5 days, the last week in October. If you have been there, I would appreciate your opinions as to the best things to see and do in the area. I am particularily interested in natural areas, vineyard tours, interesting villages etc as I have read much already the major cities. Thank you.

I've been there but not sure what it's boundaries are. I recall both Bamburg and Donauworth proudly boast of being in Franconia, which puts all places in between these (Rothenburg, Dinkelsbuhl, Nordlingen, Harburg) in Franconia as well. And Regensburg? Highlights from amongst these (for me) would be Rothenburg and Bamburg.

There are three regions of frankonia or franken:
Mittelfranken with cities Ansbach, Erlangen, Fürth, Nürnberg, Schwabach
Oberfranken with cities Bamberg, Bayreuth, Coburg, Forchheim, Hof, Kronach, Kulmbach, Lichtenfels, Wunsiedel
Unterfranken with cities Aschaffenburg, Schweinfurt, Würzburg.
Franken offers you a wide range of offers, from the wooded landscape of Frankenwald or Fichtelgebirge to the baroque town of Würzburg inmidst a winegrowing region at river main.
So, it is up to yours to decide what you want to see and to get.

Maybe this question will be of certain help: Do you prefer beer or wine? The best wine you will find in and around Würzburg.
The best beer you will find at Bamberg (smoked beer) Bayreuth (Maisel) Kulmbach (Reichelbräu)and a lot more regional breweries.
For food, Frankonia is known for its sausages. No good area for having a diet to loose weight.

When we were in Germany this past May, we stayed a couple of days in Iphofen, which is southeast of Wurzburg. It's a lovely little wine town with many of its original old walls and fortifications still intact. We were probably the only Americans there, but it is well known to the German tourists. Another town we fell in love with is Dettelbach, which is very similar to Iphofen. Off the beaten path for Americans, but well worth a visit.

For more info on both Iphofen and Dettelbach, you can go to www.iphofen.de (German only) and www.dettelbach.de (info in English). Also, if you want to read my trip report, just click on my name above. I also provided a separate report with information on our accommodations.

It's a beautiful area full of lovely little villages and fabulous country vistas.

I did 3 months last year in Sommerach, which is in the heart of Franconia. The town sits right on the River Main.

I'd be happy to give you some input about the area.

Take care

Thanks for the replys. I have read about the vineyards in the area around Wurzburg, and the famous beer from Bamberg. We look forward to experiencing both.

If any one knows of any particularly neat hotels, gast hauses, or inns in that area I would appreciate a response. I am hoping to find a real authentic accomodation. Our budget is pretty flexible. We are not high rollers, but are willing to spend some money to saty in a great place that will be special.

We will have a car. At first we were going to only use the train, but have decided now to get a car. Thank you for any ideas.

Two years ago we stumbled upon Gassweinstein, a delightful village which seemed to be the kind of place where Germans went to vacation, sort of like Glenwood Springs is to Denver, but without the touristy and without the casinos. It had a nice ambience. There was a bubbling brook to the west of the town. We stayed at a pension at one corner of the town square (the northeast corner?), directly apart from the town church. At 6:00 the bells began to peal; at the first bong I woke up; at the second clang I began to become annoyed; at the third cling we started to smile, as the bells were the most joyous sounding bells we've ever heard. I've never been a fan of carillon, but if I could get a recording of those bells I would buy it.

Hi born2, I lived in midddle Franconia for 2 years. I don't know where you plan on arrival, which would determine which area I would recommend as to middle or south region.If you use Wurzburg as a starting area, don't miss the tour (English) of the Residenz. The ceiling painting by Tiepolo is not to be missed. Sommerhausen and Ochsenfurt are short side trips to the south. Continuing south is the walled in village of Iphofen, which is definitely not on most tourists lists. Switching to a northern direction is the tiny village of Ebrach with a converted monastery/brewery now an inn (very nice) The Klösterbräu. I would continue west to Bamberg. See the cathedral,Klein Venedig (little Italy) by boat. From here I would continue south through the Fränkische Schweiz;the Franconian Switzerland. Here is your truly natural area with tiny, unique villages. Forcheim for the Fachwerk houses, Goßweinstein with it's pilgramage church and Pottenstein with it's burg high, high on a mountain ( you can go through here) There is also an interesting tour through a cave the -Teufelshöle. Many small restaurants here have excellent smoked trout dinners and of course Semmelknödle, the huge bread and potato dumplings. Depending on your energy level, you could do this in three days. Not knowing where your departure is, you could then go south to Nurnburg. This is middle Franconia and only a part, if you wanted to go south, which is more tourist populated, it would be a totally different route. Hope this helps.

Just finished writing about Sommerach in another thread.

Absolutely love Franconia. One of the best parts of Germany and one of the most affordable regions in Germany

I'd recommend Franconia to anyone interested in visiting Germany

misscarol,
That was a fantastic reply. Thank you kindly. I am now investigating all your ideas.

Near the Teufelshöle is a small park where you can go Alpine sliding. We did it as a group activity when I worked for a while with a company based outside Nuremberg. Also, it's a good time to visit the farms around Nuremberg. Many of them are open to visitors and sell their produce directly to the public along with homemade schnapps, muesli (great buy), etc. One of the best places to buy organic muesli and similar items (which can be taken back to the U.S.) is a small, picturesque mill right outside the village of Kalchreuth, near Nuremberg.
Some farms even set up special activities--we visited one farm that offered nice picnic lunches, sold "handwerk" made on the farm, and allowed you to tour their barns, etc.--they even let you have a go at milking a cow! I bought a pretty handwoven, hand-dyed table mat from one farm for the princely sum of 6 euros (I still keep it on my table). The farm is owned by a friendly couple and the wife is a member of the German parliament.
I am not a rauchbier fan, but I loved the award-winning Wolfshoeher beer made in a small brewery outside Neunkirchen. It's open to the public. www.wolfshoeher.de (german only)