9 Best Performing Arts Venues in Franconia and the German Danube, Germany

Bamberg's own world-class resident symphony orchestra, the Bamberger Symphoniker, plays in the Konzerthalle Bamberg.

In 1994 organizers Rolf Beyersdorf and Christof Pilarzyk had, in their own words, a "crazy idea" that has since become a huge three-day festival with more than 3,000 Sambistas. This weekend bacchanal, with food, drink, and dancing, is held in mid-July.

The city's first-class ensemble, Capella Antiqua Bambergensis, specializes in ancient music featuring lute, harp, hurdy gurdy, and other early instruments. They perform (in medieval costume) at several venues in town.

Opera and operettas are performed here from September through July.

Passau is the cultural center of Lower Bavaria. Its Europäische Wochen festival—featuring everything from opera to pantomime—is a major event on the European music calendar. The festival runs from mid-June to July or early August and is held in venues all over the city.

From May through July classical-music concerts are given in the Rittersaal of the Kaiserburg.

If you don't get Wagner Festival tickets, console yourself with visits to the exquisite 18th-century opera house. In May the Fränkische Festwochen (Franconian Festival Weeks) take the stage with works of Wagner, of course, but also Paganini and Mozart.

Nuremberg holds this annual summer festival from May through July, with more than 200 events. Its international organ festival in June and July is regarded as Europe's finest.

Opera lovers swear that there are few more intense operatic experiences than the annual Wagner Festival in Bayreuth. The festival is held in July and August and you'll do best if you plan your visit several years in advance. It is nearly impossible to find a hotel room during the festival: try finding a room in a surrounding town instead of Bayreuth. Since tickets are now available online, it is easier than ever to experience Wagner on his home turf. For tickets, register on the website of the Bayreuther Festspiele Kartenbüro ( ticketshop.bayreuther-festspiele.de/en). The Festival releases its schedule in January and sends a notification to all the registered users who can then try to book tickets. A maximum of four tickets can be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis.