Franconia and the German Danube: Places to Explore

Few towns in Germany survived the war with as little damage as Bamberg, which is on the Regnitz River. This former residence of one of Germany's most powerful imperial dynasties is on UNESCO's World Heritage... Read more

The small town of Bayreuth, pronounced "bye-roit," owes its fame to the music giant Richard Wagner (1813-83). The 19th-century composer, musical revolutionary, and Nazi poster-child finally settled here... Read more

Coburg is a surprisingly little-known treasure that was founded in the 11th century and remained in the possession of the dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha until 1918; the current duke still lives here. The remarkable... Read more

Kronach is a charming little gateway to the natural splendor of the Frankenwald region.... Read more

A quarter of Kulmbachers earn their living directly or indirectly from beer. Kulmbach celebrates its brewing traditions every year in a nine-day festival that starts on the last Saturday in July. The main... Read more

Nürnberg (Nuremberg in English) is the principal city of Franconia and the second-largest city in Bavaria. With a recorded history stretching back to 1050, it's among the most historic of Germany's... Read more

Flanking the borders of Austria and the Czech Republic, Passau dates back more than 2,500 years. Originally settled by the Celts, then by the Romans, Passau later passed into the possession of prince-bishops... Read more

Few visitors to Bavaria venture this far off the well-trodden tourist trails, and even Germans are surprised when they discover medieval Regensburg. The town escaped World War II with no major damage... Read more