2022 - Variety in Franconian

Jubilee in the belly of the Earth

Another character of Franconia is the diversity of its nature parks: ten parks altogether make up more than half of the vacation destination. Nature has created very different landscapes here: the open distant Rhön with its fascinating moors, the Fichtel Mountains with the highest mountains in Franconia, the gentle hills of the Haßberge, the Altmühltal Nature Park with its juniper heaths or the Bergstrasse-Odenwald Geo-Nature Park, in which fascinating windows into the history of the Earth open up. Another special feature of the Franconian nature parks is the diversity of the forests: whether the natural forest reserves of the Frankenhöhe, the Franconian Forest as the "green crown of Bavaria", the Steigerwald with its combination of forest and wine or the Spessart, with its beeches and oaks, one of the largest connected deciduous forest areas in Central Europe (www.frankentourismus.de/naturpark).

Another special feature of the Franconian nature parks are their bizarre rock formations and caves. They can be found in large numbers in the Franconian Switzerland - Franconian Jura Nature Park: for example, the Bing cave near Streitberg, the Sophien cave near Rabenstein Castle or the Maximilian grotto near Neuhaus an der Pegnitz. A particularly beautiful experience in the “belly of the Earth” awaits visitors in the Pottenstein devil's cave (Teufelshöhle) with its unique stalactite formations. It was opened to visitors 100 years ago: with the first “cave tourists” in late autumn 1922, the Teufelshöhle established itself as the first tourist attraction in Franconian Switzerland (www.pottenstein.de).

Sustainable ways to go on vacation

The nature parks are also an indicator of the great importance of sustainability in Franconian tourism. After all, one of the central tasks of a nature park is to actively protect, maintain and develop its landscapes and, at the same time, make them accessible to people. Sustainable holidays in Franconia start with the arrival: Thanks to the Bavarian Railway Company (BEG) and the Transport Association Greater Nuremberg (VGN), Franconia has a dense network of bus and train lines. Many of them deliberately serve leisure destinations or starting points for hiking and cycling routes. Thus, BEG and VGN represent a strong leisure partner during the stay.

An important aspect of sustainability is also the regional value - and in Franconia you can taste it on your tongue: This is ensured by the many different regional products - from tender asparagus to freshly caught fish and pasture-raised beef. They enrich the menus of Franconian restaurateurs and are also appreciated by local hosts who serve a regional breakfast to their overnight guests. In Franconia in general, it is clear that there are many hosts who place value on individuality: They make sure that sustainability and hospitality are combined in the best way.

The most beautiful time of the year simply booked online

Franconian homestay can easily be booked online. In addition to the usual booking portals, the FrankenTourismus website offers direction. It links directly to the booking options of the Franconian vacation destinations and thus simplifies both the search and the booking itself (www.frankentourismus.de/unterkuenfte).

Family time in the “Spielraum Franken”

With "Spielraum Franken", FrankenTourismus has also created its own portal offering travel tips and direct booking options together. Under the motto "A trip to Franconia is like a fantasy journey. Only in reality.“ users are invited to discover both Franconia's centuries-old tradition as a land of toys through tangible experiences from the areas of "Action & Experience," "Nature & Animals," "Tradition & History" and "Dolls & Toys." They range from fossil hunting in the quarry to boat trips and rides on the museum train to ghost tours or the children's creative workshop. If you want to make someone happy, simply give away a "Make a Wish" voucher for unforgettable experiences in "Spielraum Franken". To find out what is possible, follow "Spielraum Franken" on Instagram (www.instagram.com/spielraum_franken) or search for #spielraumfranken. That way, you won't miss any of the competitions which are part of the campaign (www.spielraum-franken.de).
 

Master of dark romance and brave children

A fascinating world opens up in the Franconian cities. Highlights include Ansbach, Aschaffenburg, Bamberg, Bayreuth, Coburg, Dinkelsbühl, Eichstätt, Erlangen, Forchheim, Fürth, Kulmbach, Nuremberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Schweinfurt and Würzburg. There are two anniversaries as part of the 2022 program. Bamberg celebrates "200 years of ETA Hoffmann": The master of dark romanticism, known for works such as "The Devil's Elixirs" or "The Sandman", was a universal artist and music director of the Bamberg theater for five years from 1808. In his honor, it bears the name "ETA Hoffmann Theater." Directly opposite, the "E.T.A. Hoffmann House," where the artist lived, offers an opportunity to delve even deeper into the world of the Romantics (en.bamberg.info).

Back to the dark times of the Thirty Years' War in Dinkelsbühl: Although the enemies had advanced to the front of the town in 1632 and devastation was looming, the town survived the precarious situation unscathed. The "Kinderzeche" festival and pageant tell the story of why. From July 15 to 24, 2022, the "Kinderzeche" will take place for the 125th time and will introduce the audience to a brave girl who marched against the enemies with a crowd of children (www.kinderzeche.de).

A house for the future

Aschaffenburg sets a new highlight in Franconian cultural life. On June 3, 2022, the "Christian Schad Museum" will open. The work of Schad, known today primarily as "Master of New Objectivity" has numerous other facets which the museum will illuminate. The exhibition is based on the extensive estate which the artist, who died in 1982, bequeathed to his temporary adopted home of Aschaffenburg (www.christian-schad-museum.de).

The new Zukunftsmuseum (Future Museum) in Nuremberg shows that a museum does not have to look only to the past. As a branch of the Deutsches Museum, it explains and questions the technologies of tomorrow and provides an overview of what might await us in 10, 15 or 50 years - from useful robots to flying cars to journeys to Mars (www.deutsches-museum.de/nuernberg).

Insider tips to the 15 Franconian cities can be found on their joint website. Short texts and videos whet the appetite for discovery tours. Guests can choose whether they are interested in a particular city or let themselves be guided by the keywords under which the stories and experiences are placed (www.die-fraenkischen-staedte.de).

A world heritage for health

Franconia's cultural treasures are world-class: This is demonstrated by its UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes, the magnificent Würzburg Residence, the Old Town of Bamberg and the Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth all bear this great distinction. After Bamberg recently opened its World Heritage Center, Bayreuth is following suit: Its new World Heritage Center will invite visitors to the Redoutenhaus in the immediate vicinity of the Margravial Opera House from 2022. In the summer of 2021, the circle of Franconian World Heritage sites was further expanded with the addition of Bad Kissingen: the traditional spa town is part of the well renowned "Great Spa Towns of Europe". In this association, Bad Kissingen shines above all thanks to its collection of spa gardens, its political and international significance of having a regular guest to the spa being none other than the Imperial Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, and the historical facilities for brine extraction. Including Bad Kissingen as the newest member, five of the total of ten Bavarian UNESCO World Heritage Sites are now located in Franconia (www.frankentourismus.de/unesco-welterbe-franken).
 

Enjoyable traditions: Regional cuisine, beer and wine from Franconia

Whether you are on cultural or nature tours: In Franconia, there are always delicious opportunities to get to know the culinary side of the vacation destination and to toast to it with a glass of Franconian wine. This delicious combination of nature and the passion of Franconian winegrowers offers numerous enjoyable travel opportunities. „Franconia - Wine.Beautiful.Country!" bundles selected recommendations. Only offers that meet the high set of requirements are allowed to bear this seal of quality. This is how you can discover wineries, restaurants, inns, wine bars and wine bistros or be a guest at a winegrower's in Franconia. Wine hiking trails, regional delicacies, extraordinary wine architecture and the viewpoints "terroir f - the magical places of Franconian wine" round off the pleasurable experience in wine country Franconia (en.franken-weinland.de).

This also applies to the extremely successful initiative "Franconia - Home of Beers". It combines interesting tips and information about Franconia's beers with beer tours, beer festivals and beer packages. Franconia's brewery culture is unique in the world: nowhere else is there such a high density of breweries with a large variety of beers - from Rauchbier (smoked beer) to "Ungespundeten" (open fermentation beer). Franconian brewing culture is revealed in beer museums, on beer hikes, brewing seminars, beer tours and at traditional festivals (en.franken-bierland.de).

The brochure "Franconia - Land of Delights" invites you on a culinary voyage of discovery to tangible delights. Like the other Franconia Tourism brochures, it can also be found as a flipbook online. It highlights culinary delicacies from Franconia, such as the Franconian bratwurst, Nuremberg gingerbread or the Aischgründer carp (www.frankentourismus.com/specials/culinary-delights). The 56 Franconian places which are awarded the title "Genussort Bayern" (culinary hotspot Bavaria) can also be found in the brochure and on the website.

A celebration of culture

Culinary and wine events are an integral part of the Franconian calendar of events, as are customs, top-class concerts and Christmas markets. Literature festivals alternate with historical festivals, theater days and festival performances. Information on these events is provided in the online calendar at www.frankentourismus.com/specials/events, which is also available for smartphones and tablets.

An integral part of Franconian culture is the "Musikzauber Franken". Only event series that manage to combine high musical quality with a special ambience are certified with the quality seal "Musikzauber Franken" ("Music Magic Franconia") - from church concerts to open-air events at Franconia's castles to swing jazz festivals (www.frankentourismus.de/musikzauber-franken).

Effective in the Renaissance workshop

In 2022, the anniversary events of "550 Years of Cranach the Elder" will be part of the Franconian cultural focus. Lucas Cranach, born in 1472 in the Franconian town of Kronach, along with Albrecht Dürer, was one of the most outstanding German Renaissance painters. He not only captured the great themes of his time in remarkable paintings, but as a friend and portraitist of Martin Luther he was also an important companion of the Reformation. Above all, he was an outstanding businessman who was highly effective in mass production in his workshop. In the anniversary year, you can encounter this fascinating personality in the "Franconian Gallery" at the Rosenberg Fortress in Kronach, or at the exhibition "Between the Chairs - Cranach, Luther and the Cardinal" (October 15, 2022 to January 8, 2023) at the Aschaffenburg Abbey Museum (www.kronach.de, www.museen-aschaffenburg.de).

Quality at every step: Hiking in Franconia

Franconia always presents itself to the active holiday makers as a top destination thanks to its quality and premium hiking trails. More than 50 routes are now certified in Franconia. This means that the vacation destination is packed with many quality trails like no other German vacation region. Unforgettable touring experiences are offered, among others, by the "Franconian Trail - from the Rennsteig to the Swabian Alb" or the "Franconian Mountain Trail". The 520 kilometer (323 miles) long "Frankenweg" crosses the hiking paradise of Franconia from the northeast to its southernmost tip; the "Franconian Mountain Trail" leads over 428 kilometers (266 miles) across some of the most stately peaks in Franconia. Due to their outstanding hiking offers, the Franconian Forest and the "Räuberland" in the Spessart-Mainland have also been certified as "Quality Region Hiking Germany" (www.frankentourismus.com/specials/hiking).
 

Franconian river routes

Probably one of the most varied routes for cyclists is the "MainRadweg" with a length of around 600 kilometers (373 miles). It follows the Main river through various landscapes from its two sources to its mouth (www.frankentourismus.com/specials/bicycling/mainriverbicycletrail). Pure river pleasure is also offered by the "RegnitzRadweg", which connects the cities of Nuremberg and Bamberg (www.frankentourismus.com/specials/bicycling/regnitzbicycletrail), and the "Tauber Altmühl Radweg". The latter links the courses of the Main, Tauber, Altmühl and Danube rivers between Wertheim and Kelheim (www.frankentourismus.com/specials/bicycling/tauberaltmuehlbicycletrail).

Cyclists in Franconia have an extra tailwind thanks to many e-bike offers. Along the e-bike routes, there is a great network of battery charging and rental stations, service centers and hosts with e-bike rentals (www.frankentourismus.com/specials/bicycling).

On the road with motorcycle and campervans

Motorcyclists will find the best conditions on the road in Franconia: Varied tours, idyllic rest areas and motorcycle-friendly inns make Franconia a relaxed biker's paradise. Motorcyclists will find a selection of tours in the motorcycle brochure, which is available from FrankenTourismus. The road in Franconia is also well prepared for campers: In a brochure and online, they receive numerous suggestions for many different driving and vacation enjoyment with their mobile home.
 

Relaxing in the “Health Park Franconia”

No matter how you discover Franconia for yourself: relaxing moments are not in short supply. The 19 spas and health resorts in the "Franconia Health Park" make sure of that. They are - thanks to innovative concepts and healing treasures from nature - true health and wellness retreats. Their offerings include modern spas, magnificent sauna landscapes, wellness treatments and special features such as Germany's first mineral water lake or salt lakes with a concentration similar to that of the Dead Sea. Here you can regenerate physically and let your mind wander (www.gesundheitspark-franken.de).

Further information:

Franconian Tourist Board
Pretzfelder Straße 15, 90425 Nürnberg
Phone: +49 (0)911/941510, Fax +49 (0)911/9415110
info@frankentourismus.de, www.frankentourismus.com