Somehow things may not work out as planned with the last few vacations: Last year in fall, Mr. Wallygusto and I were in Franconian Switzerland instead of Japan because of my new job. Sure it was nice, but a Bavarian low mountain range is not a full substitute for a hike on Mount Fuji. And this year we wanted to go to Norway again. But thanks to Corona we made our way to Germany over 3 stages. The focus is less on sightseeing, but on a lot of rest and even more hiking. And we find in the three weeks of our journey through Germany both – and not too scarce. The first stop on the journey is the world heritage city of Bamberg.
Bamberg is a total work of art and represents with about 2.The city with its 400 listed houses and the centuries-old gardener's quarter is one of the largest intact old town ensembles in Europe. The wealth of original buildings from the Middle Ages to the Baroque is overwhelming. The most famous building is the Bamberg Cathedral, one of the former imperial cathedrals. Thanks to this unique historical cityscape, Bamberg was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.
In general, our vacation is unintentionally under the motto "World Heritage Germany", because even on our next stages
we come across world heritage sites again and again.
Disclaimer: This article contains unpaid and unsolicited advertising in the form of links and / or place names. If something was consumed, it was financed by the visitors themselves.
Worth seeing
Altenburg Castle
As an avid reader of our blog, you of course know that Mr. Wallygusto and I have been to the world heritage city of Bamberg several times before. Nevertheless, we are never bored here, because Bamberg and the Bamberg region offer sights in abundance.
Before we go to the cellar for a beer for the first time, we make a short hike to the Altenburg castle. The impressive walls from the Middle Ages are perched on the highest of Bamberg's seven hills and are one of the city's landmarks. By the way, Bamberg's highest beer garden is also hidden here. However, we refrain from a visit and enjoy the panoramic view over Bamberg and the surrounding area from the viewing terrace.
Upper Parish
The most important church building of the Gothic period is the parish church "Zu Unserer Lieben Frau" The simple nave is older than the late Gothic choir, which was laid in 1375, and the high choir, which is supported by buttresses. The marital portal is decorated with Gothic sculptures, the three-nave interior was baroqueized in 1711. Also worth mentioning is the modern Stations of the Cross, which here are not mounted on the wall as usual, but on the floor of the church.
In 15 abstract glass paintings, the artist Albert Ultsch has created a modern interpretation of the stations of the Passion of Jesus. The abstract pictures, which lead through the church and the choir ambulatory with catchwords, are supposed to stimulate the viewer to confront the piety of passion and suffering anew.
Old town hall
The Old Town Hall with its colorful frescoes, which give the facade plasticity through mock architecture, fascinates us anew with every visit! The history of its origin is not less astonishing! According to legend, the bishop of Bamberg did not want to give the citizens any of his land for the construction of a town hall. This is why the resourceful people of Bamberg rammed piles into the river Regnitz, creating an artificial island on which they could build a town hall.
Little Venice
Along the river Regnitz, densely packed half-timbered buildings from the Middle Ages and tiny gardens line up one after the other. At the landing stages of the picturesque front gardens, colorful barges are bobbing merrily along. Not for nothing is the former fishermen's settlement in the Bamberg island town affectionately called "Little Venice".
Hainpark
The Hainpark reminds us in its originality of the Wurmtal or the Isarauen. Almost every evening we take a little digestive walk here. The green lung of Bamberg was built at the beginning of the 19th century. Jh. The park was built after the model of the English Garden in Munich and is one of the oldest citizen parks in Bavaria.
Konigsberg
Not only the world cultural heritage city of Bamberg shines with a well-preserved historic old town. The small town of Konigsberg fascinates us with its medieval-romantic townscape. Thanks to the winding alleys and a multitude of excellently preserved half-timbered houses around the salt market, Konigsberg is a gem of Franconian half-timbered architecture. The Cafe Marktplatzchen provides the icing on the cake – in the truest sense of the word. Here Mr. Wallygusto and I enjoy a tarte with nectarines and a sponge cake roll with a lot of cream filling (and even more cream on top). A little less cream would have been okay, but maybe that's the way it has to be in Lower Franconia.
Botanical Garden Hof
On the way to the Erzgebirge we make a short stop in Hof to visit the botanical garden. The jewel in the middle of the historic Theresienstein park can be divided into two large areas: The geometrically designed Rosarium with the medicinal plant quarter and the more landscaped area with the Alpinum, the water lily pond and the waterfall. Like the Hainpark in Bamberg, the Theresienstein is one of the oldest parks in Bavaria, created by citizens. Intoxicated by the splendor of the blossoms, we walk into the old town and enjoy a large sundae with strawberries in an ice cream parlor.
Activities
Those who know us Wallygustos, know that we spend our vacations not only feasting and drinking wine. Even a pure sightseeing program is (often) not enough for us – we are drawn out into nature. Fortunately, the Steigerwald and the Habberge mountains are two interesting hiking areas right at the doorstep of the world heritage city of Bamberg .
Hike Vollburg and Stollberg
The extended forest hike leads us to the hospitable Handthal winegrowers' nest at the foot of the Stollberg mountain. We taste one of the good wines that thrive under the wooded vineyards of the highest vineyard in Franconia when we stop at Cafe Lust. With our glass of wine we enjoy a lovingly prepared cheese sandwich. Freshly strengthened, we continue to the Stollberg, where an incomparable view awaits us: In the southwest the ridge line of the Steigerwald with the striking Schwanberg, at our feet Oberschwarzach in the midst of its vineyards, and behind it the view sweeps far out over the carpet of spots in the countryside. The ruins of the Stollburg castle leave far less impression on us. But this may also be due to the fact that the temperatures are almost 30 degrees and the feet are already a little heavy. Nevertheless, we really like the long hike.
Hike to the ruins of Rotenhan& Lichtenstein Castle
I have it yes not so with old walls, but against a castle and castle hike par excellence I resist in no case. In every place we pass on our long way we discover a castle, a fortress or a ruin. The magnificent renaissance castle Eyrichshof, which is privately owned and can not be visited, is the prelude. The first destination is one of the few real rock castles in Germany. Unfortunately, Rotenhan Castle was already destroyed in the 14th century. The castle was destroyed in the 19th century, so that only small remains of rising masonry are still to be seen. We continue to Gereuth with the Old and the New Castle, both of which have seen better days. Via Einsielderstein, Burgstall Alte Burg and the Lichtenstein castle ruins, the route then leads back to Eyrichshof. As a crowning finale, I discover the remains of a candy factory – I find such lost places simply fascinating.
Hiking tour Bramberg
The striking, forested basalt cone of the Bramberg is one of the highest Habberg peaks. Thanks to its characteristic shape, visible from far away, it has become a landmark of the region. Of the once mighty castle on its summit, unfortunately, only a ruin remains. Thanks to the view over the quiet Habbergland, the long and often monotonous march to the top is still worth it.
