Forchheim is a small town inFranconia with an interesting old town. Forchheim is most famous for its ten-day-long beer and music festival (Annafest) which takes place in late July in an idyllic wooded hillside, home to 24 beer gardens, on the outskirts of the town.
Forchheim is an old place even by German standards, and as it had lost most of its relevance by the 20th century it is quite well preserved. Forchheim owes its former importance to being aKaiserpfalz, or a place where the emperor could rest and hold court during his travels and as such it served as one of several "capitals" (there being no one fixed imperial residence) during the 10th century and beyond.
Forchheim has regular S-Bahn service from Nuremberg and Erlangen as well asBamberg and is part of theVGN network. The49.71697211.0695231Forchheim train station is east of the centre.
The next airport is inNuremberg (NUEIATA) and is connected to the main station via the subway (~12 minutes) which is part of the VGN network as is the S-Bahn from there to Forchheim. Other airports offer more connections, but you will still pass through Nuremberg when taking the train to Forchheim.
As Forchheim is rather small and wasn't built with the automobile in mind, walking is a good way to see the old town. If you stay longer a car or bikemight be a good idea, especially for day trips that can't be done by train.
49.719811.05812Town Hall(Rathaus).Built in the 15th and 16th century.
49.7296311.075163Kellerberg(Kellerwald)(Citybus 261 or by road (large car park available)).From 11:00 daily.23 beer gardens in on an idyllic wooded hillside. Site of the world famous beer and music festival "the Annafest" taking place annually over 10 days at the end of July.(updated Apr 2018)
49.812911.22074Burgruine Streitburg,Wiesenttal.This ruined castle is on a hill right next to the hillNeideck stands on (see below) "Streit" means "quarrel" in German and the tale goes that the two neighboring castles had a quarrel with each other leading to the destruction of both. The actual history doesn't confirm that tale but locals like to tell it regardless.(updated Jun 2018)
49.808711.23225Burgruine Neideck,Wiesenttal.Next to Streitburg on a neighboring hill, this castle ("Neid" means envy) is said to have fallen victim to the same quarrel as Streitburg although, again, the actual history was different.(updated Jun 2018)
Annafest is probably the most noteworthy event in town and regionally second only to the Bergkrichweih inErlangen. It is usually held around late July, early August and draws crowds from throughout the region.
49.7202611.056862Brauereigaststätte Hebendanz,Sattlertorstr. 14,☏+49 9191 60747.F-W 08:00-22:00, Th closed.The brewery has been in existence since 1579. Today it produces 6 beer varieties and seasonal festive, anniversary, Annafest, Christmas fest and Bockbiere.
49.7219911.059193Brauerei Eichhorn,Bamberger Straße 9,☏+49 9191 64768.M Th F from 12:00, Sa Su holidays from 10:00, Tu W closed. There is hot food throughout.The brewery has been in existence since 1783. In the courtyard there is a beautiful beer garden.
49.759110.9826Brauerei Lieberth,Forchheimer Straße 2 Hallerndorf,☏+49 9545 8558.Beer sales: M-F 08:00-12:00 and 14:00-19:00, Sa 08:00-16:00. TheBrauereigasthof is open daily from 17:00 on weekends and on Sundays from 10:00; closed M W and during the summer..
49.75732410.9789977Dorfkeller Lieberth,Kreuzbergstraße 17, Hallerndorf,☏+49 9545 4437373.Beginning/mid-Apr to end of Sep: M-F from 15:30, Sa from 15:00, Su holidays from 10:00; closed in bad weather.Specialty is caraway roasts. Friday’s mackerel and herring from the charcoal grill(updated Feb 2017)
49.74410.96171Landgasthof Brauerei Rittmayer,Willersdorf 108, Hallerndorf,☏+49 9195 94730.Hot meals are available M Tu 17:00-21:00; W-Su 11:30-14:00 and 17:00-21:00.Rittmayer has his own recipe brewed and stored the young beer itself. Cozy inn with its own carp and cattle breeding and a large selection of dishes.
49.755410.94719Brauerei Roppelt,Stiebarlimbach 9, Hallerndorf,☏+49 9195 7263.F-Tu from 10:00; hot food 11:30-14:30 and 16:00-21:00; closed W Th.Franconian cuisine, carp from their own ponds, game specialties from their own hunting.
49.769211.005510Brauerei Witzgall,Schlammersdorfer Straße 17, Hallerndorf,☏+49 9545 7452.F-W from 09:00, Th closed.The Witzgall family has been standing in the brewhouse since 1898 and behind the counter. The Landbier always receives good grades in international rankings. The Christmas beer is available from mid-November to mid-January.
At the foot of Kreuzberg
49.756510.949711Roppelts Keller,☏+49 9195 7263.F-Tu from 11:00; W Th from 15:30.The beer cellar is at Stiebarlimbach at the foot of the Kreuzberg and is connected by a narrow footpath with the beer cellar on the Kreuzberg, walking time about a quarter of an hour.
On the Kreuzberg near Hallerndorf in the middle of the forest, below the medieval pilgrimage church, three breweries invite you to eat and drink. From the parking lots to the first beer you have to walk a few steps.
49.759410.954212Rittmayer-Keller,Kreuzberg 18, Hallerndorf - Berg,☏+49 9545 440940.May-Sep: daily from 11:00; Oct-Apr: M-Sa from 11:00; closed Su holidays.If there is no weather for beer garden, there is a restaurant with a tiled stove for 60 persons.
49.75910.955813Friedel`s Brauhaus am Kreuzberg,☏+49 9545 4736.Apr-Oct daily from 11:00; every Friday, in good weather, from 15:00 grilled herring and mackerel. From mid-Nov: F-Su from 11:00.The Brauhaus was rebuilt in 2007 with a large children's playground
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