DRIVE 16: Franconia of the Prince-Bishops
DAY TRIP OPTIONS
The castles, caves, and outdoor
activities of Fränkische Schweiz will
appeal to families, while art and
architecture buffs will find much
to admire between Vierzehnheiligen,
Bamberg, and Würzburg. Epicureans
will relish the wines and the food
in the villages of the Mainschleife.
For full details, see p179.PLAN YOUR DRIVE
Start/finish: Bayreuth to Aschaffenburg.Number of days: 5 days, allowing
a day to explore Bamberg.Distance: 273 miles (440 km).Road conditions: Roads are generally
well paved and marked and have
gentle inclines. Snow and ice can be
a problem in winter.When to go: The region is at its best
from May to October, when the weather
is most agreeable. In some smaller
villages, hotels and muse ums are closed
in January or February.Opening times: Shops are generally
open from 9am to 8pm, while sights
of interest are open from
9am to 6pm.Main market days: Bamberg:
Mon–Sat; Würzburg: Mon–Sat;
Fri & Sat (farmer’s market);
Aschaffenburg: Wed & Sat
(farmer’s market).Shopping: Souvenirs from the
region include Rauchbier, the
smoky local beer from Bamberg,
and Franconian wines from
Würzburg and Volkach.Major festivals: Bayreuth: Bayreutner
Festspiele (Wagner festival), Jul–Aug;
Bamberg: Sandkerwa (folk festival),
Aug; Dettelbach: Altstadt (wine festival),
Jun; Würzburg: Kiliani Volksfest
(procession in traditional costumes
and funfair), Jul; Weinparade am
Dom (wine festival), Aug/Sept;
Klingenber: Clingenburg Festspiele
(open-air operas, plays and musicals),
every summer; Aschaffenburg:
Kulturtage (culture days), Jun/Jul.Below Pompejanum villa, on the banks of the Main, Aschaffenburg, see p179171
Above Half-timbered houses and the Martinskirche on the Rathaus, Forchheim, see p173w
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SCHLOSS
WEISSENSTEINVIERZEHNHEILIGENBAMBERGFORCHHEIMBURG
RABENSTEINTÜCHERSFELDPOTTENSTEINBAYREUTHEbensfeldBad StaffelsteinHollfeldEbermann-
stadtStrullendorfHirschaidBurgebrachStegaurachBaiersdorfMichelauMeyernbergPlankenfelsWattendorfEgloffsteinUehlfeldPommersfeldenWonseesAufsessKirchlauterRossachRedwitzGrundfeldRoth MainrothNeudrossenfeldReckendorfButtenheimKönigsfeldDachsbach HessdorfEffeltrichZeegendorfSchlüsselfeld
TrossenfurtStreitberg
OberailsfeldTrockauUnterailsfeldGeseesGrossheirathWeilersbach
KirchehrenbachRöttenbachBreiten-
güssbachThurnauHeiligenstadt
FrensdorfBaunachZapfendorfMistelgauEbernBurgkunstadtLitzendorfEltmannKulmbachLichtenfelsHöchstadt