Franconian Switzerland

The Fränkische Schweiz is a karst plateau cut by river valleys, with dolomite towers standing above the fields, more than a thousand recorded caves, and the ruins or remains of several hundred castles, more per area than almost anywhere in Germany. It has the densest concentration of breweries in the world by population, with around seventy small breweries in a compact area, many attached to village inns and serving beer brewed on the premises. Rock climbing developed here early and the region has thousands of routes. At Easter, villages decorate their fountains with painted eggs, a custom recorded from the early twentieth century.

Highlights

• The dolomite towers - crags standing above valley fields and villages.
• The brewery density - around seventy small breweries in one small region.
• The caves - over a thousand recorded, several open as show caves.
• The Easter fountains - village wells decorated with painted eggs.

When to go

April to October; the Easter fountain decoration runs for a few weeks around Easter. Many village breweries keep short or seasonal hours and close one day a week.

What to expect

Village breweries often open only certain days and close for holidays. Public transport is thin. Castle ruins are frequently just walls.

Nearby

Bamberg lies west; Bayreuth is east.

Key facts