The area between Bamberg, Bayreuth and Erlangen is known as Franconian Switzerland. A holiday in Franconian Switzerland is a relaxing time in Upper Franconia.
In the middle of the German low mountain range of the Franconian Alb, between the Danube and the Upper Main, lies a charming region that invites you to hike and relax. Franconian Switzerland, one of the oldest German holiday regions. Guests can discover over 35 medieval castles and palaces, over 1,000 caves and numerous romantic mills in one of Germany’s largest nature parks.
The name Franconian Switzerland is a made-up word that came about through tourism and was coined by travel writers. The land of castles and caves offers fantastic nature experiences, exciting excursions and Franconian culinary delights.
Holidays in Franconian Switzerland
Forchheim is an old royal town in Upper Franconia and is considered the gateway to Franconian Switzerland. Not only the city, but also the surrounding area invites you to explore.
Forchheim is known for its Kellerwald, among other things. "Nauf auf die Keller" was also the motto for us as we set off on foot to the Forchheim Kellerwald.
The hike is just under 6 kilometres long and took us from Hallerndorf to Willersdorf. Of course, not without making stops at breweries or cellars along the way.
The municipality of Aufseß is located in Franconian Switzerland. Here you will find the Aufseß Brewery Trail, which even made it into the Guinness Book of Records in 2001.
The municipality of Hallerndorf is located in Franconian Switzerland. Here you will find the Rittmayer brewery, which is one of the oldest breweries in the district. During a guided tour of the brewery, followed by a tasting, you can learn a lot about the art of brewing and the development of the brewery.
Fancy a beer hike? In Franconia you will not only find numerous breweries, here you can combine beer drinking with hiking on the Five-Seidla-Trail.
During our short visit to Pottenstein, we left the car behind. Hiking in Pottenstein is a wonderful alternative!
As a child, I used to walk along the Pottensteiner Weg and only realised years later that there really is a place called Pottenstein. It is located in Franconian Switzerland between Nuremberg and Bayreuth and it made sense to stop here and visit the Devil's Cave near Pottenstein.
Travel information about Franconian Switzerland
Arrival
By plane
The nearest airport is in Nuremberg. From there you can take the train in the direction of Forchheim.
By car
Coming from Nuremberg, you can reach the region via the A 73 and A 3 motorways. If you are coming from Berlin, take the A 9.
The B 470 runs right through Franconian Switzerland.
By train
Franconian Switzerland can be reached by train via the main routes Nuremberg, Bamberg or Bayreuth. From Forchheim or Pegnitz, you then have to continue with regional transport.
By bus
There are long-distance bus connections to Forchheim.
On the way in …
By local public transport
The southern areas of Franconian Switzerland are part of the Greater Nuremberg Transport Network.
During the summer months, some leisure lines run.
The buses run rather infrequently.
By car
To discover the region well, it is often necessary to travel by car.