Page 175 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Germany

DRIVE 16: Franconia of the Prince-Bishops 173

EAT AND DRINK
BAYREUTH
Lohmühle moderate
Regional produce forms the basis
for the excellent Franconian cooking
in this rustic restaurant.
Badstrasse 37, 95444; 0921 530 60;
www.hotel-lohmuehle.de; opening
hours change during the Festspiele,
Jan–Apr, Sep & Oct: open dinner only
Mon–Sat; May–Aug, Nov & Dec: open
daily, closed Sun dinner
Restaurant 1927 expensive
The Goldener Anker hotel’s restaurant
offers refined Franconian cook ing,
with a few Mediterranean influences,
matched with fine wines.
3 Tüchersfeld ª Take the B470 and follow it Opernstrasse 6, 95444; 0921 787 77 40;
Bavaria; 91278 west wards to Forchheim. Parking is www.anker-bayreuth.de; open Wed–Sun
Looking as though its houses have available in the car park on Pradeplatz. dinner only, daily during the Festspiele
been dropped at random among FORCHHEIM
rocky pinnacles, tiny Tüchersfeld is Crags, Castles and Caves Kammerersmühle moderate
even more improbably scenic than The Franconian Switzerland A late-Renaissance watermill is the
Pottenstein. The village is home to (Fränkische Schweiz) has long been setting for this Weinstube and restaurant.
the Fränkische Schweiz Museum one of Germany’s most popular Wiesenstrasse 10, 91301; 09191 70
45 55; www.kammerers-muehle-
(Apr–Oct: closed Mon; Nov–Mar: open Sun; regions for its startling, craggy forchheim.de; open Mon–Sat
www.fraenkische-schweiz-museum.de), natural beauty and dramatic castles
which has peasant costumes, arts and and pretty villages, as well as for the Other options
Forchheim has a number of tiny
crafts, furni ture, and an 18th-cen tury opportu nities it offers for outdoor breweries, some of which operate tradi-
synago gue alongside displays on the activities, from cycling and hiking tional Brauereigaststätten – rustic old
region’s geology and archaeology. to rock climbing and canoeing. pubs in which to sample the brew –
ª At the end of Tüchersfeld turn left The region’s limestone geology such as Eichhorn (Bamberger Strasse 9;
to Unterailsfeld. In Unterailsfeld, turn ensures the natural wonders con- 09191 64 768; www.gasthaus-
eichhorn.de) and Hebendanz
right on to Oberailsfeld Strasse to tinue under ground in the form of (Sattlertorstrasse 14, 09191 12 22;
strikingly beautiful cave systems,
Oberailsfeld. Take Burgenstrasse some of which can be visited. www.brauerei-hebendanz.de).
driving through the village of
Oberailsfeld; follow brown signs Above left Canoeists on the banks of
signposted to Burg Rabenstein. 5 Forchheim the Püttlach river, near Tüchersfeld
Bavaria; 91301 Below Pottenstein’s main street
4 Burg Rabenstein With a historic core centred on
Bavaria; 95491 the tall, onion-domed tower
Perched on a dramatic crag of Martinskirche and a 15th-
overlooking the Ailsbach Valley cen tury half-timbered Rathaus,
and with its oldest parts dating this lively small town, with timber-
from the 12th century, the framed houses, is well worth
castle of Rabenstein (guided explor ing. It was the sec ond seat
tours: Apr–Oct: Tue–Sun; Nov–Mar: of the Bamberg Prince-Bishops in
Sat & Sun; www.burgrabenstein.de) the Middle Ages. Their palace, the
looks every inch the impre- Kaiserpfalz, has pre cious late-
gnable medieval fortress, Gothic frescoes and is now the
though much of it was ruined Pfalzmuseum (May–Oct: closed
during the Thirty Years’ War Mon, Nov–Apr: open Wed, Thu & Sun),
(1618–48). There are regular with sec tions devoted to
interesting falconry displays local history, archae ology
(Apr–Oct: Tue–Sun) here. and folk costume.
The Sophienhöhle Caves ª Leave Forchheim along
(guided tours: Apr–Oct: Bamberger Strasse, following
Tue–Sun), among the most yel low signs for Bamberg.
beautiful showcaves in This joins the B22. At Bamberg,
Germany, are just a ten- Pillar with sculptures follow signs to Zentrum
minute walk away. in Forchheim to reach the car park.
Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under €20; moderate, €20–€40; expensive, over €40

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