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Cultural region in Southern Germany
Photo: Berthold Werner, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Franconia (Franken) is a region of northern Bavaria, a state of Germany. Within Franconia are the historically important city of Nuremberg, the UNESCO World Heritage town of Bamberg, and a huge range of outdoor activities in the Franconian Switzerland and Franconian lake district.
Hilly region in north east, land of breweries
Around Nuremberg
Vineyards near the river Main.
By plane
The only relevant airport within this region from a traveler's point of view is in Nuremberg (NUE) with service to many destinations around Europe and connecting service via Frankfurt Airport all…
By bus
Several bus companies operate throughout the region. They are usually slower than the train but often cheaper.
By boat
The Main Donau Kanal runs from Bamberg in the North through Nuremberg and onwards to Bavaria.
A big chunk of Franconia and also some parts of the neighbouring regions are covered by the VGN tariff-union, which covers almost all trains, buses and the Nuremberg subway and tram (Straßenbahn).
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Nuremberg · International · NUE
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the whole old town of Bamberg is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List
is famous as the host of the Richard Wagner Festival, furthermore the Markgräfliches Opernhaus (margavial opera house) is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List
it has been the household name for some royal dynasties in Europe, notably Queen Victoria was married to one of the Saxe Coburg Gotha-family
site of Franconia's oldest university and a major Siemens division also known as a bicycle city
medium-sized town, next to Nuremberg in the north, age-old rival of Nuremberg and Henry Kissinger's birthplace
Franconia's film city with the popular Hof International Film Festival; main sites are the Theresienstein Park (Germany's most beautiful park 2003) and the lake Untreusee
is widely considered as the cultural capital city of Franconia, a city of toys, famous for its Christmas market, the infamous Nazi Party rallies were held there as well as the trials against the main Nazi war criminals
famous for its intact medieval city center (Altstadt) encircled by 13th century town walls one of the best preserved German towns of this era
former residence of the wealthy and powerful prince-bishops
is arranged like a horseshoe around an inner hill-landscape; the highest mountain is the "Schneeberg (Snow Mountain)" with 1053 m above sealevel
castle ruins, hiking, canoeing, climbing
the Lake District comprises 7 lakes; The total expanse of water is about 20 square km
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