Welcome to Forchheim, the small, charming town between Erlangen and Bamberg in Upper Franconia. Here, we were greeted by picturesque old town streets, plenty of half-timbered houses, green oases, idyllic natural highlights in the surrounding area, and rustic beer cellars in the Forchheim Kellerwald forest. Forchheim may only have around 33,000 inhabitants and may seem inconspicuous at first glance, but behind the facade lies a little Franconian gem. In the following article, we’ll take you virtually through the town and show you which Forchheim sights and highlights you can look forward to. Enjoy browsing!
- Interesting facts about the city of Forchheim
- The most beautiful sights in Forchheim
- Excursion tip: Walberla & Rodenstein
- Restaurants & Cafés
- Events in Forchheim
- Our hotel in Forchheim
- Travel tips for Forchheim
Interesting facts about the city of Forchheim
Forchheim was once an important trading town and served for a long time as the residence of the bishops of Bamberg. It is one of the oldest towns in Franconia and has managed to preserve its historical appearance from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period. While strolling through the cobblestone streets, you can discover numerous half-timbered houses, the fortifications, and other historic buildings. Forchheim looks back on a history of over 1200 years.
In addition to the Imperial Palace, Forchheim boasts other attractions, such as St. Martin’s Church with its Romanesque and Gothic elements, the unique half-timbered town hall, the historic fortress, the Kammerers Mill “Schiefes Haus” (Leaning House), and the Forchheimer Kellerwald with its 23 traditional beer cellars. Incidentally, Forchheim has also been one of Bavaria’s 100 places of enjoyment since 2018.
Forchheim is known for its extremely vibrant beer culture. The town is home to three family-run breweries and is part of the Franconian Beer Route. Every year at the end of July, the Annafest takes place, a traditional folk festival that attracts more than 500,000 visitors from near and far. There’s not only plenty of beer, but also delicious food and a varied program with great live music.
The town of Forchheim is also the gateway to Franconian Switzerland. Nestled in the picturesque Upper Franconia region of Bavaria, it offers a breathtaking backdrop of rolling hills, deep valleys, and impressive rock formations. Franconian Switzerland is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers who enjoy hiking, climbing, or simply enjoying the idyllic atmosphere. A hike to the Rodenstein and Walberla mountains is recommended. But more on that later.
The most beautiful sights in Forchheim
Forchheim is an incredibly cozy town, and the most important highlights are close together, so you can explore the city comfortably on foot. In the heart of Forchheim, you’ll find half-timbered houses, churches, charming alleys and courtyards, as well as some cool restaurants, cafés, and bars. In the following overview, we’ve marked the top Forchheim sights and highlights for you.
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Town Hall & Town Hall Square
One of the most beautiful squares in Forchheim is certainly the Town Hall Square with the beautiful town hall. Unfortunately, construction is still underway here, so you have to be content with the view of a large construction site. However, you can still glimpse the unique half-timbered ensemble. The neighboring half-timbered houses are also particularly beautiful.
The historic town hall, with its impressive half-timbering, dates back to the Middle Ages and features several carved figures and scenes. Traditionally, at Christmas time, the town hall windows are transformed into the “most beautiful Advent calendar in the world”. The square also features the handsomely decorated Warrior Fountain, which is always lavishly decorated, especially around Easter.
The Leaning House – Kammerer’s Mill
Forchheim’s old town is characterized by charming half-timbered houses, narrow alleys, and picturesque squares. You can stroll leisurely through the old town on foot and simply let yourself go. Sooner or later, you’ll come across the “Leaning House,” which lives up to its name. The “Kammerer’s Mill” was built in 1697 and was intended to serve as a workhouse and home. However, the foundation sank towards the Wiesent during construction, making the mill one of the most famous half-timbered houses in Forchheim.
Imperial Palace Forchheim & Museum
The Imperial Palace in Forchheim is also one of the city’s top attractions. The 14th-century castle is located in the heart of the historic old town, not far from St. Martin’s Church. This castle once served as a secondary residence for the bishops. Inside are historically significant wall paintings by the Bamberg court painter Jakob Ziegler.
Since 1911, the Palatinate Museum has been located in the Imperial Palace, which now houses four specialty museums. The exhibitions have been prepared with great attention to detail, and there’s plenty to learn and see. The Upper Franconia Archaeology Museum, the City Museum, and the Costume Museum await you here. Next door in the casemates, you can also visit the Red Wall Adventure Museum.
- Opening hours: April – October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Tuesdays to Sundays)
- Opening hours vary in all other months: see here
- Prices: €5 for adults, €2 to €3.50 concessions, children under 6 free
- Address: Kapellenstraße 16, 91301 Forchheim
Fortifications & City Park
In Forchheim, you can still marvel at some well-preserved parts of the fortifications with bastions and casemates, which were built after Forchheim was occupied in the Second Margrave War in 1522. It’s best to book a guided tour, where you can learn more about the intricacies of medieval warfare. About 100 years ago, a wonderful city park was created around the fortress, which has since been used as a green oasis in the heart of the city center.
You can walk along the old city wall and discover some great photo spots. On the way toward the St. Valentine Bastion and the City Library, you’ll pass a very beautiful spot with a view of some pretty houses in the old town. You can get there by going up the steps to the wall in front of the “German Unity” monument on Sattlertorstraße. The views from up there over the city park are also very beautiful.
Le Perreux Park
Forchheim has another green oasis, namely Le Perreux Park within the fortress complex. Here, too, you can find remnants of the former fortress wall. The beautifully landscaped and well-maintained park invites you to relax and linger with its green spaces, flowerbeds, water fountains, and seating areas.
St. Catherine’s Hospital Church
In the heart of Forchheim’s old town is the St. Catherine’s Hospital Church, located directly across from Café Mittendrin. The small church is idyllically situated on the banks of the Wiesent River and was built in 1490 in the Gothic style, while the half-timbered hospital building was constructed in 1611. The hospital building’s construction is unusual, as it towers high above the river and stands on stilts.
Little Venice – Water Canals in Forchheim
Numerous water canals crisscross the winding streets of Forchheim’s old town. The section between St. Catherine’s Hospital Church, the mill, and the bridge on Vogelstraße is particularly beautiful. Here, numerous picturesque houses from the 16th century are lined up along the Wiesent (a tributary of the Regnitz), giving this corner of the city the nickname “Little Venice”. Check out the historic fish boxes located on the shore, which were used for storing and breeding fish back then.
Roasting demonstration at the Bogatz coffee roastery
We love coffee; everyone who’s been with us for a while should know that by now. At the owner-operated Bogatz coffee roastery, we were able to witness a live roasting demonstration and learn more about the beans and roasting process. Dieter Bogatz impressively demonstrated how he gently roasts the green coffee using a long-term roasting method in a drum roaster. He also explained how the special aromas develop with experience, patience, and plenty of time. Afterward, we were also able to taste the coffee. Highly recommended!
- Duration: 35 – 45 minutes
- Price: €12 per person including 1 cup of coffee/cappuccino
- Minimum number of participants: 6 people
- Booking: by arrangement (info@kaffeeroesterei-bogatz.de)
Unpackaged in Forchheim
Are you interested in the topic of sustainability and want to avoid unnecessary packaging waste as much as possible? Then stop by the well-stocked unpackaged & more store at Apothekenstraße 14. The selection is huge and ranges from coffee, muesli, pasta, spices, rice to care products, cleaning supplies, drinks, and much, much more.
The owner is absolutely lovely, and you can immediately feel how much passion she puts into running her shop. She proudly showed us her products, which she sources primarily from local retailers in the region. Of course, we immediately took advantage of this offer and replenished our supply of solid shampoo and shower soap. Be sure to stop by!
Forchheim Cellar Forest
The Forchheim Cellar Forest has a long and significant history dating back to the Middle Ages. In times past, the forest served as a storage area for the cellars where the famous beer from the surrounding breweries was kept. Even today, the historic cellars bear witness to this rich history and lend the forest a unique atmosphere. 23 beer cellars on an area of around 20,000 m² make the Kellerwald probably the largest beer garden in the world.
From April to October, you can enjoy the beer cellar season here and treat yourself to delicious Franconian specialties. If you’d like to take a look behind the scenes, you should take a tour through the rock cellars (see tours). You’ll learn more about the history of the rock passages and the world of Forchheim’s beer and brewing tradition. In the Kellerwald, you can end the evening in a relaxed atmosphere with a beer.
Beer Tasting with the Beer Queen
We were treated to a beer tasting with former Beer Queen and Beer Sommelier Melanie in the Forchheim Kellerwald (see her Instagram channel). We tried four different beers with matching finger food. It was super cool to learn more about the taste and production of the beers, and we’re slowly getting into the swing of things.
To be honest, we weren’t self-proclaimed beer fans before our Franconian tour. But that’s slowly changing. Afterwards, Melanie led us through one of the beer cellars, where we were able to briefly stroll through the over 400-year-old rock passages.
Excursion Tip: Walberla & Rodenstein
Forchheim is the gateway to Franconian Switzerland, an idyllic mountain and hill landscape with unique rock formations and caves. Not far from the city is the Ehrenbürg, a 531.9 m high relict mountain in the Franconian Alb. From there, you have a wonderful view of the surrounding towns, villages, and landscapes. The northern peak of this mountain is the 513.9 m high Walberla, and the southern peak is the 531.7 m high Rodenstein. You can explore both areas on a single hike.
It’s best to start from the Walberla Schlaifhausen hiking car park (shorter), the Ehrenbürg hiking car park (slightly longer), or the St. Bartholomew’s Church in Kirchehrenbach. From there, you can begin your hike at a leisurely pace and make your way to the interesting sights of Rodenstein, Walberla, Wiesenthauer Nadel, Walburgis Chapel, and the Zwillingsfelsen. You should allow at least 2 to 3 hours for the circular hike. You can also shorten or extend the hike as you wish.
- Hiking: Around Walberla (8.5 km | 2.5 hours)
Restaurants & Cafés
Bogaz Coffee Roastery: With great passion and craftsmanship, exquisite coffees from all over the world are roasted and refined into aromatic coffees. Every step, from the selection of the raw beans to the gentle roasting, is carried out with the utmost care and expertise to guarantee an exceptional taste experience.
Café Mittendrin: The Café Mittendrin in Forchheim is a cozy meeting place in the heart of the city. Here you can get not only excellent coffee from the Lebenshilfe Bamberg eV roastery, but also tea, pretzels with vegan spreads, cakes, baked goods, and a large selection of spritzers and iced teas.
Hauscafé: This charming Hauscafé is located on a very pretty side street (Apothekenstraße) in Forchheim’s city center. The lunch and drinks were outstanding and incredibly delicious. They served wraps and filled dumplings, among other things.
Gutlands Restaurant: The Gutlands Restaurant is part of the Arivo Hotel. You can enjoy delicious food in a super stylish setting. Whether burgers, pasta, salads, meat or fish dishes – there’s something for everyone at Gutlands. The cheesecake in a glass with fruit is highly recommended. Mmm, delicious!
Feinkost Karnbaum: This delicatessen offers a daily changing lunch menu, primarily featuring fish dishes, freshly prepared without the use of additives. The menu also includes pasta dishes and delicious desserts.
Winterbauer Keller: In Forchheim’s Kellerwald (cellar forest), you can drink beer to your heart’s content and feast on hearty Franconian specialties. At Winterbauer Keller, you can, of course, enjoy Sauerbraten (sauerbraten), Schäuferla (roasted pork shoulder), Pfannenschnitzel (pan-fried schnitzel), and even vegan currywurst.
Events in Forchheim
There are many different events, festivals and activities in Forchheim throughout the year. Here are some of the most well-known and popular events:
Beer Cellar Season Opening:The Beer Cellar Season Opening in Forchheim is a convivial event where beer lovers come together to celebrate the start of the beer cellar season and enjoy Franconian beers in a cozy atmosphere. A colorful supporting program awaits you with plenty of beer and live music. More about that here.
Africa Culture Days: The Africa Days in Forchheim offer a fantastic opportunity to experience the culture, music, and diversity of the African continent up close and create a unique atmosphere for visitors of all ages. We are big Africa fans and would definitely attend such an event. More information here.
Annafest: The Annafest in Forchheim is one of the oldest and most traditional folk festivals in Bavaria. It takes place annually in July and attracts up to 500,000 visitors from near and far. Here you can feast on hearty food and celebrate exuberantly. More information here.
KulturSommerQuartier: The KulturSommerQuartier in Forchheim transforms the city into a lively venue for art, music, theater, and cultural events, offering all visitors an inspiring platform for creative encounters and cultural exchange. More information here.
Forchheim Christmas Market: The Christmas market in Forchheim enchants with its atmospheric atmosphere, festively decorated stalls, and a diverse range of handmade gifts, culinary delicacies, and Christmas treats. Read more here.
Our hotel in Forchheim
During our time in Forchheim, we stayed at the fantastic Arivo Aparthotel*, which is located right next to the train station. The location was, of course, ideal for our explorations. The hotel has a very modern design and features a small fitness room, a garden, a terrace, and a super cool restaurant with a bar. We enjoyed a relaxing evening here after returning from the Forchheim Kellerwald forest.
We had a spacious, modern room with a seating area with a sofa and armchairs, a large flat-screen TV, a kitchenette with cooking utensils, a bathroom with a shower, a balcony with a city view, a wardrobe, and toiletries. In the morning, the Gutlands restaurant serves a delicious breakfast buffet. Book a room here*.
Travel tips for Forchheim
By car: Forchheim is best reached via the A9 (Berlin-Nuremberg) or the A3 (Würzburg-Frankfurt). Both motorways are connected to the A73, which will take you further to Forchheim. From Forchheim, you can also reach Erlangen, Fürth, Bamberg, Bayreuth, Nuremberg, Kulmbach, or Coburg in no time.
Distances to Forchheim:
- Hamburg: 574 km
- Berlin: 427 km
- Cologne: 387 km
- Dresden: 303 km
- Stuttgart: 234 km
- Munich: 204 km
- Nuremberg: 36 km
By train: You can also reach Forchheim by train via Nuremberg or Bamberg. From Nuremberg, it’s just 25 minutes by train, and even less from Fürth and Erlangen. Click here for tickets*.
By bus: Long-distance buses also take you to Nuremberg, from where you can then conveniently continue your journey to Forchheim. Tickets from Munich start at €9.99, and from Berlin for just €21.99. It’s best to check out the Flixbus* website.