After a wonderful time in Coburg, our journey through the Franconia region continued to Kulmbach. This old margrave town is only about 20 km north of Bayreuth and awaited us with an impressive castle complex, an incredibly charming old town with pretty half-timbered houses and beautiful alleys, culinary highlights, and plenty of Franconian coziness. In the following article, we present you the most beautiful sights in Kulmbach and tell you where you can stay overnight and dine. Enjoy browsing!
- Interesting facts about the town of Kulmbach
- Sights in Kulmbach
- Restaurant & Cafés
- Events in Kulmbach
- Our hotel in Kulmbach
- Travel tips for Kulmbach
- Our Franconian podcast
Interesting facts about the town of Kulmbach
Kulmbach is an extremely charming town in Bavaria with a rich history and plenty of culture. With just 27,000 inhabitants, Kulmbach is also a very small and manageable town, which makes exploring very relaxing. The town is also known as the “secret capital of beer”, as there are many well-known breweries and beers in the region. For example, Kulmbach beer is one of the best-known brands in Germany.
The largest beer festival in Upper Franconia, the Kulmbach Beer Week, takes place every year in Kulmbach. For nine days, approximately 120,000 visitors celebrate in the heart of Kulmbach with live music, good food, and, of course, excellent Kulmbach beer. And did you know that Kulmbach is home to one of the largest and most famous Renaissance buildings in Germany? Perched on a hill above the town is the imposing Plassenburg Castle, which you shouldn’t miss.
Sights in Kulmbach
To be honest, before our trip to Kulmbach, we had no idea what to expect. But even within the first few minutes there, we sensed Kulmbach’s incredible serenity, coziness, and calm. There aren’t countless sights waiting for you here, yet there’s still plenty to discover. At no point did we feel like we were missing out on anything, and that’s exactly what made our trip so relaxing. In Kulmbach, you simply enjoy yourself. On the map below, we’ve marked all the important Kulmbach sights and highlights.
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1. Market Square with Town Hall
Dating back to the 13th century, the market square in Kulmbach is a central meeting place for locals and visitors and an important part of the historic town center. Weekly markets (e.g. farmers’ market), festivals and events (e.g. old town festival or Christmas market) take place here regularly, and there are also several cafés, restaurants and shops all around that invite you to stroll and linger.
The market square is home to some of the city’s most important sights, such as the town hall, built in the Rococo style. In the center of the market square stands the pretty Luitpold Fountain, which was built in 1898 with sculptures by the sculptor Eduard Beyrer. Here you can enjoy the rippling water, indulge in a delicious ice cream from Sanremo, and soak up the sun when the weather is nice. The tourist information office is just a stone’s throw from the market square (Buchbindergasse 5).
2. Old Town of Kulmbach
We particularly liked the incredibly charming old town of Kulmbach with its many half-timbered houses, restaurants, cafés, historic fountains, and shops. Numerous alleys invite you to stroll and browse, and you’ll always discover interesting details. We definitely recommend a walk along Spitalgasse around the White Tower (Kulmbach’s oldest street), the Upper Town, and the Oberhacken. Since the old town is quite compact anyway, you can simply wander around during your visit.
3. Oberhacken Craftsmen’s Quarter & Kulmbach Bathhouse
The former Oberhacken craftsmen’s quarter begins directly behind the historic town hall. Here we discovered a number of well-preserved half-timbered houses, some of which carry a long history. Examples include the lovingly renovated Margravial Dyeing and Mang Factory at Oberhacken 42, dating from 1518, or the building at Oberhacken 2, which now houses a travel agency. The history of the house at Oberhacken 6 can be traced back to 1564.
The former artisans’ quarter of Oberhacken is also home to the Kulmbach Bathhouse, which was first mentioned in documents in 1398. This facility was used as a public bathhouse until the 19th century, before serving as a cooper’s workshop from the mid-19th century onwards. The Kulmbach Bathhouse was reopened as a museum and gallery in July 1999 after extensive renovations. The museum was closed during our visit, so we were unfortunately unable to explore the restored rooms.
- Opening hours: Friday to Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Address: Oberhacken 34, 95326 Kulmbach
- Admission: free
4. View from the Red Tower
We had the great opportunity to explore the Red Tower as part of a city tour. This tower is located in the heart of the city and offers a fantastic panoramic view of Kulmbach. The Red Tower originally served as part of the medieval city fortifications and dates back to around 1300. The name “Red Tower” derives from the reddish hue of the sandstone from which it is constructed. Over the centuries, the 27-meter-high tower has been rebuilt and expanded several times. In the future, various artists will be able to offer creative workshops here. ☞ Register here for a guided tour.
5. Historic Fountain
Dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, the Holzmarkt at the northwest end of the old town is a lovely place to linger. Here stands the ornate Zinnsfelderbrunnen, created in 1660, which originally stood in front of the town hall. If you take a closer look at the fountain, you’ll notice four faces, each representing one of the four seasons. The more advanced the year and the season, the older the face. At the top stands a medieval town servant (Zinnsfelder), who ensured peace, order, and honor on the market square in his time.
6. Great View from the Schießgraben
You can enjoy a truly beautiful view over the city’s rooftops from the Schießgraben. The best way to get there is to walk to the Church of Our Lady and stand in front of the railing on the other side of the street. From there, you’ll see not only the Red Tower, St. Peter’s Church, and the Spital Church, but also the imposing Plassenburg Castle, which sits enthroned on a hill above the old town.
7. Visit to Plassenburg Castle
Our discovery tour through Kulmbach now led us to Plassenburg Castle, the city’s landmark. The imposing fortification was first mentioned in 1135 and served as the residence of the dukes for many centuries, and later even as a penitentiary, jail, and training ground for Nazi cadres. Today, Plassenburg Castle serves as a cultural center and houses four museums.
Be sure to check out the large Renaissance-style courtyard and the fantastic view over Kulmbach from the rondel. If you’re in the mood for a refreshing drink, you can stop off at the Castle Café or the Restaurant Al Castello in the courtyard. From the old town, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the castle. If you’re not a good walker, you can also take the number 5 bus up.
8. Tin Figure Museum in the Plassenburg Castle
As already mentioned, there are four museums inside the Plassenburg Castle: the Obermain Regional Museum, the Hohenzollern Museum in Franconia, the Frederick the Great Army Museum, and the German Tin Figure Museum. We took a closer look at the latter and were impressed by the variety of figures and, above all, the number. With almost 300,000 figures, it houses the largest collection of tin figures in Germany.
Such a figure is made by hand and painted in several layers with great attention to detail. On-site, you can marvel at over 150 dioramas (display cases with model figures) that bring a variety of stories and moments to life, such as the destruction of Kulmbach in 1553. As big Africa fans, we particularly liked the dioramas with African tin figures.
Information about the Tin Museum & Landscape Museum
- Opening times: April – October daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. | November – March daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Admission prices: €4 for adults, children and young people up to 18 free
- Savings tip: Castle ticket for all four museums only €7
Information about the Army Museum and Hohenzollern Museum
- The Hohenzollern Museum can only be visited with a guided tour
- The Army Museum, the Margrave’s Rooms and the Castle Church can also be visited without a guided tour
- Opening times: April – October daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. | November – March daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Admission prices: €4.50 for adults, children and young people up to 18 free
- Savings tip: Castle ticket for all four museums only €7
9. Rock Cellars beneath the Plassenburg Castle
Below the Plassenburg Castle, there are still numerous historic rock cellars, which were once primarily used for storing beer and agricultural produce. They were also used as refuges and shelters during wartime. The stone-carved cellars can be explored as part of a guided tour. Our guide showed us one of these rock cellars and transported us for a moment into the dark “Kulmbach underworld.” Book a tour here.
10. Brewery Museum in the Mönchshof
Kulmbach is the “Secret Capital of Beer”. This reputation is based on the variety of beers, the Bavarian Brewery Museum, and highlights such as the “Kulmbach Beer Week.” The Kulmbach Mönchshof houses three museums under one roof: the Bavarian Brewery Museum (3,000 square meters of exhibition space), the Spice Museum (1,000 square meters of exhibition space), and the Bavarian Bakery Museum (1,000 square meters of exhibition space).
There’s plenty to discover on the grounds of the former Mönchshof Brewery. The exhibition rooms have been lovingly designed and offer a fantastic insight into the world of beer, spices, and baked goods. Of course, you can also sample a beer or two, buy souvenirs, and take part in cooking and baking classes. In the brewery restaurant “Mönchshof Bräuhaus” you can also enjoy hearty, traditional dishes.
Restaurants & Cafés
The charming town of Kulmbach is home to some great restaurants, cafés, and bars. In the following list, you’ll find our recommendations for you to try on your next trip.
Kulmbacher Zunftstube: Do you enjoy hearty food and are keen to try Franconian home cooking? Then head to the Zunftstube. Here you’ll enjoy good, home-style cooking in a rustic and convivial atmosphere. We can recommend the crispy schnitzel and the roasted mushrooms with dumplings, among others.
Sanremo Ice Cream Parlor: On hot days, don’t you love to take an ice cream break? The Sanremo Ice Cream Parlor is located right on the market square, where you can choose from a wide variety of ice cream flavors. Delicious!
Café Ein:RAUM: Right next to the Hotel Weisses Ross is the stylish and charming Café Ein:RAUM. We made ourselves comfortable on the market square and ordered delicious coffee and cake. The menu also includes refreshing drinks and other small snacks.
Patchwork: Prefer vegetarian dishes? Then head to the Patchwork restaurant. The menu includes soups, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, and colorful salads.
La Dolce Vita: The La Dolce Vita restaurant is located right in the heart of the old town. As the name suggests, you can get mainly pasta and pizza here. We can also recommend the delicious non-alcoholic drinks.
Events in Kulmbach
There are many different events, festivals and activities in Kulmbach throughout the year. Here are some of the most well-known and popular events:
Kulmbach Old Town Festival: The Kulmbach Old Town Festival has been held annually at the end of June since 1979. For three days, the historic old town is transformed into a huge dance and party stage with live music, delicious food, and, of course, plenty of beer. More about that here.
Kulmbach Beer Week: THE highlight of the year is, of course, the Kulmbach Beer Week, which always starts on the last Saturday in July. For nine days, over 120,000 visitors celebrate in the heart of Kulmbach with show bands, live music, delicious food, and excellent Kulmbach beer. More about that here.
Plassenburg Open Airs: The Plassenburg Open Airs take place once a year in the beautiful courtyard of the Plassenburg Castle. Six open-air events provide a colorful mix of classical music, comedy, and rock/pop. More about this here.
Motorcycle Rally: Once a year, the largest motorcycle rally in southern Germany takes place in Kulmbach, attracting around 40,000 visitors. The city becomes a mecca for all bikers and offers a colorful and varied program this weekend. More about this here.
Our Hotel in Kulmbach
In total, you will find 16 accommodations in Kulmbach, which specialize primarily in hikers and cyclists. During our time in Kulmbach, we stayed at the very beautiful Hotel Weisses Ross*, which is located in the heart of the old town, right on the market square. The hotel, with a total of 14 double rooms, reopened its doors at the beginning of 2022 after extensive renovations. The view from our window over the large, historic market square was magnificent. We could even see the Plassenburg Castle.
Our room was very modern, stylish and Individually furnished, it featured a comfortable box-spring bed, desk and chair, smart TV, Wi-Fi, toilet, shower, and toiletries. The hotel includes the “Schwarzer Reiter” restaurant and bar, which we highly recommend. Here, you’ll find Franconian cuisine with great attention to culinary detail. We rounded off our evening with cool music and delicious drinks in the bar. Book your room here*.
Travel tips for Kulmbach
By car: You can reach Kulmbach via the B85 and B289 federal highways. The nearest A70 motorway is 8 kilometers away, accessible via the Neudrossenfeld junction. From Munich, it takes just 2 hours 40 minutes by car to reach Kulmbach, from Berlin it takes about 4 hours 10 minutes.
Distances to Kulmbach:
- Hamburg: 568 km
- Cologne: 450 km
- Berlin: 367 km
- Stuttgart: 295 km
- Munich: 258 km
- Dresden: 239 km
- Nuremberg: 117 km
By train: The Kulmbach train station is connected to the Bamberg-Hof railway line, so there are good direct connections to Lichtenfels, Bayreuth, Hof and Bamberg as well as an indirect Connections to Nuremberg are available. The train station is just a stone’s throw from the historic city center, so you can easily walk to your hotel.
Within Kulmbach: The city is wonderfully easy to explore on foot. There are also public buses that take you to various parts of the city (to the buses). You can also rent a bike from the Eldorado bike rental and explore the surrounding area.
Our Franconia Podcast
Our Franconia tour is now available for your ears. In our first episode, we talk about Coburg, Bamberg, Kulmbach, Bayreuth, and Nuremberg. Check it out!
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