Forchheim: Imperial Palace, Little Venice and Cellar Forest

Forchheim combines architectural and urban history with riverside landscapes, beer culture and regional destinations. The old town is centred around the Imperial Palace, museums and striking historic buildings. The Cellar Forest is known for its beer cellars and hosts the Annafest every year. You can therefore plan your visit around different interests: urban history, festival dates or time outdoors.

Old Town: Imperial Palace, museums and architecture

The Imperial Palace in Forchheim’s old town is a prince-bishop’s castle dating from the late 14th century. A monument of national importance, it is particularly well known for its late Gothic wall paintings. The Forchheim Palace Museum, comprising three specialist museums—the Upper Franconian Archaeology Museum, the City Museum and the Costume Museum—is located inside the Imperial Palace. The museum’s address is Kapellenstraße 16.

The City Museum in the Imperial Palace complex tells the story of Forchheim through nine audiovisual cityscapes and covers a period of 1,200 years. The Rote Mauer Experience Museum presents a different aspect of the city’s history. It is housed in a 16th-century casemate preserved in its original state and focuses on the history of Forchheim Fortress. The entrance is at Wallstraße 19.

Rathausplatz and the old town also feature striking architecture. The tower of St. Martin’s Church is 57 metres high, visible from every direction and a visual landmark in the old town. The Frechshaus adjoins the west side of the town hall. Its oldest parts date from the early 15th century; old half-timbering with projecting upper storeys, together with the town hall, defines the row of buildings on Rathausplatz.

The Wiesent and Little Venice

Forchheim’s “Little Venice” refers to the stretch between the bridge on Vogelstraße and the hospital church. The Forchheim fish boxes can be seen there along the banks of the idyllic Wiesent. Kammerers Mill also stands in this part of the old town, on Wiesentstraße. Built in 1698, it is also known as the “Crooked House” because one side slopes towards the Wiesent.

St. Veit’s Bastion offers a view over the city park below and much of Forchheim. It can be reached by a staircase, adding a panoramic view of the city to the riverside sights.

Cellar Forest, Annafest and ZirkArt

Covering around 20,000 square metres, Forchheim’s Cellar Forest has 23 operating beer cellars, making it one of the largest beer gardens in the world. The traditional Annafest takes place there every year from late July into August. During the festival, 23 beer cellars and 14 Franconian breweries welcome visitors to relax beneath the canopy of leaves across an area of around 10,000 square metres. The details may vary from one edition to another, so check the specific festival dates when planning your trip.

Another event to plan for is ZirkArt, a street theatre festival held in Forchheim every two years since 2012. Featuring contemporary circus, it appeals to theatre lovers, families and event fans. As each edition may vary, it is worth checking its dates when planning your trip.

Nature and the wider Forchheim destination

The Schleuseninsel recreation area is in northern Forchheim. Surrounded by an arm of the Regnitz and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it offers opportunities to spend time in nature. Forchheim is also considered a gateway to Franconian Switzerland. In the wider region, well-marked hiking trails lead to rock formations; the Walberla offers views of Forchheim and the surrounding area.

In Forchheim district, the Kulturerlebnis Fränkische Schweiz hiking trail links pioneering cultural projects along more than 280 kilometres of routes. Wiesenthau Castle is also part of the wider Forchheim destination: it is privately owned, used for hospitality and can be visited by appointment. Arrange your visit in advance.

Getting here by train or bicycle

The Main-Danube Cycle Route makes it possible to reach Forchheim by bicycle from the north or south. Rail connections are available at Forchheim station and the Kersbach and Forchheim Nord S-Bahn stations. These stations are served by EuroCity, Intercity, Interregio, Regional-Express and S-Bahn services; ICE services are available from Bamberg. Check the current timetable and connections for your travel date before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Unterleinleiter, Kirchehrenbach, Poxdorf, Weißenohe, Ebermannstadt, Heroldsbach, Wiesenttal, Gräfenberg

Return to the overview of the wider destination: Forchheim.