Forchheim combines a historic old town with the river scenery of the Wiesent and the beer culture of Kellerwald. Museums, viewpoints and recurring events offer different ways to shape your plans for a stay.
Imperial Palace, museums and old town
The Imperial Palace in Forchheim’s old town is a prince-bishop’s castle dating from the late 14th century. It is a monument of national significance and is particularly known for its late Gothic murals. The Forchheim Imperial Palace Museum comprises three specialist museums: the Upper Franconia Archaeology Museum, the Town Museum and the Costume Museum. The address is Kapellenstraße 16. The Town Museum presents Forchheim’s history across a period of 1,200 years through nine audiovisual townscapes.
The town’s history as a fortress also has a dedicated site: the Rote Mauer Experience Museum is located in a casemate preserved in its original state from the 16th century and tells the story of Forchheim’s fortress. The entrance is at Wallstraße 19. On Rathausplatz, the Frechshaus and town hall together define the streetscape. The Frechshaus adjoins the town hall to the west; its oldest structural elements date from the early 15th century, and its old half-timbering features projecting upper storeys. The 57-metre-high tower of St Martin’s Church is visible from every direction and serves as a visual landmark in the old town.
The Wiesent, Little Venice and viewpoints
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 on the banks of the Wiesent. Kammerers Mill, built in 1698, is on Wiesentstraße, also in the Little Venice area. Because it slopes down towards the Wiesent on one side, it is also known as the “Crooked House”. Here, a clearly defined part of the old town and a distinctive historic building come together along the river.
The St Veit’s Bastion, accessible by a staircase, offers views of the town park below and wide stretches of Forchheim. If you’d rather take in the water and open space, Schleuseninsel leisure area lies in the north of the town. Surrounded by an arm of the Regnitz and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it offers opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
Kellerwald and events
Forchheim’s Kellerwald covers around 20,000 square metres and has 23 beer cellars serving beer, 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 invite visitors to relax beneath the leafy canopy across around 10,000 square metres. The exact setup may change in future editions; check the specific festival dates for your travel period.
Another event is ZirkArt, a street theatre festival. It has been held in Forchheim every two years since 2012 and features contemporary circus for theatre lovers, families and event fans. Individual editions may vary. If the festival is a key reason for your trip, it’s worth checking the latest dates.
Plan your journey and stay
For cyclists, the Main–Danube Cycle Route provides access to Forchheim from the north and south. Rail travellers can connect via Forchheim station and the Kersbach and Forchheim Nord S-Bahn stops, with EuroCity, Intercity, Interregio, Regional-Express and S-Bahn services. ICE services are available from Bamberg. Check the current timetable for your specific connection.
When looking for a hotel in Forchheim, you can shape your stay around your interests: the Imperial Palace represents the town’s history, Little Venice offers views of the Wiesent, and Kellerwald is all about beer and festival culture. This makes it easy to tailor your trip to the things that interest you most locally.
Discover more destinations: Poxdorf, Dormitz, Hallerndorf, Wiesenttal, Unterleinleiter, Pinzberg, Obertrubach, Neunkirchen Am Brand.
Go to the main travel overview: Forchheim.
