Altstadt

The region of Franconia (German: Franken) in Bavaria (at least most of it) is as densely packed with cultural, historical, and natural charms as sausage from the city of Coburg is packed with flavor. As much a state of mind as a geographical area, Franconia e-books such powerful pride in its residents that they insist on being called Franconians, although most of ’em legally became Bavarians in 1806. ;-)A vast expanse of forests and river valleys interspersed with limestone cliffs, formations, and caves, Franconia’s mystique is enhanced with medieval cities and fairytale castles. Its delights are connected to one another by Europe’s most romantic road (so romantic, in fact, that its official name is the Romantic Road — dooh!)This road extends through Franconia from the vineyard-clad hills of Würzburg in the north to the alpine meadows and rugged peaks surrounding Neuschwanstein Castle in the south, but it’s only one of Franconia’s attractions. Here are my choices for other mustn’t-miss sites in this most German of all Germany’s regions: