Enjoy Franconia's secrets by hiking through its hills and mountains

By Martin Oversohl Sep 21, 2010, 13:24 GMT

Kulmbach, Germany - The Frankenweg is an excellent way to discover what the south-eastern German region of Franconia has to offer.

The 520-kilometre-long trail through Bavaria and the edge of southern Thuringia takes in over 250 breweries and such a variety of landscapes that the area is best discovered on foot, even if it takes a little more time.

'You're looking to get to Thalmaessing?' asks an old man. 'It's not far to go now. Just keep following the hill up and continue a little further on once it levels out.'

The stretch from Berching to Thalmaessing needs time to complete as it winds its way along the craggy northern edge of Middle Franconia. The meandering stage to Thalmaessing has a lot in common with other sections of the Frankenweg, which links the northern Franconian Forest with the Swabian Alps.

The mostly unpaved route cuts through the Mittelgebirge, the low mountain range that cuts across central and southern Germany, and historical old towns as well as making its way over mountains and down past lush valleys and meadows.

The landscapes encountered are also hugely varied. The forest region offers limestone, spruce forests and freshwater springs which is in marked contrast to the cliffs, caves and countless fortresses and ruins in the uplands of the Fraenkische Schweiz (Little Switzerland).

The trail is much more arid along Middle Franconia as the rocky plateau is almost devoid of streams and springs.

The aquatic landscape of Franconia's lake region can be savoured before the path connects the Altmuehltal nature park around Jura with the historic university town of Eichstaett. The Frankenweg ends shortly afterwards in Harburg on the edge of Middle Franconia.

Hikers also pass by the harbour at Selbitz, which divides Bavaria from Thuringia.

The first day of walking the trail offers a host of sights and surprises, starting with the wild romanticism of the Hoellental and the cliffs of King David and ending with Doebraberg, considered the roof of the Franconian Forest.

Over the next number of days, the town of Kronach, home of German Renaissance painters Lucas Cranach the Elder and Lucas Cranach the Younger, is followed by Kulmbach, considered the secret beer capital of Bavaria and home to the Bavarian Brewery Museum.

Days of isolated hiking come to an end when the path reaches upper Maintal with its Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, a group venerated at the time of the Black Death. The late Baroque basilica was constructed between 1743 and 1772 and is a favoured destination of pilgrims between May and October.

Maintal offers superb views of the surrounding area while the cliffs are considered a climber's paradise. The Fraenkische Schweiz offers hikers bizarre dolomite cliff formations and over 1,000 stalactite caves.

Historical sites dot the landscape as the Frankenweg makes its way to Middle Franconia. A row of fortresses and ruins stretch like a chain of pearls along the route, including the Burg Hohenstein mountain fortress and the Wasserschloss castle in Pilsach.

Traces of Celtic influence can be found around Thalmaessing while the former royal town of Weissenburg is home to Roman thermal baths and the Biriciana fort.

The Frankenweg walking route has been awarded Germany's quality stamp of approval because of its well signposted routes and variety of sights.