The settlement history of the “Franconian Rome” – as Bamberg is sometimes referred to – reaches at least as far back as the 8th century. The more prominent history starts just before the turn from the Early Middle Ages to the High Middle Ages, when the diocese Bamberg was founded in 1007 by King Henry, who would later became Emperor Henry II. The Altstadt with the cathedral was declared a World Heritage Site in 1993 by the UNESCO as it is one of the biggest old town quarters with a still intact medieval appearance.
Bamberg’s town history is also inextricably linked to the history of beer: brewing has been a craftsmanship in the region since the Middle Ages and Upper Franconia boasts the highest brewery-density per capita in the world with about 300 breweries to a population of about 1 million people. Nine to eleven of those breweries are in the township of Bamberg. A comparatively small number: in 1818 there were 65 breweries operating in Bamberg.
With about 13.000 students making up for over 16 percent of the population (around 77.000 people), Bamberg is not only a town rich with history, but also rich with student culture. The population and student numbers are rising as many people discover Bamberg as a very nice place to live, study and work.
Excursions
- Bamberg – World Heritage Fascination
- BierSchmecker®Erlebnis (Beer-Gourmet-Experience)
- Daytrip Franconian Switzerland
- Daytrip to Munich
- Halfdaytrip to Nuremberg
Guided Tour „World Heritage Fascination“
(without the interior of the cathedral)
This city needs to be explored on foot! Join an experiences tour guide on a journey through 1000 years of history in the Town of Bamberg, an old town quarter which was awarded the title of World Heritage Site in 1993.
During the tour you will experience how unique Bamberg is. In the historic city ensemble with cathedral, churches and monasteries, with bridges, with alleys and squares, with half-timbered houses and baroque facades, you can still see the magic of the past today.
Please Note: Minimum number of participants: 14 / Maximum number of participants: 25
Price: 15,00 € includes English speaking tour guide
Duration: 2 hours
Date: Sunday, 21.09.2025, 2 pm
BierSchmecker®Erlebnis (Beer-Gourmet Experience)
Upper Franconia has the highest density of breweries in the world. Bamberg is no exception: at least 7 breweries are situated in the town itself and several more in the surroundings of the town. “Wars” were fought over the price of beer, which is almost considered cultural property in Franconia.
Experience the BierSchmecker®-town Bamberg in its many facets on a guided tour with a commentated beer tasting afterwards, including a traditional Franconian dish.
Program:
5:15 p.m.: Guided town tour about the history of beer in Bamberg
6:45 p.m.: Commentated beer tasting: 0,1 l each of pilsner, wheat beer and smoked beer; dinner afterwards with typical franconian cuisine
Please Note: Minimum number of participants: 10
Price: 45,00 € includes: English speaking tour guide, beer tasting according to program, dinner with typical franconian cuisine (Menu)
Duration: 3,5 to 4 hours
Date: Tuesday, 23.09.2025, 5:15 pm
Day trip to the “Franconian Switzerland” – Castles, caves and picturesque valleys
Rabenstein Castle – nature’s paradise, tourist attraction and typical Franconian food
Situated on a spur overlooking the valley of the Ailsbach river Rabenstein sits in the heart of Franconian Switzerland. It forms the center of the natural paradise Ailsbachtal (Ailsbach Valley), to which Sophie’s Cave – one of the most beautiful dripstone caves in Germany -, the falconry, the tavern, the beer garden and also numerous forests and hiking trails belong.
Sophie’s Cave – A natural work of art
Just about a 10-minutes’ walk away from Rabenstein Castle you enter an underground palace, Sophie’s Cave. It is one of the most beautiful flowstone caves in Germany. A fairy-tale landscape has developed here over thousands of years, with stalagmites such as the giant “Millionaire” or flowstone draperies up to five meters long. The colors of the dripstone formations include ocher, red and brown tones and are illuminated to a magical effect. Experience this beautiful and natural wonder as it grows – microscopically yet steadily.
(image@wikipedia.org, Rainer Lippert)
The falconry
Experience the fascination of falconry up close!
The falconry at Rabenstein Castle presents over 80 of the largest and most beautiful birds of prey – from falcons and eagles to owls and vultures – in its beautifully situated owl and bird of prey park. During a flight demonstration, the falconry offers the opportunity to get to know hunting with birds of prey as it was common in the Middle Ages and is still practiced to some extent today. Up to twelve different birds of prey demonstrate their flying and hunting skills. The animals often fly just a few centimetres above the heads of the enthusiastic spectators. A rare encounter between humans and animals.
You can see these majestic creatures up close in the aviaries of the bird park.
The distilleries belong to the Franconian Switzerland like the castles, caves and the beer. Roughly 300 traditional stills grow their fruit themselves on their orchards and produce spirits, schnapps and cordials. This is a promise: whoever tries one of the house brandies will never want for anything else again.
The numerous orchards characterize the landscape of the Franconian Switzerland. The majority of the fruit – including cherries, apples, pears, plums, mirabelle plums and much more – is being processed and sold locally. This is one of the reasons why there is such a high density of distilleries in the popular holiday region between Nuremberg, Bamberg and Bayreuth. Of course, local produce and a regional tradition of distilling, that has been passed down for generations, mark the quality of the various spirits.
Program:
Guided Bus Tour via Buttenheim (the birthplace of Levi Strauss) and Ebermannstadt into the Wiesent Valley. Continue via Streitberg and Muggendorf to Gößweinstein, the famous place of pilgrimage with its Balthasar Neumann Basilica. Then the climatic health resort of Pottenstein, surrounded by rocks and the dry grassland slopes with juniper and sloe bushes typical of Franconian Switzerland. The next stop is the bizarre rock village of Tüchersfeld, followed by a ride through the Ailsbach valley to Rabenstein Castle with bird park and falconry. Just a 10-minute walk away in a picturesque setting you’ll find Sophie’s cave, one of the most beautiful still active stalactite caves in Germany.
Included highlights:
Distillery tour with tasting, walk to Sophie’s cave, guided tour through Sophie’s Cave, visit to the falconry flight demonstration
Optional (not included):
Lunch break in the Gutsschenke of Rabenstein castle, visit tot he bird park (4 €)
Please Note: Minimum number of participants: 25 /Maximum number of participants: 49
Price: 80 €
Included in Price: English speaking tour guide, all entry fees according to program, distillery tasting
Date: Friday, 26.09.2025
Departure from Bamberg: 9 a.m.
Arrival back in Bamberg: around 6 p.m.
Please note that neither the path to the cave nor the cave itself are barrier-free. Please plan to wear sturdy shoes and warm clothing when visiting the Sophie’s cave (the temperature in the cave is around 9° all year round).
Day trip to Munich
With a population of about 1.5 million people – and still growing everyday – Munich, the capitol of the Free State of Bavaria, is the third biggest city in Germany. Its history spans from a small settlement of monks in the 12th century to a buzzing, diverse metropolis today, a center of culture, science and politics with a multitude of industries, a rich cultural life and various long-established and modern culinary traditions. It is known for one of the world’s largest “Volkfest”, the “Oktoberfest” and offers a wide variety of attractions.
A coach will take you the three hour drive from Bamberg down to Munich, directly to the heart of the city, where your tourguides will meet you at Isartor and take you on the journey through the city:
Stroll through the city center
Explore the town center with a tour guide and learn about the history of Munich, its culture and its development. What is the story of Munich’s foundation made it the thriving city it is today? And – of course – what about the beer?
Victual’s Market Delicious Food Tour
The Victual’s Market in Munich is a market for agricultural produce, artisan goods and other food products since 1807. It has been open every day since then (except for Sundays) and still offers a wide variety of tasty treats. A stroll around Munich’s most popular food market is a sensual revelation. Enjoy traditional home-made cheese, Bavarian sausages, sensational chocolate and delicious fruits! While tasting, you will hear about the market’s history and presence. You will be offered samples of the different foods – enough to make your lunch!
Nymphenburg Castle and Park
Nymphenburg Castle (or Nymphenburg Palace) is the birthplace of King Ludwig II. of Bavaria, born there in 1845 and known as the “Märchenkönig” (“The Fairy Tale King”), who built Neuschwanstein Castle. For three centuries it has been the summer residence of Bavaria’s Royalty and is still today the residence of Franz, Duke of Bavaria and head of the house of Wittelsbach.
The construction of Nymphenburg Castle began 1664 under Elector Ferdinand Maria and his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoyen. Over the years, several buildings were added. Today, its front is as wide as 632 m and the parks have a size of 200 ha. Gaze at the Baroque architecture from close up, explore the Palace from the beautiful baroque halls to the horse-stables and learn about a baroque monarch’s household.
Please note: Minimum participants: 30 / Maximum number of participants: 49
Price: 125 €
Included in Price: English speaking tour guide, all entry fees according to program, lunch with samples of different foods at the Victual’s Market
Date: Friday, 26.09.2025
Departure from Bamberg: 8 a.m.
Arrival back in Bamberg: between 8 and 9 p.m.
Short Trip to Nuremberg
Dive into the impressive history of the second largest city in Bavaria and enjoy the amenities of a lively urban place. Discover how harmonious the interplay of historic buildings and modern architecture can be on a walk through the Old Town. The city of Nuremberg is characterized by the historic buildings of the old town, surrounded by the impressive city wall. The medieval imperial castle sits enthroned on the sandstone mountain and offers a view over the roofs of the city and Nuremberg’s most important churches. The Frauenkirche is the opening location of the world-famous Christmas market and lies with St. Sebald at the foot of the castle, while St. Lorenz towers up on the other side of the Pegnitz. If you follow the small streets of the castle hill, you come to Weißgerbergasse with its romantic half-timbered houses. Formerly a tanner’s workplace, small cafés and bars have now settled here.
Nuremberg’s past and its role during the Nazi era is a chapter that the city is actively facing and taking responsibility. The Documentation Center for the Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the Memorium Nuremberg Trials provide information and warning. Room 600, where the Nuremberg Trials opened in 1945, is now an information and documentation center.
So that you can see as much of the city, we start with a bus tour, accompanied by a guide.
Guided city tour by bus
Nuremberg Palace of Justice
World history was written in the jury room of the Nuremberg Palace of Justice. From November 20, 1945 to October 1, 1946, leading representatives of the National Socialist regime had to answer for their actions before an international court. The proceedings had a significant influence on the development of international criminal law. To this day, Hall 600 is a place of jurisprudence.
St. John’s Cemetery
is one of the most notable burial grounds in Europe. Many important Nuremberg personalities are buried here, including Albrecht Dürer, Veit Stoß and Ludwig Feuerbach. The cemetery was created in 1234 as a cemetery for lepers, as lepers could not be buried within the city walls.
Former Nazi Party Rally Grounds
In 1934, Hitler’s architect Albert Speer began to draw up an overall plan for the future Nazi party rally grounds, an area of around 11 km². The neoclassicism of the early 20th century was monumentally exaggerated in National Socialist architecture. It should be sublime, powerful and awe-inspiring, built to last. And so there were no colors or decorative elements in the plans for the Nuremberg Nazi party rally grounds; cold gray was the predominant color. The war prevented the completion of the huge facilities such as the Congress Hall, German Stadium and Märzfeld, which were supposed to serve as scenery for the annual Nazi party rallies. The remaining remains are now listed as monuments to the tyranny.
After the bus tour, get off directly behind the Imperial Castle and continue exploring the city on foot.
Walking Tour of the Old Town
Nuremberg was once an imperial residence, a powerful free imperial city and an international trading centre. The prosperous city provided the ideal basis for an active cultural and intellectual life and the arts. Even today, numerous buildings, monuments and artworks still reflect its former importance.
The walking tour through the Old Town offers information and insights on the churches, the castle, the fountains and wells as well as the city itself, past and present.
Preliminary Shedule
| 9 a.m. | Departure from Bamberg |
| 10:15 a.m. | Guided city tour by bus (Palace of Justice, St. John’s Cemetry, Former Nazi Party Rally Grounds) |
| 11:15 a.m. | Walking Tour through the Old Town |
| 1:30 p.m. | Return to Bamberg |
Please note: Minimum participants: 25 / Maximum number of participants: 49
Price: 40,00 €
Date: Friday, 26.09.2025
Departure from Bamberg: 9 a.m.
Arrival back in Bamberg: 2:30 p.m.