Kulmbach

Kulmbach is a district capital in Upper Franconia where the Red and White Main rivers flow together. Half-timbered houses line the narrow streets around the market square while Plassenburg fortress sits on a rocky peak above the old town.

Margraves of Bayreuth ruled the town from Plassenburg fortress for centuries until Bavarian troops marched in during 1810. Breweries shaped economic life from the 14th century onward and turned the settlement into a center for beer production.

The Brewery Museum in Mönchshof shows brewing tools and hop sacks that recall a craft practiced here since medieval times. Family-run breweries still operate their tap rooms where locals and visitors sit side by side.

A walk through the old town takes about an hour from the market square up to the fortress along cobbled paths with steep sections. The climb offers views over the surrounding forests and valleys that make the effort worthwhile.

The spice museum at Oberhacken stores sacks of caraway, anise and cloves that recall historic trade with distant regions. Visitors can sniff at different jars and guess the spices once used for gingerbread and brewing recipes.

Location: Kulmbach

Elevation above the sea: 304 m

Website: https://kulmbach.de/xist4c/web/Town-Hall_id_13355_.htm

GPS coordinates: 50.10712,11.45818

Latest update: December 13, 2025 05:10