Forchheim, District capital and urban municipality in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany.
Forchheim is a district capital in Upper Franconia that spreads between forested hills and the river plains of the Regnitz and Wiesent. The old town shows half-timbered houses from several centuries, while newer residential and commercial areas surround the historic center.
Emperor Charlemagne mentioned the town in 805 in a royal decree that applied throughout his empire. Later the town served several times as a meeting place for imperial diets and royal councils.
The Annafest turns the Kellerwald into an open-air festival ground every July with traditional Franconian music and beer gardens. Families and friends gather at long wooden tables beneath old trees, sharing local food and drinks.
The central location makes day trips to Bamberg or Nuremberg easy, while Franconian Switzerland invites hiking. Those arriving in July will find more visitors and full accommodations during the Annafest.
The medieval Kaiserpfalz recalls a time when rulers and princes came here for important assemblies. The building still shows the architecture from an era when political decisions for large parts of Europe were made within its walls.
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