Cham, District capital in Bavaria, Germany
Cham is a district capital in the Upper Palatinate that stretches along the banks of the Regen near the Czech border. The old town combines half-timbered houses with shops along narrow lanes that cluster around a central square.
A castle was built here in 976 to secure trade routes into Bohemia. During the Middle Ages, the settlement gained coinage rights and developed into an economic hub in the region.
The name derives from a Slavic word for fortified wall, reflecting early defensive settlements along the river. Today, Catholic church spires and renovated old town houses define the streetscape, while the market square becomes a meeting point for locals on weekdays.
The railway station offers connections to Munich, Regensburg and Nuremberg as well as regular trains to surrounding towns. From the station forecourt, you can reach the old town on foot within minutes.
Monks from Regensburg founded Marienmünster in Chammünster during the 8th century, making it the oldest monastery church in the surrounding area. This Romanesque basilica still preserves stonework from its founding period.
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