Elbe Cycle Path
Centre-based cycle tours
Saxon Switzerland
Circular walking tours
Sportive walking tours
Wuerzburg Residence and Court Garden
This magnificent Baroque palace is known as one of the largest and most beautiful palaces in Germany. Surrounded by wonderful gardens, it was built and decorated in the 18th century by an international team of architects, painters (including Tiepolo), sculptors and stucco-workers. The court garden of Wuerzburg Residence is located on the edge of the baroque town fortifications with their massive supporting walls. It was created by the court gardener Johann Prokop Mayer as a typical rococo-style garden.
Marienberg Fortress and Prince’s Building in Wuerzburg
The original castle on the Marienberg was probably a small fort built early in the 8th century by the Franconian-Thuringian dukes. Later on, a much larger castle was built, extended and enlarged during the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. A circle of massive bastions was erected during the 30 Year´s War to protect the Marienberg and in 1945 it was almost completely devastated. Reconstruction was completed in 1990. Today visitors can discover the Princes' Building Museum showing valuable furniture, tapestries and paintings, or take a stroll within the 1,300 square metres of the Princes' Garden.
New Residence and Rose Garden at Bamberg
The magnificent building complex of the Bamberg New Residence has over 40 state rooms featuring stucco-work ceilings, furniture and tapestries from the 17th and 18th centuries. Furthermore, the Imperial Hall impresses with 16 larger than life-sized portraits of emperors painted on the walls. The Elector's Rooms, the Prince-Bishop's Apartments and the gallery with Old German and Baroque paintings are of particular interest. Additionally, the Rose Garden in the inner courtyards pours it´s charm with rose fragrances and colors during the summer time, hosting around 4,500 roses and being divided up by two paths with a nice fountain pool in the centre.
Imperial Castle of Nuremberg and Castle Gardens
Nuremberg Castle is a historical castle sitting enthroned on a sandstone rock north of the old town of the city with the same name. During the Middle Ages it was one of the most important imperial castles of the Holy Roman Empire. The castle area encompasses the Imperial castle, some buildings of the Burgraves of Nuremberg and the municipal buildings of the Imperial City at the eastern side. A permanent exhibition inside the castle explains elements and function of the castle in their historical context, but also presents information about the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation and Nuremberg´s role in the late Middle Ages.
Hermitage Old Palace and Court Garden in Bayreuth
The Hermitage has its origins in 1616, when the margrave purchased a forestall area close to Bayreuth. About one hundred years later Margrave Georg Wilhelm built the Old Palace as the central feature of a court hermitage and his wife continued to enlarge the area by adding new rooms, various buildings and water fountains. Even at the existing gardens she left her marks and implemented traditional baroque elements like hedge gardens, pergolas and waterworks. Today the Hermitage still remains unique amongst the gardens of the 18th century.
