15 Best Sights in Franconia and the German Danube, Germany

This palace east of the city makes an appealing departure from the sonorous and austere Wagnerian mood of much of the town. It's an early 18th-century palace, built as a summer retreat and remodeled in 1740 by the Margravine Wilhelmine, sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia. Although her taste is not much in evidence in the drab exterior, the interior is alive with light and color, displaying her guiding hand in every elegant line. The extraordinary Japanischer Saal (Japanese Room), filled with Asian treasures and chinoiserie furniture, is the finest room. Look out for the decidedly Western-looking Emperor; it's a depiction of Wilhelmine. Guided tours of the palace interiors, which are only in German but come with an English-language leaflet, take place every 45 minutes and last around the same amount of time; prepare to get slightly wet shoes in the enjoyable grotto waterworks. The palace's park and gardens—partly formal, partly natural, and filled with follies and fountains—make for pleasant, idle strolling. 

On the edge of Bad Staffelstein, 21 km (13 miles) southeast of Coburg, stands this tall, elegant, yellow-sandstone edifice whose interior represents one of the great examples of rococo decoration. The church was built by Balthasar Neumann (architect of the Residenz at Würzburg) between 1743 and 1772 to commemorate a vision of Christ and 14 saints—vierzehn Heiligen—that appeared to a shepherd in 1445. The interior, known as "God's Ballroom," is supported by 14 columns. In the middle of the church is the Gnadenaltar (Mercy Altar) featuring the 14 saints. Thanks to clever play with light and color, including the fanciful gold-and-blue trimmings, the dizzying interior seems to be in perpetual motion. Guided tours of the church are given on request; a donation is expected. The easiest way here from Coburg is by car (20 minutes), though the road leading to the church is often closed at weekends so you may have to walk the last half mile. Alternatively, take a 20-minute train to Lichtenfels, then a 10-minute bus to the church.

At Bamberg's historic core, the Altes Rathaus is tucked snugly on a small island in the Regnitz. To the west of the river is the so-called Bishops' Town; to the east, Burghers' Town. The citizens of Bamberg built this extravagantly decorated building on an artificial island when the bishop of Bamberg refused to give the city the land for a town hall. Industrious citizens quickly realized that the river was a tax haven as it wasn't claimed by anyone as property. The two bridges symbolically connect the spiritual side of Bamberg to the civic center. The outward appearance of the building is deceiving and gives the impression that the half-timbered section and the facade were built separately. The entire building is half-timbered, but the city plastered over the entire building in the 18th century and covered it with trompe-l'oeil frescos. For now, it's a building to be admired from the outside only, as ongoing restoration means the interior (including the Ludwig Collection of Meissen porcelain) is closed for the foreseeable future.

Situated at the eastern end of the Domplatz, this cathedral rises high above the city, making it Passau's most visible landmark. A baptismal church stood here in the 6th century, and 200 years later, when Passau became a bishop's seat, the first basilica was built. It was dedicated to St. Stephen and became the original mother church of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. A fire reduced the medieval basilica to ruins in 1662; it was then rebuilt by Italian master architect Carlo Lurago. What you see today is the largest baroque basilica north of the Alps, complete with an octagonal dome and flanking towers. Little in its marble- and stucco-encrusted interior reminds you of Germany, and much proclaims the exuberance of Rome. Beneath the dome is the largest church organ assembly in the world. Built between 1924 and 1928 and enlarged in 1979–80, it claims no fewer than 17,774 pipes and 233 stops. The church also houses the most powerful bell chimes in southern Germany.

Walk to the eastern tip of the Altstadt and look straight out at the wide waters ahead. You are standing at the confluence of three rivers: the Inn (on your right), the Danube (on your left), and the Ilz (behind you on the left; the small outlet on the other side of the Danube). It's always interesting to witness the jostling flows and currents, but it's particularly impressive on a sunny day, when you can clearly see the different water colors mingling together; the navy-black Ilz flowing into the blue-brown Danube, before meeting the aqua-green Ilz. This point also marks the western end of the Innkai, a pleasant riverside path that leads past the striking 13th-century Schaiblingsturm. It's a far more relaxing experience than the bustling Danube promenade.

You could spend a lifetime exploring the largest and greatest ethnological museum in Germany. This vast museum showcases the country's cultural and scientific achievements, ethnic background, and storied history. Housed in a former Carthusian monastery, complete with cloisters and monastic outbuilding, the complex effectively melds the ancient with modern extensions, giving the impression that Germany is moving forward by examining its past. The exhibition begins outside, with the tall, sleek pillars of the Strasse der Menschenrechte (Street of Human Rights), designed by Israeli artist Dani Karavan. Thirty columns are inscribed with the articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. There are few aspects of German culture, from the Stone Age to the 19th century, that are not covered by the museum, and quantity and quality are evenly matched. One highlight is the superb collection of Renaissance German paintings (with Dürer, Cranach, and Altdorfer well represented); look out for the remarkable 1702 painting Gemäldegalerie (Picture Gallery) by Johann Michael Bretschneider, which incorporates hundreds of small, individual, fictional artworks. Others may prefer the exquisite medieval ecclesiastical exhibits—manuscripts, altarpieces, statuary, stained glass, jewel-encrusted reliquaries—the collections of arms and armor, or the scientific instruments including beautiful globes and astrolabes.

Opened in 2019 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Free State of Bavaria (which was in 2018, but who's counting?), this vast riverside museum walks visitors through the checkered history of the region, from the medieval Kingdom of Bohemia right up to the present day (and future). The tone is a little up-and-down—in the midst of a section on brutal Nazi rule, there's an exhibit about Karl Valentin's comedy film Flug Zum Mond (Flight to the Moon)—but there are fascinating deep-dives into Bavarian culture and clothing, the extravagance of Ludwig II, the 1972 Summer Olympics, the booming automotive industry, and, of course, Bayern Munich soccer club. German speakers will enjoy the collected audio snippets of spoken Bavarian alongside other German dialects.

The city's most famous attraction is a grand yet playful collection of buildings standing just inside the city walls was once the residence of the Holy Roman Emperor. In 1945, almost the entire structure was reduced to rubble, though it's difficult to imagine once you see the thorough restoration.

This vast complex comprises three groups of buildings. Visits begin in the ancient, least-damaged western section, still with its original oak beams, painted ceilings, and sparse interiors. Explore the Romanesque Doppelkappelle (Double Chapel)—the upper chapel, larger and more ornate than the lower one, is where the emperor and his family worshipped—the Rittersaal (Knights' Hall) and the Kaisersaal (Throne Room). The Kaiserburg Museum displays ancient armors, with exhibits on horsemanship in the imperial era. Cross the Äusserer Berghof (Outer Courtyard) and climb the Sinwell Turm (Sinwell Tower) for spectacular city views.

In the center of the complex lies the Burggrafenburg (Castellan's Castle). Dating from around 1050, this is the oldest part of the Kaiserburg, with a craggy old pentagonal tower and the bailiff's house. To the north and northeast lie the Reichsstädtische Bauten (Imperial City Buildings), including the 15th century Kaiserstallung (Imperial Stables), built as a granary and now a popular youth hostel.

Southwest of Regensburg, on the bank of the Danube, stands one of Germany's most spectacular Benedictine abbeys. Constructed between 1716 and 1718, it's commonly regarded as the masterpiece of brothers Cosmas Damian and Egid Quirin Asam, whose extraordinary composition of lavish polished marble, highly wrought statuary, and stucco figures dancing along curving walls is the epitome of Bavarian baroque. Look above the high altar, where a bronze equestrian statue of St. George is dispatching a winged dragon with his flamelike sword.

No Bavarian monastery is complete without a brewery, and Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg serves up excellent frothy beers and hearty German food. You can also buy bottles of beer to go. Kids will gravitate to the riverside beach, which is perfect for skimming stones (beware bathers!)

The most dramatic approach to the abbey is by river from Kelheim, 10 km (6 miles) downstream, where boats wind between towering limestone cliffs that rise above tree-lined riverbanks. There are several departures a day mid-March through October (€11.50 single; €19.50 return). You can also drive, but expect a 2-km (1¼-mile) round-trip walk from the parking lot (€4.50; cash only) to the abbey.

History was made in this quiet corner of Nuremberg, when the International Military Tribunal put 22 Nazi leaders and six German organizations on trial here between November 1945 and October 1946. The renowned Nuremberg trials, as they came to be known, took place in the Landgericht (Regional Court) in Courtroom 600 and resulted in 11 death sentences, among other convictions. Since the courtroom was decommissioned in 2020, it has become a popular, if harrowing, visitor attraction, with an audiovisual installation showing clips from the historic trials. An exhibition reveals more about the defendants and their crimes, the full trial process, and the impact of the Nuremberg Trials on international criminal law.

Richard Wagner's one-time home, "Wahnfried," built by the composer in 1874, is now the centerpiece of this fine museum. It's a fairly austere neoclassical building whose name, "peace from madness," was well earned. Wagner lived here with his wife Cosima, daughter of pianist Franz Liszt, and they were both laid to rest here; look for Wagner's simple gravestone in the garden (behind the fountain), with another nearby for his beloved dogs Marke and Russ. A bust of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, the "Fairy-Tale King" who gave Wagner so much financial support, stands before the entrance to the house.

Inside, the exhibits are generously spread across three floors, with information in German but summary boards provided in English. Highlights include his piano, multimedia displays of various opera performances, and the original scores of such masterpieces as Parsifal, Tristan und Isolde, and Der Fliegende Holländer. In the buildings flanking the main house, you'll find a collection of production costumes, exhibits on Wagner's son (and fellow composer) Siegfried, and an excellent little café. The little house where Franz Liszt lived and died is right next door, and you can visit with a combination-ticket that's just €1 more than the regular entrance fee.

This impressive medieval bridge resting on massive stone pontoons is Regensburg's most celebrated sight. It was completed in 1146 and was rightfully considered a miraculous piece of engineering at the time. As the only crossing point over the Danube for miles, it effectively cemented Regensburg's control over trade. The significance of the little statue on the bridge is a mystery, but the figure seems to be a witness to the legendary rivalry between the master builders of the bridge and those of the Dom.

This fortress, one of the largest and most impressive in the country, is Coburg's main attraction. The brooding bulk of the castle guards the town atop a 1,484-foot hill. Construction began around 1055, but with progressive rebuilding and remodeling, the predominantly late Gothic–early Renaissance edifice bears little resemblance to the original crude fortress. Seek out the elaborate 17th-century Jagdintarsien-Zimmer (Hunting Marquetry Room), home to some of the finest woodwork in southern Germany, as well as the room where Martin Luther lived for six months in 1530 while he observed the goings-on of the Augsburg Diet.

Today, much of the castle is given over to two exceptional museums. The first is the Kunstsammlungen, an impressive art collection with works by Dürer, Hans Holbein, and Riemenschneider, among others, as well as furniture, historical weapons, and coins. The second is the Europäisches Museum für Modernes Glas, a vast and valuable antique glass collection, with most exhibits from the baroque age, along with some modern ceramics.

The powerful fortress and summer castle, commissioned by Bishop Ulrich II in 1219, protects Passau from an impregnable site across the river from the Rathaus. Today, the Veste Oberhaus is Passau's most important museum, containing exhibits that illustrate the city's 2,000-year history. From the terrace of its café-restaurant (open Easter–October), there's a magnificent view of Passau and the convergence of the three rivers. The fortress is a steep, 15-minute walk from Rathausplatz; there's also a parking lot.