NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION Lower Franconia is in southern Germany, just east of Frankfurt. Würzburg is the region’s main city
AREA 3,300 sq miles (8,560 sq km)
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES Jan: 34°F (1°C); Apr: 52°F (11°C); Jul: 68°F (20°C); Oct: 50°F (10°C)
The air really does get sweeter in Franconia. The hills soften their hard outlines and acres of pines give way to the deciduous forests of the Odenwald. The candyfloss Baroque architecture that festoons Germany is replaced by a far more refined style in Franconia, most evident in the Residenz, a palace in Würzburg.
Here, the greatest of all Baroque architects, Balthasar Neumann, built a staircase that climbs to the Tiepolo frescoes above. Inside Würzburg’s Cathedral are two of sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider’s finest works. West of the city, the Veitshöchheim Palace boasts Europe’s most gorgeous Rococo garden.
Practical Information
Getting There and Around
Most of Lower Franconia can be reached by public transportation from Frankfurt or Nuremberg airports. Numerous river boats also cruise up the Main from the Rhine and the Danube.
When to Go
August is busy throughout Franconia, especially on the famous Romantische Straße highway. Visit in spring or fall.