Kronach: Fortress, Old Town and Special Discoveries

Rosenberg Fortress and the Upper Town

Rosenberg Fortress was initially a Bamberg prince-bishop’s castle and later a regional fortress. Its military architecture combines traces of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque period. Those interested in the development of historic fortifications will therefore encounter more than just a single building period here. The underground passage system is also part of the visit and can be explored as part of guided fortress tours. The tour offers a distinctive way to experience the complex, while the architecture reveals the different periods of military construction.

The Upper Town is a historic old town with a late medieval character and a completely preserved town wall. On the “The Upper Town” city tour, participants see Kronach’s defensive walkways and towers, cellars, wells and small alleyways. The tour starts at the Lucas Cranach monument in the market square. The Gothic parish church of St. John is also in the Upper Town. On its north side is a church portal featuring a statue of St. John, a work dated to 1498 by an unknown master. Alongside its fortification history, these details give the old town an art-historical dimension.

Early castle construction in Kronach-Gehülz

Another historical highlight lies in Kronach-Gehülz: the Late Bronze Age Heunischenburg is considered the oldest scientifically researched stone castle in Europe north of the Alps. A section of wall and the gate complex with its postern, reconstructed in 1986/2000, offer a vivid impression of early castle construction. The Heunischenburg therefore represents a much earlier period than the medieval and later fortifications of Rosenberg Fortress. Those who enjoy exploring different periods on a trip will find a range of historical points of interest in Kronach.

Park, rivers and outdoor art

The 14-hectare State Garden Show Park lies at the confluence of the Haßlach, Kronach and Rodach rivers. Its special features include an extensive sculpture park with 16 works of art; 12 sculptures come from the Kronach Art Association’s sandstone triennials. At the park entrance stands “Waterfire,” an open-air video artwork by Fabrizio Plessi, described as the largest in the world. The park brings together a distinct connection to the landscape and different forms of visual art. This can be a focus alongside the historic sites when planning your holiday, so you don’t have to concentrate exclusively on fortress and old-town attractions.

Guided tours, local cuisine and open-air theatre

Kronach’s guided tours also explore local food culture. The “Long Live the Dumpling” tour takes visitors through the Upper Town and introduces the history of dumplings described as typical of Kronach. It includes old inns, the public kitchen, different types of dumplings and the so-called “Klüeßfraala.” Another tour, “Sausages and Beer,” introduces beers such as “Schmäuß” and “Förster-Pils” and shares interesting facts about Kronach’s “Bratwöscht.” The two tours have different focuses: one explores the history of dumplings, while the other focuses on beer and Bratwöscht.

Theatre is also part of the cultural programme: the Rosenberg Festival presents open-air theatre at Rosenberg Fortress in Kronach between May and August. The Lucas Cranach Trail adds another way to explore the town: it comprises seven stops and seven audio features. So, alongside themed guided tours, you can also choose stops featuring audio content.

Choose the right focus for your stay

When looking for a holiday apartment in Kronach, you can first consider which experiences you would like to shape your stay: guided fortress tours and old-town history, the early history of castle construction at the Heunischenburg, art in the park, or tours about dumplings, Bratwöscht and beer. For families looking to bring together different interests, these themes offer a range of options for planning each day, without any one focus having to define the entire stay. Your choice of Kronach can thus reflect the mix of history, culture, art and local food culture you are looking for.

If you’d like to discover more places, you’ll also find Wilhelmsthal, Ludwigsstadt, Küps, Teuschnitz, Marktrodach, Stockheim in Upper Franconia, Pressig and Tettau.

For the overarching travel overview: Kronach.