Winter in Franconia: Why you should visit the region during Advent

RND - Editorial Network Germany Winter in Franconia: Why you should visit the region during Advent Susanna Bauch • 1 day • 6 minutes reading time The borders in federal Germany are fluid. Still Hesse? Already Franconia? Bright sunshine and a few degrees below zero, plus a thin blanket of snow: no matter where you are, this is the perfect backdrop for a weekend at traditional Christmas markets and a journey into the history of the Hohenzollerns. The most influential noble family in German history is still present in the gossip columns to this day: the right to live in the Cecilienhof Palace in Potsdam, the return of property and tens of thousands of art objects - today's House of Hohenzollern is making far-reaching demands. Pre-Christmas Franconia Baroque Erlangen and tranquil Ansbach in the heart of Franconia are particularly in the mood for the festivities in the run-up to Christmas. Warm clothing, steadfastness and a desire for mulled wine and home-brewed beer are important prerequisites for a trip to pre-Christmas Franconia. The city of Erlangen was created in 1812 by uniting the old town with the new town. It was built at the behest of the Margrave as a so-called planned city for the Huguenots who had fled from France - Erlangen thus set an early example of cosmopolitanism. To this day, the rectangular layout with the main street designed as a symmetrical axis provides the basic principle of the local city tour. It is therefore difficult to stray from the path, because in this city they are somehow self-explanatory. Most paths also lead past various Christmas markets and various breweries. Beer has always played a central role in the city. A clear sign of the Hohenzollern heritage is the castle. The Erlangen castle includes the orangery and a magnificent castle garden as well as the Concordia Church - the first self-contained, baroque courtly building ensemble in Franconia. During Advent, it is a breathtaking backdrop for the Erlangen Forest Christmas, a Christmas market with lots of splendor and pomp. The city breathes history here too. It is also wealthy, thanks to Siemens. Modern theater in a historic building Further signs of the Hohenzollern family can be seen in the Margravial Baroque Theater. Rather inconspicuous from the outside, the theater shines on the inside. The inconspicuous building on the edge of the Erlangen castle park welcomes you with a sober foyer from the 1960s. Bare stone stairs lead to the upper tiers - and then the gilded splendor of the wide round hall shines in the auditorium. Wooden balustrades with chiseled ornaments adorn the boxes between the decorated wooden columns. The prince's box with two gilded herms on each side, above which a magnificent canopy, outshines the room. Real pomp from bygone times, preserved and used up to the present day. The building is now the oldest baroque theater still in use in southern Germany - with its own ensemble. The theater is therefore not just a monument, but is regularly filled with cultural life. "A challenge for the ensemble," says the former artistic director Katja Ott. The stage technology has been modernized, but the baroque setting sets playful limits. Around 50,000 spectators every year get involved in the coexistence of yesterday and today. The city museum offers even more city history. In his tour, Hartmut Heisig talks about French religious refugees, medieval city life and shows the city's history collection. An exciting flying visit, the man does his job with heart and humor. Erlangen is also a beer city From theory to practice and above all to the present of culinary delights: Erlangen, with a population of almost 120,000, is also known as a historical beer city. At the annual beer festival, the Erlanger Bergkirchweih, Franconian tradition is lived for twelve days in 14 beer cellars on the city hill. The old cellars are also a popular meeting place for Erlangen's youth - all year round. The buildings originally served as naturally cool storage areas for Franconian barley juice in the 19th century - before the invention of the refrigeration machine made modern storage alternatives possible. There were once around 200 breweries here, but the Steinbach brewery with its brewery museum is now one of the three remaining production sites for Erlangen beer. Here, next to huge copper kettles, dozens of types of beer are displayed on a large board in the bar - not an easy decision.