Beer and Castle Road
It is an experience that opens up new perspectives: Here the culinary art of the globally unique beer region, there the stately castles of the region between Thuringia and Eastern Bavaria. The beer and castle road meanders along the traditional federal highway 85 through Thuringia and eastern Bavaria. For over 40 years, the tourist route has given many visitors a very special view of the region and its special features.
The Beer and Castle Road makes it possible to experience:
- delightful landscapes and nature parks;
- numerous important palaces, castles and museums;
- culinary delicacies and a wide range of beer specialties;
- Relaxation and recreation far from the noise of the big city.
Type of route: Themed route
Theme: Culture and cuisine
Start / finish: Passau / Bad Frankenhausen
Length: approx. 500 km, additional departures possible
Federal States: Bavaria, Thuringia
Holiday regions: Bavarian forest, Bavarian Jura, Franconian Switzerland, Fichtelgebirge, Frankenwald, Thuringian slate mountains/Upper halls, Thuringian forest, Weimarer Land, Kyffhäuser
Over 40 years of Beer and Castle Road
The "Bier- und Burgenstraße e.V." association was launched in May 1977, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2017 and at the same time the 25th anniversary of their expansion to the Thuringia region. The road initially led from Kulmbach to Ludwigsstadt, over time the expansion took place both in the south and in the north. Today the route connects cities, towns, castles and museums with the beer and brewing tradition or interesting excursion destinations over a length of around 500 kilometers.
Castles and Beer
Along the way, the guests experience the pristine landscape of charming nature parks, romantic rivers and valleys, but also defiant castles, lovingly restored palaces and significant ruins. And of course the route leads through the beer region of Upper Franconia, the region with the highest density of breweries in the world. Over 280 brewers create a unique variety of different barley juices here, served in rustic inns and modern country inns.
All friends of beer-loving cosiness have the opportunity to compare the skills and abilities of the Thuringian and Bavarian master brewers along the Bierstrasse and Burgenstrasse. The extensive range of beer specialties - dark full beers, fine Pils, refreshing wheat beers and tasty bock beers - means that lovers of fine barley juice are faced with a difficult choice. The breweries to the left and right of the B85 take care of that.
Whether you go on adventure trips with your family, enjoy cheerfulness and conviviality with friends, are looking for peace and relaxation or want to be transported back to the past by art and culture, on over 500 km of beer and castle streets, relaxation, discovery and pleasure come equally with their Laws.
Also a pleasure by bike
Culture and culinary route
The southern starting point for the 500-kilometer culture and culinary route is Passau in the south of the Bavarian Forest. Along the B85, the route goes via Amberg, Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Bayreuth, Kulmbach and Kronach into the Franconian Forest, and since 1992 even across the former inner-German border into Saalfeld in Thuringia, Bad Blankenburg to Bad Frankenhausen.
Castles and Palaces
Sulzbach Castle, New and Old Castle Bayreuth, Plassenburg Kulmbach, Castle Ruins Nordeck Stadtsteinach, Fortress Rosenberg Kronach, Moated Castle Mitwitz, Castle Lauenstein, Castle Ruins Hoher Schwarm Saalfeld, Castle Greifenstein Bad Blankenburg, Blankenhain Castle, Apolda Castle, Runneburg Weissensee and many more. Immerse yourself in the history along the Beer and Castle Road.
Weißenstein castle ruins near Regen
We could mention many castles that you will discover on your route, but the Weißenstein castle ruins are one example. The ruin is picturesquely located in the Bavarian Forest and has had to change hands several times in its long history due to numerous wars, takeovers and sieges. The observation tower is currently closed for renovation work, but hopefully it will soon be reopened for tours.
Franconian beer culture
Beer as far as the eye can seeBeer fans get their money's worth, especially, in Franconia. Whether from large breweries to small brewers, in every color and across the most varied of sorts, there are only a few areas in the world with such a large variety of beers as in Bavaria. You can try out the range on a wide variety of brewery tours and since a beer is best enjoyed with a good meal, numerous inns and restaurants invite you in for great evenings. We guarantee that you will have the chance to taste the work of a different brewery every evening!
Franconian Switzerland
In addition to beer and castles, there are of course also spectacular backdrops along the route. "Here the path runs from one paradise through another," wrote the poet Johann Paul Friedrich Richter about Franconian Switzerland. Franconian Switzerland offers exciting excursion destinations with striking rock formations and caves as well as a high density of castles and ruins. As early as 1793 this beautiful region was described in one area and thus aroused people's curiosity. Since then, more attractions have been added and so you can confidently spend a nice few days here.
"The Castle Road" - A Magical History Tour
Route guidance with parking space information
For more information on points of interest please see also our "EXPLORER MAP"
This information is a service offer from ALPINE in cooperation with FERIENSTRASSEN.INFO 
AG Bier- und Burgenstrasse e. V.
c/o FRANKENWALD TOURISMUS Service Center
Adolf-Kolping-Strasse 1
D - 96317 Kronach
BEER & CASTLE ROAD
