This is definitely one of my very favorite places in Germany. Located in Upper Franconia, in the Free State of Bavaria, Bamberg is home to a justly proud, social, friendly, hearty people who live a good life and enjoy good food and beer. It is found at the confluence of the rivers Main and Regnetz, and the nearest cities of note include Coburg, Kulmbach, Nürnberg, Würzburg, and Schweinfurt. It is in the center of a very old and quite unusual brewing tradition which the Germans call rauchbier - "smoked beer" in English. Rauchbier obtains its unusual and delectable flavor from the malted barley being dried over a fire, the smoke of which permeates the malt. Rumor has it that this fire is generally beechwood, which the Germans call Buche. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, Bamberg is a very beautiful town/city which is mentioned in records going back to the tenth century. It is also known for its seven hills: Cathedral Hill, Michaelsberg, Kaulberg/Obere Pfarre, Stefansberg, Jakobsberg, Altenburger Hill and Abtsberg. Its romanesque cathedral was founded in the year 1004. Among the notable people who were born here is Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg - a favorite historical person of mine, nicely portrayed in the 2008 film Valkyrie. I love Bamberg enough to make a four hour trip to spend the night and enjoy the food and beer, and bring a little Oberfranken flavor into my life. I'll add some of the photos I take here on this October 2016 visit. read more