A SMALL town in Europe with unique beer and fascinating architecture has been described as one of the best hidden gems in its country.
On a list of lesser-known places to visit in Germany, the town of Bamberg was one of the more eye-catching, with its medieval history and one-of-a-kind local brew standing out from the crowd.
The list was compiled by Great Rail Journeys who loved the smoked beer and the old buildings found in the Bavarian town alongside a number of other exciting reasons to visit.
They wrote: “Famous for its traditional smoked beer and vibrant cultural scene, Bamberg is a picturesque town in Bavaria, Germany, renowned for its medieval and baroque architecture.
“The town’s historical significance dates back to the early Middle Ages, and it became an important ecclesiastical centre in the 11th century.
“Here you can explore the Bamberg Cathedral, the Old Town Hall and the New Residence with its magnificent rose garden.”
Along with its historical buildings, the town’s seven hills earn it comparisons with one of the more famous ancient cities in Europe, Rome.
However, unlike Rome, it’s far less frequently visited, with Great Rail Journeys also labelling it a “hidden gems to explore, if you’re wanting to avoid the crowds”.
Its status as a hidden gem could become a thing of the past sooner rather than later though, with travel experts Lonely Planet describing it as “unmissable”.
They wrote: “A disarmingly beautiful architectural masterpiece with an almost complete absence of modern eyesores, Bamberg’s entire Altstadt is a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of Bavaria’s unmissables.
“Generally regarded as one of Germany’s most attractive settlements, the town is bisected by rivers and canals and was built by archbishops on seven hills, earning it the inevitable sobriquet of ‘Franconian Rome’.
“Students inject some liveliness into its streets, pavement cafes, pubs and no fewer than 10 breweries cooking up Bamberg’s famous smoked beer.”
The booze, also known as rauchbier, is one of the main draws for tourists, with beer fanatics wanting to sample its smokey brew.
One of those who did was Slow Food who wrote: “The unmistakable flavour of smoked foods from the smoked malt is the beer’s defining characteristic.
“Depending on the type of firing and resulting smoke, the flavour of the beer varies from mild to robust, with distinct notes of smoked ham.”
If meaty beer isn’t your thing, there are 13 breweries in total within the town itself, with around 60 more in the surrounding area, making it something of a mecca for German beer lovers.
The 10 cheapest pints in the world
These 10 countries have the cheapest pints in the world
- Uzbekistan – 70p
- China – 90p
- Madagascar – £1
- Vietnam – £1.02
- Ukraine – £1.06
- Belarus – £1.07
- Philippines – £1.25
- Colombia – £1.28
- Azerbaijan – £1.29
- Kazakhstan – £1.34
Source: How to Order a Beer in Any Country in the World by Fraser Metcalf
But, of all the different brewery options, there are two local brewers that are renowned for making the best smoked beer, Schlenkerla and Brauerei Spezial.
Schlenkerla is arguably the most famous, with the brewery, and its on-site pub dating back to 1405.
It was previously known as the Blue Lion, and was once listed as one of the top six places in the world to have a pint by All About Beer magazine.
Bamberg isn’t only for beer lovers, with its surrounding waterways earning it comparisons with another Italian city.
The town’s website labelled the canals as Bamberg’s “Little Venice” saying that boat tours around them offer “spectacular views”.
Anyone interested in wandering the medieval streets and trying the smokey beer can reach the town by flying into Frankfurt or Munich.
A night for two in Bamberg can be booked from around £36.
Meanwhile, this town in the UK has also been compared to Venice because of its boating attractions.
And this lesser known Venice of Portugal is only three hours from the UK.