Bamberg

Bamberg is a town of about 79,000 in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, on the Regnitz close to where it joins the Main. It dates to the ninth century, taking its name from the nearby Babenberch castle. It is cited as one of Germany’s most beautiful towns, and the old town holds around 2,400 timber-framed houses across its medieval streets. The old town hall stands on an island in the middle of the river, reached by bridges on both sides, an arrangement that makes more sense once you know it was built to sit between two jurisdictions.