I’m pretty sure I’ve said this before about some other town, but the people that get to live in (or around) the town of Memmelsdorf have got to be the luckiest folks on earth.
No, I mean it this time. I’m not just saying it just because Memmelsdorf is in Bavaria. OK, that’s part of it. But, it’s also in the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region AND in what’s known as Franconian Tuscany. Oh, and it’s on the Castle Road a.k.a. Burgenstraße, too.
See? And I haven’t even mentioned the beer making yet, but I’ll get to that later.
Even though Memmelsdorf is on the Burgenstraße, there are more churches in the area than castles. One of the most beautiful is Maria Himmelfahrt. This Parish Church has gold accents, paintings, marble, and its carved pews are stunning. Right outside is a stone figure of St. Wendelin and other sculptures, so gorgeous artwork isn’t just found inside.
Between visiting the other churches like the Chapel of Schmerzhafte Mutter Gottes, Anna Chapel, and the Evangelical Church of the Ascension you can hike, bike, walk, around the Upper Franconian countryside. Memmelsdorf is in a gorgeous valley between the Franconian Switzerland and the Steigerwald Nature Park, so being outside is a definite must; and I don’t mean just outside in a beer garden this time. ;-)
Before you get to the beer, you got to get to Schloß Seehof which is the reason Memmelsdorf is on the Castle Road. Originally built as a summer house & hunting lodge (these are some digs to have just been a summer home!), this Rococo style castle is grandiose, way over the top, and to call it ornate is the ultimate understatement. If you want to see the inside you have to do it between April 1-October 31, although the Castle Gardens are open all year round.
You’ve waited long enough for the beer part. And while neighboring UNESCO Bamberg has seven breweries, Memmelsdorf has five of their very own. Two of them are a blend of brewery and guesthouse, so you don’t have to go far from your bed to sample this delicious golden beverage. ;-)
See? I told you these folks are the luckiest people on earth.
