Erlangen Travel Guide
A detailed destination guide for your next Germany vacation
Erlangen Overview
Erlangen is today dominated by the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and the numerous branch offices of Siemens AG, as well as a large Institute of the Fraunhofer Society. An event that still influences the city was the settlement of Huguenots after the withdrawal of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. There is also the annual Bergkirchweih, an annual beer festival that is not as big as Oktoberfest, but still packs loads of entertainment.
Where to stay?
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Things to See in Erlangen
The Bergkirchweih is an annual beer festival, similar to the Oktoberfest in Munich (Munich vacation rentals | Munich travel guide) but smaller in scope, and therefore more intimate. It takes place during the twelve days before and after Pentecost, under the spring trees of the Berg
a small craggy, wooded hill, with old caves owned by local breweries. Around the door of the keller, the faithful of each brewery has its faithful drinkers, liter sized clay krugs
in hand, at the reserved tables of wood, seating perhaps 10 or 20 friends. The Bier Fest draws more than one million visitors each year. There are carnival rides if high tech quality, food stalls of every imaginable Franken dish, from bratwurst to roast-suckling pig, from cinnamon "burnt almonds" to giant chewy pretzels. It is commonly known by local residents as the Berchkärwa
or simply the Berch
. This is outdoor event, packed with Franconians in various states of enjoyment, is practically unknown by tourists.
The University of Erlangen-Nuremberg was founded in 1742 by Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, in the city of Bayreuth (Bayreuth vacation rentals | Bayreuth travel guide), but was relocated to Erlangen the next year. Today, it features 11 departments, 2 of which (Economics and Education) are located in Nuremberg (Nuremberg vacation rentals | Nuremberg travel guide). About 24,000 students study at this university, of which about 20,000 are located in Erlangen.
The Botanischer Garten Erlangen is a botanical garden maintained by the university.
[ source: wikipedia ]
Maps and Driving Directions to Erlangen
Trains runs regularly from Nuremberg and take about 20 min. Bamberg is about 30 min away in the other direction. Most ICE trains between Munich and Berlin stop in Erlangen.
Travel Insider Tips for Erlangen
My husband comes from that area (Erlangen) and we were married there. I love it and miss it!
Shared by Julie Weckerlein, Mar 2010
visit Erlangen! The best brewed beer ever, a beautiful inner city and the Schlossgarten!!
Shared by Phillip Kaspar, Aug 2010
This week [end of May 2010] is Erlanger Bergkirchweih http://www.der-berg-ruft.de/index.php
Shared by Antonella Wolf, May 2010
We recently lived in Erlangen for two years and my husband fell in love with the Karp and Karpfenland. That is something that most Americans never hear about. Erlangen also has a great Bergkirchweich every Spring. Much more fun than Munich and much less commercial. I even let my middle school age daughter go to the fest with out me. It is that safe.
Shared by Anne MacKinnon Munns, Sep 2010
Visit die Bergkirchweih in Erlangen the Bier is special brewed for this Fest.
Shared by Karin E Thrasher, Jul 2010
The traditional Kitzmann beer is a particular signboard for the city. It tastes so incredibly good and is the most drunken beer, especially at the fair grounds (Bergkirchwei). Erlangians call it "Berch". Erlangen is a part of the Nuremberg metropolitain area, but its a special part. The City is standing for advancement in medical development, the Siemens-City! Erlangen is also very famous for students, its the most prefered University for students all over the country.
Shared by Phillip Kaspar, Aug 2010
City overview
[ source: www.mechatronik.uni-erlangen.de]
Related Sites
We collected some useful links related to Erlangen. If you know a few more sites not listed here, or also know some insider tips or point of interests for this destination? Please share and submit your Germany travel tip. If approved it will be shown on this page!
- Homepage of Erlangen: Erlangen (official home page)
- Wikipedia: Erlangen
More about the History of Erlangen
Erlangen was first mentioned officially in 1002 under the name of "villa erlangon". In 1361, the village was sold to Emperor Karl IV. Three years later, a city was built close to the village, which in 1374 got its own coining station (mint). In 1398, the municipal rights were confirmed. In 1402, the city was vested to the House of Hohenzollern as part of the principality of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (from 1603 on Brandenburg-Bayreuth), staying under their rule until 1806. During the four year Napoleonic occupation, Erlangen was the capital of the so-called Low County
(Unterland) of the principality, encompassing the area until Neustadt an der Aisch and separated from the High County
(Oberland) by a land corridor. In 1810 it became part of the Kingdom of Bavaria, together with the rest of former Brandenburg-Bayreuth.
Already during the Bavarian municipal reform of 1818, the city was endowed with its own administration. In 1862, the canton administration Erlangen was founded, from which later arose the administrative district of Erlangen. In 1972, this district was merged with the administrative district of Höchstadt. Erlangen became the capital of this newly founded district Erlangen-Höchstadt. During this municipal reform, Erlangen was effectively enlarged considerably, so that by 1974, it had more than 100,000 inhabitants.
[ source: wikipedia ]
What makes this Live Like a German Erlangen Travel Guide special...
This Erlangen travel guide provides you with an overview of Erlangen, Erlangen pictures, and a local travel guide that suggests many special trips, unique activities, and vacation ideas, that you can't find in a typical Germany travel guide.
Some of this information is compiled from popular and well-known sources (e.g., such as Wikipedia, Wikitravel, and great pictures from Flickr). However, what makes this Germany travel guide special is that most of the travel suggestions and insider tips are provided by local residents, property owners, and our readers, who share and submit their travel tips with us. All submissions are then editorially reviewed to ensure high quality. All this information is logically organized within this destination guide to make it easy for you to find things quickly.
In addition, the Erlangen destination guide features restaurant recommendations, restaurant reviews, where to go for grocery shopping, sports activities, getting around, cultural events and highlights, entertainment, and health related information - so you are informed for your travel to Germany, and you can learn about all the cool things you can do during your Germany vacation!
