Just north of Nuremberg, is the historic town of Forchheim, full of impressive baroque and half-timbered buildings. The cobbled streets of the old town are a joy to walk around. Its slow pace of life is a great contrast to the busy cities of Nuremberg and Bamberg.

The river runs through the centre of town and charming old buildings on stilts can be found along its course. Down one of the shopping streets the town designers incorporated a small stream to run through the centre in a gully. Children and pet dogs love jumping over and in it.

The town has two squares. The smaller one is full of charming early Frankish medieval architecture including the Rathaus Town hall. In December it holds a small Christmas Market in this square. The town hall is decorated as an advent calendar. Each window has a festive scene painted over it.

This is hidden by the closed window shutters. Each shutter has a number on the outside representing a day in December. On the 1st of December shutter number one is opened to reveal the picture hidden behind it. Number 24, Christmas Eve is put on the large double doors of the main entrance. The town hall is the building to the left in the picture below.

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