Postcard from Germany: Kissinger Sommer festival

Amid a summer of wonderful European music festivals, Kissinger Sommer 2023 (16 June to 16 July) stood out for the depth and diversity of its programming, the excellence of its artists and the sheer beauty and elegance of the surroundings.

The German spa town of Bad Kissingen is situated in northern Bavaria. During the 19th century, it reached the height of its popularity as a summer wellness retreat – a magnet for tourists seeking the healing properties of its mineral springs. These days, the streets around the neo-Baroque Regentenbau, which houses several concert halls including the Max-Littmann-Saal, are filled with shops, restaurants and ice cream parlours. On approaching the Regentenbau from the rose garden across the street – with its thousands of bushes and more than 150 varieties of blooms, and its multimedia fountain with colourful water choreography – you are struck by the full grandeur of the building’s impact. You can take a relaxing stroll along the many paths that meander through the town that are interconnected by the walkway alongside the Franconian Saale river; and if you’re just looking for a bite to eat, there are pathways leading to the restaurants along Kurhausstrasse…