European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 29, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Gyo it Fite Bayreuth the red Brick and Sandstone fest Spilhaus is sometimes called Wagner s  continued from Page 3 in a Shady Grove is the simple Stone crypt of Wagner and his wife Cosima. At its North end Friedric Strasse leads into Sophie Strasse and the triangular pedestrian area that includes much of the old City. Its Corners Are roughly marked by three religious landmarks a the stad Kirche the Schloss Kirche and the Spita Kirche. Most impressive is the gothic 14th/15th-Century stad Kirche whose twin towers dominate the downtown area. Focal Point of the old City and the liveliest most colourful Street in town is Maximilian Strasse. It is a Broad pedestrian byway with a relaxed Pace and an Eclectic mix of shops pubs restaurants and historical monuments. A jeans shop is diagonally across the Street from the Altes Schloss old Palace and a few buildings Down from the old City Hall is Mcdonald s. On Maximilian Strasse visitors May encounter everything from skateboarding teens to an oomph band. Several interesting tourist attractions lie outside the City Center. The most important is Wagner s fest Spilhaus festival theater built to the composer s exacting specifications. The theater reportedly features excellent acoustics but visitors who expect a gleaming architectural masterpiece will be disappointed. On the outside the monstrous red Brick and Sandstone Structure looks like a second rate train station. Other nearby attractions include the Ermitage Park and Sun Temple and the Fantasie Palace. These Days Bayreuth is showing signs of recovery from its postwar doldrums. Quot the Border has been opened and now the City is in a different position Quot says Kretzer. Two new convention hotels will be built next year and the City Hopes to make new tourism capital out of its location along a main Highway to Berlin and Midway Between nearby vacation regions. Quot we re in the Middle Between the Fichtel Geirge and the Franzische Schweiz franconian Switzerland Quot Kretzer says. Consequently Many of Bayreuth s 100,000 annual guests Combine their visits with excursions into the surrounding Hills and valleys. 4 stripes Magazine october 29, 1992