Würzburg in 1 day: what to see in Franconia's World Heritage city

I admit that the first time I traveled through Germany It was just a transit country on a car trip to other European destinations.

But the landscapes were so attractive. heritage sites that I discovered on the route, that I decided to change the plan and extend the trip to see some other places in Germany.

Since then I have loved the cities with heritage and cultural atmosphere that I have known. beyond Berlin, for example, Heidelberg.

With this background, we have just made a route through historic cities in Germany, as they are Würzburg, Erfurt y Potsdam.

Würzburg, Franconian wine capital

Specifically, located in the geographical center of Germany, , Würzburg It is the capital of the region of Lower Franconia.

I already tell you that in your Würzburg visit you will be able to walk through a small and very nice historic center, and cross the rIo Meno its Old Bridge of medieval origin to climb a castle.

This medieval fortress is marked by the curious and very interesting history of the prince-bishops, and the best monumental exponent is the Residential Palace declared Heritage.

You will also see that the city is surrounded by hills covered with vineyards and is center of the Franconian wine region, whose famous white wine you will be able to taste.

This small town has about 130.000 inhabitants, of which a fifth are students at their university.

It has 50 churches, almost all Catholic and only two Protestant.

It should be noted that it was governed by the aforementioned prince-bishops for 600 years, until 1802.

You should also know that 90 percent of Würzburg was destroyed during the Second World War because of the bombings.

This is the experience of visiting Würzburg, with the best things to see and do.

From the monumental point of view, the main visit in Würzburg is the Residential Palacedeclared Heritage awarded by the UNESCO.

Würzburg Residential Palace, World Heritage Site

This is the main work of the baroque south of Germany and one of the most important palaces in Europe.

Its construction from 1720 is due to the purpose of the aforementioned prince-bishops to reside in the center of the city and abandon the castle on the hill.

Of the participation of numerous artists in the decoration and furnishing of this palace, the figure of the Venetian stands out Tiepolo, who on the vaulted ceiling of the main staircase created what is considered the largest continuous fresco in the world.

In this impressive painting from 1758, the five continents are represented, and it was made in 18 months, occupying 600 square meters.

During the tour of the palace you will also be struck by the large White room decorated with stucco, as well as the Emperor's Room, where you should pay attention to the curious use of trompe l'oeil.

Other places that you will visit are the Courtroom, the bedrooms, the Hall of Mirrors and the Gallery.

Here you have complete information for visit the Würzburg Residential Palace, with schedules and ticket prices.

Market Square and Lady Chapel

We anticipate that in your visit of the historic center, you will walk through pedestrianized streets where the only vehicles you will come across are trams and bicycles.

One axis of it is the Marketplace, which is divided into two parts and where the Chapel of the Lady, a building late gothic from the 15th century, which catches your attention due to the elegance of its exterior.

As a curiosity, it does not have the title of a church, but rather a “chapel”, since it was built as a place of atonement.

In its Gothic-style interior, the stained glass windows, the four large paintings of the High Altar, and the tombs of Franconian Knights and citizens of Würzburg.

Town Hall, oldest building in Würzburg

From there you will reach the Town Hall Square, the oldest building in the city, from the 14th century, which belonged to a count who was killed in his day and the house became the municipal headquarters.

On a nearby street you can see the medieval house of the Zum Stachel restaurant, from the 1413th century, which in the year XNUMX had a leading role in what is known as Peasants' War.

The aforementioned Town Hall square is in the center of the axis that forms the Cathedral Street (Domstrasse), which connects the aforementioned cathedral building with the Old Bridge.

You will find yourself in full Würzburg tourist center.

Saint Kilian, Würzburg Cathedral

La Würzburg Cathedral is fourth largest Romanesque church in Germany and construction began in the year 1040.

The interior was completely renovated at the beginning of the 18th century in Baroque, but the building was completely destroyed during the Second World War.

The inauguration after its reconstruction was in 1967, maintaining the antique-style exterior and the baroque-style decorations in the transept and the choir.

You will be struck by the numerous graves of prince-bishops from the 15th and 16th centuries.

Next to the cathedral is the Schonborn Chapel, burial place for prince-bishops of the house of the same name.

Neumünster Collegiate Church and the three Irish missionaries

Very close to the cathedral is the Neumünster Collegiate Church, a place that was a pilgrimage in the 12th century, on the occasion of what is known as Legend of the three Irish missionaries.

Inside they are buried Saint Kilian and his fellow missionaries Kolonat y Totnan, who were murdered here in the year 689 by order of a repudiated queen.

The original Romanesque church dates from the 11th century, and the owner and tower from the 13th century.

But from the outside you will be struck by its great baroque facade 1710 and the great dome.

El baroque redesign Its interior was completed at the end of the 1945th century, and the structure of the building was preserved after the bombings of XNUMX.

Würzburg Old Bridge

On the opposite side of the central axis of the city, the aforementioned cathedral street, you can find Old Bridge, one of the main monuments of Würzburg, in front of which is the Marienberg Fortress.

Smaller in size, this medieval bridge will remind you of the famous Charles Bridge in Prague, both for its stone structure and for the various sculptures that flank it.

It is considered that Germany's first stone bridge It was built in this place in the year 1120.

At the end of the 15th century, the stone pillars of the current bridge over the river were built. Main River, although the connection between them was wooden.

Already in 1512 the arches were also built of stone to save the cost of maintaining the wooden structure.

It was around 1730 when the baroque figures of saints, which have a height of 4,5 meters, and although they were badly damaged during the bombings of 1945, in the end they could be restored.

Drink a glass of wine on the medieval bridge in Würzburg

It should be noted that for about 15 years this place has become a must-see at sunset for many of the city's residents and tourists.

The habit of going to drink a glass of Franconian wine and watch the sunset from the bridge, with views of the aforementioned fortress and the vineyards that extend across the hills that surround the city.

The 250 centiliter cup (spades) you can buy it in one of the stores that are at the beginning of the bridge, with a price of 5,50 euros, plus a 5-euro deposit for the glass glass.

Marienberg Fortress, Würzburg Castle

On the other shore of the Main River the Marienberg Fortress.

The origins of this fortress date back more than three thousand years, although the current castle was founded in 1201.

From 1253 to 1719 it was the residence of the prince-bishops from Würzburg, a curious figure that brought together civil power and ecclesiastical power.

The fortress was rebuilt in 1600 as a Renaissance castle.

Nowadays you can visit its patio, the tower and the chapel in guided tours which start every hour, and during which you can see the medieval atmosphere and decoration of the fortress.

During your visit it is essential go to the viewpoint in the garden next to the castle, which you access through a passageway located next to the chapel and from where you have spectacular views panoramic views of the city.

From the garden you can also see that the slope of the fortress is completely covered by vineyards.

How to visit and what to see at the Franconian Museum

You can complete your visit to Marienberg by visiting the Franconian Museum which is located in one of the buildings of the complex.

There you can see archaeological pieces on display, as well as medieval armor and weapons.

You will also be struck by a room with original sculptures from a large baroque garden that has been recreated in the museum.

During the visit you will be able to discover the story of Kilian and the legend of the three monks of Ireland, whose sculptures can be seen in the museum or in the Old Bridge.

The most important room in the Franconian Museum It is dedicated to the sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider, author of numerous sculptures that can be seen in churches in the city, the originals of which are in the aforementioned museum.

Map: where is Würzburg and how to get there

The city of Würzburg is an hour and a half drive east of Frankfurt, from whose Central Station You arrive by high-speed train in just one hour.

You can also arrive in an hour and a half by car from Heidelberg and in just under two hours from Stuttgart.