From its Baroque palace to its student-led nightlife, cobbled streets to fine churches and museums, there’s much to admire in Würzburg. You can dig into the history too, as this city has been here since the Bronze Age, while following the river or the Romantic Road will make for a memorable road trip.
Roam the Residenz
Very much the centrepiece of the town, the Residenz is a palace and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in 1744 in a beautiful Baroque style. It was designed by Balthasar Neumann, and the interior is just as impressive as the exterior, with lavish decorative touches. The Imperial and White Halls are impressive to see, although, for many the highlight is the ambitious staircase known as the Treppenhaus. Here you’ll find the largest fresco in the world, painted by Italian artist Tiepolo, who also decorated the Imperial Hall. The Court Garden is worth touring too, landscaped grounds peppered with sculptures and flora – time it right and you’ll catch a concert here.
The other main attraction is Würzburg’s cathedral, Dom St. Kilian, the fourth largest of its kind in the world. It took over 200 years to build the Romanesque church, which was completed in 1250. The inside is a discordant clash of architectural styles that’s almost studiously eccentric.
Among the many other gems in the Altstadt – old town – don’t miss the Neumunster, with a pink exterior making way for fine frescoes and stucco elements inside. St. Kilian makes an appearance here too – his tomb is located in the crypt.
A Bavarian feast
For a taste of Bavarian cuisine, you don’t have to look too far in Würzburg. You can grab some traditional food on the go in the market square, grabbing a bratwurst sausage from the many stalls.
For something more leisurely, reserve a balcony table at Alte Mainmühle. The views are sensational – sweeping over the Main River to the Marienberg Fortress – while situated near the town’s oldest bridge. The local cuisine is rib-sticking – soup with liver dumplings, sausage and sourdough bread, veal with horseradish sauce and noodles. Make sure you do your sightseeing in advance – you’ll barely be able to move afterwards.
On the Romantic Road
The Romantic Road lives up to its billing. The route was dreamed up in the 1950s, and Würzburg is near its northern tip. Drive south along it and you’ll pass castles and cathedrals and rural scenes that will have you stopping the car every few miles just to take it all in. The hills around here are dressed with vineyards – the Riesling here is prized.
Würzburg car hire means you can stop off in Rothenburg ob der Tauber along the route, about 40 minutes away. With its cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses and a grand marketplace, it’s like taking a step deep into Germany’s medieval past.