Germany is not short of beautiful scenery, be it natural or man-made. On the natural side, there are the forests, their rivers (and some of them with phenomenal views around them, like the Rhein or Danube), or the mountains to the south. On the man-made side, there are many great things, and there is more than one gem to behold in Bavaria! Just this one region is full of beautiful and impressive towns, big and small.
In May of this year, I got to pay a visit to an “undiscovered” gem. I mean undiscovered because, to my shame, I had never really seen or heard of Würzburg!
Thanks for friends who live in Germany, short drive took us to Würzburg. There are a few sights to not miss intown.
A palace to behold: Residenzplatz
In the edge of the old town, one can find this 18th century mini-Versailles palace. It almost feels out of place in Bavaria for those of us who have not explored the area much beyond Munich or Nuremberg.
Residentplatz was severely damaged during World War II as many sites in Germany but there are some parts that are original and many that are faithfully reconstructed. The palace is impressive.
Some rooms are quite ornate – great reproductions of the pre-War structure.
Who knew a smaller town would have such a regal place!
Walkable and easy old town
Würzburg’s town center is compact and full of life. Market, cafés, shops, and churches are all right there in a small area – easy to walk about and around. St. Mary’s Chapel (Marienkapelle) is the anchor in the large town square “Marktplatz”.
I can see a phenomenal Christmas market being held there every Christmas – must be a fun one!
The old bridge along the river Main is full of life especially as it has a popular stand on the town entrance to it.
Marienberg Fortress
Marienberg Fortress or “Marienberg Festung” dominates the town across the river from the old town. One can drive up to it going the back way or one can climb up from the riverside. Upon reaching the top, one is rewarded with great views of Würzburg and beyond by walking the ramparts. That, by itself, makes it worth the visit. Doing this also allows to explore the outer walls and towers of the fortress from the outside
The fortress, which dates from the 13th century, grew and evolved through medieval and baroque architectural styles.
It not only served as a fortress defending the region against many threats but it also served as the home-base of Prince-Bishops who ruled the area for centuries. These were not only political rulers but also great drivers of art, architecture and scientific endeavors in the region.
While Munich is what tourists visiting Bavaria focus on, they are missing out in understanding the depth and richness of Bavaria’s history and assets if they just stick to Munich. Würzburg would be a good choice due to its charm but also due to its location, on its way to other places in Bavaria and Germany!
