Fish is quite popular in Franconia  as well. Karpfen or carp is consumed in copious amounts during the fall. The fish are found in ponds, but are not farm raised, and the clean, white meat is typically served poached or fried. Trout is also enjoyed across Franconia. The fish are caught in the numerous rivers cutting through the region. Trout is served smoked or when available fresh, poached, roasted or fried.

Franconia, like most of Germany, embraces seasonality regarding its foodstuffs. The seasonal availability of a particular produce is celebrated across the region and can be seen on nearly every menu. When white asparagus, or Spargel, appears in markets in the late spring and early summer, the pale shoots make appearances in every café and restaurant throughout Franconia. They are served boiled with a sauce of butter and breadcrumbs, in a creamy soup or as a light salad. Mushrooms are also enjoyed whenever in season, which can range from the late summer to early fall. Pfifferling, or chanterelles, are purchased in markets or foraged in the local forests and are often served in a sauce with Brotklöße, bread dumplings, or with various meat dishes. Steinpilze, or porcini, are also immensely popular when available.

Pastries are enjoyed throughout the region, with various specialties unique to each city. Lebkuchen, for example, emerges each Christmas in Nürnberg. These gingerbread cookies can be served plain, covered in dark chocolate or frosted. In Rothenberg, Schneeballen, fried balls of dough often dusted with powdered sugar, fill the windows of countless bakeries. And seasonality affects the availability of particular pastries. Zwetschgenkuchen is available only mid to late summer when the Zwetschgen or prune plums are in season. The  fruits are baked on a yeast-based dough and can be served plain with lightly sweetened whipped cream or with a sweet streusel on top. Rabarbenkuchen is also popular, with rhubarb replacing the Zwetschgen in a similar pastry recipe. Mohnkuchen is served in various forms throughout Franconia, but always with a rich poppy seed filling.

Franconia, like all of Germany, delights in beer and boasts many fantastic breweries. While beer is a local favorite, the region does include other indigenous beverages. Nearly all cafes and restaurants serve Schorle, juice cut with mineral water. Spezi is popular with younger Franconians; it is a mix of cola and lemonade. Also quite popular is a Radler, beer mixed with lemonade. Radler literally translates to bicyclist and is said to be the preferred beverage for those Franconians who stop by a gasthaus for a beverage, but do not want to wobble for the remainder of their cycling trip.

Franconia celebrates food and embraces dishes that are considered to be part of the region’s heritage and Franconians place great emphasis on the use of local and seasonal ingredients in all of their dishes. If you want traditional German cooking at its best, look no further than Franconia.

Written by Morgen Young for EuropeUpClose.com

The historic center is known primarily for its half-timber homes and numerous medieval structures which have been in continuous use for centuries. Written records for Herzogenaurach date back to the 11th Century, and two towers from the Middle Ages still stand, the Fehnturm and Türmersturm. Many historic half-timbered houses have been well preserved, the oldest dating back to the middle of the 15th Century. Typically, wealthy inhabitants built their homes entirely of stone, but for the majority of Herzogenaurach residents, housing constructed with walls of timber filled in with clay was a more economical approach. A more extravagant building still stands within the city, a Baroque castle built in 1720 at the request of the Prince-Bishop.

Herzogenaurach, with its long tradition as a fervently Catholic town, proudly features St. Magdalena, an historic church containing a Baroque altar and painted wooden vaults described as some of the most impressive in all of Franconia. Catholic holidays and festivals are held with great flair and spectacle. During the festivals, statues of various saints are marched through the streets to commemorate feast days and other religious holidays. These events typically draw attendees and spectators from across the region.

Herzogenaurach served a more recent historic role as home to a Deutsche Luftwaffe air base before and during World War II, and as an American military base immediately following the war until 1992. Many U.S. military bases sprung up across Bavaria and the whole of West Germany during the second half of the 20th Century. Herzogenaurach stood out, however, as having a very active and progressive German-American Club. As a consequence, the town celebrates cultural events significant for both countries, such as Fourth of July cook-outs and Oktoberfest festivities.

The city is home to two of the world’s largest sportswear companies, Adidas and Puma. Brothers Adolf (Adi) and Rudolf (Rudi) Dassler began manufacturing athletic shoes in the 1920s, even equipping several athletes in the 1928 and 1936 Olympic games. Following a falling out in 1948, the brothers ended their collaboration and created their own companies. Adi formed Adidas while Rudi initiated Puma. Both companies still maintain their headquarters in Herzogenaurach as well as large factory outlet stores. Locals, regional residents, and tourists travel to these outlets to shop for sportswear items at discounted prices.

In addition to the draw of historic structures and the shopping centers of Adidas and Puma, many visitors from across Bavaria come to Herzogenaurach for recreation activities. One of the many attractions is Atlantis, a water park frequented by children and adults alike. Waterslides and wave pools draw hundreds of visitors during the warmer months, while sauna facilities and thermal pools are popular during the bleak German winter. Herzogenaurach also boasts a golf course (considered a luxury by many Germans), tennis courts, and many other outdoor sporting opportunities.

Herzogenaurach, like many towns in the Franconia region, is a charming, well preserved hamlet. But its significance today is clearly centered on its recent service as a military base and the birthplace of two huge sporting goods companies. Visitors to Herzogenaurach are routinely impressed with the seamless melding of a multi-layered historical past and its forward-looking present. 

Forchheim’s rich medieval history has been well preserved as evidenced by its most striking building, the half-timber Rathaus or town hall built between the 14th and 16th Centuries. It is the focal point of the city center, and the adjacent Rathausplatz (Town Hall Place), closed to cars, is the site of a variety of festivals and markets throughout the year.

Another famous half-timber building is St. Katharina’s Hospital and the accompanying chapel, both built in the 1300s. Other noteworthy religious structures include; Martinskirche, a church constructed between the 12th and 15th Centuries with layers of various architectural styles, and Marienkapelle, a chapel dating back to the 1100s. The Kaiserpfalz once served as a palace of the prince-bishop of Bamberg, similar to the Schloss Seehof in function. The structure is well known in the region as the home of the oldest mural paintings in Franconia, dating back to the 14th Century. Interestingly, in Forchheim many of the medieval buildings are so well-preserved many continue to be used as functioning space, rather than house museums. For instance, the Rathaus is home to the tourist information board and the mayor’s office while St. Katharina Hospital serves as an assisted living facility.

The main pedestrian street, or Hauptstrasse, of the town is full of small cafes and shops. It is closed to traffic, so it’s perfect for strolling and window-shopping. The Hauptstrasse contains a small brook, known as the Bächla, which runs along-side the cobblestone street. The Hauptstrasse runs directly to the town hall. Many historic half-timber homes are still located along this street, as well as more modern structures.

There are several good dining options in Forchheim. Café Wauers, on the Rathausplatz, is a popular choice for alfresco dining and people watching. Located in the city center, the Stadtlokal Restaurant serves very good Franconian fare while international options abound here as well; Ristorante Pinocchio offers Italian dining and there are also Chinese and Mexican restaurants available.

There are festivals aplenty in this picturesque hamlet. A Carnival festival and parade is thrown in January while the months of April and May host Theatertage, a festival of plays and drama. Annafest draws people from far and wide and is held at the end of July and the beginning of August. This local beer fest is held in the Kellerwald and the four breweries located in Forchheim all participate. Some locals prefer its quaintness to the hectic, tourist filled Berg held earlier in the year in Erlangen.

Like most of Franconia, Forchheim celebrates Christmas with a real flare. An annual Weihnachtsmarkt, or Christmas festival, is held in the city center and the historic town hall is transformed into a beautiful Advent calendar, the largest in the world in fact.

Forchheim is part of the greater Nürnberg transport area, so arriving in the town from Nurnberg is quite easy. From Nürnberg the town can be accessed by bus or taxi, or another option is to rent a car and drive to Forchheim and other quaint villages in and around Franconian Switzerland.

After secularization, the castle came under private ownership and fell under neglect during the 19th and early 20th Centuries. The original furnishings were sold off and the elaborate gardens decayed. In 1975, the Bavarian government purchased the property and the castle and gardens underwent extensive renovations, reopening to the public in the 1990s. Some of the original furnishings and artwork of the palace were located and placed on exhibit.

Visitors to the palace first come across the Orangery building, an extension of the original Memmelsdorf gate. The central gate was constructed in the early 18th Century in the Rococo style; white stucco with orange accents. Greenhouses were later added to flank the gate to shelter the exotic plants owned by the prince-bishop during the winter months. Part of the Orangery now serves as a museum for the artist Ferdinand Tietz, who worked on several commissions for the palace and gardens.

One of the most unique qualities of the Schloss is the massive fountain or cascade located behind the main building. The piece was sculpted by Ferdinand Tietz and depicts Hercules and some of his twelve labors. Construction began in the 1760s and in addition to the large fountain, an underground tunnel was required to supply a constant source of water to the sculpture.

There are currently nine rooms of the palace accessible to visitors. Many contain the original wooden mosaic floors, arranged in interesting geometric patterns. The ballroom or White Hall contains a well-preserved ceiling fresco painted by Guiseppe Appiani, depicting Cupid and other angels. All of the rooms have been restored to resemble life in the 17th and 18th Centuries, with furniture, artwork, light fixtures and other details from the respective periods.

Tours of the interior are given in English and German. Visitors can view the period-decorated rooms and inner courtyard. The castle is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from April to October and closed during the winter. Guided tours are offered daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The castle gardens are open the same months as the main building, but can be toured at no cost. The cascade’s water display is shown every hour from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from May through October. It is worth watching the water dance among the sculptures while visiting the palace.

In the summer, the castle hosts classical music concerts. In early June a chamber music festival, known as Spring in the Schloss Seehof, is held. A second music festival, Sommerserenaden Schloss Seehof, takes place in August.

The Schloss Seehof can be accessed by car or by bus from Bamberg. There is a small café at the palace located in the Orangery. This romantic building with its idyllic surrounding gardens is well worth a visit. Bring a picnic and make a day of it, touring the house museum, watching the waterworks display at the cascade and strolling amidst the perfectly manicured lawn.

The city is very popular among tourists and thus is easily accessible via bus provided by various travel agencies. However, to avoid the masses of tourists, a day trip to Rothenburg is best during the morning or evening. In general, the city is most popular during the summer months. Try to visit in late April or early May for cooler weather and fewer crowds. The city can be accessed by train, as Rothenburg’s station is but a short walk from the city center. Be sure to buy tickets for Rothenburg ob der Tauber, as Germany has many towns named Rothenburg. Many visitors rent cars and drive to the city, cruising along the famous Romantic Road. Either way, Rothenburg is easily accessible and very pedestrian friendly.

The entire city can be seen in a day; walking from one end of town to the other takes but fifteen minutes. If you decide to spend a few days, try Hotel Eisenhut in the Town Hall Square, or Hotel Villa Mittermeier, situated near the city center, but away from the main tourist drag. Villa Mittermeier also boasts a great restaurant, featuring international fare with regional German influences.

A speciality of the city is the Schneeballen (snowballs), a pastry made of fried dough and dusted with powdered sugar or dipped in chocolate. Many bakeries lure hungry visitors with their window displays of Schneeballen and other sweet treats.

The city has numerous historic sites worth exploring and many visitors begin in the Market Square. Guided tours in English are offered by the city tourism office for a nominal fee. They run approximately ninety minutes and meet in the Market Square at 2:00 p.m. One can also take a self-guided tour of the city walls, wandering along the cobblestone streets and occasionally ascending the steep staircases built into the wall.

St. Jakobskirche, on Klostergasse, is the most famous church in Rothenburg, most notably for its 15th Century wooden altar made by Würzburg sculptor, Tilman Riemenschneider. It is exquisitely carved and the earliest piece attributed to the artist. There is a small entrance fee and English tours are available at the church every Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

The city contains many museums of various focuses, from toys to torture. The Medieval Crime Museum, on Burggasse, is the most famous and proclaims itself the most important museum of German legal history. Much of the exhibition space devotes itself to displaying the various torture methods and means utilized by Germany, so it is best reserved for those who can stomach such subject matter. A more lighthearted destination is the Dolls and Toys Museum on Hofbronnengasse. The largest private collection of toys in the country is on display here, from doll houses to model trains. The Imperial City Museum, near St. Jakob’s, houses art and artifacts from Rothenburg’s past. All manner of items from the centuries old city can be seen here.

Shopping is a popular tourist attraction in Rothenburg, as well. Art, linens, toys, jewelry and souvenirs are all available here. Perhaps most famous is the Käthe Wohlfahrt, a shop selling only Christmas decorations throughout the year.

Christmas is a huge celebration in Rothenburg, as in many other Bavarian towns. Every year the city hosts the Reiterlesmarkt, a Christmas market that runs from late November through December 23rd. Artisans set up shop and sell Christmas related items; delicious foods are offered, mulled wine is sipped, and candlelight processions can be viewed.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a movie set kind of a town; perfectly preserving its medieval past while catering to 21st Century visitors. While in Bavaria, it is well worth taking a day-long detour to enjoy this hamlet while snacking on some Schneeballen and perhaps buying a few German trinkets.

Yet there has also been great discomfort with displaying and discussing reminders of these dark and evil times. When it comes to public history, Germany has not always openly addressed its past link with the Nationalist Socialist Party. Textbooks held abbreviated history, Nazi-built structures were torn down or quickly reused with little acknowledgment of their former significance. Brushing over controversial history is not unique to Germany. Until recently, few preservation efforts were made regarding the history of racial segregation in my own country. Now those in the fields of historic preservation and museum studies in the United States are making concerted efforts to educate the public regarding segregation and other controversial history.

Returning to Germany, the city of Nürnberg, itself the center of Nazi propaganda activities, has recently opened an impressive museum addressing what much of the country has previously ignored. The Dokumentations Zentrum, or DokuCenter, is housed on the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds. The exhibition space is laid out in the north wing of the Kongresshall. This building was constructed by the National Socialist Party to house 50,000 spectators at party rallies and conventions, but the massive building was never completed.

The Doku Zentrum museum itself presents the activities of the Nazi Party as objectively as any museum could. Upon paying a small fee, visitors are given hand held auditory guides in their language of choice. The museum is self-guided. Both permanent and temporary exhibits occupy the north wing. “Fascination and Terror,” the permanent exhibit, documents the rise, context and consequences of the Nazi Party. The primary focus lays with the impact of the National Socialists in Nürnberg. The main exhibit is divided into nineteen, chronologically placed areas. Topics such as the history of the party rallies, architecture of the National Socialists, the “Nürnberg Racial Laws,” and the “Nürnberg Trials” are all addressed in great detail. The Exhibit panels are hung suspended from floor to ceiling, with the text written both in German and English. Numbers are assigned to corresponding panels so visitors can enter these digits into their auditory devices to listen to the text. The museum is visually based, laden with historic images and well-positioned monitors playing newsreels, interviews and other film clips.

What is most impressive about this museum is the manner in which the National Socialist Party is discussed. Members and supporters of the party, which in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s meant nearly everyone, are neither vilified nor victimized. The visitor is given blunt facts and left to interpret the information as he or she chooses. More and more cultural institutions are approaching controversial history in this manner. Rather than spoon-feed their audiences, they allow people to leave their exhibitions ready to form their own opinions. The Holocaust and other horrendous atrocities committed by the Nazis are presented in the exhibit, but so are propaganda materials and examples of the fervor the National Socialists brought to Nürnberg. And the museum also acknowledges the difficulties the city and the whole of Germany, for that matter, has with preserving and interpreting the architecture of the National Socialist Party.

Before touring the exhibit, the visitor is invited to watch a short film depicting 21st Century youth skateboarding amongst ancient looking buildings. Once the camera pans out, these structures are revealed to be construction remaining from the Nazi party rally grounds. Such buildings exist here and elsewhere in Germany and until recently have been decaying and ignored by the country. The Doku Zentrum has taken great steps in breaking the polite silence and publicly addressing this period in Germany’s history and presenting the significance of architectural, visual and auditory remainders of the time.

Erlangen contains some of the best-preserved Baroque architecture in the whole of Germany. The Hugenots’ legacy is immortalized in the centrally located Hugenottenplatz. This public square holds an impressive daily farmers’ market. The market is always bustling with locals doing their daily shopping. Choose from local fruits, vegetables, cheeses and meats for an impromptu snack.

Being a university town means a significant percentage of students, and a correspondingly  large number of inexpensive bars and cafes. Steinbach Brau on Vierzigmannstrasse, a local brewery near the city center, and Bogarts, Gueterhallenstrasse 2, opposite the shopping center, are two popular destinations. Many of the younger generation frequent the bars located near the Arcaden, the indoor shopping mall. The Brasserie, Nürnberger Strasse 3, is a perfect combination of bar and restaurant. Situated alongside the main pedestrian area of the city, outside dining provides a great spot for people watching. For entertainment to accompany your beer, visit Musikkeller Strohalm, Hauptstrasse 107. This large cellar features live music and is quite popular among the students.

Erlangen is a fantastic food city, ranging from typical homestyle Franconian fare to adventurous cuisine. Atler Simpl, Bohlenplatz 2, serves such dishes as Nürnberger bratwurst, dumplings and potato salad. Many of the surrounding villages have great restaurants offering local food, but Alter Simpl is the best bet for traditional food within the city. Café Mengin, located near the market square and adjacent to the Erlangen Schloss, serves well-made German fare as well as several vegetarian options. The outdoor seating offers great views of the city’s main garden. For lighter dishes, stop by the Erlanger Teehaus, on Friedrichstrasse. This café serves tea, coffee and sweets and its backyard garden is worth a visit. For more upscale meals, try Basilikum, on Altstaeder Kirchenplatz or Altmanns Stube, on Theaterplatz.

Erlangen also boasts numerous international restaurants and cafes including Greek, Turkish, Italian and Chinese options. Stopping by any number of Turkish cafes for a Döner kebab is a good, filling option for lunch on the go. Bruno is a hidden gem of an Italian restaurant on Schiffstrasse. While enjoying a meal there, be sure to stroll along the street for great retail shops and hole-in-the-wall bakeries.

Beer is celebrated with equal fervor as the food in Erlangen. The largest annual event in the city is the Bergkirchweih, a two-week long festival in late May which celebrats beer. Beer cellars, booths, tents, live music and amusement rides entertain festival-goers. A seating area for 10,000 marks this as the largest open-air biergarten in the whole of Europe. The festival draws a million people to the city every year and has been held since the mid 18th Century. The beer cellars are situated up a hill, about a fifteen-minute walk from the city center. If you plan on visiting the city during this event be sure to book your hotel reservations well in advance, as lodging fills up quickly for the festival.

Once you have exhausted your stay in Erlangen, use the city as a jumping off point for travel to other locations in Germany. Trains leave daily from the Baunhofplatz to such cities as Nürnberg, Bamberg, Munich and beyond. Or rent a car and get lost in the too numerous to count little towns and villages that dot the landscape of Franconia.

The city survived the war because it did not house major weapons production and was not an industrial base for the Nazis. Escaping the catastrophic treatment of cities like Nürnberg and Dresden, Bamberg features some of the oldest standing buildings in all of Germany. The Bamberg Cathedral was constructed in 1237, the Michaelskirche Monastery erected in the twelfth century and what is now known as the Old Town Hall was built in 1386. In fact, the Old Town Hall was placed on a small island in the middle of the Regnitz River as a means of protection, with a bridge spanning the river allowing today for up close viewing of the beautifully painted exterior walls that have survived the centuries.

Bamberg can claim many historic anecdotes but perhaps most unique is its status as the final resting place of a Pope. This fact is unique because apart from Pope Clement II, no other Pope is buried north of the Alps. Clement II previously served the church as Bishop of Bamberg from 1040-1046. Elected Pope in 1046 after a series of controversial councils and deposed European leaders, he went to Rome to lead the church. Yet less than a year into his reign, Clement II died of lead sugar poisoning while traveling across Italy. His body was returned to Bamberg, the city he adored, and was interred in the western choir of Bamberg Cathedral where he remains today.

While Pope Clement II came to rest in Bamberg when his life was over, there is a world-famous product that began its life in the Franconian city. In German it is called Rauchbier, or smoke beer. This type of beer is known around the world as both an interesting variety of brew as well as having originated in Bamberg. The flavors and aromas are created by drying malted barley over an open flame, providing the drinks with an aura of smoke. The Schlenkerla brewpub is a tavern in the middle of the city that produces and serves the famous brews to tourists and locals alike. The tavern was first mentioned in 1405 and is currently owned and operated by the sixth generation of a local family.

Bamberg is a small but dramatic city. The Little Venice area bordering the river displays classic examples of half-timber construction and German architecture. Massive churches rest on each of the seven hills of the city providing panoramic views from every crest. Yet despite the age of the city, Bamberg is young and alive with over nine thousand university students interspersed within a population of just seventy thousand. Though larger, more famous cities claim more publicity than Bamberg, none can match its intimacy, variety or authenticity.

Franconia is often viewed by southern Bavarians as a cultural backwater inhabited by farmers and simpletons. Stepping within the ancient walls of Nürnberg, one immediately sees the fallacy in that characterization. After Allied bombings in 1945 ruined nearly ninety percent of the original city, Nürnberg has been rebuilt to its former grandeur. In the Hauptmakt, or Main Market, stalls sell locally grown foods from cherries to asparagus. Medieval churches have been restored and the many cobblestone streets have been replaced.

Less well known outside of Germany is the role Nürnberg played in the growth of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, better known as the Nazi Party. Long before the rise of Adolf Hitler, Nürnberg hosted rallies and parades to unify the region for the Workers’ Party. After seizing control of both the party and the country, Hitler used Nürnberg’s tradition of supporting the party to his advantage. Constructing an enormous rally ground in the southeast part of the city, Hitler’s Nazis paraded, gave speeches and terrified the world. Many of the most famous images of storm troopers and massive crowds come from these rallies in Nürnberg.

Today, Hitler’s Kongresshall has been transformed from a testament to the power of the Nazis to a surprisingly objective museum. The DokuZentrum, or Documentation Center, shares the city’s sometimes-dark past and allows its visitors to come to their own conclusions about the responsibility of Nürnberg in the rise and fall of Nazism.

Of course not all of Nürnberg is focused on the Nazis. Hundreds of years earlier, one of the world’s most famous artists perfected his craft in the city. Albrecht Dürer, a 16th century artist from Nürnberg spent his days painting, printing and creating woodcuts. A museum is located in Dürer’s former house and statues of his likeness and most famous works dot the city.

No description of Nürnberg’s cultural importance would be complete without mention of its specific type of bratwurst. Known as a Nürnberger Bratwürst, the sausage is rolled thinner and shorter than traditional brats. Nürnberg’s residents swear by the supremacy of their Nürnbergers, though they eat them more as a snack than a sit-down meal. But when ordering these brats for yourself, be sure to ask for ‘drei im weckla,’ or three-in-a-roll. Only tourists order Nürnbergers in numbers that are not multiples of three.

While Munich gathers most of the attention of travelers to Bavaria, Nürnberg has become somewhat of a hidden treasure. With public transportation readily available and innumerable churches, museums, markets and food choices, Nürnberg is well worth a visit.

Must-See Sights in Wurzburg

Marienberg Fortress
Set atop a hill, with stunning views of the lower town of Wurzburg, the Marienburg Fortress is surrounded by vineyards and hiking trails. It was once a Celtic stronghold, but in 1253 became home to the Prince Bishops of Bavaria. You will want to tour the castle, and visit its Fürstenbau museum.

The “Fürstenbau” – Museum
The restored “Fürstenbau” (Prince Bishops residence) of the Fortress “Marienberg” houses not only the renovated living quarters, but also the city history department of the “Mainfränkisches Museum”. Be sure to view the gold jewelry collection and liturgical vestments. Of special interest are two models of the city: Würzburg in 1525 and Würzburg in 1945.

The Residence of the Prince Bishops
When the Prince Bishops decided to live among the people, they built the over-the-top Rococo palace, now called The Residenz and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We were thoroughly mesmerized  by the gilt, the ornate mirrors, the flamboyant frescoes and tapestries. The works of famous artists such as Tilman Riemenschneider, Balthasar Neumann and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo can also be seen inside. And unbelievably, much of the Residence has been restored from the ravages of war.

St Kilian’s Cathedral
Construction of this cathedral, an exquiste example of German Architecture, began in 788 and was completed in 1188. It is the fourth largest Romanesque church in Germany and was intially consecrated in the presence of Charlemagne and reconsecrated in 1967. The cathedral was heavily damaged by fire in 1945, but as with other historical buildings in Wurzburg, it was rebuilt and fully restored by 1989.

The Old Main Bridge
Built in 1133 and rebuilt in 1553, this bridge reminds us of the Charles Bridge in Prague. With six huge statues of  saints in niches on each side of the thoroughfare, this pedestrian / bike bridge is memorable .

Town Hall
The only surviving Romanesque secular building in Wurzburg, Wenseslaus Hall, inside the tower of the Town Hall, dates to the 13th century. Be sure to go to the top floor to view the detailed model of Wurzbrug in ruins after the bombing in 1945. It is a grim reminder of the horrors of war.

Market Square
The heart of this city is surrounded by shops and cafes as well as Mary’s Chapel, a gothic church in a Rococco town. The House to the Falcon is a beautiful, patricain house facing the square.

The Juliusspital
Built in 1576, the Juliuspital was one of the first large-scale charitable institutions in Germany. The hospital is still in use and is supported by its 163 hectare vineyard and wine production. We had a wonderful tour of the grounds including the Rococo pharmacy followed by a wine tasting. The restaurant is really great; it is authentic and the food is delicious.

Where to Stay in Wurzburg

Novotel Wuerzburg 4-star
We stayed at this modern hotel located just blocks from the Residenz and walking distance to the city center. We were impressed by the friendly and efficient staff and the spacious rooms. We recommend it!

Hotel Wurzburger Hof 3-Star
Located near the train station and the wonderful Juliuspital, this hotel is charming and comfortable. All rooms are individually decorated and equipped with bath/shower, cable-TV, minibar and telephone.

Where to Eat in Wurzburg

The Old Main Mill (Alte Mainmuhle)
We had a delicious lunch here, enjoying many of the Franconian specialties of the house. From sausages to gourmet cuisine, you are assured a delicious meal at Alte Mainmuhle.

Weinstuben Juliuspital
Dinner at the Wienstuben Juliuspital was a real treat. We enjoyed the specialty wines as well as a wonderful, traditional schnitzel dinner.