The Kelts knew about the sublime location of the Mount Marienberg, where the fortress of the same name has found its place over a 1.000 years ago. The Kelts settled on this spot in the Main river triangle already 1.000 BC where they had built a refuge and a heathen cult place. With the arrival of the Franconians during the migration Würzburg took until 650 AD to become the seat of the Franconian duke. So far for the origins of this city which lies next to the motorway A3 and is worth a stop.

Although far from being a strategic location Würzburg was heavily damaged in the last months of World War II and painfully restored during the past decades.
The residence, designed by famous master builder Balthasar Neumann, is particularly pompous and appointed world cultural heritage in 1982 by UNESCO  Together with the Hofgarten and Hofkirche the visitor will be enthused by the baroque ensemble with wonderful arrangements in the large park.

Würzburg is the fifth biggest city of Bavaria and seat of the district government of Lower Franconia. Bavaria's north western area borders on Baden-Württemberg, Hessen and Thüringen and is famous for its wine. Its cuisine is well knwon for its feet on the ground, the big portion and the high quality. Long before bio-boom the restaurants offered menus full of regional specialties and seasonal food. Similar to Southern Bavaria, where you can bring your own food to the beer gardens, Würzburg has its "Bäcken". Around a dozen of those with names like Johanniterbäck, Maulaffenbäck and Mainbäck can be found in Würzburg and lure with a gulp of wine from "Bocksbeutel" together with your brough food.

A city tour through Würzburg will open your eyes for its elaborate Architektur. The romantic streets and angles lead to sights that testify the changeful history of the city by the Main river. The rokoko facade of the Falkenhauses, Tilman Riemenschneider's sand stone figures of Adam and Eve in Marienkapelle and Lusamgärtlein deserve special attention. The latter accommodates the tomb of the most famous popstar of the early Middle Ages: Walther von der Vogelweide.

Standing on the Old Main bridge with its statues, the glance touches the Marienberg and the residence as well as Balthasar Neumann's church of pilgrimage "Käppele". The way up is quite strenous, but will be rewarded with a great view over the city and the Main river.

You shouldn't miss out on tour with a wine tasting in the Bürgerspital-Weingut. Since 1316 this wine property grows wine on 110 hectares, and with this it is one of the best locations around Würzburg and of the largest in Germany. The tours are on Saturdays (in 2008 not on 26.4. and on 1.11.), they cost 6 Euros and include a small wine "Bocksbeutel". Wine samples are available for 22 Euros, find more information on the webseite: www.buergerspital.de.

by Dietmar Stanka