Würzburg, 2 hôtels

Anyone planning a city trip to Würzburg must take the time to visit its best-known landmark, the Würzburger Residenz. In 1981, the castle became the third German building to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Designed by Balthasar Neumann, this castle - regarded as one of Europe’s most significant - was built between 1720 and 1744. Countless famous artists, from Antonio Bossi to Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, worked on the design of the ceilings and interiors. Most of the castle survived the Second World War intact. Today, 42 of the 340 rooms are on display. The ornately decorated Hofkirche and the Rococo are also open for viewing.

The Marienberg Fortress overlooks the city from a towering position on the left bank of the Main. You can reach the inner city on foot within about 20 minutes. Surrounded by vines, the view of this large baroque fortress is impressive. There are wonderful views across the city from the top of the castle, which was built in 1201 and which served as the residence for the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg from 1253 to 1719. The baroque fortress and the princely gardens have assumed their current form since the 30 Year’s War in the 17th century. Today, the baroque arsenal is home to the Mainfränkische Museum of Würzburg and the fortresses east wing is home to the Fürstenbaumuseum.

The origins of the Alte Mainbrücke can be traced back to the 12th century. The construction of Germany’s first stone bridge began around 1120. For a long time, it offered the only opportunity to cross the river without wetting your feet. Flooding caused severe damage over the years, such that in the the 15th century, the bridge needed to be rebuilt completely. The construction was repeatedly interrupted, and the last of 8 arches was finally completed in 1706. Since 1725, it has been adorned with twelve 4.50m tall figures of the Saints, which required some restoration after the Second World War and are now preserved.

The construction of the Roman Catholic St.-Kilians Cathedral in the centre of Würzburg began in 1040, and it went on to become the fourth-biggest Romanesque church in Germany. The eastern tower was added two centuries later, in 1237. The interior, expanded at the beginning of the 18th century during the High Baroque era, was irreparably damaged in 1945. The rebuilding process took more than 20 years. The consecration of the cathedral was celebrated in 1967. Since then, it is open to visitors from Monday to Saturday between 10am and 5pm, and on Sundays and Public Holidays from 1pm to 6pm. The Schönborn chapel, decorated with its marble columns, is located right beside the cathedral.

The Falkenhaus is located on the northern side of the market square. Its beautiful Rococo facade sets it apart from the surrounding buildings. The original building belonged to a priest from the cathedral in the Middle Ages, and was later acquired by Franz Thomas Meißner in 1735. His widow bequeathed the house at the end of the 18th century, with its three-tiered Rococo facade and countless stucco decorations. After the war, the house was reconstructed with the help of old photographs. Today it houses the tourism information bureau and the State Library.

Located on the right bank of the Main, at the western side of the Julius Promenade, the Alten Kranen is one of the city’s most prominent landmarks. At the behest of Prince Bishop Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim, Franz Ignaz Michael Neumann built the baroque harbor crane with its double jib between 1772 and 1773. It was designed to support the secure handling of goods from land to ships and vice-versa. At that time, the pedal and pulley-system inside the crane had to be driven by manpower. In the middle of the 19th century it was decommissioned and replaced with an iron crane downstream. It survived the war unscathed and continues to adorn the bank of the Main to this day.

In most cities, one building suffices for a town hall, but in Würzburg there is an entire complex, an amalgam of buildings from different centuries. The oldest area is the Greifeneckart, which was first used as a town hall in 1316. On the western side, the Red Building was attached in 1660, and in the 19th century a third part - the Monastery of the Shoeed Carmelites - was also added. Consequently, there is evidence of several architectural styles, ranging from the Romanesque to the late Renaissance periods. The final extension was added in 1986, with the addition of the southern wing, which is adjacent to the Red Building.

The name Käppele – or chapel – scarecely does justice to this large pilgrim’s church on Nikolausberg. But until the 17th century, a small Chapel of Mercy stood on this site. Between 1745 and 1750, the current church was constructed following plans by the well-known architect Balthasar Neumann. Adorned with onion-shaped turrets on the outside, its interior is equally beautiful, with a large organ and numerous decorations. To this day, countless pilgrims make there way to visit the church every year. The ascent is well worthwhile, affording spectacular views over Würzburg and the surrounding area.