Disclaimer: This is an extremely biased post about a magnificent city in Germany called Würzburg. It is biased because Würzburg is my motherland – the city near where my mother was born and raised.
(I say near
because she was actually born and raised in a little village outside of town that is so obscure, some inhabitants of Würzburg haven’t even heard of it.) I have been visiting this city regularly since I was 3 years old, and am in love with it.
But it’s not just
me saying this town is special – Würzburg is in the tour books. It lies at the beginning (or end, depending on your direction) of the
Romantic Road, a stretch of highway through German medieval towns running from Würzburg to Füssen that makes a popular drive for tourists in Germany. That’s right – Würzburg is right along there with Rothenburg ob der Tauber and
Neuschwanstein, and just as worthy of your visit.
What I’ve personally always thought makes the town so beautiful and interesting is its “100 churches.” (Although that’s what is said, I think the number might not quite reach that high.) Baroque, Romanesque, Renaissance, and Gothic façades, spires, steeples, domes, and carillons dot this city, begetting romantic squares and a stunning skyline. The interiors of these churches are exquisite and ornate, and I like to visit as many as I can (my favorite is Neumünsterkirche) before my kids have reached maximum level church-fatigue.
Festung Marienberg
The place to go when the kids want to be entertained is up to the
Fortress Marienberg. This enormous fortress, the prominent symbol of Würzburg, sits proudly atop the city overlooking the River Main. Built in 704 A.D., the ancient structure - complete with turrets, a dungeon, an armory, and a
museum – offers plenty to see and do for kids of all ages. My young son never tires of looking at medieval weaponry and suits of armor.
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Lots of room to run around. |
Both my kids are always fascinated by the well-house and the seemingly bottomless well, and after touring the castle interior, are eager to run around outside in the courtyard and moat. And when it's time for parents to take a break, there’s a nice beergarten with excellent views of the city.
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Excellent views of the city. |
The Residenz Palace
I know I mentioned churches already, but do not miss at least a peak into the little baroque
Hofkirche chapel which faces into the courtyard of the
Residenz Palace in Würzburg. The marble and gold interior is absolutely decadent. The Catholic bishops who ruled Würzburg for over five centuries needed a place to live, and so built this enormous palace of residence in the 18th century. Tours of the palace interior are offered daily in English at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and are super. The most notable feature inside the palace is the immense, majestic staircase and the ceiling above it - one of the largest ceiling frescos in the world, painted by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It's truly spectacular, but not something young children will be impressed by, nor will they probably be able to endure the tour length. Take them out instead into the (free entrance!) palace gardens where there are fountains, covered trellises, steps, balconies and snack stands in the summer. Big plus: nice, clean, free bathrooms here in the garden.
Würzburg is a city just small enough to cover most of it on foot. There are also streetcars to get you across town and to the train station. There is so much family fun in this charming city, it'll take many more posts for me to cover completely. I'm looking forward to it.