Würzburg

Today brought us to Würzburg, a town surrounded by Franconian vineyards which are Germany’s oldest and largest vineyards. The rest of Bavaria may be all about the beer, but this city is all about wine. Our tour guide jokingly referred to the people in Bavaria as beer swilling barbarians.!

The whole town was pretty much demolished in 1945 but has been restored. However, many of the buildings in the old town have a more modern and very plain look of the 50’s-70’s.

In the 18th century, there wasn’t a Germany as we know it today. They didn’t have an identity. The area was broken into city states ruled by bishops/princes but under the Holy Roman Emperor. Being a prince-bishop meant that they not only ruled over the church but also over the government. This made them extremely powerful and very rich.

The bishops lived in the Marienberg Fortress at the top of a hill until Prince-Bishop Johann von Schönborn commissioned the Bishop’s Residenz Palace to be built. This opulent palace was completed in 1774 and rivals Versailles with its Baroque and Rococo architecture, ceiling frescoes, and mirror room. It truly took my breath away when I walked up the grand staircase and into each room. The dramatic fresco of the four continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America above the staircase is the largest in the world.

Most streets were dirt and gravel during medieval times. If you had cobblestones you were considered rich. They would say that you were “stone rich” which is still used today to mean that you are rich.

We ended our day on the iconic medieval Main Bridge. It is a cultural hub and pedestrian walkway. On Fridays people gather there to have a glass of Franconian wine that they purchase from the little café located on the bridge. What a great way to end the day.

Photos today can only give a glimpse of the Bishops’ Residenz. It was impossible to take photos covering the expanse of the rooms.Read more