We took a day trip from Frankfurt to Wurzburg based on a very timely and much appreciated recommendation from my in-laws Teri/Ken Tydeck who are both experienced Germany travelers, and they were so right, it was a wonderful trip! Especially because there had been a big snowfall and the elevation increased on the trip so we had a wonderful white landscape to enjoy on the way.
The Marienberg Fortress
The first place we visited in Wursburg was the Marienberg Fortress, located high on the hill overlooking the city, on the bank of the Main river. This was the home of the local prince-bishops for nearly 5 centuries, originally built in Renaissance and Baroque styles between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was severely damaged by British bombs during World War II and was fully rebuilt in 1990.




The Old Bridge
The Old Bridge, or Alte Mainbrücke, in Wurzburg was built in the 15th century. 12 statues of saints and other icons were added early 18th century to adorn the bridge. There are paths built for pedestrians on the bridge for socializing and enjoying the scenery of the Main river . The bridge also highlights the magnificent Marienburg Fortress in the backdrop, which we also visited and which was the residence for many of the royalty that ruled the area dating back to the Middle Ages.


The Wurzburg Residenz
The Wurzburg Residenz is an amazing Baroque palace that was constructed from 1720 to 1744 for Prince Bishop Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn. The exterior and interior of the building are both amazing illustrations of different styles from German baroque to French château architecture and the imperial baroque style of Vienna. The highlights of the interior decoration included ceiling frescoes created by the Venetian Giovanni Tiepolo in the imperial hall and above the staircase, which were simply stunning. What is truly amazing is that the entire palace was almost completely destroyed right before the end of World War II as a result of a devastating air raid as the allied forces were attempting to close out the war with the Germans, which resulted in destroying almost 90% of the town and almost completely burning out the residence. Fortunately the building was reconstructed at a tremendous cost but the result is amazing and this is a must see palace in Europe, and certainly in this part of Bavaria. Unfortunately, they do not allow picture taking inside the residence so there’s not too much that we can share, but take my word for it, if you are anywhere close to this area, you must stop by for a tour yourself!


