The heart of Franconian wine country
A river cruise to Wurzburg wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of the many local vineyards and wineries of the city and its surrounding area. Wine runs through this city’s culture with a host of festivals dedicated to the local produce being held throughout the year. The most notable of these is surely the Würzburger Winefest which is held across the summer and autumn. Visiting Wurzburg on a river cruise during this festival means you can sample wines from almost every wine-making village in the Franconian region, as many of the local vineyards put on their own mini-festivals during this period.
Regal architecture on both sides of the Main
Rococo and Baroque architecture adorn the narrow streets of scenic Wurzburg and spills over at The Residenz Palace, a UNESCO-protected palace on the right-hand side of the river Main with 360 rooms decorated with frescoes, paintings, gilt work and mirrors. One of the most noted examples of exquisite Baroque architecture, a tour of Balthasar Neumann’s magnum opus is a must during your Wurzburg river cruise. On the left side of the Main, the Marienberg Fortress sits high above the river offering stunning views of Wurzburg. The fortress museum documents over 1,000 years of history, from its time as a seat of the Prince-Bishops in the 18th Century, to a defensive building during the Renaissance.
Architecture in Wurzburg
There are a wealth of cultural buildings and museums to explore during your time in Wurzburg. Take in the mesmerising architecture of the 11th Century Wurzburg Cathedral, echoing Neumann’s designs of The Residenz and Tilman Riemenschneider’s stunning effigies in the Prince-Bishop tombs. Continuing your tour of the great German sculptors and architects, on Unterer Markt square you will find the Marienkapelle, a late gothic chapel, its design is heavily contributed to by Riemenschneider.
Eating and drinking
Of course, sampling the Franconian wine is a must when visiting Wurzburg, and every eatery you visit is sure to have a wide selection on the menu. Whether you want a cosy candlelit corner in a traditional Bavarian pub or prefer to sample Franconia food with a modern twist on the city’s cobbled streets, there are plenty of popular eateries to sample the local Wurzburg fare.
