Würzburg: Residence, Main Bridge and Wine

Würzburg offers several distinct themes to explore during your stay: Baroque architecture, views along the Main and wine-making traditions. You can tailor your hotel search to the interests that bring you to Würzburg.

The Residence and Baroque architecture

The Würzburg Residence is the principal work of the South German Baroque and one of Europe’s most important palaces. In 1981, it became the third site in Germany to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List; its UNESCO World Heritage status is permanent. If you are interested in architecture and cultural history, the Residence is a central point of reference when planning your stay around a particular theme.

The complex also includes the Court Garden, laid out incorporating the Baroque bastions and featuring numerous garden sculptures. At the Residence, Baroque architecture and garden design come together, with the bastions and sculptures forming an explicit part of the overall scene. The Käppele also offers a distinct perspective on architectural history: from 1747 to 1750, the pilgrimage church was added to an existing shrine chapel according to plans by Balthasar Neumann.

The Old Main Bridge and wine-making traditions

The Old Main Bridge brings together striking statues, panoramic views and wine culture. The bridge is adorned with Baroque statues of saints, which stand 4.5 metres tall and were added around 1730. From there, you can enjoy views of Marienberg Fortress, the Käppele and Würzburg’s vineyards. The local Brückenschoppen wine tradition is also kept alive on the bridge. Here, an architectural detail and several different vistas sit alongside a living wine tradition.

The world-famous Würzburger Stein vineyard stretches north of Würzburg’s Old Town in a shell-shaped curve along the Main. It covers 85 hectares and is Germany’s largest contiguous single vineyard site. Wines made from Silvaner, Riesling and Pinot Blanc grapes come from the Würzburger Stein. On guided Steinwein vineyard walks, knowledgeable guides lead visitors along well-maintained vineyard paths and explain wine-growing, the winemaker’s craft and wines from the Würzburger Steinberg. This allows you to explore the wine landscape and wine knowledge as related but distinct aspects of Würzburg.

Paths to the Käppele and the fortress

The Käppele can be reached on foot via a picturesque Stations of the Cross path. Along the way are 14 chapels and life-size groups of figures by Peter Wagner. The sequence of stations and the groups of figures give this route a different focus from a hike where the destination is the main attraction. A pleasant hiking trail leads from St. Burkard to Marienberg Fortress, offering another way to experience Würzburg’s landscape on foot.

Visible from afar, Marienberg Fortress is a Würzburg landmark and a testament to more than 1,000 years of history. The fortress’s Baroque armoury houses the Museum für Franken. Its collection includes works of Franconian art, including sculptures by Tilman Riemenschneider. A visit to this area of interest therefore connects the fortress’s history with art from Franconia. Together with the Residence, the Old Main Bridge and the wine trails, these places create a varied picture of the city, allowing you to choose the highlights for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Bergtheim, Veitshöchheim, Margetshöchheim, Thüngersheim, Theilheim, Reichenberg, Gaukönigshofen, Höchberg

Back to the regional travel overview: Würzburg.