Artists, architects and church leaders –
Ramble through the old town
A pleasurable excursion to the streets and squares of the lively city center of Würzburg – the “city of herbs”, as it was called in old times! Here, you see all the highlights – either on foot or shortened as a round trip by bus! We visit the Cathedral of St. Kilian or the Neumünster – the Holy Sepulcher of the Würzburg Saints – and, if time permits, the former prince-bishop´s residence from the outside.
We go to the Lusamgärtlein – the gravesite of the minnesinger Walther von der Vogelweide, we admire the Marienkapelle and the Falkenhaus at market square, roam the “Stachel” – the oldest wine house of the city, raise the heads to the 700 year old city hall and stroll onto the old Main bridge – the historic river crossing with its figures of 12 saints. I promise: it just makes you happy!
In a competent and entertaining way, I do let history come to life – fierce fightings in the Middle Ages, Baroque splendor in the 18th century, the destruction of Würzburg during World War II and the reconstruction of the city in the 1950´s and 60´s. But also the presence is important – including facts and anecdotes about “VIPs” and “in-locations”!
You’ll find out, for example, which important personality stands on our most popular fountain, who was the most prominent wine drinker of the “Würzburger Stein” 200 years ago, how the Franconians celebrate their wine culture today and whether we have also beer here …
Bookable as walking tour or bus trip
Meeting point: to arrange individually
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The Prince-Bishop´s palace –
UNESCO World Heritage “Residence”
The “Residence” – our proud piece of world architecture from the 18th century! Devised and financed by the powerful noble family of the Schönborns. Designed and built by Balthasar Neumann, the famous master builder of the baroque era. Today, the palace belongs to the Bavarian State and is used as museum, gallery, state archive, festival concert hall and by the university. In summer, the gardens are worth a visit.
Highlights of the interior visit are the ceiling fresco by the famous Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, the White Hall by Antonio Bossi in the style of “Würzburg Rococo”, the Imperial Hall with paintings by Tiepolo and the restored mirror cabinet in the south wing. Appointments for visits and tastings in the former prince-bishop residence wine cellar are to be requested with the Staatlicher Hofkeller.
Meeting point: Residenzplatz, Franconia fountain
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Notes on visits to the Würzburg Residence: On high season days, there may be waiting times at the entrance – even if you book your own tourist guide. If required, groups of less than 30 persons can be filled up with single guests. Please also note the locker duty for bags and the photography ban. Please arrive no later than 1.5 hours before the closing of the residence. Bus parking: Husarenstraße
Opening hours of the prince-bishop’s residence:
01.11.-31.03. daily from 10:00 to 16:30
01.04.-31.10. daily from 09.00 to 18:00
Admission Fee per person: 9,00 EUR regular, 8,00 EUR reduced (groups of 15 or more, ONLY when paying in one total amount). The entrances are to be paid for the entire group by the guest himself directly at the cash register. Invoicing only possible via the palace management. Court church and court gardens can be visited free of charge during opening hours (see also theme tours).
“Like a lion before the jump” –
Tour of Marienberg Fortress
Like a “lion before the jump” lurks the medieval fortress over the steep rocks on the left side of the Main river in Würzburg’s oldest district. It is one of the landmarks of the city. A tour through the three courtyards with St. Mary’s Church, the castle keep and well (partly closed) gives an impression of the life of the prince-bishops from the 13th to the 18th century.
From the fortress garden or the trench, you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the Käppele, the river valley and the old town. A visit to the Museum für Franken with the collection of the famous late gothic sculptor Riemenschneider can be included. Between the fortress and the old bridge downtown is a 20 to 30 minutes walk along the wall.
Meeting point: to be individually arranged
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Opening times of the Museum für Franken:
1st April to 31st October: 10:00 – 17:00
01. November to 31. March: 10:00 – 16:00, closed Mondays
Admission per person:
5.00 € regular, 4.00 € reduced, groups from 15 pers. 4,00 €
Jewel of the Franconian Rococo –
Pilgrimage church Käppele
“Käppele” is dialect for “Kappellchen” or small chapel, but this church is not really small! It is a jewel of the Franconian Rococo high up on St. Niklas hill, built by the Baroque master builder Balthasar Neumann. Since the 18th century, it is located on a spot of traditional Franconian Marian devotion.
The pilgrims always climbed the almost 300 steps with the figure groups of the Passion 
of Christ kneeling all the way up. Before the miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin and in the Miracle Walk of the Käppele they then asked the Mother of God for fertility or for help in the fight against death and disease.
On the “Käppelesweg” we hear quotes of the novel “The robber gang”, written by the Würzburg poet Leonhard Frank. He described the pilgrimage to the Käppele in the 19th century very much alive.
Meeting point: to be individually arranged
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(Photos on this page: S. Wagenbrenner & Bürgerspital Weingut Würzburg)