Understand
[edit]A city rich in history that revolves around the Franconian locality, today Würzburg is a beautiful, historic, and lively city that is often overlooked by foreign visitors. It should also not be overlooked however, that a third of its roughly 130,000 inhabitants (2018) are students of 3 colleges based here. As such, travellers can also find an extensive assortment of cheap non-German food and some partying scenes, amidst the local culture that the city preserves.
History
[edit]First mentioned in the 7th century, Würzburg served as the home of powerful prince-bishops for many centuries. It is renowned for the Residence, regarded as one of the finest palaces in Europe and a high point of Baroque art (UNESCO cultural world heritage). Würzburg is also home to one of the oldest churches in Germany, built in the 8th century on top of a former pagan shrine. One of its most famous structures, Festung Marienberg, is a fortress which now surrounds the church.
Würzburg was the centre of the kingdom known as Franconia, also the namesake region for the northern half of what is now the state of Bavaria. In the 19th century, Napoleon merged Franconia with its southern neighbour Bavaria, by which the city is ruled to this day.
Würzburg experienced heavy demolition during a 20-minute Allied bombing raid in 1945 which destroyed some 80% of its city buildings. Much of the city has since been rebuilt, though not as painstakingly true to its original architecture as some other historic German communities. Anyone eager to visit this town to study its historic architectural structures should be prepared to see its restored buildings placed next to several post-war modernistic houses. Until 2006, Würzburg was home to a large US military installment after World War II. As a result, many of the locals are still familiar with American customs.
Today, Würzburg is still a beautiful old town, which although still not very famous outside Germany, but offers a charming culture and exterior that entices visitors to explore the region, either as part of the Main River cruise or the Romantic Road excursion.
Tourist information
[edit]- 1 Würzburg Tourist Information Office, Marktplatz 9, ☏ +49 931 37 23 98. Jan-Mar: M-F 10:00-17:00, Sa 10:00–14:00. Apr Nov Dec: M-F 10:00–18:00, Sa 10:00–14:00. May–Oct: M-F 10:00-18:00, Sa 10:00–15:00, Su & holidays 10:00-14:00. Located at the Falkenhaus next to the Maria Chapel. Also sells tickets for the Romantic Road excursion, a 3-day travel pass, and a wine pass.
Get in
[edit]
By plane
[edit]- 1 Giebelstadt Airport (GHF IATA) (20 km to the south of Würzburg). This former Army airfield (first used by the Nazis and until 2006 by the US) can handle somewhat larger private planes.
- 2 Würzburg-Schenkenturm airfield. Private propeller airplanes may land at Schenkenturm airstrip.
For commercial service, Frankfurt (FRA IATA) and Nuremberg (NUE IATA) are the closest airports. Connection to the Frankfurt airport is faster and much more convenient thanks to the presence of a dedicated long-distance station, from where travellers can ride the Intercity Express (ICE) for 90 minutes to the city's main train station, which comes at least every hour.
If you are flying to Nuremberg, you must transfer to the main train station. From here, trains range from the expensive express train (ICE) (60 minutes) to the cheap regional service (R or RE) (minimum 2 hours). If speed and time is not of highest concern, buy a Bayern ticket which covers all local transportation and regional rail between the cities.
Munich Airport (MUC IATA) Lufthansa's second hub is geographically close and downtown Munich is indeed only two hours from Würzburg. However, you'll have to schlep 45 minutes by S-Bahn to downtown Munich before you can get on an ICE, making the connection somewhat tedious.
By train
[edit]3 Würzburg Hauptbahnhof (main train station) (QWU IATA). It can be reached directly from almost any major train station in most parts of Germany; getting to eastern German cities such as Berlin and Leipzig, or the Black Forest region requires a transit. As Würzburg is the southern terminus of Germany's first high speed railway line specifically built for the ICE, connections are remarkably easy. Hourly direct ICE services run to Frankfurt (1 hr), Cologne (2 hr 40 min), and Düsseldorf (2 hr 50 min) at the westbound track, in addition to Hannover (2 hr 30 min) and Hamburg (3 hr 30 min) to the north, while Munich (2 hr) and Nuremberg (1 hr) are served half-hourly. Speed does however come at a price, and unless you buy your tickets in advance you will pay a lot. Tickets on the ICE start at €20 per person (group discounts available) when bought in advance with the number of cheap tickets lower and sold out faster on popular routes and times. The only main city not connected to the ICE system would be Stuttgart, 2 hr 30 min away using an express regional train every hour. 
Internationally, there's also an Austrian Nightjet[dead link] sleeper train two nights a week, north via Frankfurt airport and Cologne to Brussels and south to Vienna, Munich and Innsbruck. Daytime ICE trains also run to Vienna every 3 hours.
Regional trains connect Würzburg to other cities within the Franconia area, with up to hourly connections to Schweinfurt, Bamberg, Aschaffenburg, and Nuremberg, the same train can sometimes also take you to Frankfurt in the neighboring state of Hessen. For regional trains throughout the state of Bavaria, you can get the Bayern Ticket that costs €26 for one person and €8 for every additional member of your group up to four and is valid for the whole day (starting at 09:00 unless it is a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday). The Bayern ticket is also accepted on all local public transportation. Regio-Tickets for regional trains to Frankfurt as well as Leipzig and the state of Thüringen (€32, €29, and €23 respectively, plus €8 per additional person up to 4 people) are also available. Travel to Würzburg is also covered under the Baden-Württemberg ticket for travel to or from the state of Baden-Württemberg (cost: €24 per person plus €6 per additional passenger up to 4 people). A direct train ride to Stuttgart takes around 2½ hours.
By bus
[edit]All public and private buses are served at the Busbahnhof on the left side of the main train station. While direct connections to major German towns are possible, getting outside of Germany usually requires a transit at the larger cities.
From April to October, a shuttle service runs between Würzburg and along the Romantic Road to Füssen, with connections to Frankfurt and Munich, respectively.
By car
[edit]Würzburg has an excellent connection to the German "Autobahn" (highway)-system. A3 (highway 3) from Cologne via Frankfurt and Nuremberg to Austria passes the city as well as A7 (highway 7) from Hannover via Göttingen to Ulm. In addition there is A81 to Stuttgart.
By ship
[edit]Cruises along the Main River often feature a stop at Würzburg, docking adjacent to the city centre. Ships dock during the morning so that the tourists can explore the city by day and be back in the boat by night.
Get around
[edit]Orientation
[edit]Würzburg is a municipal city with multiple districts; they are however easily distinguishable because of its separation.
The area of most interest for tourists and most commercial activity would be the city center or Innenstadt, enclosed by the Ringpark (a park circling the downtown area) up to the Main River. Sanderau is immediately south of downtown and a couple hundred meters east of the park is Frauenland. West of the river is Zellerau, where the trams also pass by. Northeast of the train station passing the bridge over the track is Grombühl, also served by a tram line. These are the de-facto central areas of Würzburg where most of the population lives and activities occur.
On foot
[edit]Most of the commercial and tourist spots in Würzburg are contained within the Ringpark. The retail area is found primarily alongside the tram lines and on the pedestrian-only Spiegelstraße and Eichhornstraße, just straight after the Marian chapel at the city square.
A non-stop walk from the main train station to the south end of Ringpark at the Sandering tram station should take only 30 minutes. With the exception of a steep climb to the Marienberg Fortress and the Käppele, you can expect to walk on flat ground on the inner side of the Ringpark.
Public transportation
[edit]
Würzburg is well served by five tram lines (German: Straßenbahn or locally: Straba) and a handful of bus routes (some of which also run all night) will take you to the suburbs. Public transportation maps and timetables for the immediate city area can be found from the WVV website (in German only). In a general orientation however, all five tram lines are interconnected at a corridor spanning within the city centre between the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) at the north end and Sanderring at the south end, with most bus lines terminating or stopping at either end.
For visitors to the Marienberg fortress, a bus service (Route 9) from the Mainfranken Theater and the Würzburg Residenz runs only from Easter to mid-October. Otherwise, from the city centre cross the old bridge and walk the way up for about 30 minutes.
Fares
[edit]- A short ride within 4 tram or bus stops will cost €1.40 for adults and 70 cents for kids ages 6 to 14.
- A one-way ticket costs €2.50 for adults and €1.20 for kids ages 6 to 14.
- A 6-time ticket costs €6.80 and can be used in any way such as 6 rides for one person or one ride for six people.
- A daily ticket costs €4.30 for one person and €8.70 for two adults plus up to two kids ages 6 to 14 and is valid up to 03:00 the following day; if the ticket is bought on a Saturday or the first of a two-day holiday, it is valid until 03:00 Monday or day after the two-day holiday.
All bus tickets can be bought at the automated machines in the tram stations or from the bus drivers, they give change too!
As an alternative, a Bayern ticket valid for the entire state as well as the Deutschlandticket can also be used.
By car
[edit]While a car is not necessarily needed in the city centre (and forbidden on many roads within the city centre), it might be useful for venturing out elsewhere, especially to the Marienberg fortress, due to the scarcity of bus service. The areas north of Hauptbahnhof and east of the highway are exclusively served by bus for its public transport with at least 20-minute intervals; if you don't want to wait, then a car will take you there faster.
Some of the parking lots in or near downtown Wurzburg are:
- 2 Marktgarage, Karmelitenstraße (right side of city hall). 24 hours. 494 parking spaces. However they can be narrow. Public toilet available. Daily 07:00-20:00, €1.50/hour, 20:00-01:00 €0.50/2 hours, 01:00-07:00 €1, 24 hours €11.
- 3 Talavera, Mainaustraße. 24 hours. Free open air parking space, but sometimes closed during town fair or events. Access to adjacent tram station or 10-15 minutes on foot to downtown. Free.
The full list of real time parking spaces can be found at the specific WVV website[dead link].
By taxi
[edit]- Taxi Würzburg, ☏ +49 931-19410. The sole taxi operator of the city. Fare starts from €3.30 flagfall, €2.15/km up to 3 km and €1.60/km thereafter. For trips outside the immediate Würzburg, a flat fee is applicable.
See
[edit]
Most of the old history of Würzburg revolves around the former prince-bishop of the region, who were essentially both the religious and political leaders of the area.
Notable landmarks
[edit]- 1 Würzburger Residence, Residenzplatz 2, ☏ +49 931 355170. 09:00-18:00 April-October, 10:00-16:30 November-March. Closed New Year's Day, Shrove Tuesday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve. The Residenz is one of the finest palaces in Europe and famous for its grand staircase. It is regarded as one of the finest pieces of Baroque art in the world as such it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The building was designed by Balthasar Neuman, and the largest fresco in the world, above the grand staircase, was painted by Tiepolo. The palace has 300 rooms, spread over 3 wings. There is also a chapel (Hofkirche) also decorated by Tiepolo which is free to enter and well worth a visit. Its gardens are also built with fortification in mind. Guided tours in English daily at 11:00 & 15:00 and is included in the ticket. Adults €9.00, reduced €8.00. Children under 18 free. Church and Garden: free for everyone..
- 2 Würzburg Court Garden, Residenzplatz 2, ☏ +49 931 355170. Daily dawn to dusk or 20:00, whichever is first. A massive 9-hectare garden designed with Rococo style in mind by Johann Prokop Mayer of Bohemia surrounds three sides of the Residenz, although the West Garden was simply designed yet dubbed unfinished, due to the death of builder Adam Friedrich. Each garden has its own features: cone-trimmed yews around the south fountain; parterre, portico, and garden sculptures at the east, and what is now part of the city park complex surrounding the inner city at the west.
- 3 Festung Marienberg (Marienberg Fortress and Princes' Building), ☏ +49 931 3551750. Tu-Su 09:00-18:00. The former complex of the prince-bishop before the Residenz from the 11th to the 18th century, it is the highest point of the city by a hundred meters more than the surrounding land. Thus, the long hike to the top is paid off by a view of the entire town so wonderful, even locals still go here frequently. The viewpoint is adjacent to the Prince's Garden The inside court features a keep and church, whose interior is Renaissance with the first touches of Baroque. For somewhere to wind down, there are two restaurants and a free restroom. Guided tours in English are at 15:00 weekends and holidays from April to October. Grounds: free.
- 4 Old Main Bridge (Alte Mainbrücke). 24 hours. Not unlike Prague's St. Charles Bridge, it is a pedestrian-only bridge with six statues of kings and saints of historic importance for Catholicism in Franconia on each side. Under the bridge are water locks for ship traffic control on the Main, one of German's most important rivers. Locals would stand here admiring the splendid views of the fort and the river, all while sipping their glass of wine or bottle of beer. Free.
- 5 Maschikuli Tower. 11:00-16:30 on Easter Sunday & Monday, May 10, Pentecost Sunday & Monday, August 15 and October 3. The four-storey tower was built in 1724-1729 by Balthasar Neumann to guard the south flank of the Marienberg fortress. Above the three levels for heavy artillery is a platform for riflemen, equipped with normal firing slits and 21 vertical openings angled downwards: these are the "Maschikulis" from which the tower takes its name. On the valley side the tower is decorated with coats of arms of the Prince Bishop Christoph Franz von Hutten dating from 1727, the work of Jakob van der Auvera. Above them is a bust of St Nepomuk.
- 6 Falkenhaus, Marktpl. 9. M-F 10:00-18:00, Sa 10:00-15:00, Su 10:00-14:00. Other than the Maria Chapel next to it, the exterior stands out from the rest of the buildings within sight. The curved gables and bright yellow white paint are Rococo decors, a conception from Barbara Meißner in 1751, whose late husband owned the property. It now houses the Tourist Information Office and the City Library. Free.
Churches
[edit]
Within the city centre are nine Catholic churches, many located less than 500 m from each other, each offering a different design of its facade and altar.
- 7 Würzburger Dom (St. Killian's Cathedral), Domstraße 40, ☏ +49 931 38662900. One of the largest Romanesque's churches in Germany, the Catholic church in its present form was built from 1040 to 1075 and consecrated in 1187. Objects of interest include a 700-year old bronze baptismal font, an expressionist bronze portal, a menorah at the main entrance, and The Schönborn chapel with its fresco.
- 8 Marienkapelle, Markplatz 7, ☏ +49 931 38662800. This building essentially dominates the market square, thanks to its size and its dominant red paint. The chapel, erected in 1377, is a mixture between a basilica and a hall church that was popular in the late-Gothic period and its three portals portray late Gothic to early Renaissance design, each with its own delicate carving at its tympanum, depicting of some of the key events of Christianity. At the top of the tower is a gold-covered statue of Mary.
- 9 Käppele (Little Chapel), Spittelbergweg 21 (take bus 35 to Käppele bus stop, walk down the second alley on the left at the dead end; for access from the Stations of the Cross, turn left to the pathway at Nikolausstraße, make another left at the end, and turn right in front of the Germania House), ☏ +49 931 79407760. Daily 08:00-17:00. A church at the hillside near the fortress. From its humble beginnings as the site of an erected pieta in 1640, at which at least four miracles were reported, a chapel was then built around it. Balthasar Neumann, the same architect that designed the Residence, built a church that incorporated the old chapel in 1750, though the interiors were actually not finished until 71 years later. Because of its extensive collection of life-size statues and classic interior, being the only church intact during the 1945 bombing, it is an extremely popular place for weddings, in addition to pilgrimage during the Marian holidays and Pentecost. Behind the church are the Stations of the Cross staggered on 5 floors, with each of the station hosting meticulously carved statues at least two meters wide.
- 10 Neumünster (Neumünster St. Johannes Evangelist und St. Johannes der Täufer), +49 931 38662900. Daily 08:00-18:30. Mightily standing from the 11th century and now clipped between shops, its narrow pink Romanesque facade gives way to Baroque beauty inside. The white wall is a nice contrast to gold finishes and colorful altar and murals. Something also worth looking is a Madonna from the workshop of Tilman Riemenschneider and the St. Kilian's Crypt.
Do
[edit]
- Mainfranken Theater, Theaterstraße 21, ☏ +49 931 39080. An 800-seat local theater showcasing opera, plays, dances, and orchestras. Many of the plays are recited in their original language with German subtitles displayed above the stage. Select shows feature free seating for students. From €20.
Wine tours & tastings
[edit]No trip to wine country is complete without touring the cellar and sampling the finest fruit of the vine. Although all tours are by default conducted in German, one can ask questions in English and they will be glad to help.
- 1 Juliusspital, Klinikstraße 1, ☏ +49 931 393-1400, [email protected]. The largest Franconian wine producer is part of the Juliusspital Foundation, founded in 1576 by Bishop Julius Echter. It is no wonder that their cellar is located at the city centre, at the grounds of the hospital of the same name. Tours and choice of 3 wine tastings Saturdays at 14:00 from March to December. Its diverse portfolio of wines can also be seen at its ownVinothek. Tours €14.
Wine fairs
[edit]Well-known as one of the wine regions of Germany, Würzburg hosts a number of wine fairs in the summer:
- Würzburger Weindorf ("Wine Village"), on Market Square, the biggest of all, end of May.
- Hofgarten Weinfest, in the Court Gardens of the Residence Palace, in July.
- Weinfest am Stein, in a winery in the vineyards. With live music, crowded, in July.
- Weinparade, on Market Square, end of August.
Nearly every winegrowing village in Lower Franconia has its own wine fair, so you can visit at least one if you visit Würzburg in the summer or autumn.
Other festivals
[edit]- Faschingszug, as with the rest of Germany, the Sunday before Lent is always filled with parades of floats and festivities.
- Africa Festival, Europe's largest African music and culture festival. Late May to early June.
- Umsonst und draußen, the city's annual outdoor music festival. Mid-June at the Talavera Fairgrounds.
- Kiliani is the city's largest fun fair taking place for two weeks in July in honor of the city's patron saint, Kilian. Taking place at Talavera square with amusement parks, snack booths, a tent offering wholesome fares and filled with locals dressed up in traditional costumes.
- Mozart Festival, a classical music festival with multiple performances (both Mozart and non-Mozart pieces) throughout the period. Simply choose which performances you'd like to come to, as tickets are sold separately. Takes place at the Residenz or around Dom. Month-long from May to June.
- STRAMU, said to be Europe's largest street festival, where every corner within the pedestrian zone is filled with music and theater performances, stand up comedy, dances, and acrobats. 4 days in late August or early September.
- Stadtfest, celebrated on Friday and Saturday on the first week of school, is filled with music performances from noon to night on stages scattered throughout the city center. Many local establishments also erect stalls on the sidewalk to showcase their products.
Outdoors
[edit]- Both banks of the Main River, especially on the east side, contain an almost uninterrupted walking and jogging track. For those who prefer to just chill, benches are abundant, or simply sit at the quay like the locals do.
- 2 Skatepark Würzburg, Mainaustraße 46. M-Sa 08:00-20:00, Su 08:00-13:00 & 15:00-20:00. A public skatepark frequented by youngsters located at the Main River bank.
Hiking
[edit]
Hiking on the wine hills around Würzburg is a local pastime while enjoying the majestic views of the city and the Main river valley. Unlike many other parts of the world, the paths are open to the public!
- A hike on the hill behind the main train station offers you a splendid panorama of the whole city, which also includes the landmark Marienberg fortress at the other side of the river. These are accessible from the path near the psychiatry department of Uniklinikum in the Grombühl neighborhood or a tunnel under Posthalle.
- The wine fields adjacent to the Marienberg fortress is also an alternate route up the hill, albeit in a slower pace. Hiking here offers you three sides of views: the city center opposite the river, the Kappele and adjacent large houses, and the rear side of the fortress. These are accessible from the path opposite Lidl grocery store at Leistenstraße, Burkarder Garten next to Sparkasse Bank on the riverside, or from Oberer Burgweg (on the way along access to the fortress by car or bus).
- Slightly away from the city is a much larger and taller winery area that overlooks the Heidingsfeld neighborhood and the Main River valley. These are accessible from Hans-Löffler Straße (bus number 6) or about 5 minute ride south from the University of Würzburg campus at Hubland.
Buy
[edit]Even though shops are to close all day on Sundays and at 20:00 on other days, as are the rest of Bavaria, there are two exceptions to this: Mantelnsonntag on the last Sunday of October (open from 13:00 to 18:00) and Kultur- und Einkaufsnacht on the Saturday before Advent (4 weekends before Christmas) when shops open until 23:00 and the Christmas Market until 22:00.
The general shopping area downtown lies along the tram tracks all the way from the main train station to Sanderring and the streets that immediately branch out of it. Away from the tram tracks, locals also frequent the pedestrian-only Eichhornstraße and Spiegelstraße (if you know German, you will see symbols on the sidewalks that resemble the street name). Eichhornstraße extends westward to the Marienplatz, where a traditional market and small stalls stand amidst the Marienkapelle and a few large shops. Here is also where the annual Christmas market takes place. West of the river, there is a strip of shops along Burkarderstraße and Zellerstraße immediately after the old bridge. Outside these areas, the stores generally cater to residents of the local district.
- 1 S.Oliver Outlet, Am Moritzberg 3, Rottendorf, ☏ +49 9302 3096495. M-F 10:00-19:00, Sa 09:00-18:00. The clothing brand S.Oliver has its roots in Würzburg. Here is its only outlet store.
Wine
[edit]Germany may be world renowned for its beer, but its wine is its hidden treasure. Franconian wines are white and produced from mainly Silvaner grapes, high in minerals thanks to the soil on which the vine grows, and very dry, with sugar amounts of only up to 5 grams. Another of its unique feature is being packed in a Bocksbeutel of 3/4 or 3/8 litres. Unlike many other German wine regions, a large amount of Franconian wine is drunk in the area where it is produced.
If you do not know much about wine, buy it directly from the winegrowers or from small shops which sell only wine (Vinothek).
- 2 Bürgerspital Weinhaus, Semmelstraße 2. Tu-Sa 09:00-00:00, Su 11:00-18:00, M 09:00-18:00. Wine collection, both red and white, from the Bürgerspital brand, with opportunities for tasting flights and even pairing with a platter of your choice.
- 3 Weineck Julius-Echter, Koellikerstraße 1a, ☏ +49 931 3931400. M-F 09:30-18:30, Sa 09:00-16:00. Flagship store of the Juliusspital brand. Generous samples and personalized suggestions. You can even drink the wine on the spot with bring-your-own snacks.
- 4 Vinothek Wohlsein, Sanderstraße 29, ☏ +49 931 20561073. Tu-Th from 15:00, F Sa from 11:00. Collection of wine from various brands around Germany. Also offers private tastings of 5 wines and a sparkling wine with curated recommendation. Tastings from €29.
Learn
[edit]As one enters Würzburg from the motorway, the sign above the city name says it all, Universitätstadt (university city). Almost a third of its 150,000 inhabitants are students from three colleges, whose buildings are peppered around town. In addition, thousands of foreign full time and exchange students do flock to Würzburg annually, which explains the regular overhearing of English and other foreign languages being spoken if you happen to pass by, a good selection of international food, and noticeably fewer people during exam and holiday periods of February to March and July to September. Among the factors that entice them to come include extensive cooperation with foreign universities, availability of English courses, the medium size of the city, and its location right in central Germany.
- 4 University of Würzburg (Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg), Sanderring 2, ☏ +49 931 31-0. Over 80% of Würzburg students (around 29,000 to be exact) study here. Founded in 1402, it's the 6th oldest university in the German language scope (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). It belongs to the U15 group of top research universities. Many foreigners going here are usually taking a master's and postgraduate degree and research, many of which are also offered in English. Exchange students from all around the world also come here to study for up to three semesters under the Erasmus exchange programme. Lecture halls are scattered throughout town depending on the faculty, but most concentrated at Hubland which used to be site of the former US Army garrison.
- 5 Würzburg-Schweinfurt Technical College (Technische Hochschule Würzburg-Schweinfurt), Münzstraße 12, ☏ +49 931 3511-0. Although the university serves two towns with equal division of quantity of faculties, Würzburg is where most of the administrative seats are. Foreigners who come here are mainly exchange and master students taking up business and economy courses in English. As with the University, lecture halls are scattered throughout town depending on the faculty, but they are most concentrated at around Münzstraße near Sanderring.
- 6 University of Music Würzburg (Hochschule für Musik Würzburg), Hofstallstr. 6–8, ☏ +49 931 32187 0. Offering specialized bachelor degrees in an array of musical instruments, composing, conducting, and even a special program as a music teacher.
To better serve the students, a semester ticket for public transportation rides across Würzburg city and adjacent counties within the VVM network are offered after a compulsory payment set by the university. In addition, a mensa (cafeteria) is readily available at multiple locations citywide with meals only half of restaurant prices!
Eat
[edit]| This page uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink: | |
| Budget | up to €6.99 |
| Mid-range | €7.00-€13.99 |
| Splurge | €14 or more |
|
The first footing of Italian cuisine in Germany
Pizzas and Italian cuisine in general are country-wide beloved non-German options, however its history is only fairly recent in the making compared to say, the Americas. Nicolino di Camilo, called Nick, comes from Villa Magna in Abruzzo and came in 1946 via Fürth to Würzburg. Here he first worked as a bouncer in the "Country Club", a popular meeting place for US soldiers. By chance, he met the US officer Coletti, an American who also came from the native Abruzzo. At the instigation of the officer, Nick worked as a part-time cook at the American GIs in clubs and casinos around Würzburg with food from his homeland. The success was so immense that Nick opened on 24 March 1952 the Bier- und Speisewirtschaft Capri (now Capri Blau Grotto) as the first Italian restaurant in Germany. Later he invented the now standardized cardboard pizza boxes for his delivery service. The first guests in the restaurant were US soldiers of the former Würzburg garrison. Only starting from the 1970s economic miracle did Germans get to know Italian cuisine after trade between Germany and other countries intensified and the yeast dough flat cake in the Italian version became one of Germany's favourite comfort foods. |
Even though it is in Bayern, those that look forward to the brown pretzel and white sausage (Weißwurst) are unfortunately coming to the wrong place. Instead, Franconian cuisine is traditionally served. Even then it is still an umbrella term, as even different cities can have different variations. Specialities of Würzburg include fish from the Main River and sausage with wine blend.
Otherwise, those feeling peckish for something else should not be left disappointed. Thanks to its young and multicultural student population, a couple of Asian and southern European establishments have also been established.
Budget
[edit]- 1 Unicafe, Neubaustraße 2 (on the corner of Neubaukirche and Sanderstraße), ☏ +49 931 15672. M-Sa 08:00-01:00, Su & holidays 09:00-01:00. Cozy cafe that opens until late. Simple menus like salads, breads, and desserts at all times. More substantial meals are offered in menu of the week during lunch. Snacks €3-8. Lunch of the week €5-9.
- 2 Tigris Kebab, Augustinerstraße 3, ☏ +49 931 3047971. M-W 11:00-01:00, Th 11:00-14:00, F Sa 11:00-05:00, Su 12:00-22:00. A large city centre döner shop, open until late at night for something more substantial. €2 to €6.
- 3 Bratwurststand Knüpfing, Markplatz (look for the wooden stand with a yellow awning, near the church entrance), ☏ +49 931 51733. M-F 09:30-18:00, Sa 10:00-17:00. The seemingly small food stall in the middle of Markplatz caters to a long line of customers by lunchtime that moves quickly invariably with only 1 item in mind: the Franconian roasted sausage sandwiched in bread. The quickest way to order this to simply mention eine mit for with mustard or eine ohne for without. From €2.30.
- 4 Pavillon, Louis-Pasteur-Straße 5, ☏ +49 931 2700160. M-F 06:00-18:00, Sa 07:00-17:00, Su 10:00-14:00. A gourmet grocery store complete with cafeteria style restaurant and dedicated Vinothek. Its menus change daily and quickly gets crowded during lunch rush, but Sunday brunch and buffet events on many other days are when the restaurant is at full capacity, for which a reservation is usually needed. €2-8, Sunday brunch & buffet from €18.
- 5 Istanbul Kebap, Kaiserstraße 21, ☏ +49 931 30489374. Daily 10:00-21:00. Another staple for cheap meal in the heart of the city. To order, you first need to make a selection and pay. Behind the counter you can see the bread kneaded by hand. The smiling owner serves the customer. Vegan friendly options. Kebab from €4, pizza from €9.
- 6 Café Michel, Markplatz 11, ☏ +49 931 53776. M-Sa 08:00-18:00. Large café on the main square to the right of the Falkenhaus. Extensive selection of desserts, ice cream, pastries and coffee, popular with the elderly and mothers. Usually full seating. Cakes from €2.00 per piece, pastries from €1.00. Surcharge for dine-in.
- 7 Wohnzimmer Bar, Tiepolostraße 21, ☏ +49 931 13417. A sports bar. Wednesday is the half-price day for cocktails.
Mid-range
[edit]- 8 Capri-Blue Grotto, Elefantengasse 1, ☏ +49 931 54557. Tu-Su 13:00-14:00, 17:00-23:00. The oldest pizzeria in Germany dating back to the 1950s. Classic Italian thin crust with simple toppings, in addition to warm pastas and calzones. Alternatively, opt for its tapas. In the basement is a seemingly diminutive blue grotto.
- 9 Mykonos, Brettreichstraße 4, ☏ +49 931 75770. Daily 11:00-14:00, 17:00-00:00. Greek restaurant. Extensive selection from the grill or oven, or platters if you want a bit of everything. Many vegan options. Appetizers €5-10, mains €10-15.
- 10 Fontana Eiscafé, Beim Grafeneckart 8, ☏ +49 931 3292179. Su-Th 09:30-00:00, F Sa 09:30-01:00. Italian and Mediterranean cuisine for a substantial meal. It is more famous however for its extensive selection of desserts and ice cream, especially its spaghettieis, which is simply ice cream extruded through ricer that gives its form of the namesake pasta dish. Ice cream €4 to €8, main course & pizzas €8-€20.
- 11 Habaneros, Theaterstraße 1-3, ☏ +49 931 30425116. Daily 17:00-00:00. Assorted Mexican (with a little touch of Texas and California) food. Tacos, nachos, burritos, and fajitas are served in quantities filling enough for two. Huge variety of cocktails Main course €10-18.
- Locanda, Kranenkai 1 (near the Main), ☏ +49 931 46795180, [email protected]. Su–Th 11:30 AM–midnight (kitchen until 11:00 PM), F–S 11:30 AM–2:00 AM (kitchen until midnight). An Italian restaurant.
Splurge
[edit]Great restaurants in the town centre serve excellent food in rustic settings with by no means unreasonable prices. Service is great and you can be guaranteed a great meal. These include
- 12 Alte Mainmühle, Mainkai 1, ☏ +49 931 16777. Daily 10:00-midnight. Delicious food from the Franconian area. If you just want to sip a wine and enjoy them on the Old Bridge, try their street-side kiosk. Meals from €10, wine from €3, other drinks from €2.
- 13 Burgerspital Weinstuben, Theaterstraße 19, ☏ +49 931 352880.
- 14 Alter Krahnen, Kranenkai 1, ☏ +49 931 99131545, [email protected]. daily 11:00 - 00:00. very delicious Franconian cuisine, great beer garden overlooking the fortress Marienberg and the Main
- Juliuspital.
- Stachel.
Drink
[edit]
Located in a wine stronghold, wineries managed to trump the number of local beer breweries. Wine and beer lovers, young and old, live and party together in harmony, as can be seen every day on the Old Main Bridge and along the Main River. Most cafés that lay along the Alte Mainbrücke allow you to drink straight from the wine glass while enjoying the fresh air outside; just don't forget to return the glass to get your hefty deposit back.
- Würzburger Hofbräu, Jägerstraße 17. The local brewery brews excellent wheat beer (Weißbier), which carries the name of a 1600s bishop of Würzburg, Julius Echter. Basically this beer is served for you in almost all the local bars, if you order a Hefe.
- Caféhaus Brückenbäck, Zellerstraße 2, ☏ +49 931 414545. Su-Tu 08:00-18:00, W Th 08:00-23:00, F Sa 08:00-01:00. From fresh coffee for breakfast, to white and rose wine for dinner. Assorted tea selection and other hot drinks for non-alcoholic choices. 0.25 litres of Franconian wine from €4.50.
- Alter Karnen Beer Garden (Biergarten Alter Kranen), Kranenkai (To the left of the Alter Kranen Brauerei), ☏ +49 931 99131545. Daily 10:30-23:00. Relax to a sip of beer while sitting on the benches next to the Main River and admire the view of the Old Bridge and the Marienberg Fortress. Beers from €3.80 per 0.3 litre. All drinks plus €2 glass deposit.
Clubs
[edit]Würzburg also has its fair share of clubs, catering especially to its student population.
- Zauberberg, Veitshöchheimerstraße 20. Th-Sa 22:00-05:00. A club that opens only thrice a week, with thematic music selections (although 1990s and 2000s nights are recurring) and occasional performances by DJs from the local radio station. Entrance €5 to €7. Free on selected days.
- Odeon Lounge, Augustinerstraße 18, ☏ +49 93155559. W F Sa 24:00-05:00. Dance club with chic drinks and modern interior. Cocktails from €8, shots from €2.
Sleep
[edit]| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | up to €50 |
| Mid-range | €51-€100 |
| Splurge | €101 and above |
Budget
[edit]- 1 Babelfish Hostel, Haugerring 2 (opposite the main railway station), ☏ +49 9313040430, [email protected]. Rooms can range from one to ten beds. Tailored itineraries for do-it-yourself tours can be asked for at the receptionist. Breakfast and packed lunch also offered at its restaurant. From €19 per person.
- 2 DJH Youth Hostel Würzburg, Fred-Joseph-Platz 2 (below the Marienberg fortress; take trams 3 or 5 to Löwenbrücke and walk five minutes north), ☏ +49 931 4677860, [email protected]. Member of the Hosteling International (HI). Rooms can range from one to eight beds, adding up to a total of 238 beds. Inclusive breakfast buffet, and packed lunches can be provided upon request. From €30 per person.
- Hotel Regina, Haugerring 1, ☏ +49 931 322390. Simple hotel opposite the train station. Rooms range from a single bed to a 4 person apartment with shared bathroom. €65 to €115 per night. Breakfast buffet €7.50 per night.
- Ibis Budget Würzburg Ost, Nürnbergerstraße 129, ☏ +49 931 2708220. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. A small hotel just off Highway 8 at eastern part of town. Good bus connection to city. 67 rooms with double and triple beds. From €50 per night.
Mid-range
[edit]- 3 Goldenes Fass, Semmelstraße 13, ☏ +49 931 45256810. A small 14 room hotel with 6 single and 8 double rooms. Cozy and quaint breakfast room with complementary breakfast buffet alongside the owner's favourite creature: teddy bears, which she also lets you bring for repair. Single from €70, doubles with French Bed from €85, doubles from €105 per night.
- 4 Hotel Franziskaner, Franziskanerplatz 2, ☏ +49 931 3563-0.
- 5 Hotel Zum Winzermännle, Domstraße 32, ☏ +49 931 54156. Hotel in the city centre and just one minute to the Main River bank. From €70 per night.
- 6 Maritim Hotel Würzburg, Pleichertorstraße 5 (am Congress- Zentrum / Friedensbrücke), ☏ +49 931 3053-0, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. The largest hotel in Würzburg with more than 240 rooms and a splendid view of the city center and the Main River. Dedicated turndown service at its suites. Multilingual staff. From €110 per night.
Splurge
[edit]- 7 Hotel Schloss Steinburg, Am Steinberg, ☏ +49 931 9702-0.
- 8 City Hotel, Semmelstraße 28 + 30, ☏ +49 931 78 00 99 0. Single €59-79, standard double €69-99, comfort double €69-110, triple €98-139.
- Hotel Alter Kranen, Kärrnergasse 11, ☏ +49 931 35180. Hotel with a wonderful view of the Main River and the Marienberg Fortress. Spacious rooms with wooden flooring and complementary breakfast.
- Hotel Würzburger Hof, Barbarossapl. 2, ☏ +49 931 53814. A 4-star century-old hotel close to both the city centre and the main train station. Classic interior. From €119 per night.
Connect
[edit]At some tourist attractions, the bus terminal, and near the WVV customer service at the Rathaus tram station, you can use the municipality network WueFi for up to three hours for free. Select buses & all college buildings offer the "Bayern WLAN" network with a blue sticker where you can connect for free for unlimited time. Students can also use the eduroamnetwork at all college buildings and some establishments.
Stay safe
[edit]Like most of Bavaria, Würzburg is very safe. At worst, areas near the Hauptbahnhof and at Grombühl may be frequented with rowdy people, although they will usually not disturb anyone else's business. Use your common sense to avoid risky situations, though.
Go next
[edit]Würzburg is the start of Germany's famed Romantic Road and the gateway to explore Lower Franconia. From here you can travel down to Rothenburg and the Bavarian Alps.
- Veitshöchheim: Take a boat ride on the river Main to this small picturesque town that also has a Schloss with a Rococo garden. (The dock in Würzburg is beside the street Kranenkai, literally "crane dock" as there is an old crane on the boat dock.) The town is also accessible by rail.
- Schweinfurt, another large town of the Lower Franconia is 30 minutes away by the regional express train.
- A shortlist of other attractions on the Lower Franconia include castles at Lohr am Main, Mespelbrunn, the spa town of Bad Kissingen, and Miltenberg.
- Bamberg is less than an hour away and its unspoiled old city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- In Wertheim (about 35 km away), you can travel the route Charming Tauber valley from Wertheim via Tauberbischofsheim and Bad Mergentheim to Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
- Aschaffenburg, the second largest city in Lower Franconia, is a 45-minute train ride away.
| Routes through Würzburg |
| END ← | Würzburg  Füssen
|
→ Rothenburg ob der Tauber |