Würzberg

Würzberg is one of the popular tourist destinations in Bavaria, and to be fair it really needs a full day to go around everywhere. I did not spend too much time (about 3 hours in total), partly because I missed a train from Mainz (by a minute) and partly because the connecting train from Frankfurt was then 15 minutes late.


The main highlight of the town is Residenz - palatial residence of the town bishop, now another UNESCO world heritage site in Germany. Residenz is proof of both religious spending excess and the lavish artworks funded by the excesses.

As you enter the main hall, there is the "Grand Staircase" leading to the upper floors. The stairs are decorated with statues and the main dome features an amazing painting, remarkably unscathed in the war. It is brilliant for both its size and grandeur. The upper floors contain many restored rooms, used to entertain guests and some of these rooms easily rival the opulence of the Sanssouci palaces.


Unfortunately, I could not take pictures of the interior of the Residenz, but I could take pictures of the chapel on the southern wing. The lavishness of the chapel is a good indication of the lavish decorations of the rooms in the palace.



The rest of the town features the usual churches and impressive town halls. The university building is particularly impressive, although built much more recently. It also has a fort on the opposite banks of the Main river, but it was too late to attempt a visit there.