Highlights of the Franconian Wine Country

Wuerzburg

This vibrant University and Congress town sits surrounded by vineyards, dominated by its landmark, the fortress of Marienberg. Balthasar Neumann erected the prince-bishop's residence between 1720 and 1744, featuring a staircase ornamented with the world's largest ceiling fresco created by Venetian artist Tiepolo. The Residence has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 1982. Among the other sights of Würzburg are: The St. Kilian Cathedral and the adjacent New Minster, the Falkenhaus (hawk house) with its St. Mary Chapel, Grafeneckart, and the Old Main Bridge.

The year-round range of cultural events includes the well-established Mozart Festival, the International Film Weekend, and the Africa Festival - the only one of its kind in Germany. Besides the Mainfrankentheater and the Cabaret Stage Bockshorn, many other venues offer impressive productions.

There are also numerous museums and galleries: The Main-Franconian Museum with the world's largest Riemenschneider Collection, the "Museum im Kulturspeicher" with one of Europe's best and largest collection of Concrete Art, the City Art Collection, and the "Museum am Dom" by the cathedral, which uses a spiritual angle to confront sacral art with contemporary paintings of the same theme. For your culinary needs, enjoy the hearty Franconian Cuisine and the famous Franconian Wine in one of the many wine taverns or at one of the traditional wine festivalw.

In any case, be sure to have a glass of wine at one of the inviting taverns of the wineries of Juliusspital or of Bürgerspital with their centuries-old tradition. Theses wineries were initiated as foundations for people in need of care. Even today, every bottle sold supports the cause of the foundation. Wuerzburg has been home to many famous people throughout history; probably the best-known being Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen who discoverd the X-Ray (or Röntgen Ray) in 1895.

Wine Festivals - Everywhere, All Year Round

Come to visit one, or better even: several, of the more than 500 annual festivals of the Franconian Wine Country - in the small wine villages, with their romantically twisted alleys - the more glamorous events, such as the Baroque Festival of Würzburg. There is something for everybody, just enjoy a few merry hours in the Franconian Wine Country.

Wine Expertise - Learning in the Vineyards

To kill two birds with one stone, partake in the viticultural tours on the grape-variety learning paths around the Mainschleife. Not only will you enjoy the most beautiful views, but in the process of testing you will acquire quite a bit of wine expertise. For the actual testing it might be advisable to leave your car behind.