On my recent trip to Bavaria in Southern Germany, I had the pleasure of visiting the historical cities of Bamberg and Würzburg too. These places should immediately be added to your bucket list, as they’re the epitome of German culture. Romantic architecture, narrow streets full of small shops and a food culture that will literally take your breath away. Welcome to the real Bavaria!
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Würzburg is located in the Northern part of Bavaria and it takes approximately 2,5 hour to get here by train from Munich. Many people travel by car, but I can definitely recommend taking the train, which allows you to really indulge in the beauty of Bavaria. Summer or Winter - the scenery here is very much like a fairytale! Deutsche Bahn can help you arrange the trip of your dreams.

Nestling by the River Main and tucked in between winding vineyards, the city of Würzburg is home to approximately 133.000 inhabitants. In 2004, the city could celebrate its 1.300 year anniversary, and of course this kind of history doesn’t go unnoticed. The city is full of picturesque half-timbered houses, cobbled squares and noble residences, which are indeed symbols of a glorious past. There are no need to rush things while in Würzburg. In fact, it would be a shame not to explore the full potential of this city by staying here for at least 3-4 days. And while you are here, don’t forget to do this:

The Residence Palace

Whether you are a fan of historical sights or not, there is absolutely no excuse for not paying this UNESCO World Heritage site a visit! Würzburg Residence, or the Residence Palace, was built in 1720 and completed in 1744. It took 24 years to finish this beautiful palace, which was commissioned by the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg. During World War II the palace was nearly completely destroyed with only the central building remaining, but comprehensive restorations took place until 1987. Today, the palace stands as beautiful as ever welcoming visitors from all over the world. A trip to Würzburg is simply incomplete without a visit to this baroque palace and its surrounding court gardens. There are several guided tours in both English and German every day. During summer, the English garden is full of people reading, running and sunbathing, and there is even a wine festival going on here every year. For more information go to www.residenz-wuerzburg.de.

Lunch at B. Neumann, The Residence Palace

No visit to the Residence Palace without a lunch or a glass of wine at B. Neumann - the restaurant located just opposite the main building of the palace. A short walk across the courtyard allows you to enter this beautiful restaurant, where guests can choose to sit inside or in the charming atrium. B. Neumann (named after the famous architect of The Residence Palace, Balthasar Neumann) serves French food with a German twist and a nice selection of Franconian wine (from the area).

WeinWelt Juliusspital

Würzburg is surrounded by vineyards and the local wine is pretty good. If you are fond of wine, a visit to WeinWelt Juliusspital is a must! This wine estate houses 177 hectares and it is the second largest winery in Germany. The annual production reaches 1 million bottles and the varieties include both Silvaner, Riesling, Pinot Gris and more. This magical world of wine is located inside a beautiful old estate owned by the Juliusspital foundation. Guests can visit the cellars, enjoy a lunch at ‘Weinstuben Juliusspital’ and find inspiration in the appurtenant wineshop. Go to www.juliusspital.de for more information.

Dinner at Michelin restaurant ‘Der Reiser’

Nestled at the foot of the legendary winery ‘Würzburger Stein’, one will find ‘Der Reise’ - a gastronomical haven for hedonists and feinschmeckers alike. This restaurant is adorned with a Michelin star, and chef Bernhard Reiser creates modern cuisine, in which beauty and design plays an important role. The food here is great, but the panoramic view of Würzburg is just as breath-taking. If you are in the area, go for the full works at this magnificent place - I am sure you won’t regret it! For more information go to www.der-reiser.de

Drinks at Nikolaushof

How does ‘candle light dinner with a dream view’ sound to you? If you are up for an extraordinary experience (and some pretty amazing surroundings), Nikolaushof is the place to be! This is both a restaurant, a (bier)garten and a bar, so you won’t go home empty handed. The charming garden and terrace overlooks the city of Würzburg, and it is without a doubt the ideal place to be on a hot summer evening. The restaurant offers a Mediterranean menu, but it is just as fun going to the bar for cocktails while looking at the stars and the city from above! Go to www.nikolaushof.org for more information.

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The Copenhagen Traveler was invited to Germany by the National German Tourist Office in Denmark.