A day trip to Würzburg from Weikersheim: the Residence, the bridge and the wine

Würzburg is the big city of the region, under an hour from Weikersheim, and it makes a superb day out. The prince-bishops who ruled it left one of the finest Baroque palaces in Europe, and the city is surrounded by vineyards, with wine taverns on every street.

Getting there

By car, Würzburg is about 50 minutes north of Weikersheim. Park in a garage near the Residence or the old town. By train, take the regional train from Weikersheim and change at Lauda, about 1¼ hours in all. The station is a short walk from the centre.

Morning: the Residence

Start at the Residence, built in the 18th century for the prince-bishops by Balthasar Neumann and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its grand staircase is crowned by a huge ceiling fresco by Giambattista Tiepolo, showing the four continents known at the time. After the palace, walk through the Court Garden behind it.

Lunch

Head into the old town for lunch. The great wine estates, the Juliusspital and the Bürgerspital, have traditional restaurants serving Franconian food and their own wines.

Afternoon: the old town and the bridge

Walk past the cathedral and the market square to the Old Main Bridge, lined with statues of saints. Buy a glass of wine at one of the bars nearby and drink it on the bridge with the locals, looking up at Marienberg Fortress on the hill.

Late afternoon: Marienberg Fortress

Cross the bridge and climb up to the fortress, the prince-bishops’ older home, for the best view over the city, the river and the vineyards. Or, in the warmer months, take a boat down the Main to the Rococo garden at Veitshöchheim.

Tips

• The Residence is busy at weekends. Arrive early or book a tour.
• Try Silvaner, Franconia’s classic white wine, from the round Bocksbeutel bottle.
• Read our guide to Würzburg and the food and wine of the region.