Würzburg

The old town of Würzburg, and the mighty fortress Marienberg above it, make a striking location for travel. Much of the streetscape was shaped by the church, which made the city a power base in the central German lands, ruled over by prince bishops.

The Romanesque Dom St Kilian is named for an early missionary martyr, who is represented with his companions in Baroque statues on the medieval stone bridge across the river Main.

The Schönborn prince-bishops built several monuments to their power, including a large hospital. But their most staggering achievement was the vast Baroque Residenz, a jewel of architecture that includes a famous staircase and several richly ornamented chambers and extensive gardens. The complex of almost 400 rooms earned world-heritage listing.

The fortress houses a museum including precious sculpted works by the Würzburg Renaissance artist Tilman Riemenschneider.