This is partly in response to Mariannah's post re The Life and Loves of a Small Bavarian Town, but I've started a new thread to get Wurzburg in the title. I was just researching this town a bit yesterday because I saw on the Rick Steves site that there's going to be a wine festival there from May 28 to June 6. I will be in the area for that time, but the plan was to go to Munich, Garmisch, Salzburg and then loop back up to Munich to fly out, so it seems like Wurzburg would be a bit out of the way. For those who have been there, does that seem so? Also, does anyone know anything about the wine festival? The following is the site the Rick Steves site links to, though it is only in German, as far as I can tell (http://www.weindorf-wuerzburg.de/).

I went to this several summers ago as a college student studying abroad. It was a BLAST and a wonderful cultural experience. And Wurzburg is a FABULOUS old university town. The Residenz is splendid, the gardens amazing, and the Festung, or Fortress is definitely worth checking out. Wurxburg is less than an hour from Frankfurt by train and not very far from Munich either, but I don't recall the exact distance.

You really should spend a day in Wurzburg, or two!, if you can. It is an experience not to be missed!!!

Oh yeah, if you are into art there are some frescos in the Residenz which are renowned for something (maybe their size?). I am obviously not an art person! ;-)
Also, there is a gorgeous old church that I cannot remember the name of... Capella or something like that. It is beautiful and up on a hill with a wonderful view of the city.
And the Fortress (old castle) has vinyards all on the sides of the hill leading up to it which make for great photo ops.
If you are into wine, stop in at Julius Spital winery. It was established in the 1500s I believe and the wine is to die for.

Sorry for the flood of replies, I get excited when people mention Wurzburg because I loved my time there so much!

Found a couple of websites for the things I mentioned. Oh, and the fresco is by Tiepolo. And the church's name is Marienkapelle.

Pics of the Residenz, Court Gardens, and other historic town sites are here:
http://www.terragalleria.com/europe/.../wurzburg.html

http://www.galenfrysinger.com/wurzburg.htm
This site has a great shot of the Fortress!!

Let me second TexasAggies enthusiasm for Wurzburg. I was a little confused about the Weinfest in May and early June as most wine festivals occur in September. Wurzburg, however, has 2 with the main one in fall (the one I attended several years ago). The festival in the Spring is called the "Wine Village" in which about 40 selected cellars around town serve Frankenwein and typical Franconian dishes. Sounds like fun. Do attend if you can find the time!

I have been living in Wurzburg for almost 3 years now and I love every minute of it! It is a friendly, charming city with lots of amazing historical sites. What makes it amazing, in part, is that most of the city was destroyed at the end of WWII but it has been rebuilt with much precision to replicate the original architecture. Munich is about 3 hours south by train. I can research the question about the wine fest. Also this is the 1300th anniversary year of Wuerzburg and on June 26 there will be a huge celebration with fireworks. There are always wonderful things to do here as well as in the charming smaller towns which surround this city.

Doriana - The wine festival will be from May 28 to June 6 and it is held in the Marktplatz which is a lovely pedestrian area in the center of the city. By the way, for those people who are looking for an inexpensive, clean and predictable place to stay in Wurzburg, the Ibis chain is opening a new hotel in Wuerzburg. It will be in the city, by the Main River and close to most places of interest in the city. There is also a modern apartment hotel with studios, one and two bedroom apartments in the city a few feet away from the "Saints bridge" which is a beautiful pedestrian bridge which crosses the Main River and leads into the main part of the city. The name is Am Spitale and the telephone number is: (from the states) 011 49 931 359 450. We stayed there for about 6 weeks when we first moved to Wuerzburg while waiting for permanent housing.

We will be staying in Rothenburg during this time, and it sounds like Wurzburg would make a great day trip. It doesn't appear too far on the map. I'll have a car, approximately how long a drive would it be?

Larry - less than an hour by autobahn, but go the scenic route via Creglingen, Weikersheim (both nice towns), then north on 19 at Igersheim.

Thanks, TuckH.

We will be in Heidelberg during this time. How far by train is it to Wurzburg?

There is no major/fast train connection between Heidelberg and Würzburg. By train, it takes about 2.15-3.00 hours from HD to Wü (most trains go via Frankfurt). By car, it would take you about 1 1/2 hours. The Würzburg city site provides some information in English: http://www.wuerzburg.de/system/international/englisch/
During the Weindorf, local bars, restaurants and cafes as well as winemakers and even social groups such as Sport Clubs put up specially designed wooden huts on the central market square of the city. Benches and tables are pitched between the huts. A great variety of food and wine (no beer available) are offered. The reason for this relatively young "Weindorf" was to bring together the countless, fraying small wine festivals of the city. Also: professional restaurateurs complained about the increasing competition of small wine festivals run by clubs etc..About 15 years ago, after years of arguing, people agreed to bring all together and start a big Festival, in which all interested groups could participate. The weindorf is the largest Weinfest of the region, but nearly every little village around has one too, and they are also worth a visit. The following site provides the online version of the Fränkischer Weinfestkalender (Franconian Calender of Wine Festivals), probably the most popular book in this small region of Germany: http://www.fraenkischer-weinfestkalender.de/