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Bishop's Palace in Wurzburg

Someone told us that the Bishop's Palace in Wurzburg is the most beautiful Baroque palace in Europe- . We actually will be traveling nearby Wurzburg, but we do not have space in our schedule for a 2-3 hour(?) stop... Should we revamp our plans and cut something else out in order to make time for this? If so, how long do we allow for the tour?

Posted by
2779 posts

Nicole, it really is worthwhile and just alone its stair case was pictured on the 50 Deutschmark bill since it's so special and beautiful. What do you have scheduled for that day so far?

Posted by
12172 posts

It's definitely worth a stop.

We took a German language tour. I'm not sure how often English tours run. My German was good enough to translate for my family (including when the guide told my teenage son not to lean on the wall).

The chapel and gardens in back are also really nice.

I'm not sure what you would have to give up to see it but IMO it's one of the top Romantic Road sites.

Posted by
1477 posts

My wife really likes Baroque and loved the Residenz. I prefer something a bit older and liked the fortress across the river with two good museums. In either case, Würzburg is one of our favorite stops in Germany.

Regards, Gary

Posted by
390 posts

English tours are given at 11 and 3 and are included in the ticket price. You are also allowed to explore it on your own without a guide, but you are not allowed access to the Imperial Apartments without a tour. I'd leave at least 2.5 hours so you can take the tour and explore the gardens afterwards.

Posted by
16 posts

Wow,thanks everybody! We will change our plans to go. Andreas, we were departing from Koln mid-morning to travel south along the Rhine and across to the Romantic Road. We hoped to arrive at Rothenburg in time to go to the Night Watchman's tour at 8 pm so that's a full day. (RAC gives 6 hrs just for driving time) If we bypass Rheinfels Castle visit (and visit Ehrenberg Ruins later)then we might have time. Jennifer said to plan 2.5 hours for the tour. Or maybe I need to steal a half-day from the Alps later that week. Comments?

Posted by
4730 posts

Be sure to see the Hofkirche Chapel. It is located on one end of the Residenz and has a different entrance and is easy to miss if you are not looking for it. It is baroque to the nth degree and should not be missed.

Posted by
56 posts

Nicole,

We live in Schweinfurt (approx 30 mins from Wuerzburg) and we take all our visitors to the Residenz, so it is definitely worth seeing. I would not hold out for a tour. They sell a 5,00-10,00 euro english book that explains all the rooms and the signs in each room are in German, French and English. Oh, and there are no pictures allowed in most castles, and catherdrals in Germany. The Residenz has guards poted in most rooms to prevent eager picture takers as well...thus the inexpensive book is worth it twice...you can enjoy a self-paced tour and you'll have pics of your visit. Lastly, don't miss the carefully manicured gardens there either. Not sure how much time you have or which way you're traveling but Coburg, GE (on B303) also has two fantastic castles...perhaps equally as enjoyable and beautiful, and less crowded.

Posted by
100 posts

Nicole, My husband and I live in Heidelberg (about 1 1/2 hrs away) and we have been to visit the Bishop's Palace. We first went a couple of yrs ago when my husband first returned from Iraq. Its gorgeous and well worth the stop.