Würzburg

Würzburg (German: [ˈvʏʁtsbʊʁk]; Main-Franconian: Wörtzburch) is the second-largest city in Franconia. It is located in the north of Bavaria. The city is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. It sits along the Main river.

Würzburg is about 110 km west-northwest of Nuremberg and 120 km east-southeast of Frankfurt am Main. In 2019, about 130,000 people lived there.

The city is famous for its old town, which has been partly rebuilt. It is also known for the Würzburger Residenz, a grand palace. This palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

People in the area speak East Franconian German, which adds to the culture of the region.

History

Würzburg has a long and interesting history. It started as a refuge castle in the Bronze Age and later became part of the Duchy of Franconia. Over time, it grew into an important city under different rulers, including the Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg, Electorate of Bavaria, and later the Kingdom of Bavaria. Important events in its past include the founding of its first church in 788 and the establishment of the University of Würzburg in 1402.

During World War II, Würzburg was damaged by bombing. The city was later rebuilt, and today its historic center is a cultural heritage site. After the war, it was occupied by American forces.

Geography

Würzburg is a city in Germany. It is next to the river Main in a place called Lower Franconia, in the north part of Bavaria. The city covers an area of 87.6 square kilometres and is 177 metres above sea level. It is surrounded by hills, with Marienberg to the west and Nikolausberg to the south.

Würzburg has 13 main areas, which are split into 25 smaller neighborhoods. The city is close to the river Main, which flows from the southeast to the northwest through it.

Demographics

Würzburg has about 126,033 people living there in 2023. The city is an important place in its region and helps nearby areas.

Climate

Würzburg has a temperate climate, like much of Germany. The city has mild summers and cool winters, with rain spread evenly through the year. This climate makes it comfortable to live there, with changing seasons bringing variety to the weather.

Economy

Würzburg once had the oldest pizzeria in Germany, named Bier- und Speisewirtschaft Capri. It opened in 1952. In 2017, the value of goods and services produced per person in Würzburg was €62,229. This placed it among the top districts in Bavaria.

After World War II, Würzburg was occupied by units of the U.S. Army until the last troops left in 2008.

Arts and culture

Würzburg has been home to many famous artists and thinkers. Poets, philosophers, painters, and sculptors all lived and worked here. One famous poet is Walther von der Vogelweide. Richard Wagner finished his first opera in Würzburg.

Main sights

Würzburg has many beautiful and historic places to visit. The Würzburger Residenz is a grand palace that looks like a fairy-tale castle. It was built to copy the famous Palace of Versailles and has rooms filled with paintings and decorations. Festung Marienberg is a fortress on a hill with great views of the city.

The Alte Mainbrücke is an old bridge across the river, with statues of important people and saints. The city hall, or Rathaus, is made of many different buildings put together over time. Würzburg has many lovely churches, such as the Käppele chapel and the Würzburg Cathedral, which have beautiful artwork. The Juliusspital is an old hospital with a big wine cellar where you can taste local wines.

Museums and galleries

Würzburg has many museums where you can learn about the city's past and see wonderful artworks. The Museum für Franken in the fortress has many works by the artist Tilman Riemenschneider. The Museum im Kulturspeicher shows art from different times. The Museum am Dom near the cathedral has artworks from the past thousand years. Other museums include the Martin von Wagner Museum, with ancient statues and artifacts, and the Röntgen Memorial Site, which tells about the scientist who discovered X-rays.

Sports

NBA Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki was born and grew up in Würzburg. He and many other German national team players started their careers at the local Baskets Würzburg club. This club plays in the Basketball Bundesliga.

Würzburg is also home to football teams like the Würzburger Kickers and Würzburger FV. There is also a swimming and water polo club called SV Würzburg 05 that competes in the German Water Polo League. The city has clubs for wrestling, rowing, and American football too.

Governance

Würzburg is the main city for the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The government for the Landkreis Würzburg (district) is also in the town.

From April 2014 to May 2025, the mayor was Christian Schuchardt (CDU). Since May 2025, the mayor has been Martin Heilig.

Education and research

Würzburg has many important schools for learning. The University of Würzburg, founded in 1402, is one of Germany’s oldest universities. Students can study subjects such as astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, history, languages, mathematics, medicine, and physics.

There is also the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, created in 1971. It teaches subjects like architecture, business economics, civil engineering, and engineering management. The University of Music Würzburg is Germany’s oldest music school, founded in 1797. It now includes science and research along with music education.

Transport

Würzburg is a key place for travel because it is in the middle of Germany. Major highways meet here, including routes from Cologne to Nuremberg and from Hamburg to Ulm. The city's main station is important for trains, with fast links to big cities like Frankfurt, Munich, and Vienna.

Würzburg has trams, buses, and bicycle paths to help people move around. The city is also connected to important rivers, making it part of a big water route from the North Sea to the Black Sea. Würzburg does not have its own airport, but nearby airports in Nuremberg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Munich serve travelers.

Main article: Trams in Würzburg

Infrastructure

Würzburg has a local company called Würzburger Versorgungs- und Verkehrs-GmbH. It provides power, gas, water, public transportation, and parking services. This company also manages the local port, garbage collection, and recycling.

Another important facility is Heizkraftwerk Würzburg. It is owned by the local utility company.

The city has health care services from Universitätsklinikum Würzburg. It is a large hospital with many employees and beds. There is also another hospital called Juliusspital.

Notable people

Würzburg has been home to many famous people. Some well-known people from Würzburg include historian and archivist Joseph Friedrich Abert, Olympic gold medalist in fencing Thomas Bach, and Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai.

Other famous people are theoretical physicist Werner Heisenberg, basketball player Dirk Nowitzki, and mathematician Burkard Polster who has a YouTube channel. The city has also been home to important artists, writers, and scientists.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Würzburg has many friends in other countries, called twin towns or sister cities. Some of these friends are:

• Dundee, Scotland (since 1962)
• Caen, France (since 1962)
• Rochester, United States (since 1964)
• Mwanza, Tanzania (since 1966)
• Otsu, Japan (since 1979)
• Salamanca, Spain (since 1980)
• Suhl, Germany (since 1988)
• Umeå, Sweden (since 1992)
• Bray, Ireland (since 2000)
• Trutnov, Czech Republic (since 2008)
• Lviv, Ukraine (since 2023)
• Syracuse, Italy (since 2025)

Würzburg also has special friends, such as:

• Faribault, United States (since 1949)
• Nagasaki, Japan (since 2013)