My Würzburg

Image: Larry Dale GordonCorbis

Würzburg looks amazing round the year. A typical summer morning would see the river Main glistening in the sunlight against the backdrop of the clear sky and silhouettes of forest trees. Across the river, overlooking the city, the fortress Marienberg, nestled among rows of grapevines, is inspiring. 

Recommendations
I have had opportunities to stay in almost all its hotels, but nothing comes close to the Maritim. It’s not because it is an architectural marvel or is high on glitz or glamour, but purely because of the well co-ordinated aesthetics of the hotel. The hotel gives you a cocoon sort of comfort, security, privacy and silence. It has one of the most elaborate breakfast buffets, and a detailed placard on every table unfolds the secrets of how breakfast can aid you to prepare for the day. Choose a high calorie diet for a highly mobile day, protein and vitamins for a mentally stimulating day.

Alternatively, the Novotel or Würzburger Hof are both comfortable business hotels as well. Würzburg has a lot of old fashioned family-owned restaurants. Many of the names end with “bäck”. Like Sanderbäck and Johanniterbäck. It means a baker and a wine-grower have aligned with each other to make better profits. My all-time favourite is Backoefele.

The city springs surprises for vegetarians, with potato- and pumpkin-based dishes. But the width of preparation of fish, in combination with the various wines (Würzburg is known for the choicest white wines and Weiss bier), converted me into a hard core ‘fishetarian!’

Tips
The city has a wonderful mass transit system, but the best way to absorb the city is on foot.
Since Würzburg is a student city, the younger lot can enjoy a lot of parties at the artificial beaches on the banks of the river, during the spring semester. During summer you’ll find beach bars by the River Main, and beer gardens, where you’ll find the residents unwinding.

And if you are lucky then just get dissolved in the weekday market which is worth exploring for traditional Bavarian purchases. A trip to the city centre, which has a lot of little stores with nice artistic stuff in it, is a must. The specialty of this area is the Bürgerspital, which sells the most famous wine from the region.