Day 8 - Wurzburg

 September 25, 2024

The Wurzburg prince-bishops had enormous power and wealth for centuries and Wurzburg thrived under their rule.

The Bishops' Residenz, a UNESCO site was built between 1720 and 1744.  The opulence is incredible.  Mom actually said Versailles pales in comparison to this Residenz (don't tell King Lois XIV!).

Commissioned by Prince-Bishop Johann Philipp Franz von Schonborn, the palace was designed & built by architect Balthasar Neumann.

Neumann's famous grand staircase, with its unsupported vaulted ceiling, features the largest ceiling fresco in the world, The Four Continents. Created between 1752 & 1753 by Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. He was told that it was impossible to have a fresco on an unsupported vaulted ceiling - but he was proven that he could do it since it survived the bombing during WW II. Much of the palace burned during the bombing but the grand staircase and ceiling survived.  And the rest has been, or is, being painstakingly restored.

 The art and detail in the rooms is breathtaking.  The gardens are stunning with their own works of art throughout the gardens. The town has made the gardens a public park.

Surrounded by Franconian vineyards, Wurzburg was heavily damaged in WW II.  The city has been completely restored and is stunning with modern buildings, light rail, stores blending seamlessly with baroque architecture and cobblestone streets. The university brings youth and energy to the town of 135,000 residents.  

Wurzburg is a jewel and hands down one of our favorite cities on the trip. It doesn't hurt that it is still a major wine-making center including Germany's oldest & largest vineyard.

Day 7 - Heidelberg

 September 24, 2024

Heidelberg is an amazingly beautiful city.  For a population of 150,000 they have kept its beautiful baroque Old Town & a fairy-tale castle overlooking the town. 

The castle is home to the world's largest wine barrel, a 250-year-old vat shaped from 130 oak trees that once held 50,000 gallons of wine - although the story holds that it did consistently leak. 

Heidelberg was left in ruins by the French troops under the command of Louis XIV.  It was totally rebuilt during the 18th century with picturesque cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered houses and baroque buildings in Old Town.

Heidelberg University, founded in 1386, is Germany's oldest university. Alumni include 56 Nobel laureates, statesmen, artists and scientists.  The university brings 40,000 students to the town. Viking arranged for us to have lunch with students attending the university to talk about their experiences, views, and thoughts.