Itinerary followed during this Interrail throughout Germany, Denmark and Switzerland

Cologne - Koblenz - Copenhagen - Helsingor - Hillerod - Roskilde - Berlin - Potsdam - Rhine cruise - Freiburg - Strasbourg - Black Forest - Rhine Waterfalls - Schaffhausen - Stein am Rhein - Konstanz - Zurich - Basel - Interlaken - Luzern - Zermatt - Brig - Bern - Geneva - Heidelberg - Munich - Dachau - Fussen - Nuremberg - Rothenburg (ODT) - Wurzburg - Jungfrau and Lauterbrunnen - Brienz - Geneva

While my friends were returning from Nuremberg to Munich´s airport, we were making our way to the last city in Bavaria and Germany, Wurzburg. 1 h. far by train from Nuremberg , the city, considered by Goethe as one of the most beautiful cities in the country, is located in the Romantic Route. Throughout the history, it has inspired many romantic artists.

In 741 it was a bishop see founded by the Papa Bonifacio. The bishops power started to expand and because of that, Barbarroja gave to this region in 1168 the title of duchy of Franconia . The city became important until the decision of remaining catholic during the 30 Years War (very logical if we take into account the bishops power). The city was plundered in 1558. In 1582 the university was founded. The Swedish occupied Wurzburg in 1631, and after that incident the city reached a great prosperity during the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1803 the city was part of Bavaria . Wilhelm Röntgen discovered the X-rays in its university, in 1895. During the II World War it was almost completely destroyed in 1945. This year the cathedral disappeared under the bombings.

In Wurzburg the river Main separates the old city from the splendid fortress of Marienberg, that dominates the surroundings from the top of a hill.

We followed the city tour as it was indicated in the map from the tourist office, an it took us across the interesting places. The city is a lovely baroque architectonic museum.
The Market square is very lively and crowded. It is surrounded by beautiful buildings such as the gothic church of Saint Mary (14th century) and the Falkenhaus, a house from 1751 with yellow facade decorated with stucco. In the centre of the square we find a street market.

We continued walking till the river Main and we crossed the Mainbrucke bridge , from which we appreciate the erected Marienberg fortress watching the city. From the bridge there are incredible views both of the fortress and the old city with many towers scattered everywhere.

The bridge is adorned with many statues on both sides that increase its beauty. We went up towards the fortress, built in 1201, and that received the governing bishops for 5 centuries.

In the fortress they placed Saint Mary church , one of the most ancient in the country, from 8th century.

In the old city we emphasise Saint Killian cathedral , one of the biggest Romanesque churches in Germany , erected between 11 th and 12 th centuries. The outer still preserves its original aspect.
After admiring and enjoying the beautiful old city, the numerous interesting buildings and churches we arrive to the city's architectonic treasure, the baroque palace , built between 1719 and 1744 for the price-bishop that governed then. This palace is inspired in the Versalles one.

It is one of the most charming palace in Germany and suffered from little damage during the bombings. Among the best halls and rooms we can point at the magnificent Honour staircase, the White Room, the Imperial chambers and above all the Emperor Hall. Many walls in the rooms are decorated with Tiepolo´s frescoes.

Once the visit was finished we walked through the calm gardens at the backside of the palace.

One day is enough for enjoying the city's charm. The distances are covered on foot because the interesting places are close one from each other.