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Above left View from Türmer’s Tower,
Tauberbischofsheim Above right Rose garden
in bloom, Schloss Weikersheim Below right
Festung Marienberg, overlooking the Main river,
Würzburg Below far right Elegant façade of
Deutschordensschloss, Bad Mergentheim 2 Tauberbischofsheim
Baden-Württemberg; 97941
Formerly part of the territories
of the Mainz archbishops,
Tauberbischofsheim has an Altstadt, or
old town, focused on its Marktplatz.
The market square is fringed by half-
timbered houses and dominated by
the Neo-Gothic town hall, or Rathaus.
On the square is the Baroque house,
the Reh-Hof (1702) and the old
Sternapotheke (1670), or Star
Pharmacy, in a house once occu pied
by Georg Michael Franck, grandfather
of the Romantic poets Clemens and
Bettina Brentano. The town’s main
symbol is the Türmersturm or Türmer’s
Tower, part of the Schloss Kurmainz.
Dating from 1250, the castle now
houses the Tauberfränkisches
Landschaftsmuseum (closed Mon),
whose collections include local Tracht
(peasant costumes) and handicrafts.
ª Take Würzburger Strasse, before
turning right on to Mergentheimer
Strasse. This becomes the B27 and
then, after the A81, the B290.WHERE TO STAYWÜRZBURG
Schlosshotel Steinburg
moderate–expensive
This four-star country house hotel has
52 individually styled rooms. Facilities
include an indoor pool and a sauna.
Auf dem Steinberg, 97080; 0931 970
20; http://www.steinburg.comTAUBERBISCHOFSHEIM
Badischer Hof inexpensive–moderate
Located in the town center, this three-
star hotel has well-equipped en suite
rooms, complete with wireless Internet,
TV, and, in some cases, a balcony.
Sonnenplatz, 97941; 09341 98 80;
http://www.hotelbadischerhof.deBAD MERGENTHEIM
Hotel Alte Münze moderate
The three-star Alte Münze has simple,
modern single or double rooms.
Münzgasse 12, 97980; 07931 56 60;
http://www.hotelaltemuenze.deWEIKERSHEIM
Laurentius moderate–expensive
This small hotel, with varying views over
vineyards and the Schloss, has just 13
wine-themed rooms. All have a shower,
flat screen TV, and Internet.
Marktplatz 5, 97990; 07934 910 80;
http://www.hotel-laurentius.deVISITING WÜRZBURGParking
The 600-space Marktgarage
underground parking lot is located
beneath the Marktplatz and is a
convenient spot for visiting the
tourist information office.
Tourist Information
Falkenhaus, Marktplatz 9, 97070;
0931 37 23 35; http://www.wuerzburg.de;
Apr–Dec: closed Sun; May–Oct: open
daily; Jan–Mar: closed Sun1 Würzburg
Bavaria; 97070
The capital of Franconia’s wine
country, Würzburg became an inde-
pendent prince-bishopric between
1168 and 1803. Occupying a pictur-
esque position on the banks of the
Main river, the town boasts many
impressive churches. Of these, the
most notable is the Romanesque
Dom St. Kilian (open daily), which
was built between 1045 and 1188.
Tower ing above the town, the
mighty castle, Festung Marienberg,
is also worth a visit. One of the later
Baroque addi tions to the fortress,
the former arsenal now houses the
Mainfränkisches Museum with a
valuable collection of medieval art
treasures (open daily). However,
Würzburg’s greatest attraction is
the Baroque Residenz (open daily), a
palace of the prince-bishops, now
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built
between 1720 and 1744, the center-
piece of the palace is the sumptuous
emperor’s chamber, the Kaisersaal.
ª Take the Röntgenring, cross
the Main river, then bear left on the
B27 as far as the A3, beyond which
the Romantische Strasse con ti nuesBACK ROADS GERMANY
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under €70; moderate, €70–€150; expensive, over €150to the town of Tauberbischofsheim.
Park at the back of the Rathaus
on Ringstrasse.