We are still in the region of Franconia, today in Wurzburg, which lies on the Main River. This city was devastated by Allied bombing on March 16, 1945 and has since been rebuilt to replicate its medieval history and to create a new life after 90% of its core was demolished, and about 5,000 civilians died.
It was known for its lavish baroque and rococo architecture, much of which has been recreated, and is home to numerous wine bars, cellars and wineries, as Würzburg is the center of the Franconian wine country.
Today was relatively warm, and we were among the many strolling the market places, cathedrals, and shops. The city is not as picturesque as Bamberg, but it bustles and looks quite affluent.
We had a wonderful lunch at the Bürgerspital, a Baroque complex that once housed one of the city’s medieval charity hospices. Today, it still cares for about 100 local seniors and offers a lovely restaurant that helps to support the enterprise. We shared a most voluptuous pumpkin spice soup, which was simply outstanding. Don’s pork roast with red cabbage and dumplings, which he loved, and I had beef strips in an Asian preparation with roast potatoes that was quite delicious. We also took turns sampling the local wines, which were perfect with the meal.
We ended our afternoon on the Old Main Bridge, which, of course, crosses the Main River. Filled with statues of the monks who brought Christianity to this area and who were beheaded for their troubles, this is more of an extension of the bar at its foot, as people lingered in the February sun with their Franconian wine and enjoyed the afternoon.
A great place to people-watch and soak in at least 17 or 18 centuries of culture.