Wurzburg

On Saturday we went to Wurzburg (first u should have an umlaut). It was pretty cold, and so we decided that an indoor place to visit would be nice. Wurzburg is only an hour away, and it has one of the best examples of baroque architechture in the Residence and Court Gardens. It was originally designed for Prince-Bishop Johann Phillip Franz von Schonborn (The homes of Prince-Bishops are simply known as "Residences.") It took 60 years to complete, (a short span for such a large building as this) finishing in 1780. Walking around inside made me wish I had on one of those impossibly wide dresses and a towering powdered wig! Very Versaille!

We will definitely be going back when it is warmer so that we can enjoy the gardens. I couldn't use my camera inside, so the pictures below are from the web. All of the outdoor shots are mine.

The main staircase (or Treppenhaus) was designed by the then young and unknown architect Balthasar Neumann (along with the rest of the building structure.) It is roofed by an unsupported vault, and showcases a fresco which is 18 x 30 meters, making it one of the largest frescoes ever created. The fresco by Giovanni Battista Tirpolo represents the "four" continents - Europe, America, Africa and Asia.

Stucco work figures in the corners make the fresco assume dimension as it transitions to the vertical space and stucco decoration of the walls.

This is my favorite room - the White Hall, which is ALL stucco decoration, with very muted colors - grey, white and yellow. Think they'd notice if I moved in? The stucco work was done by Bossi, who eventually went crazy after the palace was built. And the work in the White room was done in just 3 months!

This is the interior of the chapel. I think I might be a bit too distracted to do much praying in here!

Once outside Luna found a band to jam with! Wurzburg has over 50,000 university students who supply a certain joie de vivre!

And then she found some pigeons to chase!

This is one of the many Franconian statues on the 15th century Alte Mainbrucke (Old Bridge over the river Main). The bridge is Germany's second oldest stone bridge, and I didn't get a picture of the most famous statue known as the "Weeping Madonna." Oops. Although, I like this guy.

A view of the Marienberg Fortress, which sits on a hill which was first settled during the late Bronze Age. The first structure here was built in the 8th century. Looks rather imposing with this lighting, no?

A view from the bridge back towards the Altstadt and the Dom on the Schoenbornstrasse.

The hills outside Wurzburg are lined with the obligatory vineyards of the Franconian wine region.

Another view of the fortress.

Bas and Luna in the marktplatz.

Dom St. Killian - begun in 1045 and finished after 1700. 700 years of building!