First published: 01/05/05.

Ian Cade 3.5

Würzburg Residence

Würzburg Residence (Inscribed)

Würzburg Residence by Ian Cade

My enthusiasm for Palaces is very low, however the main staircase of the Residence is well worth the effort to see. It is one of the finest pieces of Baroque art anywhere, and the work of two of the periods leading talents: Neumann and Tiepolo. The ceiling fresco is magnificent and is reputedly the largest in the world. You are not actually allowed to take any photos inside, but I did manage to take a few sneaky ones. The decoration is on a much larger scale than the palace at Brühl, also by Neumann and also a WHS, but it is somehow a little more restrained, if you can use that term to describe Baroque.

In the other rooms there are some impressive restorations going on and you do get a good idea of how the process takes place, especially interesting is the display on restoration after the damage brought by Second World War. After this it seems to be the usual route around the usual array of ornate bedchambers, wardrobes and halls, very impressive, just not my favourite things.

The gardens were well laid out and free to enter, and worth exploring. As Frederik has said below the Court Chapel is amazing, well worth heading into even if you don’t go into the Palace itself, the paintings here are also by Tiepolo.

The town of Würzburg is well worth some time on its own, with some lovely churches, an impressive bridge lined with Baroque statues a-la Charles Bridge in Prague and an impressive fortress, on the vineyard lined hill on the opposite bank of the river. The Youth Hostel offers lovely views of this in the morning. It is seems to be a bit of a train hub for Northern Bavaria, so should be very easy to get to.

Würzburg is well worth a visit the Residence is a very worthy inclusion and the staircase is a masterpiece of Western European art.

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