Christmas on the Main & Moselle

Tour Würzburg’s Bishops’ Residenz, one of Germany’s most ornate palaces, and visit the town’s Christmas market. Drive to the former residence of the Würzburg prince-bishop, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; built in 1719, it took 25 years to complete. Admire the overhead ceiling with its stunning, 6,400-square-foot “Four Continents” fresco painted by Venetian artist Giovanni Tiepolo. View a series of elegant rooms, the colonnaded chapel and the baroque and English-style gardens lined with ornate statues. Afterward, enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town of Würzburg, and see the Romanesque Cathedral, the Neumünster church, the market square and Town Hall, and the oldest wine bar in town. Enjoy the festive atmosphere of the Christmas market where you can sample delicious Franconian treats or a traditional aromatic glühwein as you browse the stalls for yuletide offerings.

Explore one of Germany’s last remaining walled medieval towns and browse its festive market. Drive along one of Bavaria’s prettiest roads to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the “Red Fortress above the Tauber.” Centuries ago, Rothenburg was ruled by the Holy Roman Empire and was a busy merchant city until the Thirty Years’ War and the plague threw it into poverty. It was rediscovered during the early-19th century by German Romantics. During your tour, see the picturesque Plönlein square and the Kriminalmuseum, stroll the castle garden and walk along Herrngasse, an inviting lane of old patrician houses. Enjoy free time to explore the vibrant Christmas market and browse stalls for festive handicrafts and tasty treats. After lunch, return to Würzburg and visit the Bishops’ Residenz, one of Germany’s largest and most ornate palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.