Würzburg — Barbarossa's Secret Charter

Your adventure in Würzburg begins on the Alte Mainbrücke, a stone bridge built between 1473 and 1543. At 185 meters long with 11 arches, it offers an iconic view of the Marienberg Fortress and the city. In 1733, architect Balthasar Neumann had statues of patron saints placed there, whose shadows guide you to the first clues. Although the arches were destroyed by the Nazis in 1945 and rebuilt identically between 1948 and 1957, the spirit of this protected historic monument in Germany remains, watching over the Main and its secrets. Here, Würzburg's history unfolds, stone by stone.

Continue your investigation by heading to the Marienkapelle, a Gothic chapel erected between 1377 and 1479 in the heart of the Marktplatz. Its 50-meter-high tower houses 14th-century stained glass windows, restored after 1945. This site, linked to Marian pilgrimages since the 13th century, resonates with ancient prayers. Inside, Gothic frescoes and a statue of the Black Madonna reveal new fragments of the charter. The damages from World War II, repaired between 1945 and 1960, have not erased the memory of this place of worship, essential to Würzburg's heritage.

Your journey then takes you to the Dom St. Kilian, the Romanesque cathedral whose construction began in 1040 under Bishop Burchard II and was completed in 1187. 105 meters long and 27 meters high, it houses an 11th-century crypt where the tomb of Saint Kilian, the evangelist martyred in 689, rests. The 76-meter baroque tower, added in 1459, was restored after the 1945 bombings. This site, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981 as part of the Würzburg Residence and its episcopal complex, is a pillar of Würzburg and Bavarian history.

Nearby, discover Neumünster, an abbey church founded in 1065 by Gunther of Bamberg, then rebuilt in Baroque style by Balthasar Neumann between 1719 and 1735. Its 40-meter diameter dome dominates the landscape. The underground tomb houses the bishops of Würzburg since the 11th century, while the adjacent gardens, with their 18th-century fountains, offer a moment of reflection. Restored after the destructions of 1945, Neumünster completes your vision of Würzburg's rich architectural and spiritual heritage, revealing further clues about Barbarossa's charter.

Your quest finally leads you to Festung Marienberg, a fortress founded in the 7th century and redesigned between 1200 and 1600 as a princely residence. Dominating the Main by 92 meters, it has housed museums since 1931. St. Maria Chapel, built between 703 and 709, is the oldest church in Franconia. The adjacent vineyards, classified since the Middle Ages, bear witness to an ancient viticultural past. Used as a refuge during the Swedish siege of 1631, this fortress is the culmination of your exploration of Würzburg's heritage. Here, you will assemble the last pieces of the puzzle, solving the Secret of Barbarossa's Charter and leaving with a deep understanding of Bavarian history.