Wurzburg is a city that has reinvented itself. On 16 March 1945, about 90% of the city was destroyed in 17 minutes by firebombing from 225 British Lancaster bombers during a World War II air raid. Würzburg became a target for its role as a traffic hub and to break the spirit of the population. The city became known as the "Grab am Main" ("the grave on the River Main") and the subsequent American occupation even put forward proposals to build a new city in another location and to keep the ruins as a memorial (proposals which were heartily rejected by the remaining population who concentrated in the post-war decades on the reconstruction of the Würzburg of their memories). Over the next 20 years, the buildings of historical importance were painstakingly and accurately reconstructed. Much of the history of the city centres on the Prince Bishops and their two main homes over the centuries: the Marienberg Fortress and the Residence Palace.

The Würzburg Residence is the stunning former home of the Prince Bishops that was built between 1720 and 1744 under the stewardship of Balthasar Neumann but incorporated art and decoration from different parts of Europe.
Walk underneath frescoed ceilings and marvel at the opulent rooms. One of the highlights is the ceiling fresco representing the four continents. The painting, measuring 18 x 30 metres, is one of the largest frescos ever created. Each continent is represented by a typical landscape and animals (or the painter's vision of these animals). The most decorated room is the Spiegelsaal or Mirror Cabinet. Think loads of mirrored glass and gold leaf. Eventually the Napoleonic Wars caused the downfall of the Prince Bishops and the city passed under the control of Bavaria.

The Marienberg fortress on the other side of the River Main was the previous residence of the Prince-Bishops (in the days where they perhaps needed more personal protection!). The first fortifications on the hill where the Marienberg Fortress now stands date from a thousand years before Christ, when the Celts built one of their formidable ring fortresses on this prime defensive position. Fortified in the days of the Celts, much of the current building dates from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Wurzburg Cathedral is dedicated to the Irish martyr St Kilian, who met his death here on missionary work. The original cathedral is now thought to have been where the current Neumünster basilica is located - the location of the current cathedral was chosen in the 11th century. The cathedral was badly damaged in aerial bombing that destroyed much of Würzburg at the end of the Second World War. In 1946 much of the remaining building collapsed and reconstruction lasted until the 1960s.

The Neumünster was where the bones of St Kilian and his two assistants were said to have been "rediscovered" (they had been killed for trying to persuade the current ruler that his marriage was "unchristian"). During the time of the closure of the cathedral it served as a replacement and is now officially the Würzburg parish church.

Alte Mainbrücke (Old Main Bridge). This Old Main Bridge was built from 1473-1543. Around 1730, several statues of saints and important figures from Würzburg's history were placed on the Old Bridge. Gothic-style architecture with twelve arches spanning approximately 185 meters across River Main. While taking in the views one can enjoy a glass of wine from one of the many vendors on the bridge. This tradition has been carried out for years making it an integral part of local culture.

Vierroehrenbrunnen - Four pipe fountain. One of the most famous fountains in Würzburg was designed in the late Baroque period. Dolphins spouting water rise above the fountain basin on four sides. Above each of these, a cardinal virtue is embodied in a figure: courage/strength (Fortitudo), wisdom (Prudentia), temperance (Temperantia) and justice (Justitia). The fountain structure tapers to an obelisk decorated with a coat of arms, which ends with the figure of Frankonia.

Chronosbrunnen. also called the Moenus Fountain and is actually a running well. This historical fountain was built between 1770 and 1772. At the top you can see a larger than life man with wings pointing towards the Residence, next to him is a female figure kneeling and writing something down. One interpretation of this group of figures is that "Chronos" (the god of time) commissioned "Clio" (the muse of history) to write about the Residence in the Book of History.