Wuerzburg is a grand old city in Bavaria, Germany. It has important historical roots in Germany and the city has much to offer. From botanical gardens to historical bridges and, as most large cities in Germany, it also has a castle. Unlike most stately houses in Germany, which evolved over hundreds of years, and incorporated the styles of different periods, Wuerzburg Residence was built in just over a century (1720-1821). Because of this, it doesn't have the mix of styles from different eras competing for your attention. What it does have is one unified style from the Rococo period, drawn from many international sources from Amsterdam to Venice.
According to the "Bayerische Schloesserverwaltung" guidebook, the Schoenborn family originally lived on the hill above the town in the fortress of Marienberg. They moved here to their new residence after the Prince-Bishop won a considerable amount of money in a lawsuit. The main foundation was built in 24 years, leaving the interior design to be finished by different family members over the rest of the century, with a few minor changes to reflect the taste of each new owner.
After all of the decades of hard work and amazing craftsmanship, during World War II, an air raid destroyed most of the town and with it the residence. All that was left intact was the outer shell. Fortunately, the family that owned the Residence at the time thought ahead and removed all the furniture and considerable sections of the wall panels when the war began. The were stored in a safe place and survived the bombing.
Antoanela and I had a fantastic day strolling through the town. After we made the long journey to the castle, Antoanela realized that she had worn the wrong shoes... poor thing! We plan on visiting again real soon with friends.