Where the rivers Main and Tauber meet, surrounded by lovely countryside, lies the romantic, medieval town of Wertheim. Its iconic landmark, the second largest stone castle ruin in South- ern Germany, stands high above the old town. Elaborately decorated half-timbered houses, small squares and narrow alleyways, as well as many other sights, characterise the townscape. Other attractions include the first-rate art collections and visiting exhibitions in the ‘Grafschafts- und Glasmuseum‘ and the ‘Schlösschen im Hofgarten‘ museum.
Wertheim
City, country, river – and castle
History
- 7. Jhd. first settlement on the site of what is today Kreuzwertheim
- 779 First authentic mention of Wertheim
- 1009 Market rights granted by King Heinrich II
- 1103 First documentary mention of the ‘county’ of Wertheim
- 12th century Building of castle begins
- 1306 Wertheim receives its town charter and thus also the right to mint coins
- in the 16th century Wine growing is the principal activity
- 1556 Death of the last Count of Wertheim, Count Michael III, whereupon the ‘county’ passes to Count Ludwig of Stolberg
- from 1598 Takeover of government by Count Ludwig of Löwenstein-Wertheim
- 1634 Destruction of castle in 30 Years War, since when it has just been left as a ruin
- 1806 Napoleon draws up new frontiers, which divide the region. Wertheim is incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Baden; Napoleon imposes tolls on the Main bridge between Wertheim and Kreuzwertheim
- 1913 Start of first incorporation into today’s industrial region of Wertheim-Bestenheid
- after 1945 Establishment of glass industry by displaced persons in Wertheim-Bestenheid
- 1972/1976 With the incorporation of 15 surrounding communities, Wertheim becomes the regional administrative centre (‘Große Kreisstadt’ or major district town)
Highlights
Historic marketplace In the historic marketplace, with its beautifully preserved half-timbered houses, some of which date back to the 16th…
Museum ‘Schlösschen’ in the Court Garden
‘Schlösschen im Hofgarten’ – Museum of fine art Not far from the historic old town, in a magnificent park, stands…
Wertheim Castle
Wertheim Castle Once the seat of the Counts of Wertheim, this castle complex, which originally belonged to the von Staufen…
Protestant Collegiate Church
The Romanesque church, predecessor of today’s three-naved Gothic basilica, was built and extended in 1383/4. A late Gothic canopy in…
St Kilian’s Chapel
The late Gothic St Kilian’s Chapel is considered to be one of the finest Gothic double chapels in Germany. Construction…
Kittsteintor
Kittstein Gate The view from the Kittstein Gate towards the Collegiate Church and the castle is one of the best-known…
Spitzer Turm
The ‘Spitzer Turm’ (36.5 metres high) was built in the 13th century as a watchtower and keep. It also served…
Grafschaftsmuseum
In addition to folklore sections and permanent exhibitions, you can see paintings by the famous North German painter Otto Modersohn…
Bronnbach Monastery
Bronnbach Monastery is a former Cistercian monastery founded in 1151 in the lower Tauber Valley, the 326th of the order.…
Glass Museum
The only museum of glass work in Baden-Württemberg is home to exhibits ranging from luxury glass of antiquity to today’s…
Wertheim Village
Wertheim Village, a member of The Bicester Village Shopping Collection, is less than an hour away from Frankfurt and Nuremberg…
Wertheim winter magic
The offerings at the Wertheim Winterzauber are diverse. Arts and crafts, creative gift ideas, delicious specialties, Christmas cookies, chestnuts, nuts,…
Wertheim open-air stage
In the second largest castle ruin in southern Germany, the music plays and more than that: theater, cabaret, cinema, dance,…
Eating and drinking
Wine, game and green spelt typify Main-Tauber-Franconian cuisine. For centuries, wine has been grown in Wertheim and its region. The Grafschafts- und Glasmuseum offers wine tasting sessions, as do the following vineyards and wineries: Alte Grafschaft, Winzerkeller im Taubertal, Winzerhof Martin Baumann, Weingut Oesterlein and Weinkeller Friedrich. Don‘t forget to try Wertheim‘s ‘Buddescheißer‘, a cocktail of the local grappa brandy and peach liqueur.