Würzburg
A Franconian city where, between 1626 and 1631, the prince-bishop's court tried hundreds for witchcraft, including children and clergy.
Practised and told of here
Best time: Spring to autumn.
Würzburg's trials ran under Prince-Bishop Philipp Adolf von Ehrenberg and killed about nine hundred people, by some counts. Those executed included priests, children and a seven-year-old, which is why the city's record is among the most disturbing of the European persecutions.
The record
The court ran on denunciations. Each person questioned was pressed to name others, and so the numbers rose. A list of executions was kept, and it is one of the best sources historians have for the way the panic grew.
Remembering
Local historians and the city's museums keep the record of the victims, and a modern campaign has asked for the dead to be named and remembered.
Visiting
Würzburg has a baroque Residenz and a fortress above the Main river.
A respectful visit to Würzburg
Living communities are not a show. Ask before photographing a person or a ceremony, and follow local rules.
- Marienberg Fortress Visit the hilltop castle.
- The Residenz Tour the baroque palace.
- Old Main Bridge Walk across with views to the fortress.
Written by the EveryJaadu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Würzburg" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and ceremonies change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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