Enjoy a taste of Lower Franconia's wine culture in Würzburg

A historical setting for wine tasting

What would you say to a stylish experience in an impressive setting? "Yes!" no doubt. A private wine-tasting session sets the tone for an unforgettable event. The perfect location is here in the winemaking city of Würzburg. The Juliusspital winery is one of Germany's most famous, and it is the second-largest such business in the country. Over 440 years ago, Prince-Bishop Julius Echter founded the winery and a hospital at this site in the heart of Würzburg, just a few minutes' walk from the railway station. We recommend reserving a wine-tasting session amid the wooden barrels of the historic wine cellar. You'll get to hear fascinating facts about viticulture at first hand from winemakers who love their work.

These experts show visitors the innovative production methods used by Juliusspital, and afterwards, you'll get to taste the winery's various vintages. Even Elizabeth II is familiar with the wines stored in the legendary cellar's barrels – guests at her coronation celebration were served Riesling from Würzburg. When you leave the wine cellar, you can pop into the Weinstuben Juliusspital tavern just next door to talk some more about your new favourite wines. And also have some bottles delivered to your door!

Spoiled for choice: tour the town with an audioguide or a wine taster

If you'd like to explore Würzburg and enjoy a glass or two of wine while you're at it, the city has just what you're looking for. It's well worth hiring a guide to show you the sights and take you for a tipple during your tour. Klaus Wagenbrenner offers a range of different wine-themed walks and, going by the reviews on TripAdvisor, these are a real hit with people visiting the city. People taking the wine tour meet at the Franconia Fountain, which is 20 minutes' walk from the main station or a 10-minute bus journey (nos. 491, 552, 554, 555). Your guide will welcome you with a well-chosen wine to start you on your twofold mission to explore of the old town and its wine bars. The route takes you past St Kilian's cathedral and on to Würzburg's landmark, the old bridge over the Main.

From here, you can take in the splendid view of the Marienberg fortress and the vineyards that overlook the city. The tour lasts two hours in total, but it will fly by as you listen to your guide's entertaining anecdotes and enjoy the excellent wines he selects for you. If you'd prefer to explore Würzburg yourself, the city has created a very special service for you: its audiovisual tour. The tourist information office is located on Marktplatz, the main square, about 10 minutes from the station on foot. Maps of Würzburg are available for free, and the audioguide is yours for just a small fee. There are 11 stops in the tour, and they include places such as the Stachel inn, the green oasis at Lusamgärtchen and Neumünster church. The tour takes about 90 minutes, but you can also make it longer or shorter if you want. A tip: if you want to save time and money, download the map and audioguide to your phone before you start your tour of the town.

Enjoy the view as you feast on Franconian specialties

Walking tours are hungry work. When you finish, you should head to the Alte Mainmühle restaurant for a well-earned meal. Specialising in Franconian cuisine, it is built right on the Main and offers a wonderful view of the fortress and pilgrimage church across the river. Highlights of the menu include local favourites such as Blaue Zipfel sausages and Schäufele pork shoulder in addition to creative takes on classic dishes. Alter Kranen is another traditional restaurant on the riverbank. If the weather is on your side, take a seat in the beer garden and watch the world go by as you enjoy a snack. The restaurant serves a wide range of tempting regional specialities and, of course, a number of local wines. Alte Mainmühle and Alter Kranen are both located near the station. After your meal, you'll need about 20 minutes to walk there at a relaxed pace. Head along Juliuspromenade, and then Kaiserstrasse will take you all the way to the square in front of the station building.