Wertheim am Main is a lovely medieval town located along the winding Main River right on the border between Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.
Wertheim's well-preserved old town, dominated by the imposing Wertheim Castle, is a remarkable example of medieval architecture and urban design. The narrow cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, and the iconic Tauber Valley scenery create a really atmospheric setting that takes a visitor back in time.
View of Wertheim am Main and the castle
This charming destination offers visitors a glimpse into authentic small-town German life and culture. The town's pristine surroundings in the Tauber Valley make it an ideal base for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking trails, river activities, and renowned local wine are major draws.
Those interested in history will enjoy discovering Wertheim's past and architectural sites like Wertheim Castle and the famous monastery.
Wertheim am Main is in the northeast corner of Baden-Württemberg. It's right on the border with Bavaria, about 90 km southeast of Frankfurt and 150 km northwest of Nuremberg.
The town is located in a narrow valley where the Tauber River meets the larger Main River. The region is known as the Tauber Valley and is part of the Franconian Heights Nature Park. The area around Wertheim is made up of rolling hills, vineyards and forests, which give you a great idea of what rural Germany is like.
While Wertheim itself isn't a big city, it's just a short drive (about an hour or so) from a number of other major destinations. Stuttgart and Heidelberg are two other cities within 90 minutes' driving distance. The popular Romantic Road tourist route connecting Würzburg to Füssen also passes near Wertheim.
If you're exploring this part of Germany, Wertheim makes a good base. It's in a great spot for day trips to places like Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the Franconian Wine Country, and the Swabian Alps.
Wertheim am Main is a smaller town, so it'll require a bit more forward planning than some of the major cities, but the good transport links make it easily accessible.
The closest major international airport is Frankfurt am Main (FRA), northwest of Wertheim. From there, renting a car or taking the train provides the most convenient access.
Distance to Frankfurt Airport: 90km
Distance to Nuremberg Airport: 160km
Distance to Stuttgart Airport: 164km
Wertheim Bahnhof is a five-minute walk from the old town on the other bank of the Tauber. Wertheim is a stop on the regional rail service between Aschaffenburg (connection to Frankfurt) and Lauda (connection to Würzburg).
Wertheim is located a few kilometres west of the A3 motorway that links Frankfurt and Nuremberg. For longer journeys, it is almost always advisable to use this connection. Otherwise small state roads lead east and south from the town.
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Wertheim am Main has a long and fascinating history, dating back over a thousand years. The town has been around since at least the 8th century, when it was part of the Frankish Empire.
One of the most important events in the town's history was the founding of the Wertheim Monastery in 779 AD by Frankish nobles. As a religious and cultural hub, this helped the early settlement to flourish.
The first record of Wertheim was in 812 AD, when the town and monastery were given to Fulda Abbey.
From the 9th to the 15th centuries, Wertheim grew into a regional market town under the rule of the Counts of Wertheim. The construction of Burg Wertheim in the late 12th century was a way of showing how powerful and influential the Counts were.
The county was under the authority of the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg from 1363, and that's how 350 years of ecclesiastical rule got started. This period saw the town expand a lot, with new defensive walls built around it and towers added to Wertheim Castle.
The Thirty Years' War, which lasted from 1618 to 1648, saw the town and castle sacked by Swedish troops.
View of Wertheim and the riverfront
The town of Wertheim came under the rule of the newly-established Grand Duchy of Frankfurt during the Napoleonic Wars in 1806. It was then annexed by the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1814.
The town's economy got a big boost from new infrastructure like roads and the building of the Main-Tauber railway line in the 19th century. The vineyards in Wertheim prospered as the wine production there grew.
The 20th century saw relatively little change until World War II, when over 60% of Wertheim was destroyed by Allied bombing raids.
Thanks to some careful post-war reconstruction, most of the historic town centre was back to its original medieval appearance by the 1960s.
The impressive Wertheim Castle dates back to the 12th century and dominates the town centre. The huge medieval fortress includes the Gräfliche Burg (or Count's Castle), the Burgkapelle (or Castle Chapel), the defensive Zwinger area and the outer walls. Visitors can take a tour of the Count's Castle to see the grand halls, living quarters and impressive armoury collection. The Burgpark, which is right next door, offers lovely views of the castle and the Main River valley below.
Viewing Burg Wertheim on a river cruise
The real heart of Wertheim is its picturesque old town, which is remarkably intact and still has all the character of a medieval town centre. As you wander along narrow, winding streets like Mauergasse and Gerbergasse, you'll find yourself surrounded by half-timbered houses dating from the 16th to 18th centuries.
The Marktplatz town square plays host to a weekly farmers' market and annual festivals. Some of the most notable buildings in the old town are the ornate Renaissance town hall and the Gothic Stiftskirche church.
The old town of Wertheim am Main
Just outside Wertheim is the Kloster Bronnbach, a former Cistercian monastery that was founded in 1147. This amazingly well-preserved Romanesque complex has the famous Paradies courtyard, surrounded by intricate vaulted arcades. You shouldn't miss the cloisters and idyllic monastic gardens overlooking the Tauber Valley. There's also a small museum at the monastery.
Bronnbach monastery near Wertheim am Main
If you're in the mood for a relaxed stroll, the riverfront Main Promenade is a great option. It follows the banks of the Main River, and it's a lovely way to spend some time. It runs from the castle and has open green spaces and a nice view of the river.
The southern section leads to the former Benedictine monastery of Deutschorden, which has a Baroque Stiftskirche basilica church from 1728. When the weather's nice, you can catch a cruise along the Main from here.
As a well-known wine region, Wertheim has over 20 wineries and vineyards spread across the surrounding hillsides.
Two of the most popular are the Weingut Langenbach winery with its vaulted tasting rooms and the historic Weingut Schloss Laubach estate. Many of the wineries offer tours, tastings and the chance to sample the renowned Riesling and Silvaner white wines that come from the area.
The Wertheim Glass Museum is housed in a gorgeous 17th-century hospital building and traces the town's 600-year history of glassmaking. The museum has one of the best collections of scientific, technical and artistic glasswork in Europe. There are three floors of exhibits, covering everything from medieval glass production to modern laboratory equipment.
It might not strictly be your thing if you are on a break but just 3km from the historic centre, Wertheim Village is one of Germany's top outlet shopping spots. This open-air shopping centre has over 110 luxury and designer brand boutiques offering discounts of between 30 and 60 per cent off the retail price.
The Wertheim am Main tourist information office is located in Gerbergasse and is open Mondays to Saturdays in the summer with slightly earlier closing on the Saturday. The winter season hours are shorter with opening only from Monday to Friday.
Tourist Office: tourismus-wertheim.de