Veitshöchheim combines a significant garden heritage with local history, wine trails and activities along the Main River. The palace and Rococo Garden, St. Vitus Parish Church and the Jewish Cultural Museum give the town a range of cultural facets. Those who enjoy being outdoors will also find a longer route through the vineyards and paths connected to the river. This makes it easy to choose what to explore in Veitshöchheim based on what matters to you during your stay.
Palace, Garden and Local History
Veitshöchheim Palace was built in 1680/82 under Prince-Bishop von Dernbach. Balthasar Neumann, the architect of the Würzburg Residence UNESCO World Heritage Site, enlarged it in 1749/53. An exhibition on the history of the garden is located on the ground floor. The palace and exhibition offer different perspectives: one focuses on the building’s history, the other on the development of the garden.
The Rococo Garden surrounding the former summer residence of the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg has been preserved in the Rococo style. St. Vitus Parish Church also tells the story of the town. It is dedicated to the town’s patron saint; the high altar, dating from 1693, depicts the martyrdom of Saint Vitus. The left side altar, from 1816, is dedicated to the life and work of the town’s patron saint, Bilhildis. Visitors interested in historical art and religious tradition will find specific details here about both saints.
Jewish Life and Remembrance
The Jewish Cultural Museum and synagogue preserve and document traces of Jewish life spanning more than three centuries. The permanent exhibition, redesigned in 2019, shows how Jewish families lived in the “village setting” and how that life came to an end. A genizah was discovered in the synagogue, built in 1730; the Veitshöchheim Genizah is one of the most extensive in the German-speaking world. The museum, synagogue and genizah offer different ways to explore this long history of the town.
Vineyards, the Main River and Leisure
The Bocksbeutel Trail runs from Veitshöchheim via Thüngersheim to Retzbach. About 12 kilometers long, it passes through vineyards and offers views of the Main Valley, including the local recreation area with its bathing lakes, as well as Erlabrunn and Veitshöchheim. Its length and route give you a useful reference point if you would like to include a longer walk in your plans.
The Main Cycle Path is also accessible from Veitshöchheim: it runs along the opposite bank of the Main River through Margetshöchheim and is easy to reach via a pedestrian footbridge. Würzburg’s Old Town is about ten kilometers from Veitshöchheim. These provide two different points of reference for planning: a roughly twelve-kilometer route through vineyards and the distance to the Old Town.
Vineyard tours in Veitshöchheim and other places such as Thüngersheim, Erlabrunn and Retzbach or Retzstadt offer insights into viticulture, climate, geology, history and wine. Along the way, you can enjoy views of the Main Valley and sometimes as far as the heights of the Spessart and Rhön. On the outskirts of Veitshöchheim, the Bavarian State Research Center for Viticulture and Horticulture also offers themed tours on perennials and woody plants, bedding and balcony plants, vegetable growing, and Franconian viticulture. Check dates and participation details in advance.
The Mainlände offers family-friendly activities, including a large playground with the three-masted ship “Santa Maria” and the “Amazonas” jungle camp, exercise equipment, a Kneipp foot bath and a miniature golf course. As some details may change, it is worth checking the latest information about what is available before your visit.
A Look Behind the Scenes of “Fastnacht in Franken”
For more than 30 years, the Mainfrankensäle have hosted the televised “Fastnacht in Franken” carnival show. The foyer houses the permanent exhibition “The World of Fastnacht in Franken,” offering a look at the background and creation of the BR production at its original venue. If you plan to visit the exhibition, check the latest access information in advance.
Discover more destinations: Rimpar, Giebelstadt, Eisenheim, Ochsenfurt, Eibelstadt, Würzburg, Randersacker, Aub.
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