Worms
Worms is a city in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany.
Understand
Being one of the older German cities, Worms has played a key role in German history. Worms current incarnation was founded by Charlemagne, and the city's bishopric dates back to the fourth century. The town is famous for the Diet of Worms, to which Luther was summoned in 1521 to Emperor Charles V. He refused to recant his beliefs, saying the famous words "Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen." As a result, he was declared vogelfrei (=outlaw) by the secular authorities and excommunicated by the church. You can still see many vestiges of the old city walls, particularly the Torturmplatz and the Karolingerstraße. The Dom of St. Peter and St Paul, which was completed in 1325 survived the destruction of World War II.
The city also has a rich Jewish history.
- 1 Tourist Information Center, Am Neumarkt 14, ☏ +49 6241 8 53 73 06. Pick up a map of the city's main attractions.
Get in
By train
Trains from Bingen, Mainz, Bensheim, Mannheim, or Ludwigshafen (Rhein).
There is a ticket office in the main station of Worms (closed on Saturday afternoon, Sundays and holidays).
By car
Reach by the B47 either from the A61 (west) or the A67 or A5 (east) over the Rhine.
Get around
Walking is the best way to enjoy the historical center.
There is also a bus system running day and night, obtain tickets from the drivers.
See
- 1 Cathedral of St Peter (Wormser Dom), Dom Square. Romanesque cathedral, one of Germany's three "imperial cathedrals" on the Rhine (together with those in Mainz and Speyer), dating back to 600 AD.
- 2 Nibelungen museum, Fischerpförtchen 10, ☏ +49 6241 8534120. Listen the mythical story of Worms. Notice there is nothing to see in that museum. It's only listening to a story from headphones.
- 3 Jewish Synagoge, Bath and museum (Rashi-House and Mikwe).
- 4 Jewish Cemetery - Holy Sand (Heiliger Sand), Willy-Brandt-Ring 21. Referred to as the oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in Europe. The oldest tombstone still legible dates from 1058/59
- 5 Nibelungenturm. Nice historic Rhine bridge and tower
- 6 Martin Luther monument (Lutherdenkmal). monument to church reformers
- City Walls
- The Park and the manor-house in Herrnsheim. The park was created by Friedrich Ludwig Sckell, who designed the "Englischer Garten" in Munich as well.
- River Banks with restaurants
Do
- Cross the Rhine bridge for a walk through the green eastern banks. You can bathe in the Rhine, too! The water quality is again very good, even the salmon have returned!
Buy
Eat
- 1 Hagenbräu, Am Rhein 3, ☏ +49 6241 921100. If you want to try real German cuisine with a freshly brewed beer (from their own brewery) then Hagenbräu is your first choice in Worms. Very nice in summertime where you can sit outside at the riverside and enjoy a chilled beer. They sometimes has got changing buffet like schnitzelbuffet or fishbuffet for a good price between 5.30 and 9pm, just check it out on their website.
- 2 Hotel-Restaurant Kriemhilde, Hofgasse 2-4, ☏ +49 6241 91150.
Drink
Sleep
- 1 Nibelungen-Jugendherberge, Dechaneigasse 1, ☏ +49 6241 25780. Youth Hostel
- 2 Parkhotel Prinz Carl, Prinz-Carl-Anlage 10-14, ☏ +49 6241 3080.
Go next
- Osthofen
- Oppenheim
- Mainz
- Mannheim
- Heidelberg
- Frankfurt
- Towns along the Bergstraße