Worms in
history / an overview of the monuments
A walk through
history
Worms may be
associated especially with the Nibelungs. But the city has still more to offer.
Worms is one of the cities connected to Luther; it was here that the courageous
reformer stood up for his writings and did not revoke before the emperor and the
empire in 1521. The great Reform-Reichstag,
the Diet of Worms in 1495 comes to mind and
the city is distinguished by many other diets and Fürstentage, assemblies
of nobility and princes.
Worms is the
oldest city in Germany and there are not many cities that have lived and
suffered through history like Worms. Worms has been the name of the city since
the 6th century and the memory of its great historical legacy plays a
large role in this former free imperial city.
The reformation
had a global impact on almost all aspects of life. The largest monument of the
reformation – the Luther monument in Worms – commemorates the historical and
theological importance of Martin Luther and the reformation.
In honour of
Martin Luther’s 500th birthday in 1983, the Museum der Stadt Worms
set up the Lutherzimmer
(Luther room) again that existed until 1945. In addition to contemporary
articles of daily use, there are pictorial representations of the early
reformation period, the Imperial Diets and prints of the early 16th
century on display. The momentous historical meeting between Emperor Charles V
and Martin Luther at the Imperial Diet of 1521 took place in the Imperial and
Bishop’s Palace. Today, the garden of Kunsthaus
Heylshof is located on this site. Base plates in different locations at
the park commemorate this historic meeting in the year 1521.
There are a
number of historical sights worth seeing in Worms. Take a walk through 2
millennia, or see the city’s major sights taking the nostalgic
Museums-Bahn
(museum train).
Nibelungen Museum
The museum is located in two towers of the medieval city wall. Opening: 18 Aug
2001
Brückenturm
(Bridge Tower)
The mighty Brückenturm built in the year 1900. It is the gateway to the
city of the Nibelungs, as Worms is known.
Luther
Monument
April 1521: Luther stands up for his critique of the church and does not revoke;
largest ‘World Monument of the Reformation’, 1868.
>> Further information ...
 Hagen
Monument
Who is the warrior sinking the treasure of the Nibelungs into the Rhine? Hagen
is his name and he led the Nibelungs from the Rhine to the Huns and to their
deaths in Hungary. The bronze Hagen monument was erected on the banks of the
Rhine in Worms in 1905; it represents Hagen’s mythical sinking of the treasure
of the Nibelungs into the Rhine. Where the treasure really is to be found – that
may forever remain a mystery.
Ludwig Monument
The obelisk on Ludwigsplatz commemorates the Hessian grand duke Ludwig IV who
died in 1892.
Worms Wheel of Fortune
Donated in 1986 by the power company Elektrizitätswerk Rheinhessen
(design by G. Nonnenmacher).
Alter Marktbrunnen (Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen)
- Old Market Fountain (Fountain of Justice)
Formerly at the current location of the Siegfried fountain; erected in 1778,
with figures of Neptune, Justitia and Hercules.
 Winzerbrunnen
(Wine Makers’ fountain)
Also created by Gustav Nonnenmacher, in1983, and donated by common interest
group Wonnegauer Weinkeller. The Winzerbrunnen is located in the
pedestrian zone.
 Jewish
Cemetery
The oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe with approx. 2,000 graves
originated in 1076. The Heiliger Sand cemetery is located in the
centre of the city. Famous are two graves of 1307 – the Worms-born
scholar and martyr Rabbi Meir von Rothenburg and his student Alexander
den Salomon Wimpfen Süßkind.
 St.
Peter Cathedral (catholic)
11th to 12th century,
double-choir Romanesque basilica with gothic chapel and
Steinbilder
(stone pictures) of the former cloister; Nikolaus chapel with
gothic wall relief and baptismal font; Eastern choir with Baroque
design; burial vault of the Salier dynasty.
 Dreifaltigkeit
Kirche (Trinity Church)
The Lutheran Trinity church was built in 1725. It is located in the
heart of the city. It offers a beautiful view of opposite St. Peter
Cathedral.
Rathaus
(Town Hall)
Built in 1958, facing the Marktplatz (market square) and
Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Justice Fountain).
Wasserturm
(Water Tower)
Prominent view on the Westside: the water tower on Karlsplatz,
built in 1890. Purely functional design on the inside, the exterior is
the Neo-Romanesque centre of a city district.
Magnuskirche
(Magnus Church)
Carolingian one room church (now Lutheran); Romanesque style with Gothic
enlargement. Rebuilt in 1953; oldest Lutheran church in Southwest
Germany.
Andreasstift (Andreas Convent)
11th to 13th century; rebuilt several times; it is
home of the Museum der Stadt Worms including the municipal art
gallery. Newly designed, beautiful sections in the Romanesque building
present the millennia before the Romans and Roman times in a new way.
The picturesque cloister is a good place for taking a rest especially in
summertime.
More detailed information:
Museum der Stadt Worms im Andreasstift
Weckerlingplatz 7
67547 Worms
Tel. 0 62 41 - 9 46 39
Städt. Spiel- und Festhaus
(Municipal Performance Centre)
Built in 1888-89; destroyed several times, the current facade is from
1963-66. Guest performances, concerts; worth noting is the tapestry in
the foyer representing the Nibelungen myth, also the
Mozartsaal (concert hall) and the adjacent inn (Festhaus-Gaststätte)
Martinspforte
(Martin’s Gate)
This is where Martin Luther entered the city on horseback in 1521.
 Stiftung
Kunsthaus Heylshof mit Schloßgarten
(Kunsthaus Heylshof Foundation in the Castle Gardens)
The Heylshof is located in the former bishop’s area and surrounded by a
park. There are large art collections, paintings, sculptures, porcelain,
glass, ceramics and various small art objects. The castle gardens used
to be the site of former Imperial and bishop’s palaces and numerous
Imperial diets.
More detailed information:
Stephansgasse 9
67547 Worms
Tel. 0 62 41 - 2 20 00
St. Martins Kirche
(St. Martin’s Church)
11th to 13th century; Romanesque basilica with
beautiful West portal; adjacent the obelisk of the Ludwig
monument.
Hauptbahnhof
(Main Station)
Built in 1904 with interesting sculptures – lavishly renovated in 2001.
Liebfrauen Kirche
(Catholic Church of Our Lady)
14th to 15th century; large Gothic collegiate church in
the Liebfrauen convent located in the midst of the 50 acres of
Liebfrauenmilch
vineyards. The Gothic Church of Our Lady with twin towers was destination of a
St. Mary pilgrimage and St. Valentine veneration. The annealed church windows of
Mainz artist Alois Plum are worth seeing. The Liebfrauenmilch wine of the
surrounding vineyards derives its name from the church.
Stadtmauer mit Raschitor (City Wall with Raschi Gate)
Northern boundary of the inner city from the 11th century; wall
opening in 1907.
Synagogue
11th century; rebuilt and consecrated in 1961; behind it the Raschi
house with the Jewish Museum and the city archives. Since 1982, the art objects
and objects of everyday Jewish life presented in the Raschi house bear witness
to a thousand years of history of the Jewish community
Once upon a time, this was the site of the dance and wedding house of the
community. The name Raschi-Haus commemorates the famous Talmud
commentator Rabbi Salomon ben Isaak, also know as Raschi (1040 - 1106). Worms
has a long Jewish tradition. Besides the oldest preserved Jewish cemetery in
Europe, there is the rebuilt synagogue that was consecrated in 1961 and the
Jewish Museum located in the Raschi-Haus.
Further information:
Judaika Museum
Hintere Judengasse 6
67547 Worms
Tel. 0 62 41 - 85 33 70
Friedrichskirche
(Friedrich Church)
built in 1744, Baroque, Lutheran
St. Pauluskirche (St. Paul Church)
catholic church and St. Paul convent (now Dominican monastery); 11th
to 13th century hall church; high altar created by Dalberg; Gothic
cloister
Stadtmauer am Torturmplatz
(City Wall on Gate Tower Square)
Torturm (gate tower), Bürgerturm (burgher tower) and
Fischerpförtchen, also called Lutherpförtchen (fishermen’s wicket or
Luther wicket) – battlement parapet reconstructed and fully accessible. As early
as the year 900, a wall building ordinance mentions the well-fortified
protection of the city. Around 1200, the city wall was renovated and supplied
with towers and gates. From the 14th century on, a rampart protected
the suburbs including the old Jewish cemetery. There are still significant
portions of the medieval wall preserved and partially accessible: next to
the
Andreastor behind the cathedral, in Judengasse and on Torturmplatz.
Set up just in time for the turn of the millennium, a virtual Nibelungen
Museum in the Bürgerturm and Torturm presents the
Nibelungs.
Festplatz auf der Kieselswiese (Fairground)
This is the site of the long-established Backfischfest (fried fish
festival) and other festivities; the Rheinpromenade
just behind the fairground is a good place to sit by the river and relax.
Fischerweide
Originally located on an island between the city and the Rhine; old fishermen
settlement; oldest Rhine fishermen guild in German (11th century)
Schloß Herrnsheim
(Castle)
located in the Herrnsheim section of Worms – guided tours may be booked through
the City Information office
 The
creators of the new Nibelungs logo wanted to connect the present with the past
and bring good tidings for the future. On 16 December 1999, the Nibelungs logo
for the Nibelungen-Museum was finally introduced.
In
Summer of 2002, the Nibelungen-Festspiele (Nibelungs festival) was
created. The performances took place in front of the St. Peter cathedral main
portal. This open-air event with a star-studded cast (including director Dr.
Dieter Wedel and Mario Adorf as Hagen) and perfect weather was a total success.
We recommend:
Guided city walking tours, organised by the Worms City Information office
Worms
Neumarkt 14
Telefon: 0 62 41 - 2 50 45
Telefax: 0 62 41 - 2 63 28
Please visit also
Nibelungen Festival
Tourist Information
History of Worms
Nibelungs and Siegfried Road
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