# Würzburg

> city in the region of Franconia, Northern Bavaria, Germany

**Wikidata**: [Q2999](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2999)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Würzburg)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/wurzburg

## Summary
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia in Northern Bavaria, Germany, serving as the capital of Lower Franconia. Located on the Main River, it is an independent urban district and a major regional center with a population of approximately 132,215 as of 2024. Historically established as a college town in 1402 and designated a big city in 1934, it functions as a key administrative and cultural hub within the state.

## Key Facts
- **Location:** Located in Lower Franconia, Northern Bavaria, Germany; situated on the Main River.
- **Status:** Capital of Lower Franconia; urban district; independent city.
- **Population:** 132,215 (as of December 31, 2024).
- **Area:** 87.66 square kilometers (as of December 31, 2024).
- **Coordinates:** 49.794444444444 latitude, 9.9294444444444 longitude.
- **Elevation:** 177 meters above sea level.
- **Government:** Current Lord Mayor is Martin Heilig (term starts June 1, 2025); previous mayor Christian Schuchardt served until 2025.
- **History:** Capital of the Würzburg Soviet Republic (April 7–9, 1919); capital of Untermainkreis (1817–1837); part of West Germany (1949–1990).
- **Classification:** College town (since 1402); big city (since 1934).
- **Time Zone:** UTC+01:00.
- **Postal Codes:** 97070, 97072, 97074, 97076, 97078, 97080, 97082, 97084.
- **Dialing Code:** 0931.
- **License Plate:** WÜ.
- **Patron Saint:** Saint Kilian.
- **Administrative Codes:** German municipality key 09663000; NUTS code DE263; UN/LOCODE DEWUE.
- **Twin Cities:** Caen (France), Dundee (UK), Suhl (Germany), Mwanza (Tanzania), Otsu (Japan), Salamanca (Spain), Bray (Ireland), Trutnov (Czech Republic), Rochester (USA), Umeå Municipality (Sweden), Faribault (USA), Murayama (Japan).
- **Memberships:** Climate Alliance (since 2008), Mayors for Peace (since 1992), Bayerischer Städtetag, Working Group of Bicycle-Friendly Municipalities in Bavaria.

## FAQs
**What is the population of Würzburg?**
As of December 31, 2024, Würzburg has a population of 132,215. The city has seen significant demographic shifts over centuries, ranging from a recorded population of 5,000 in 1200 to over 128,000 in recent years.

**Where is Würzburg located?**
Würzburg is situated in Northern Bavaria, within the region of Franconia, and serves as the capital of Lower Franconia. It lies on the Main River at a geographical elevation of 177 meters.

**Who is the current mayor of Würzburg?**
Martin Heilig is the current Lord Mayor, having taken office on June 1, 2025. He succeeded Christian Schuchardt, who held the position from 2014 to 2025.

**What organizations is Würzburg a member of?**
The city is a member of the Climate Alliance (joining in 2008) and Mayors for Peace (joining in 1992). It also participates in the Bayerischer Städtetag and the Working Group of Bicycle-Friendly Municipalities in Bavaria.

**What are Würzburg's sister cities?**
Würzburg maintains twin city relationships with 12 international cities, including Caen, Dundee, Suhl, Mwanza, Otsu, Salamanca, Bray, Trutnov, Rochester, Umeå Municipality, Faribault, and Murayama.

## Why It Matters
Würzburg serves as the administrative and cultural capital of Lower Franconia, playing a pivotal role in the governance of the region. Its status as a college town since 1402 underscores its long-standing importance as an educational center in Germany. The city's historical significance is highlighted by its brief tenure as the capital of the Würzburg Soviet Republic in 1919 and its role as a major regional center. Additionally, Würzburg's extensive network of international sister cities and memberships in global alliances like the Climate Alliance demonstrate its commitment to international cooperation and sustainability.

## Notable For
- Designated a "college town" as early as 1402.
- Classified as a "big city" starting in 1934.
- Served as the capital of the short-lived Würzburg Soviet Republic in April 1919.
- Patron saint is Saint Kilian.
- Features a dedicated pronunciation audio file and native label audio.
- Contains administrative entities such as Frauenland, Sanderau, Zellerau, and Heidingsfeld.
- Maintains a comprehensive digital presence across multiple platforms including Twitter (@wuerzburg_de), Instagram (wuerzburg_de), and YouTube.
- Listed in numerous historical encyclopedias, including the *Encyclopædia Britannica* 11th edition and *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Würzburg is an independent urban district and the capital of Lower Franconia in the state of Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the region of Franconia in the northern part of Bavaria. Geographically, the city lies on the Main River with coordinates of 49.794444444444° N and 9.9294444444444° E, at an elevation of 177 meters above sea level. The city covers an area of 87.66 square kilometers as of late 2024. Würzburg is part of the Stimmkreis Würzburg-Stadt electoral district and falls within the UTC+01:00 time zone.

Administratively, Würzburg is identified by the German municipality key 09663000 and the German district key 09663. It utilizes the license plate code WÜ and the local dialing code 0931. The city's official website is available in German at wuerzburg.de. Würzburg is divided into several administrative localities and contained entities, including Frauenland, Sanderau, Zellerau, Heidingsfeld, Lengfeld, Heuchelhof, Grombühl, Versbach, Lindleinsmühle, and Rottenbauer.

### Demographics and Population
The population of Würzburg has evolved significantly over the centuries. Historical records indicate a population of 5,000 in 1200, which grew to 19,925 by 1813 and 40,005 by 1871. In the 20th century, the population fluctuated due to historical events, dropping to 52,999 in 1945 post-World War II, but recovering to 78,443 by 1950. The city's population exceeded 100,000 by 1970, reaching 128,562 during a census that year. As of December 31, 2024, the population is recorded at 132,215. Recent data indicates a gender distribution within the population, such as 66,682 males and 61,008 females recorded at the end of 2022.

### History and Leadership
Würzburg has a rich political history, serving as the capital of the Untermainkreis from 1817 to 1837. Notably, it was the capital of the Würzburg Soviet Republic for a brief period in April 1919. In the post-World War II era, the city was part of West Germany from 1949 until the German reunification in 1990.

The city is currently led by Lord Mayor Martin Heilig, who assumed office on June 1, 2025. He succeeded Christian Schuchardt, who served from 2014 to 2025. The lineage of mayors includes notable figures such as Jürgen Weber (1990–2002), Pia Beckmann (2002–2008), and Georg Rosenthal (2008–2013). Historically, the city was led by figures like Georg Zürn (1865–1884) and Max Ringelmann (1913–1917).

### International Relations and Memberships
Würzburg is actively involved in international partnerships and municipal organizations. It is a member of the Climate Alliance, having joined in 2008, and the Mayors for Peace since March 1992. Additionally, the city is part of the Bayerischer Städtetag (Bavarian Association of Cities) and the Working Group of Bicycle-Friendly Municipalities in Bavaria.

The city has established sister city relationships with 12 global partners:
- Caen, France (since 1962)
- Dundee, UK (since 1962)
- Faribault, USA (since 1949)
- Mwanza, Tanzania (since 1966)
- Rochester, USA (since 1964)
- Otsu, Japan (since 1979)
- Salamanca, Spain (since 1980)
- Suhl, Germany (since 1988)
- Bray, Ireland (since 1999)
- Umeå Municipality, Sweden (since 1992)
- Trutnov, Czech Republic (since 2008)
- Murayama, Japan (since 2004)

### Infrastructure and Identification
Würzburg is well-connected and identified through various infrastructural codes and digital platforms. The city uses the UN/LOCODE DEWUE and falls under the NUTS region DE263. Postal codes in the city range from 97070 to 97084.

The city maintains a robust digital presence with social media handles including Twitter (@wuerzburg_de), Instagram (wuerzburg_de), Facebook (wuerzburg), and a YouTube channel (wuerzburg_de). The Würzburg Instagram location ID is 234433366. Geographically, the city is mapped on OpenStreetMap with relation ID 62464 and node ID 25738881.

### Culture and Classification
Culturally, Würzburg is classified as a college town, a status held since 1402, and has been designated a "big city" since 1934. The city's patron saint is Saint Kilian. It is home to various cultural landmarks, including the Dom (Cathedral) and the Marienberg fortress, as evidenced by its official images and maps.

The city's classification includes being a major regional center, an urban municipality in Germany, and a district capital. It is associated with numerous categories in knowledge bases, such as "Views of Würzburg," "Births in Würzburg," and "Maps of Würzburg."

### Identifiers and References
Würzburg is cataloged in numerous databases and knowledge systems. Its identifiers include:
- **Wikidata:** Q2552679
- **GND ID:** 4067037-5
- **VIAF ID:** 145418613
- **MusicBrainz Area ID:** f0463abf-0d3b-4be7-bb68-145e65311193
- **GeoNames ID:** 3220897 (independent city)
- **Getty TGN ID:** 7004335
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n80139921
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID:** 11941170c

The city is also referenced in historical encyclopedias such as the *Encyclopædia Britannica* (11th edition), *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*, *Meyers Konversations-Lexikon* (4th edition), and the *Sytin Military Encyclopedia*.

## References

1. [Source](https://wahlen.wuerzburg.de/Wahl-2025-05-18/Oberbuergermeisterwahl/index.html)
2. archINFORM
3. [Source](http://www.wuerzburg.de/de/unternehmen/foerderforum/subdir4/29626.Wuerzburger-Partnerstaedte-und-deren-Partnerstaedte.html)
4. [Source](https://www.wuerzburg.de/rathaus/internationale-angelegenheiten/wuerzburg-international/partnerstaedte/20601.Rochester-New-York-USA.html)
5. [Source](https://www.cityofrochester.gov/article.aspx?id=8589949393)
6. [Source](http://www.wuerzburg.de/de/buerger/rathaus/gleichstellungsstelle/rueckschau/405761.Dokumentation-des-Europaeischen-Frauenkongress-Frauen-veraendern-Europa-vom-28.-30.06.2013.html)
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. BnF authorities
9. [Source](https://www.wahlen.bayern.de/lw2018/LWL/Stimmkreise_2018.pdf)
10. [Source](http://www.klimabuendnis.org/nc/kommunen/das-netzwerk.html)
11. [Source](http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/membercity/map/europe.html)
12. [Source](https://www.bay-staedtetag.de/bayerischer-staedtetag/mitglieder/alphabetische-liste/)
13. [Source](https://agfk-bayern.de/mitglieder-karte/)
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
15. Czech National Authority Database
16. MusicBrainz
17. Amtliches Ortsverzeichnis für Bayern (1978)
18. Amtliches Ortsverzeichnis für Bayern (1991)
19. [Source](https://www.statistikdaten.bayern.de/genesis/online/data?operation=abruftabelleAbrufen&selectionname=12411-001)
20. Amtliches Ortsverzeichnis für Bayern (1952)
21. Q23942332
22. [Source](https://www.destatis.de/DE/ZahlenFakten/LaenderRegionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Administrativ/Aktuell/05Staedte.html)
23. [Alle politisch selbständigen Gemeinden mit ausgewählten Merkmalen am 31.12.2018 (4. Quartal). Federal Statistical Office of Germany](https://www.destatis.de/DE/ZahlenFakten/LaenderRegionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Administrativ/Archiv/GVAuszugQ/AuszugGV4QAktuell.html)
24. DESTATIS 1975
25. [Federal Statistical Office of Germany](https://www.statistikportal.de/de/produkte/gemeindeverzeichnis)
26. [Source](https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Laender-Regionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Administrativ/04-kreise.html)
27. register of German municipalities (4th quarter 2022)
28. register of German municipalities (2022)
29. register of German municipalities (2023)
30. [Source](https://www.wuerzburg.de/media/www.wuerzburg.de/org/med_5478/591951_00_wuerzburg_2024_stadtprofil.pdf)
31. directory of German Library Codes
32. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/de.htm)
33. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
34. GF WordNet
35. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
36. museum-digital
37. YouTube API