The Top 10 Things to See and Do in Worms and Speyer, Germany

The imposing red sandstone facade and the four green-shingled towers of Speyer Cathedral are quite a sight, and the cathedral’s history is just as gripping. Construction began under Conrad II in the 11th century and over time, the cathedral was reshaped and expanded, all while preserving its Romanesque features. Today, it’s the world’s largest remaining Romanesque Cathedral. Pope Pius XI awarded it the honorary title of Basilica minor in 1925 and in 1981, UNESCO made it a World Heritage Site.

If there’s one thing usually associated with Worms, it’s the Nibelung saga. The renowned medieval epic poem Song of the Nibelungs, which revolves around the dragon slayer Siegfried, is set in and around Worms and tells of love, death and vengefulness. The museum occupies two towers of Worms’ ancient city walls and is equipped with audio guides. Visitors can delve into Nibelung’s origin, reception and motifs.

For technology enthusiasts, this museum is a can’t-miss attraction. With 150,000 square metres (almost 1,614,600 square feet) of indoor and outdoor space, the Technic Museum boasts a jaw-dropping collection of everything from submarines and jumbo jets to a Chinese steam locomotive. In 2008, the museum added Europe’s largest space exhibition with the prototype of the Soviet/Russian space shuttle, Buran. And, the best part of the Technic? You can explore most of the transportation vehicles from the inside as well.

If you want to learn more about the history of the Palatinate, this museum should go on your list. Five sections will guide you through the cultural history of Speyer and the surrounding region. You’ll also learn about the life of the first humans who settled there and about the arrival of the Romans in 12 BC, the Germanic looting, ecclesial treasures, Martin Luther and the Protestant revolution, the region’s 2,000-year long history of winemaking and a lot more.

Speyer’s Memorial Church boasts the highest tower—100 metres (330 feet)—in the entire Palatinate region and was built to commemorate a landmark event in the history of the Protestant confession. In 1529, six princes and official representatives of the Imperial Free Cities protested the ban of Martin Luther and his revolutionary teachings. Statues of the father of Protestantism and his supporters can be found inside. Another highlight is the colourfully stained glass window of the apse, a gift by the German Emperor Wilhelm II.

Architecture fans are in for another treat—and another church. Speyer’s Trinity Church, built in 1701 in the Baroque and ecclesiastical style, is the city’s oldest Protestant church with an interior that survived all the quarrels and wars since its construction. The church’s interior features dark wood adorned with intricate carvings, a biblical dome fresco and an altar built in 1716.