Located on the west bank of the Rhine River, Worms is one of the oldest cities in northern Europe. It flourished in the High Middle Ages as an imperial free city and is now an important industrial hub. As the former capital of the Kingdom of the Burgundians, Worms is closely associated with the epic poem “Song of the Nibelungs”.
Things to do in Worms
In the heart of Worms is St Peter’s Cathedral, a Romanesque-style building that dates back to the 12th century. Outside the cathedral stands a statue depicting Bishop Burchard while contemporary stained-glass windows can be admired from inside. Don’t miss the gilded wood and marble high altar designed by Johann Balthasar Neumann or the swallow’s nest organ crafted by Klais Orgelbau.
To learn about the people and events that have shaped the area, stop by the Worms City Museum, which occupies a 13th-century monastery building. In addition to Neolithic artefacts and ancient jewellery, its collection includes Roman helmets and a Frankish gold fibula. Archaeological fragments and stone monuments are exhibited in the former cloister.
Occupying two towers and a section of the historic city wall is the Nibelungen Museum, which explores the characters and myths surrounding the medieval poem, “Song of the Nibelungs”. It is designed across several themed rooms, including the Tower of Vision, which details the origins and historical context of the saga, and the Audio Tower where you can listen to passages being read in Middle High German.
Getting around Worms
Worms is around an hour’s drive from the centre of Frankfurt and 45 minutes from Frankfurt International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Worms railway station and buses travel throughout the city. The centre of Worms is compact enough to explore on foot.