250 GEEMANY. 



of which presents no difficulty, and reach Wurzhitrg (44,975 inhabitants), the 

 largest city of Franconia, and one of the oldest. Its appearance is very picturesque, 

 the four towers of the Byzantine cathedral, the Gothic spire of St. Mary, and the 

 grey belfry of St. Burkard rising above the ramparts which surround it. There is 

 a sumptuous episcopal palace surrounded by gardens ; but the building which con- 

 stitutes the real glory of Wiirzburg is its universit}^, founded in 1582, and much 

 frequented by students of medicine, attracted thither by a model hospital, a 

 valuable anatomical museum, and capital laboratories. Wiirzburg has machine 

 shops and various factories. The wine grown in the vicinity, and especially on the 

 hill crowned by the citadel of Marienburg, enjoys a high reputation. It is known 

 as " Leistenwein " and " Steinwein," and is sold in curiously shaped bottles called 

 boxheiiteh. Walter of the Vogelweide, the most famous of the Minnesingers, died 

 at Wiirzburo". In accordance with his last will and testament, crumbs of bread 

 are still scattered every morning over his grave for the birds to feed upon. 



Aschafenhurg (13,479 inhabitants) is the last Bavarian town on the Main. It 

 lies out in the plain, and, like Frankfort, belongs geographically to the region of 

 the Rhine, and for centuries it was a summer residence of the Archbishops of 

 Mayence, whose old castle is the most remarkable building of the town. As to 

 Rothenhurg (5,241 inhabitants), on the Tauber, a southern affluent of the Main, it 

 ought to have been assigned to Wiirttemberg rather than to Bavaria. This town 

 has thoroughly preserved its mediaeval aspect. Quarries of granite, limestone, and 

 sandstone are numerous in its neighbourhood. 



Hof (18,122 inhabitants), an important manufacturing town, with cotton-mills 

 and other factories, lies in the basin of the Elbe. The manufacturing districts of 

 Saxony and Northern Bohemia extend thence along both slopes of the Ore 

 Mountains. 



