Falkenhaus, and History of the City

On Würzburg Market Square there is one building in particular that stands out, due to the intricate ornamentation of its façade: the Falkenhaus, or “House of Falcons.” Built in the early 18th century, the Falkenhaus was acquired by a landlord shortly afterwards and has since been used as an inn. The magnificent adornments on the doors, windows and gables were the idea of the landlord’s widow, who in 1751 commissioned stucco workers from Upper Bavaria to decorate her house. She was not without an ulterior motive, as this meant that for eight years she did not have to pay any tax – after all, it was the city itself that ended up reaping the benefits of the lavish embellishments. And indeed, even today the Falkenhaus is considered to have the finest rococo façade anywhere in Germany...