Bavarian bells and bulls on the hour and other Ochsenfurt, Germany Things to Do Tips

The so-called 'new' Town Hall was built in 1515. It is famous for its clock tower, which creates a fine performance at the top of each hour. A skeleton shakes a tankard while, either side, two local yeomen open and close their small windows with a clatter. At the very top of the tower are two bulls (the 'ochsen' in Ochsenfurt) who clash horns with vigour.

The bearded face in the centre of the tower is another sculpture by the area's famous sixteenth century artist, Tilman Reimenschneider.

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Address: Neuen Rathaus, Marktplatz
Directions: Centre of town, halfway along Hauptstrasse

You can find a large Tourist Information counter in the offices of local newspaper, Main Post. This is a few metres from the Market Platz and the Neu Rathaus, on Hauptstrasse.

There is not much information on Ochsenfurt in the English language. I was given an A4 sized sheet in English and a fold out pamphlet in German illustrating a suggested walk around the town. The man at the desk spoke little English and I spoke little German, so together we made a great team ;-)

It appeared to me that the Tourist Information desk had the same opening hours as the Main Post office - that is, Monday to Friday, circa 10 till 4.

There are also some large information boards, a history timeline and maps at the main carpark by the river.

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Phone: 0931 58 35
Address: Hauptstrasse, 36
Website: http://www.ochsenfurt.de/
Other Contact: info@ochsenfurt.com

There are two small museums that I know of in Ochsenfurt. The Heimatmuseum is a small general town history museum, next to the bridge on Bruckenstrasse. The building is ancient, dating from the 13th century.

Nearby on Spitalgasse is the Trachtenmuseum, where there is an interesting display of local costumes, clothing and uniforms. Both the Heimatmuseum and Trachtenmuseum are open from Easter to October, on Saturdays, Sundays and Festival Days, admission 1 euro.

Across the bridge in Kleinochsenfurt is a Fossil Museum, created by an eccentric, beret-wearing German and his family. From what I understand, it is open by appointment, so I suggest you telephone. Lots of real (and some replica) fossils and a geological timeline made of actual rocks up the staircase. Directions: approx 1km along the main road towards Wurzburg, on the left. tel.: 09331 2873

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Website: http://www.ochsenfurt.de/index.php?index=true&p=16

Ochsenfurt grew up around the furt, or ford, over the River Main. It is hard to believe this today, the river is deep enough for large freight barges to easily pass. Though, very recently, a large wild boar, escaping from hunters, swam the full width of the river and sprinted through the town, knocking down a shopper and breaking her leg!!!

In 1519 a stone bridge was built.

Local riverside towns have had a fashion over the last 200 years to record the flood levels on the sides of prominent buildings. You can find the flood levels recorded on the corner of the Heimatmuseum Schlosschen, on Vorhofstrasse. Blimey, in 1784 the water would have been over 8 feet above my head!!

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