Wormser Dom St. Peter | Photo by Erich Teister ()
Your typical kid might find traipsing through a city to look at its sights and architecture a pretty boring proposition. But here’s a sneaky approach to what might normally be a hard sell: tell that young and innocent soul of yours that you’re not going to visit just any city; you’re heading to an ancient and magical city with a name that sounds quite strange and unappealing to English-attuned ears: Worms. Eww! That ought to capture your little one’s attention immediately.
To turn eyeing ancient artifacts into a wonderful adventure, frame your trip as a safari to see the Big Five, German-style and check these animals off a list once you’ve crossed paths with them. You’ll be seeing at least one of Africa’s famed beasts on this fun tour through history. Don’t forget a pair of binoculars to scope out architectural details towering several stories high above you.
Dragons: Worms is known as a “Nibelungenstadt,” a title given to more than 20 cities mentioned in the Song of the Nibelungs, an epic tale dating back to the 13th century. Much of the action in this Middle Ages saga starring Siegfried the Dragon Slayer unfolds in Worms, where you’ll find more dragons than you can wave a magic wand at. They frolic on water fountains, skulk behind the cathedral, and congregate on the façade of the Town Hall. Each dragon is worth a point! To be sure to beat your kids at this game, take a sneak peek beforehand at this photo gallery on the city’s website.
Dachshund: the Worms (also known as St. Peter’s) Cathedral is the place to spot enough creatures to fill an ark. As you enter the cathedral through its main portal, look up and to the left, where you’ll see the face of what’s unmistakably a wiener dog. This charming pup is the creation of Philipp Brand, an architect who carried out renovations to the church back in the 1920s. According to the story, as Brand stood on some scaffolding, the feisty dog nipped Steiner’s leg, prompting him to move just before a stone element came loose from above and crashed down on the very place he’d just been standing.
Creepy crawlies: Remaining in place in front of the portal, now look at the statue of the woman known as Frau Welt. Depicted from the front, she’s the medieval personification of worldly sensual joy and happiness. But then take a gander at the poor woman’s back side, which you’ll note is being devoured by toads, snakes and other hideous vermin. The statue’s sculptor impresses upon us the dangers of succumbing to temptation in a way we won’t soon forget!
Bird: exit the cathedral and make way along the city walls toward the entrance of the Museum Heylshof at Stephansgasse 9. By the gate to this museum containing one of the largest privately-owned collections of late 19th-century art in all Germany, you’ll see a rather disheveled, large-beaked bird keeping watch over the place. The whimsical creation is the work of local artist Eckard Schembs.
Lions: make way to Ludwigsplatz, a pleasant square just off the main shopping drag. Here you’ll find a memorial with an obelisk commemorating the military achievements to Ludwig IV, Grand Duke of Hesse. The monument reminds us how in accordance with the Congress of Vienna, Worms and the surrounding region was passed to the Grand Duchy of Hesse in 1815. You don’t need eagle eyes to spot the two large lions with flowing manes flanking the inscription. But what’s that beast just below the writing?
(Inside the cathedral, another lion paces behind the pews. Bonus points for having spotted this ancient stone beast as well.)
A handful of other sights in this city that was already going strong with the Romans cottoned on to its potential back in 14 B.C. have the potential to delight young visitors. In the leafy Heylshof Park behind the cathedral, look for a very large pair of shoes. These make reference to the reformer Martin Luther’s connection to Worms, for it was here he stood before the king and the realm at the Diet of Worms on April 17-18, 1521 and refused to recant his beliefs. Standing in these shoes is a wonderful Worms photo op.
No visit to Worms during the warm months of the year is complete without stopping in for a scoop or three of the fabulous ice cream made by Vannini. They’ve spent the past few months renovating their café located at Marktplatz 1. The line might well be long, but it will surely prove worth the wait.
Ice cream, dragons and dachshunds! What are you waiting for?
