City of Würzburg (Unterfranken District, Bavaria, Germany)

Stadt Würzburg

Last modified: 2012-03-31 by german editorial team
Keywords: stadt wuerzburg | wuerzburg | wurzburg | coat of arms (flag: quartered) | rennfähnlein |
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3:5
by Stefan Schwoon

• Description
• Banner Variant

See also:

• Würzburg County (Landkreis Würzburg)
• Unterfranken District (Bezirk Unterfranken, Bavaria, Germany)
• County and Municipal Flags (Bavaria / Bayern, Germany)

Red-yellow banner [hanging flag] with the arms. The arms show a banner quartered of red and yellow, derived from the banner of the bishops of Würzburg which is red and white on blue background — see also the flag of Unterfranken district. The quartered banner is nicknamed Würzburger Rennfähnlein.
Sources: flag from Staack 1997, arms from Stadler 1964-1971.

From Ralf Hartemink's International Civic Arms website:

Würzburg is an old town, which became the seat of a bishop as early as 741. In the 10th century the bishops became prince-bishops, who bore the title of Duke of Franconia (Franken). The arms show the banner of the bishops, albeit in wrong colours; it should be red and white on a blue shield. The arms are known as the arms of the city since the 16th century, but are probably older. (...) The colours are also known since the 16th century.
Literature: Stadler 1964-1971.

The ratio is approx 5:2. It is a red - yellow vertical bicolour. The coat of arms is shifted to the top. The shield however in this version is a renaissance shield, classified by Neubecker as "German, 1580"
Source: I spotted this flag in Würzburg at the banks of river Main on 19 February 2011.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 Mar 2011