Worms

Ancient city and river port in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the River Rhine, 25 km/15 mi north of Ludwigshafen; population (1995) 79,700. Industries include food processing and the manufacture of chemicals, paint, machinery, furniture, and worsted. The vineyards of the Liebfrauenkirche (14th to 15th century) produced the original Liebfraumilch wine; it is now produced by many growers around Worms. The Protestant reformer Martin Luther appeared before the Diet (Assembly) of Worms in 1521 and was declared an outlaw by the Roman Catholic Church. It is one of the oldest cities in Germany.

Features The impressive Romanesque cathedral dates from the 11th century. There is a 13th-century synagogue and Germany's oldest Jewish cemetery. Monuments in the city include one to Luther, and one commemorating the Nibelungen legend.

History Known as Borbetomagus in Roman times, Worms was important in the time of Ariovistus and was fortified by the Roman general Drusus in 14 BC. In the 5th century it was a capital of the Burgundii. It later became a bishopric and was made a free city of the empire in the 11th century. More than 100 Imperial Diets met in the city: at the Diet of 1122 the investiture question (investiture contest) was settled by Emperor Henry V and Pope Calixtus II; at the Diet of 1521 Luther appeared before Emperor Charles V.