A spirited clash has emerged between Bavaria and Thuringia regarding the invention of Bratwurst sausages, a beloved culinary staple in German cuisine. The renowned "Wurstkuchl" tavern in Bavaria has traditionally held the title of the oldest Bratwurst stand globally, nestled alongside the picturesque Stone Bridge in Regensburg, which boasts documented history traced back to 1378.
However, scholars from Erfurt, Thuringia's capital, uncovered a remarkable document from 1269 that references a meat-roasting stand (Brathütte) and a roasting pan (Bräter), predating the Regensburg establishment by over a century. These historians are now on a quest to discover the exact location of the ancient sausage stand, as no current restaurant in Erfurt claims this honor.
Before this revelation, the earliest written mention of a Bratwurst in Thuringia was from 1404, detailing an expenditure of "1 groschen for bratwurst casings" in Arnstadt. In contrast, Wurstkuchl continues to produce its sausages, maintaining traditions that the establishment asserts have endured since the Medieval era, featuring homemade sausages, a traditional open charcoal grill, and locally fermented sauerkraut.
Alexandra Meier, the landlady of Wurstkuchl, asserted in an interview with BR24, "To be honest, it doesn't bother us at all," expressing pride in the quality of her family's sausages instead of focusing on claims to historical titles. "I don't think people will say, 'I'm not going there anymore because it's only the second oldest,'" she added.
This dispute is not unprecedented; there have been previous contests between Bavarian towns, particularly Regensburg and Nuremberg, over the oldest sausage stand title, ultimately favoring Regensburg in past rulings. The ongoing passion for Bratwurst continues to ignite regional pride and culinary debate across Germany, as each state celebrates its unique contribution to this favorite dish.
