A lively dispute is unfolding between the German states of Bavaria and Thuringia regarding the birthplace of the iconic Bratwurst sausage. The Wurstkuchl tavern in Bavaria has long been regarded as the “oldest Bratwurst stand in the world,” located on the Stone Bridge in Regensburg. This establishment claims to trace its origins back to a document from 1378, marking it as a historic site for sausage enthusiasts.
However, newly surfaced evidence from historians in Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia, suggests that a meat-roasting stall, referred to as a "Brathütte," existed as early as 1269. This discovery could ultimately shift the claims of Bratwurst heritage more than 100 years prior to the Bavarian establishment's documented evidence. Currently, historians are on the hunt for additional details on the physical site where this early sausage stand may have operated, noting that no such restaurant has yet claimed the title of the oldest Bratwurst stand in Thuringia.
Previously, Thuringia's earliest written mention of Bratwursts was anchored to 1404, where a record stated “1 groschen for bratwurst casings” was spent in the town of Arnstadt. In contrast, the Wurstkuchl continues to serve up its traditional sausages with pride, boasting that many of their methods remain unchanged since the Middle Ages, including the use of pure pork ham and homemade sauerkraut.
Responding to the newfound claims by Thuringia, Alexandra Meier, the landlady of Wurstkuchl, stated, “To be honest, it doesn't bother us at all.” She expressed her pride in the quality of their sausages and remains confident that patrons will continue to support them regardless of this historical debate. Notably, this is not the first instance of contention over Bratwurst supremacy; previously, the Bavarian towns of Regensburg and Nuremberg had vied for the title of the oldest sausage stand, with Regensburg eventually emerging victorious in that dispute.
