A culinary dispute is stirring in Germany as two states, Bavaria and Thuringia, engage in a debate over the true origins of the famed Bratwurst sausage. The controversy began when the Wurstkuchl tavern in Regensburg, Bavaria, long held the title of "the oldest Bratwurst stand in the world." This establishment, located on the Stone Bridge over the Danube River, boasts documented evidence of a food stall dating back to 1378.
However, historians from Thuringia assert that a recently uncovered document from 1269 mentions a meat-roasting stand, predating the Bavarian claim by over a century. They are on a mission to locate the site in Erfurt where this sausage-stand resided, although no current restaurant has yet claimed the title of oldest Bratwurst vendor.
In Thuringia, the earliest previously documented reference to Bratwursts was from 1404, which noted expenses for bratwurst casings in Arnstadt. Meanwhile, the Wurstkuchl continues to operate in Regensburg, emphasizing its historical practices. Their website notes that much of the original process remains, including the use of an open charcoal grill and homemade sausages.
Alexandra Meier, the landlady of Wurstkuchl, downplays the claims of an earlier stand, stating it doesn’t concern them. She expressed pride in her family's commitment to quality sausage production and believes that patrons will continue to visit regardless of the origin debate.
This isn’t the first culinary rivalry over Bratwurst, as a previous contention arose between Regensburg and Nuremberg, which concluded with Regensburg defending its title. The fierce love for Bratwurst continues to leave its mark on German culinary history.
