After a short-lived first foundation in 1402, Julius-Maximilians University was permanently endowed and established in 1582 on the initiative of Prince Bishop Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn.

Today, more than four hundred years later, the University can look back on a history full of successes. Famous scholars and scientists, such as Rudolf Virchow, Carl Siebold, and Franz Brentano researched and taught at Würzburg's University.