Bamberg Things to Do

This Cathedral contains the side by side tombs (in the Cathedral itself, not down in the Crypt) of Emperor Heinrich II and his wife Cunigunde. Heinrich II established a Bishropic here in 1007. It was amazing to see such an ancient intact site.

Also we saw the famous Bamburg Rider, which is a horse and nobleman rider statue dating from 1225.
Pope Clement II (died 1047) is also buried in the Cathedral.

The Dom itself was consecrated in 1237.

We saw some of the outside of the Neue Residenz (17th century Palace) adjacent to the Dom, with its large beautiful rose garden (Rosengarten). The stone wall edge of the garden was also an excellent photo vantage point for excellent shots and views down over Bamburg city below,

Bamberg Old Town Hall is one of the most famous buildings in Bamberg. It is located on an artificial island in the middle of the Regnitz River. This island was built by the local people because the bishop in charge of Bamberg would not allow them to build a town hall on Episcopal land. The Rottmeister home is attached to the town hall. The town hall is covered with frescoes. There are lovely views up and down the river from here towards several of Bamberg’s bridges.

The town hall dates from 1462.

This building is located on a hilltop. There are wonderful views from here towards the cathedral, Bamberg’s Castle and across Bamberg’s vineyards.

St Michael’s Monastery was built in 1015 by Henrich I. Over the years it has been damaged by earthquakes and uprisings. It has been beautifully restored. There are charming gardens around it and several interesting statues. Across from the front of the monastery there is a brewery museum. The monks of St Michael’s began brewing beer in the 1100s.

Near the cathedral there is a stunningly lovely rose garden with excellent views towards St Michael’s Monastery. There are also good views over Bamberg. The garden was filled with beautiful roses in many beautiful colours. There were also lots of statues of Ancient Greek gods and goddesses. These were created by Ferdinand Tietz in 1760.

The rose gardens themselves were created by Balthasar Neumann.

Bamberg Cathedral is called the Cathedral of St Peter’s and St George’s. It was built in 1002 in the reign of Emperor Heinrich 1. The cathedral has been burnt down and rebuilt.

Heinrich I’s tomb is inside the cathedral. The most famous feature though is a sculpture called the Bamberg Rider – an equestrian sculpture. Underneath it is a carving which I think is of a green man – an ancient fertility symbol.

The cathedral is extremely beautiful and well worth a visit.

When we were visiting the cathedral there was a bikers’ service going on outside. The domplatz was filled with motorbikes.

From the bridge near the town hall you can see Little Venice. This is an area of pretty fishermen’s houses. They look beautiful from Bamberg’s bridges, but if you walk to them you can only view them from the back. There is no walk way at the front.

The official name of the The Bamberg Cathedral or Bamberger Dom is Bamberger Dom
St. Peter und St. Georg.
The beautiful cathedral was built in Romanesque style in 1002 but got the current form only on the 13rd century.

There are four 81m height towers while the cathedral itself is 26m high and 94m long.

Kleine Venedig or little Venice is the name of the middle part of the city , where you can travel on small canals over Regnitz river , see some beautiful old medieval houses,
The area is very small so you don't have to walk a lot to see the surroundings.

The old Town hall of Bamberg (Alte Rathaus) is a beautiful building that was built in 1467.
The town hall is located over Regnitz River over an artificial island.
The building is very beautiful , if you stand on the bridge in front of the building you can take some beautiful pictures.

Bamberg is a great hub for daytripping. Munich is only two hours away by train and Nueremberg is less than an hour. The options go on and on. Trains are very regular and remember if you travel on regional trains you can use the Bayern ticket which will get you and your family (up to 5 people) to any towns within Bavaria for around 30 Euro. The ticket can be used from 9am to 3am on weekdays and for extended hours on weekends.

Other options are Wuerzburg (less than an hour) and Regensburg (less than two hours).

The frescoes on the Alte Rathaus are really quite stunning. They are the creation of one Johann Anwander a German fresco and Rococco painter of some note.

The frescoes were painted in 1755 when Anwander was aged 40 years. He died in 1770.

When I think that these works are more than a quarter of a century old, I can't help but wonder how they are in such good condition considering their exposure to the elements. I can only assume that they have been touched up from time to time maybe. Or perhaps not?

The amazing Old Town Hall (Alte Rathaus) sits in the middle of the River Regnitz, between the Obere and Untere Brucken. Pushing brazenly into the onrushing waters of the river's weir, the oldest part of the Rathaus juts out precariously over the water's edge. The 15th century half-timbered building falls all the way down the side of the bridge almost into the river itself. Hovering over the two bridges is the newer part of the Town Hall, built in the 18th century in a garish Baroque style. The colourful frescoes on the sides of the building are just fantastic, and make this one of the most unusual and most picturesque town halls in all of Germany, if not Europe. For me this sight alone makes Bamberg unmissable.

Inside is the Sammlung Ludwig museum.

Opening Times (museum)

Tue - Sun 9.30 - 16.30

Entry = 3,10 €

This eleventh century Benedictine monastery sits on top of one of the highest of the seven hills overlooking the city. The modern monastery was largely rebuilt after fire damage in 1610, and thus combines the architectural styles of the original Romanesque with the later, slightly less inspiring, Gothic. The monastery looks its best when viewed from the banks of the River Regnitz, by the Alte Rathaus, perched high up on a hill. The monastery itself offers fantastic views over the town.

In the cellars of the front courtyard you can also find the Frankisches Brauereimuseum, which shows off the fine history of Bamberg's brewing industry, from the time of the monk's first beers to the modern day.

Opening times (for the museum)

From April to the end of October

Wed to Sun from 13.00 to 17.00

Entry = 2 Euros (Adults) 1 Euro (Students/Children)

On the other side of Domplatz from the old palace is the unmissable Neue Residenz: a huge Baroque palace built between 1697 and 1703 for the Bishop Prince Lothar Franz, by the architect Leonhard Dientzenhofer. The building itself can be wandered around and contains, along with the princely bedrooms, the Kaisersaal concert hall, Chinesische Kabinette, Staatsgalerie, Staatsbibliothek, and the Rosengarten with its fantastic views of St Michael's Abbey on the hill.

Opening Times

April - September

Daily 9.00 - 18.00
Thursdays until 20.00

October - March

Daily 9.00 - 16.00
Closed on 24th, 25th and 31st December, 1st January and Shrove Tuesday.

Entry = 3€ for adults