Discover Bamberg: World Heritage, City History and Gardens

When looking for a hotel in Bamberg, you can choose different areas of focus as you plan your trip: medieval urban structure, architectural history and collections, or gardens and views. The following places illustrate these aspects of the city through specific details.

City History and World Heritage

The street layouts of Bamberg’s three historic core areas retain medieval features. The World Heritage Visitor Centre places the Old Town in the international UNESCO context with a family-friendly, interactive exhibition. Its permanent exhibition introduces the Hill District, Island District and Gardeners’ District. These three settlement centres were connected when the city was founded in the Middle Ages.

The Gardeners’ District is part of the Old Town of Bamberg World Heritage Site; local vegetables have been grown there by hand, using labour-intensive methods, for many centuries. Thus, alongside the historic street layouts, manual cultivation and vegetable growing are also defining themes. Klein Venedig (Little Venice) is in Bamberg’s Island District and was once a fishing settlement. Densely packed half-timbered houses and small gardens characterise this part of the city.

Buildings and Collections

The origins of Bamberg Cathedral date back to the beginning of the 11th century. The New Residence is located on Cathedral Square. From the 17th century onwards, it served as the residence of Bamberg’s prince-bishops, replacing the Old Court as their residence. The Old Court is a complex of buildings constructed in the Renaissance style; together, the two sites illustrate the changing role of the prince-bishops’ residence.

Church architecture and furnishings also offer contrasting highlights. Built by the Dientzenhofer brothers, St Martin’s Church is Bamberg’s only Baroque church. In the abbey church of St Michael, a Baroque ceiling painting depicts more than 580 medicinal, useful and ornamental plants in intricate detail. Together, these examples pair an architectural distinction with an exceptionally varied pictorial programme.

The E.T.A. Hoffmann House is a museum dedicated to the versatile artist. The Diocesan Museum of Bamberg houses the cathedral treasury, including the 600-kilogram cathedral cross and goldsmith’s work. The famous imperial robes and the pontifical vestments of Pope Clement II are also on display there.

Views, Gardens and Cycling

Altenburg Castle stands high above Bamberg; its round tower is a defining feature of the cityscape. On Michaelsberg, the freely accessible eastern plateau offers a viewpoint overlooking the rooftops of Bamberg’s Old Town and the surrounding hills of the region. Check the current access conditions before your visit.

The Baroque terraced garden on Michaelsberg can be reached by northern and southern stairways. Its features include old fruit trees, cornelian cherry hedges, the Dolphin Fountain and small pavilions. If you prefer to explore Bamberg by bike, ride through the Old Town, along the Regnitz and out into the countryside. So, alongside architectural history and museum collections, a garden, a viewpoint and various urban landscapes are among the options to consider during your stay.

Discover More Destinations

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