%crDomplatz%c* and other Bamberg, Germany Things to Do Tips

The focal point of historical Bamberg is the Domplatz. It is a one of the most amazing town squares you will ever visit. It has the unusual property of sloping at an awkward angle, and is surrounded by a series of stunning historical buildings. First is the 13th century Kaiserdom itself, going clockwise from there is the Alte Residenz, next to that is the Reiche Tor, and behind that is the Alte Hofhaltung, the old 15th century episcopal palace. Across the road from that is the Neue Residenz, the enormous 18th century L-shaped Baroque palace, and behind that are some marvelous views of the city center across the north east.

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Directions: From the bridge through the Alte Rathaus, follow the road up the hill to the Kaiserdom.

The Kaiserdom, or simply Dom, sits on Domplatz overlooking the town; it's four spires can be seen for miles around. Originally consecrated as long ago as 1012, it burned down twice before finally being rebuilt in the sandstone you see today during the 13th century, starting in 1215. Like the town the Cathedral is a mixture of styles, starting with the Romanesque and transitioning to the Gothic, with the four different towers highlighting the different architectural styles.

What makes the Cathedral one of the most amazing in Europe is not simply its grand outlook and impressive design, but its unrivalled collection of statues. The most famous of all these sculptures is the Bamberg Rider (Bamberger Reiter) created by an unknown French-trained sculptor, of an unknown emperor. The Romantics of the time saw the sculpture as the idealised German emperor, and this image was seized upon by the Nazis a symbol of Germanic perfection. During the Third Reich the image of the Bamberger Reiter could be seen all over Germany.

Opening Times

Mo - Fr:

Apr to Oct. 9.30 - 18.00
Nov to Mar 9.30 - 17.00

Sa

May to Oct 9.30 - 11.30
and 12.45 - 18.00
Nov to Apr 9.30 - 17.00

So

May to Oct 12.30 - 13.45
and 14.45 - 18.00
Nov to April 12.30 - 13.45
and 14.45 - 17.00

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Directions: From the bridge through the Alte Rathaus, carry on up the hill towards the Domplatz.

The Old Palace was built in 1591 on the site of the old home of the Babenberg counts. The palace is made up of the Ratsstube and a 15th century courtyard. The courtyard behind the Reiche Tor (gate) from the Domplatz is surrounded by brown timbered and gabled buildings. The wood contrasts with the stone when viewed from the outside, and the stone Reiche Tor frames the Neue Residenz across the road fantastically from the inside. Outside the walls is the most impressive part of all, the Renaissance Ratsstube. Inside the Ratsstube is the Historical Museum, which is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 to 5pm and costs 2 euros.

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Phone: 0951 / 871142
Address: Domplatz 7
Directions: To the right of the Cathedral.

On the otherside 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 bedromos, 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

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Phone: 0951/51 93 90
Address: Domplatz 8
Directions: Opposite the Cathedral.

This eleventh century Benedictine monastary sits on top of one of the highest of the seven hills overlooking the city. The modern monastary 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 monastary looks its best when viewed from the banks of the River Regnitz, by the Alte Rathaus, perched high up on a hill. The monastary 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)

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Phone: 0951/53016
Address: Michaelsberg 10f

With so many beautiful old buildings, tucked haphazardly around the seven hills, and crammed into a tiny area, there are plenty of little alleys to get lost in and recall a different time in history. Best of all is that the variance in architecture and elevation means you often find yourself staring into a view that is perfectly framed. If you have a camera, you will find yourself endlessly snapping view after view. When night falls, and the pseudo gas lamps turn on, you will swear that you are back in the 19th century Germany.

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Criss-crossing and zig-zagging your way back and forth across the River Regnitz allows you some wonderful views of the city and the riverscape. There are so many different kinds of bridges at so many different angles, crammed in and around the artificial island set in the middle of the fast running waters of the Regnitz. There are wooden bridges, road bridges, arching stone bridges, a bridge through the Alte Rathaus and one over the gushing weir.

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Directions: From Abkranen, before the Alte Rathaus, down to Concordiastrasse.

The River Regnitz cuts through the town, separating the old town, with the cathedral and abbey, from the slightly newer part of town. It gushes fiercely through the weir near the Alte Rathaus, as it squeezes past the artificial island in its wake, before settle down to a more gentle pace to drift past the idylic little houses as they dip their feet into the edges of the widening waters. The river is fundamental to Bamberg's picturesque beauty, and the golden late evening reflections of the buildings in its wide and rippling tides are a sight to behold.

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Bamberg's Parish Church, the Obere Pfarrkirche was originally built between 1320 and 1387. It isn't the most awe inspiring of Bamberg's buildings, although it does stand out. For a church it is big, maybe as big as a small Cathedral, but it is plain, possibly even ugly, and set into the road like it was just another row of houses. It is Gothic on the outside, and Baroque on the inside, and blocky and square throughout. I guess I wouldn't be so harsh on it, if it wasn't for the fact that all the other, quite ordinary, buildings around it look so much better, but this is Bamberg and the competition is tough.

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Directions: On Unterer Kaulberg. Walk up Herrenstrasse from the Alte Rathaus, past the Weir, and take a left up Baltha. gasschen.

The amazing Old Townhall (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 Townhall, 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 €

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