Town of Bamberg
Bamberg, Germany
18.06.2018
The Old Town of Bamberg, nestled in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, stands as a testament to European urban development, recognized globally by its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. This remarkably preserved medieval city offers a unique insight into the intricate blend of imperial and episcopal power that shaped its destiny over a millennium.
A Millennial Legacy
Bamberg’s illustrious history began with Emperor Henry II (Heinrich II), who founded the Bishopric of Bamberg in 1007 AD. His vision was to establish a "second Rome" – a spiritual and political centre of the Holy Roman Empire. This ambitious goal is reflected in the city’s layout, which uniquely combines the structures of an early medieval settlement with later Baroque grandeur. Henry II and his wife, Empress Cunigunde, are interred in the magnificent Bamberg Cathedral.
Architectural Masterpieces
The city's skyline is dominated by architectural marvels spanning centuries. The monumental Bamberg Cathedral of St. Peter and St. George showcases a fusion of Romanesque and Gothic styles, featuring four imposing towers and the famous "Bamberg Horseman." Equally striking is the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), an extraordinary structure built directly in the middle of the Regnitz River, accessible only by two bridges. Its colourful frescoed façade reflects playfully in the water. Perched opposite the Cathedral, the lavish New Residence (Neue Residenz) served as the residence for the prince-bishops from the 17th to the 19th century, boasting opulent Baroque and Rococo interiors and a beautiful rose garden offering panoramic views.
Picturesque Urbanity
Beyond its grand edifices, Bamberg captivates with its picturesque quarters. The charming fishermen’s settlement known as Klein Venedig (Little Venice) lines the banks of the Regnitz with quaint, half-timbered houses directly fronting the water. The city is also famously built on seven hills, each crowned with a significant church or monastery, such as the former Benedictine Michaelsberg Abbey, further enhancing its distinctive profile. This living city harmoniously integrates its rich past with vibrant contemporary life, making it an exceptional example of a flourishing historical urban centre.
Weiterführende Links
From the 10th century onwards, this town became an important link with the Slav peoples, especially those of Poland and Pomerania. During its period of greatest prosperity, from the 12th century onwards, the architecture of Bamberg strongly influenced northern Germany and Hungary. In the late 18th century it was the centre of the Enlightenment in southern Germany, with eminent philosophers and writers such as Hegel and Hoffmann living there.
Bamberg (, US also , German: [ˈbambɛʁk] ; East Franconian: Bambärch) is a town in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany, on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg had 79,000 inhabitants in 2022. The town dates back to the 9th century, when its name was derived from the nearby Babenberch castle. Cited as one of Germany's most beautiful towns, with medieval streets and buildings, the old town of Bamberg with around 2,400 timber houses has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
From the 10th century onwards, Bamberg became a key link with the Western Slavic peoples, notably those of Poland and Pomerania. It experienced a period of great prosperity from the 12th century onwards, during which time it was briefly the centre of the Holy Roman Empire. Emperor Henry II was buried in the old town, alongside his wife Kunigunde. The town's architecture from this period strongly influenced that in Northern Germany and Hungary. From the middle of the 13th century onwards, the bishops were princes of the Empire and ruled Bamberg, overseeing the construction of monumental buildings. This growth was complemented by the obtaining of large portions of the estates of the Counts of Meran in 1248 and 1260 by the sea, partly through purchase and partly through the appropriation of extinguished fiefs.
Bamberg lost its independence in 1802, following the secularization of church lands, becoming part of Bavaria in 1803. The town was first connected to the German rail system in 1844, which has been an important part of its infrastructure ever since. After a communist uprising took control over Bavaria in the years following World War I, the state government fled to Bamberg and stayed there for almost two years before the Bavarian capital of Munich was retaken by Freikorps units (see Bavarian Soviet Republic). The first republican constitution of Bavaria was passed in Bamberg, becoming known as the Bamberger Verfassung (Bamberg Constitution).
Following the Second World War, Bamberg was an important base for the Bavarian, German, and then American military stationed at Warner Barracks, until closing in 2014.
