This is by far my favorite city in Germany...at this point I have to admit I'm a little biased since I had a privilege of living here for two years while serving in the US Army. Nonetheless, Bamberg offers its enchanting medieval old town atmosphere enticing those who visit with its unique charms that other cities/towns may or may not exude IMHO. No wonder the old town area was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. It is nicknamed the "Seven Hill City" or "Franconian Rome." It is sometimes called "Rome of the North" with its seven hills (with castle or church on them): Abtsberg, Altenburg, Jacobsberg, Kaulberg/Obere Pfarre, Michaelsberg, Stephansberg, and Domberg, the hill upon which the Imperial Cathedral is built in the center of all. Rivers Main-Danube Canal and Regnitz also run through it. All that makes a very picturesque town for sure. A "Castrum Babenberg" existed on the Domberg (Cathedral Hill) and was mentioned in 902 for the first time. King Heinrich II. founded a diocese in 1007. The first cathedral was consecrated in 1020 by Pope Benedict VIII. Heinrich II. also founded a Benedictine abbey on the Michaelsberg. King Heinrich and his wife Kunigunde chose Bamberg as their favorite residence, and they supported the diocese of Bamberg with their wealth. The royal couple was well-educated and religious. In 1014 Henry was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by pope Benedict VIII. Emperor Henry II died in 1024, and his wife empress Kunigunde in 1040. They were both canonized and are buried in the cathedral in their beloved Bamberg. The second bishop Suidger of Bamberg was elected as Pope Clemens II. in 1046. His last resting place in the Bamberg Cathedral is the only preserved tomb of a pope north of the Alps. From the 13th century on bishops were also princes of the German Empire, overseeing the construction of major buildings in the city. It paralleled the economical development of Bamberg. Bamberg has a long history in brewing beer, thus it is also known as the City of Beer. It was known for its hops trading, and the city flourished with over 90 breweries in the past, however, only nine of them still remain in operation to the present day. The most famous of Bamberg's breweries is the historic the dark "rauchbier" (smoked beer) brewery, Schlenkerla. This 6th-generation family brewery has been quenching thirst since 1405 and still taps beer the old-world way - from wooden barrels. 27 years before the German Purity Law (Deutsches Reinheitsgebot) was issued in 1516, prince-bishop Heinrich III. worried about the quality of beer and ordered that nothing more than hop, malt and water should be in Bamberg's beer. At that time beer already had a long tradition in Bamberg. It is documented that bishop Otto I. granted the Benedictine monks at the St. Michaels abbey the privilege of brewing beer in 1122. It is a must visit in Germany if you are in Franconia, the vicinity of Nürnburg or even in München. You will not regret it. read more

Stadt Bamberg - Local Flavor Near Me

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Stadt Bamberg has been UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993. The city lies on the confluence on the Main and Regnitz rivers in the upper Franconia area of Germany. Once a Roman Fortress, Bamberg still has evidence of Roman occupation. Roman walls and city gates can be seen. Beginning in 800 AD, Bamberg began to draw a large Slavic population which is still present. Having over 2,000 historical monuments, it survived the war relatively intact. It is truly picturesque displaying some of the finest architectural designs from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance. Some examples are the 16th century (Old Bridge Town Hall) with it's Trompe d'oeil exterior and Rococo Hall, the Neue Residenz which was the seat of the Prince-Bishops until 1802 with 40+ magnificent rooms, an Imperial Hall painted by Melchior Steidl and the elector's rooms and prince-bishops apartments, and the Old German and Baroque Galleries. The adjacent Baroque Rose Garden designed by Balthasar Neumann features 4,500 roses, sculptures by Ferdinand Tietz (1760-1761) and a garden café. Also in Dom Plaza you can visit the Dom featuring the Bamberg Horseman and tomb of the holy imperial couple Kunigunde and Heinrich II. The tomb was the creation of Tilmann Riemenscheider, Germany's master artist. The Dom also houses the papal tomb of Clemens II. There are so many photo opportunities, restaurants and opportunities to drink Bamberg's famous smoked beer. There are nine breweries in Bamberg the most famous of which is Ambrausianum where I had my first smoked beer. The ambience that you will find in Bamberg is transporting. read more

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Very nice city- easy to access from Nuremberg. By train in about 40minutes. We bought a daily ticket for both of us 19.70 euros. Charming old town. read more

This is definitely one of my very favorite places in Germany. Located in Upper Franconia, in the Free State of Bavaria, Bamberg is home to a justly proud, social, friendly, hearty people who live a good life and enjoy good food and beer. It is found at the confluence of the rivers Main and Regnetz, and the nearest cities of note include Coburg, Kulmbach, Nürnberg, Würzburg, and Schweinfurt. It is in the center of a very old and quite unusual brewing tradition which the Germans call rauchbier - "smoked beer" in English. Rauchbier obtains its unusual and delectable flavor from the malted barley being dried over a fire, the smoke of which permeates the malt. Rumor has it that this fire is generally beechwood, which the Germans call Buche. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, Bamberg is a very beautiful town/city which is mentioned in records going back to the tenth century. It is also known for its seven hills: Cathedral Hill, Michaelsberg, Kaulberg/Obere Pfarre, Stefansberg, Jakobsberg, Altenburger Hill and Abtsberg. Its romanesque cathedral was founded in the year 1004. Among the notable people who were born here is Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg - a favorite historical person of mine, nicely portrayed in the 2008 film Valkyrie. I love Bamberg enough to make a four hour trip to spend the night and enjoy the food and beer, and bring a little Oberfranken flavor into my life. I'll add some of the photos I take here on this October 2016 visit. read more