Bamberg (, , ;
East Franconian
East Franconian (german: Ostfränkisch) or Mainfränkisch, usually referred to as Franconian (') in German, is a dialect which is spoken in Franconia, the northern part of the federal state of Bavaria and other areas in Germany around Nuremberg, ...
: ''Bambärch'') is a town in
Upper Franconia
Upper Franconia (german: Oberfranken) is a ''Regierungsbezirk'' (administrative 'Regierungs''region 'bezirk'' of the state of Bavaria, southern Germany. It forms part of the historically significant region of Franconia, the others being Middle F ...
, Germany, on the river
Regnitz
The Regnitz is a river in Franconia, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Main and is in length.
The river is formed by the confluence of the rivers Rednitz and Pegnitz, which meet in the city of Fürth. From there the Regnitz runs northwa ...
close to its confluence with the river
Main
Main may refer to:
Geography
* Main River (disambiguation)
**Most commonly the Main (river) in Germany
* Main, Iran, a village in Fars Province
*"Spanish Main", the Caribbean coasts of mainland Spanish territories in the 16th and 17th centuries
...
. The town dates back to the 9th century, when its name was derived from the nearby ' castle. Cited as one of Germany's most beautiful towns, with medieval streets and Europe's largest intact old city wall, the old town of Bamberg has been a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
since 1993.
From the 10th century onwards, Bamberg became a key link with the Slav 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
The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...
.
Emperor
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...
Henry II was also buried in the old town, alongside his wife
Kunigunde Kunigunde, Kunigunda, or Cunigunde, is a European female name of German origin derived from "kuni" (clan, family) and "gund" (war). In Polish this is sometimes Kunegunda or Kinga. People with such names include:
* Kunigunde of Rapperswil (c. early ...
. The town's architecture from this period strongly influenced that in
Northern Germany
Northern Germany (german: link=no, Norddeutschland) is a linguistic, geographic, socio-cultural and historic region in the northern part of Germany which includes the coastal states of Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Lower Saxony an ...
and
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...
. 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 see, 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
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
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
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, the state government fled to Bamberg and stayed there for almost two years before the Bavarian capital of
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
was retaken by ''
Freikorps
(, "Free Corps" or "Volunteer Corps") were irregular German and other European military volunteer units, or paramilitary, that existed from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. They effectively fought as mercenary or private armies, regar ...
'' units (see
Bavarian Soviet Republic
The Bavarian Soviet Republic, or Munich Soviet Republic (german: Räterepublik Baiern, Münchner Räterepublik),Hollander, Neil (2013) ''Elusive Dove: The Search for Peace During World War I''. McFarland. p.283, note 269. was a short-lived unre ...
). The first republican constitution of Bavaria was passed in Bamberg, becoming known as the ''Bamberger Verfassung'' (Bamberg Constitution).
Following the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Bamberg was an important base for the Bavarian, German, and then American military stationed at
Warner Barracks, until closing in 2014.
History
During the post-
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...
centuries of Germanic migration and settlement, the region later included in the
Diocese of Bamberg
The Archdiocese of Bamberg (lat. ''Archidioecesis Bambergensis'') is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Bavaria and is one of 27 Roman Catholic dioceses in Germany. In 2015, 32.9% of the population identified as Catholic, and 15.6% of tho ...
was inhabited for the most part by
Slavs
Slavs are the largest European ethnolinguistic group. They speak the various Slavic languages, belonging to the larger Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages. Slavs are geographically distributed throughout northern Eurasia, main ...
. The town, first mentioned in 902, grew up by the castle ' which gave its name to the
Babenberg family. On their extinction, it passed to the
Saxon
The Saxons ( la, Saxones, german: Sachsen, ang, Seaxan, osx, Sahson, nds, Sassen, nl, Saksen) were a group of Germanic
*
*
*
*
peoples whose name was given in the early Middle Ages to a large country (Old Saxony, la, Saxonia) near the Nor ...
house.
The area was Christianized chiefly by the monks of the
Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
Fulda Abbey
The Abbey of Fulda (German ''Kloster Fulda'', Latin ''Abbatia Fuldensis''), from 1221 the Princely Abbey of Fulda (''Fürstabtei Fulda'') and from 1752 the Prince-Bishopric of Fulda (''Fürstbistum Fulda''), was a Benedictine abbey and ecclesiastic ...
, and the land was under the spiritual authority of the
Diocese of Würzburg
In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
History
In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...
.
In 1007,
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor, originally and officially the Emperor of the Romans ( la, Imperator Romanorum, german: Kaiser der Römer) during the Middle Ages, and also known as the Roman-German Emperor since the early modern period ( la, Imperat ...
Henry II made Bamberg a family inheritance, the seat of a separate
diocese
In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
History
In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, pro ...
. The Emperor's purpose in this was to make the Diocese of Würzburg less unwieldy in size and to give Christianity a firmer footing in the districts of
Franconia
Franconia (german: Franken, ; Franconian dialect: ''Franggn'' ; bar, Frankn) is a region of Germany, characterised by its culture and Franconian dialect (German: ''Fränkisch'').
The three administrative regions of Lower, Middle and Upper Fr ...
, east of Bamberg. In 1008, after long negotiations with the Bishops of Würzburg and
Eichstätt
Eichstätt () is a town in the federal state of Bavaria, Germany, and capital of the district of Eichstätt. It is located on the Altmühl river and has a population of around 13,000. Eichstätt is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese ...
, who were to cede portions of their dioceses, the boundaries of the new diocese were defined, and
Pope John XVIII
Pope John XVIII ( la, Ioannes XVIII; died June or July 1009) was the bishop of Rome and nominal ruler of the Papal States from January 1004 (25 December 1003 NS) to his abdication in July 1009. He wielded little temporal power, ruling during th ...
granted the papal confirmation in the same year. Henry II ordered the building of a new
cathedral
A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denomination ...
, which was consecrated 6 May 1012. The church was enriched with gifts from the pope, and Henry had it dedicated in honor of him. In 1017 Henry also founded
Michaelsberg Abbey
Michaelsberg Abbey (german: Abtei Michaelsberg) is a former monastery of the Benedictine Order, belonging to the Subiaco Congregation (1064-2011). The monastery is situated on the ''Michaelsberg'' ("St. Michael's Mount"), about 40 metres above ...
on the Michaelsberg ("Mount St. Michael"), near Bamberg, a Benedictine abbey for the training of the clergy. The emperor and his wife
Kunigunde Kunigunde, Kunigunda, or Cunigunde, is a European female name of German origin derived from "kuni" (clan, family) and "gund" (war). In Polish this is sometimes Kunegunda or Kinga. People with such names include:
* Kunigunde of Rapperswil (c. early ...
gave large temporal possessions to the new diocese, and it received many privileges out of which grew the secular power of the bishop. Pope Benedict VIII visited Bamberg in 1020
to meet Henry II for discussions concerning the Holy Roman Empire. While he was here he placed the diocese in direct dependence on the
Holy See
The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...
. He also personally consecrated some of Bamberg's churches. For a short time Bamberg was the centre of the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...
. Henry and Kunigunde were both buried in the cathedral.
![Nuremberg chronicles - BAMBERGA](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Nuremberg_chronicles_-_BAMBERGA.png)
From the middle of the 13th century onwards, the bishops were princes of the Empire
and ruled Bamberg, overseeing the construction of monumental buildings. In 1248 and 1260 the see obtained large portions of the estates of the
Counts of Meran, partly through purchase and partly through the appropriation of extinguished fiefs. The old
Bishopric of Bamberg
The Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg (german: Hochstift Bamberg) was an ecclesiastical State of the Holy Roman Empire. It goes back to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bamberg established at the 1007 synod in Frankfurt, at the behest of King Henry II ...
was composed of an unbroken territory extending from
Schlüsselfeld
Schlüsselfeld is a town on the southwestern edge of the Upper Franconian district (Landkreis) of Bamberg
Geography
Schlüsselfeld lies 24 km southwest of Bamberg in the Steigerwald (forest) in the valley of the Reiche Ebrach, 299 m abo ...
in a northeasterly direction to the
, and possessed in addition estates in the Duchies of
Carinthia
Carinthia (german: Kärnten ; sl, Koroška ) is the southernmost States of Austria, Austrian state, in the Eastern Alps, and is noted for its mountains and lakes. The main language is German language, German. Its regional dialects belong to t ...
and
Salzburg
Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872.
The town is on the site of the ...
, in the
Nordgau The Nordgau (from the Germanic for "northern region") can refer to two distinct areas:
* Nordgau (Alsace), the Alsatian Nordgau, the medieval County of Nordgau, the northern part of Alsace
* Margraviate of the Nordgau, the Bavarian Nordgau in the a ...
(the present
Upper Palatinate
The Upper Palatinate (german: Oberpfalz, , ) is one of the seven administrative districts of Bavaria, Germany, and is located in the east of Bavaria.
Geography
The Upper Palatinate is a landscape with low mountains and numerous ponds and lakes ...
), in
Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million.
Erfurt is the capital and larg ...
, and on the
Danube
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
. By the changes resulting from the
Reformation
The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...
, the territory of this see was reduced nearly one half in extent. Since 1279 the
coat of arms of the city of Bamberg is known in the form of a seal.
The
witch trials
A witch-hunt, or a witch purge, is a search for people who have been labeled witches or a search for evidence of witchcraft. The Witch trials in the early modern period, classical period of witch-hunts in Early Modern Europe and European Colon ...
of the 17th century claimed about one thousand victims in Bamberg, reaching a climax between 1626 and 1631, under the rule of
Prince-Bishop Johann Georg II Fuchs von Dornheim.
The famous ''
Drudenhaus'' (witch prison), built in 1627, is no longer standing today; however, detailed accounts of some cases, such as that of
Johannes Junius
Johannes Junius (1573 – 6 August 1628) was the mayor (German: ''Bürgermeister'') of Bamberg, and a victim of the Bamberg witch trials, who wrote a letter to his daughter from jail while he awaited execution for witchcraft.
Arrest
Junius had f ...
, remain.
In 1647, the
University of Bamberg
The University of Bamberg (german: Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg) in Bamberg, Germany, specializes in the humanities, cultural studies, social sciences, economics, and applied computer science.
Campus
The university is mainly housed in ...
was founded as '.
Bambrzy
Bambers, also known as Poznań Bambergians, are Poles who are partly descended from Germans who moved from the area of Bamberg (Upper Franconia, Germany) to villages surrounding Poznań, Poland. They settled in villages which had been destroyed du ...
(') are German
Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, who share a common history, culture, the Polish language and are identified with the country of Poland in Ce ...
who are descended from settlers from the Bamberg area who settled in villages around
Poznań
Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John ...
in the years 1719–1753.
In 1759, the possessions and jurisdictions of the diocese situated in
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
were sold to that state. When the secularization of church lands took place (1802) the diocese covered and had a population of 207,000. Bamberg thus lost its independence in 1802, becoming part of
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
in 1803.
Bamberg 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
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, the state government fled to Bamberg and stayed there for almost two years before the Bavarian capital of
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
was retaken by ''
Freikorps
(, "Free Corps" or "Volunteer Corps") were irregular German and other European military volunteer units, or paramilitary, that existed from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. They effectively fought as mercenary or private armies, regar ...
'' units (see
Bavarian Soviet Republic
The Bavarian Soviet Republic, or Munich Soviet Republic (german: Räterepublik Baiern, Münchner Räterepublik),Hollander, Neil (2013) ''Elusive Dove: The Search for Peace During World War I''. McFarland. p.283, note 269. was a short-lived unre ...
). The first republican constitution of Bavaria was passed in Bamberg, becoming known as the ''Bamberger Verfassung'' (Bamberg Constitution).
In February 1926 Bamberg served as the venue for the
Bamberg Conference The Bamberg Conference (german: Bamberger Führertagung) included some sixty members of the leadership of the Nazi Party, and was specially convened by Adolf Hitler in Bamberg, in Upper Franconia, Germany on Sunday 14 February 1926 during the "wilde ...
, convened by
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
in his attempt to foster unity and to stifle dissent within the then-young
Nazi party
The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right politics, far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that crea ...
. Bamberg was chosen for its location in Upper Franconia, reasonably close to the residences of the members of the dissident northern Nazi faction but still within Bavaria.
In 1973, the town celebrated the 1,000th anniversary of its founding.
Historical population
Geography
Bamberg is located in
Franconia
Franconia (german: Franken, ; Franconian dialect: ''Franggn'' ; bar, Frankn) is a region of Germany, characterised by its culture and Franconian dialect (German: ''Fränkisch'').
The three administrative regions of Lower, Middle and Upper Fr ...
, north of
Nuremberg
Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...
by railway and east of
Würzburg
Würzburg (; Main-Franconian: ) is a city in the region of Franconia in the north of the German state of Bavaria. Würzburg is the administrative seat of the ''Regierungsbezirk'' Lower Franconia. It spans the banks of the Main River.
Würzburg is ...
, also by rail. It is situated on the Regnitz river, before it flows into the
Main
Main may refer to:
Geography
* Main River (disambiguation)
**Most commonly the Main (river) in Germany
* Main, Iran, a village in Fars Province
*"Spanish Main", the Caribbean coasts of mainland Spanish territories in the 16th and 17th centuries
...
river.
Its geography is shaped by the
Regnitz
The Regnitz is a river in Franconia, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Main and is in length.
The river is formed by the confluence of the rivers Rednitz and Pegnitz, which meet in the city of Fürth. From there the Regnitz runs northwa ...
and by the foothills of the
Steigerwald
The Steigerwald is a hill region up to in the Bavarian-Franconian part of the South German Scarplands between Würzburg and Nuremberg. It is part of the Keuper Uplands, and within it, it is continued to the north-northeast and right of the river ...
, part of the German uplands. From northeast to southwest, the town is divided into first the Regnitz plain, then one large and several small islands formed by two arms of the Regnitz ('), and finally the part of town on the hills, the "Hill Town" (').
The seven hills of Bamberg
Bamberg extends over seven hills, each crowned by a church. This has led to Bamberg being called the "Franconian Rome" — although a running joke among Bamberg's tour guides is to refer to Rome instead as the "Italian Bamberg". The hills are Cathedral Hill, Michaelsberg, Kaulberg/Obere Pfarre, Stefansberg, Jakobsberg, Altenburger Hill and Abtsberg.
Climate
Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. The
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
subtype for this climate is "
Cfb" (Marine West Coast Climate/
Oceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ( ...
), with a certain continental influence as indicated by average winter nighttime temperatures well below zero.
Economy
In 2013 (latest data available) the GDP per inhabitant was €56,723. This places the district 10th out of 96 districts (rural and urban) in Bavaria (overall average: €39,691).
Attractions
![Bamberg BW 2013-06-19 17-17-19](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Bamberg_BW_2013-06-19_17-17-19.JPG)
The Town of Bamberg was inscribed on the
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
World Heritage List in 1993 due to its medieval layout and its well preserved historic buildings.
Since the Middle Ages, urban gardening has been practiced in Bamberg. The Market Gardeners’ District together with the City on the Hills and the Island District is an integral part of the World Heritage site. In 2005, the Municipality established a unit to coordinate the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in Bamberg. In 2019, a visitor and interpretation centre opened for the World Heritage site.
Some of the main sights are:
*
Bamberg Cathedral
Bamberg Cathedral (german: Bamberger Dom, official name Bamberger Dom St. Peter und St. Georg) is a church in Bamberg, Germany, completed in the 13th century. The cathedral is under the administration of the Roman Catholic Church and is the se ...
(1237), with the tombs of Emperor Henry II and
Pope Clement II
Pope Clement II ( la, Clemens II; born Suidger von Morsleben; died 9 October 1047), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 25 December 1046 until his death in 1047. He was the first in a series of reform-minded popes ...
* ', residence of the bishops in the 16th and 17th centuries
* ', residence of the bishops after the 17th century
*
Bamberg State Library
The Bamberg State Library (german: Staatsbibliothek Bamberg) is a combined universal, regional and research library with priority given to the humanities. Today it is housed in the New Residence, the former prince-bishop's new palace. The Free ...
in the New Residence
Old town hall(1386), built in the middle of the Regnitz river, accessible by two bridges
* ' ("Little Venice"), a colony of fishermen's houses from the 19th century along one bank of the river Regnitz
*
Michaelsberg Abbey
Michaelsberg Abbey (german: Abtei Michaelsberg) is a former monastery of the Benedictine Order, belonging to the Subiaco Congregation (1064-2011). The monastery is situated on the ''Michaelsberg'' ("St. Michael's Mount"), about 40 metres above ...
, built in the 12th century on one of Bamberg's "Seven Hills." The former Benedictine abbey, which once housed a brewery, is now home to the Franconian Brewery Museum.
* , castle, former residence of the bishops
; Cathedral:
Bamberg Cathedral
Bamberg Cathedral (german: Bamberger Dom, official name Bamberger Dom St. Peter und St. Georg) is a church in Bamberg, Germany, completed in the 13th century. The cathedral is under the administration of the Roman Catholic Church and is the se ...
is a late
Romanesque building with four towers. It was founded in 1004 by Emperor Henry II, finished in 1012
and consecrated on 6 May 1012. It was later partially destroyed by fire in 1081. The new cathedral, built by Saint
Otto of Bamberg
Otto of Bamberg (1060 or 1061 – 30 June 1139) was a German missionary and papal legate who converted much of medieval Pomerania to Christianity. He was the bishop of Bamberg from 1102 until his death. He was canonized in 1189.
Early life
Th ...
, was consecrated in 1111 and in the 13th century received its present late-Romanesque form.
The cathedral is long, wide, high, and the four towers are each about high. It contains many historic works of art, such as the marble tomb of the founder and his wife, considered one of the greatest works of the sculptor
Tilman Riemenschneider
Tilman Riemenschneider (c. 1460 – 7 July 1531) was a German sculptor and woodcarver active in Würzburg from 1483. He was one of the most prolific and versatile sculptors of the transition period between late Gothic and Renaissance, a master ...
, and carved between 1499 and 1513. Another treasure of the cathedral is an
equestrian statue
An equestrian statue is a statue of a rider mounted on a horse, from the Latin ''eques'', meaning 'knight', deriving from ''equus'', meaning 'horse'. A statue of a riderless horse is strictly an equine statue. A full-sized equestrian statue is a d ...
known as the
Bamberg Horseman
The Bamberg Horseman (german: Der Bamberger Reiter) is an early 13th-century stone equestrian statue by an anonymous medieval sculptor in the cathedral of Bamberg, Germany.
Description
Dating probably from the time before the consecration of ...
(').
This statue, possibly depicting the emperor
Conrad III, most likely dates to the second quarter of the 13th century. The statue also serves as a symbol of the town of Bamberg.
; :
The ' (New Residence) (1698–1704) was initially occupied by the prince-bishops, and from 1864 to 1867 by the deposed King
Otto of Greece
Otto (, ; 1 June 181526 July 1867) was a Bavarian prince who ruled as King of Greece from the establishment of the monarchy on 27 May 1832, under the Convention of London, until he was deposed on 23 October 1862.
The second son of King Ludw ...
. Its ' (Rose Garden) overlooks the town. It has over 4500 roses.
; :
The is located on the highest of Bamberg's seven hills. It was mentioned for the first time in 1109. Between 1251 and 1553 it was the residence of Bamberg's bishops. Destroyed in 1553 by
Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
Albert II (german: Albrecht; 28 March 15228 January 1557) was the Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (Brandenburg-Bayreuth) from 1527 to 1553. He was a member of the Franconian branch of the House of Hohenzollern. Because of his bellicose nature ...
, it was used after scant repairs only as a prison, and increasingly fell into decay.
In 1801, A. F. Marcus bought the castle and completely repaired it. His friend, the famous German writer
E.T.A. Hoffmann, who was very impressed by the building, lived there for a while. The next owner, Anton von Greifenstein, in 1818 founded an association to preserve the castle. This society still maintains the entire property today. The Altenburg today houses a restaurant.
; Other sights:
Other churches are the ', an 11th-century Romanesque
basilica
In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name ...
; the '; the ' or ' (1320–1387), which has now been restored to its original pure
Gothic
Gothic or Gothics may refer to:
People and languages
*Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes
**Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths
**Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...
style. The ', 12th century Romanesque (restored), on the Michaelsberg, was formerly the church of the
Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
Michaelsberg Abbey
Michaelsberg Abbey (german: Abtei Michaelsberg) is a former monastery of the Benedictine Order, belonging to the Subiaco Congregation (1064-2011). The monastery is situated on the ''Michaelsberg'' ("St. Michael's Mount"), about 40 metres above ...
secularized in 1803 and now contains the ', or
almshouse
An almshouse (also known as a bede-house, poorhouse, or hospital) was charitable housing provided to people in a particular community, especially during the medieval era. They were often targeted at the poor of a locality, at those from certain ...
, and the museum and municipal art collections.
Of the bridges connecting the sections of the lower town the ' was completed in 1455. Halfway across this, on an island, is the ' or town hall (rebuilt 1744–1756). The lyceum, formerly a
Jesuit
, image = Ihs-logo.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits
, abbreviation = SJ
, nickname = Jesuits
, formation =
, founders ...
college, contains a natural history museum. The old palace (') was built in 1591 on the site of an old residence of the counts of
Babenberg. Monuments include the Maximilian fountain (1880), with statues of
King Maximilian I of Bavaria
Maximilian I Joseph (german: Maximilian I. Joseph; 27 May 1756 – 13 October 1825) was Duke of Zweibrücken from 1795 to 1799, prince-elector of Bavaria (as Maximilian IV Joseph) from 1799 to 1806, then King of Bavaria (as Maximilian I Joseph) ...
, the emperor Henry II and his wife,
Conrad III and
Saint Otto, bishop of Bamberg.
There are also tunnels beneath the town. These were originally constructed as mines which supplied sandstone which could be used for construction or as an abrasive cleaner. Mining came to an end in 1920 but a tunnel network remained. The tunnels were used as an
air raid shelter
Air raid shelters are structures for the protection of non-combatants as well as combatants against enemy attacks from the air. They are similar to bunkers in many regards, although they are not designed to defend against ground attack (but many ...
during World War II. A part of the network can be visited on a guided tour.
Beer
Bamberg is known for its smoked
Rauchbier and is home to 11 breweries, including
Brauerei Fässla,
Brauerei Greifenklau, Brauerei Heller-Trum (
Schlenkerla
Schlenkerla is a historic brewpub in Bamberg, Franconia, Germany renowned for its Smoking (cooking), smoked Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier.
Beers
Aecht Schlenkerla is recognized for making traditional Rauchbier (smoked beer) including Bock, urb ...
),
Brauerei Kaiserdom,
Keesmann Bräu,
Klosterbräu,
Mahrs Bräu,
Brauerei Spezial, Gasthausbrauerei Ambräusianum, Kron Prinz, and Weyermann Röstmalzbierbrauerei. Weyermann Specialty Malting, founded in Bamberg in 1879, supplies breweries around the world. Every August there is a five-day ', a
kirmess
Kermesse, or kermis, or kirmess, is a Dutch language term derived from 'kerk' (church) and 'mis' (mass) that became borrowed in English, French, Spanish and many other languages, originally denoting the mass said on the anniversary of the foundat ...
celebrated with beers. The Franconia region surrounding Bamberg is home to more than 200 breweries. In October and early November many of the 70 breweries in and around Bamberg celebrate Bockbieranstiche with special releases of Bock beer.
Education
The
University of Bamberg
The University of Bamberg (german: Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg) in Bamberg, Germany, specializes in the humanities, cultural studies, social sciences, economics, and applied computer science.
Campus
The university is mainly housed in ...
, named Otto-Friedrich University, offers higher education in the areas of
social science
Social science is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original "science of soc ...
,
business studies and the
humanities
Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture. In the Renaissance, the term contrasted with divinity and referred to what is now called classics, the main area of secular study in universities at the t ...
, and is attended by more than 12,000 students. The University of Applied Sciences Bamberg offers higher education in the areas of
public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...
. Bamberg is also home to eight secondary schools (
gymnasiums):
* Clavius-Gymnasium
*
Dientzenhofer
Dientzenhofer is the name of a family of German architects, who were among the leading builders in Bohemian and German Baroque.
Architects
* Georg Dientzenhofer, a poor mountain peasant & wife Barbara (Thanner) had five sons and two grandsons wh ...
-Gymnasium
* Eichendorff-Gymnasium
*
E.T.A. Hoffmann-Gymnasium
* Franz-Ludwig-Gymnasium
* Kaiser-Heinrich-Gymnasium
* Maria-Ward-Gymnasium
* Theresianum
There are also numerous other institutes for primary, secondary, technical, vocational and adult education.
Infrastructure
Transport
Railway
The
InterCityExpress main line No. 28 (
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
–
Nuremberg
Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...
–
Leipzig
Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's eighth most populous, as wel ...
–
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
/ –
Hamburg
(male), (female) en, Hamburger(s),
Hamburgian(s)
, timezone1 = Central (CET)
, utc_offset1 = +1
, timezone1_DST = Central (CEST)
, utc_offset1_DST = +2
, postal ...
) and the main line No. 18 (Munich – Nuremberg – Halle – Berlin / – Hamburg) run on the
Nuremberg–Bamberg and the
Bamberg–Hof lines through the
Bamberg station
Bamberg station is the only passenger station of the city of Bamberg in Upper Franconia in the German state of Bavaria. It is a major hub station for local trains operated by Deutsche Bahn and Agilis and is also a regularly served by Intercity-Ex ...
. It takes less than two hours to Munich on the train and with the
Nuremberg–Erfurt high-speed railway
The Nuremberg–Erfurt high-speed railway is a German high-speed railway, between Nuremberg and Erfurt. The line is listed in Germany's federal transport plan as '' Verkehrsprojekt Deutsche Einheit Nr.'' ("German Unity transport project no") ''8 ...
through the Thuringian mountains finished in 2017 less than three hours to Berlin. Two intercity trains of line no. 17 (Vienna – Warnemünde) and line no. 61 (Leipzig – Nuremberg – Karlsruhe) also run through Bamberg.
East-west connections are poorer. Bamberg is connected to other towns in eastern Upper Franconia such as
Bayreuth
Bayreuth (, ; bar, Bareid) is a town in northern Bavaria, Germany, on the Red Main river in a valley between the Franconian Jura and the Fichtelgebirge Mountains. The town's roots date back to 1194. In the 21st century, it is the capital of U ...
,
Coburg
Coburg () is a town located on the Itz river in the Upper Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany. Long part of one of the Thuringian states of the Wettin line, it joined Bavaria by popular vote only in 1920. Until the revolution of 1918, it was ...
, and
Kronach
Kronach ( East Franconian: ''Gronich'') is a town in Upper Franconia, Germany, located in the Frankenwald area. It is the capital of the district Kronach.
Kronach is the birthplace of Lucas Cranach the Elder and Maximilian von Welsch, as well ...
via the
Bamberg–Hof line with trains usually running at least every hour. Connections on the
Würzburg–Bamberg line to the west are hourly regional trains to Würzburg, which is fully connected to the ICE network. Tourists arriving at
Frankfurt International Airport
Frankfurt Airport (; german: link=no, Flughafen Frankfurt Main , also known as ''Rhein-Main-Flughafen'') is a major international airport located in Frankfurt, the fifth-largest city of Germany and one of the world's leading financial centres. ...
can take advantage of the new direct connection from Frankfurt's main station.
Motorways
Bamberg is not near any of the major (i.e. single-digit)
autobahns. But it is nevertheless well connected to the network in all directions: the
A70 from
Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt ( , ; ) is a city in the district of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the surrounding district (''Landkreis'') of Schweinfurt and a major industrial, cultural and educational hub. The urban ag ...
(connecting to the
A7 there) to Bayreuth (connecting to the
A9) runs along the northern edge of the town. The
A73 on the eastern side of town connects Bamberg to Nuremberg (connecting to the
A9) and
Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million.
Erfurt is the capital and larg ...
, ending at
Suhl
Suhl () is a city in Thuringia, Germany, located SW of Erfurt, NE of Würzburg and N of Nuremberg. With its 37,000 inhabitants, it is the smallest of the six urban districts within Thuringia. Together with its northern neighbour-town Zella- ...
.
Air transport
Bamberg is served by
Bamberg-Breitenau Airfield. Mostly public aircraft operate there. It used to be a military airport. (IATA-Code: ZCD, ICAO-Code: EDQA) It is also possible to charter public flights to and from this airport.
Most international tourists who travel by plane arrive at
Frankfurt International Airport
Frankfurt Airport (; german: link=no, Flughafen Frankfurt Main , also known as ''Rhein-Main-Flughafen'') is a major international airport located in Frankfurt, the fifth-largest city of Germany and one of the world's leading financial centres. ...
or
Munich Airport
Munich International Airport- Franz Josef Strauß (german: link=no, Flughafen München) is an international airport serving Munich and Upper Bavaria. It is the second-busiest airport in Germany in terms of passenger traffic after Frankfurt A ...
. The nearest major airport is
Nuremberg Airport
Nuremberg Airport , german: link=no, Albrecht Dürer Flughafen Nürnberg, is the international airport of the Franconian metropolitan area of Nuremberg and the second-busiest airport in Bavaria after Munich Airport. With about 4.1 million pass ...
which can be reached within 45mins by car or one hour by train and subway.
Water transport
![Bamberg-Liebherr-crane-4295172](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Bamberg-Liebherr-crane-4295172.jpg)
Both the
Rhine-Main-Danube Canal and its predecessor, the
Ludwig Canal
The Ludwig Canal (German: Ludwig-Donau-Main-Kanal or Ludwigskanal), is an abandoned canal in southern Germany.
The canal linked the Danube River at Kelheim with the Main River at Bamberg, connecting the Danube basin with the Rhine basin. The f ...
, begin near Bamberg. The Ludwig Canal was opened in 1846 but closed in 1950 after damage during the
second world war
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. With the completion of the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal in 1992, uninterrupted water transport was again made possible between the
North Sea
The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. An epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian S ...
and the
Black Sea
The Black Sea is a marginal mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bounded by Bulgaria, Georgia, Roma ...
.
Local public transport
Local public transport within Bamberg relies exclusively on buses. More than 20 routes connect the outlying quarters and some villages in the vicinity to the central bus station. In addition, there are several "Night Lines" (the last of these, though, tend to run around midnight) and some
park-and-ride
A park and ride, also known as incentive parking or a commuter lot, is a parking lot with public transport connections that allows commuters and other people heading to city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system (rap ...
lines from parking lots on the periphery to the town centre.
A short-lived tram system existed in the 1920s.
Military bases
Bamberg was an important base for the Bavarian, German, and then American military stationed at
Warner Barracks. Warner Barracks was closed in the fall of 2014, with the last battalion leaving being the 54th Engineer Battalion, and the grounds returned to the German government. In 2016, a large part of the facility was taken over by the
German Federal Police
The Federal Police (''Bundespolizei'' or BPOL) is the national and principal federal law enforcement agency of the German Federal Government, being subordinate to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (''Bundesministeriu ...
for training purposes. Muna Kasserne was a small base occupied by the 504th Maintenance Company, 71st Maintenance Bn. It was part of Warner Barracks although located separately.
Governance
Bamberg is an urban district, or ''kreisfreie Stadt''. Its town council (''Stadtrat'') and its mayor (''Oberbürgermeister'') are elected every six years, though not in the same year. Thus, the last municipal election for the town council was in 2014, for the mayor in 2012. As an exception to the six-year term, the term starting in 2012 will take eight years to synchronize the elections with those in the rest of Bavaria.
As of the elections of 16 March 2014, the 44 member strong town council comprises 12
CSU councillors, 10
SPD
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (german: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, ; SPD, ) is a centre-left social democratic political party in Germany. It is one of the major parties of contemporary Germany.
Saskia Esken has been t ...
councillors, 8
Green
Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 Nanometre, nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by ...
councillors, 4 councillors of the ''Bamberger Bürger-Block'' and 4 of the ''Freie Wähler'' (Free Voters), both local political movements. These five parties achieved the number of councillors necessary to form a
parliamentary group
A parliamentary group, parliamentary party, or parliamentary caucus is a group consisting of some members of the same political party or electoral fusion of parties in a legislative assembly such as a parliament or a city council.
Parliamentar ...
. In addition, there are 3 councillors of the ''Bamberger Unabhängige Bürger'' and the 1 councillor each of the ''Bamberger Realisten'', the
FDP and the ''Bamberger Linke Liste''.
The previous council, elected on 2 March 2008, was composed of 15
CSU councillors, 10
SPD
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (german: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, ; SPD, ) is a centre-left social democratic political party in Germany. It is one of the major parties of contemporary Germany.
Saskia Esken has been t ...
councillors, 7
Green
Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 Nanometre, nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by ...
councillors, 5 councillors of the Bamberger Bürger-Block and 3 of the Freie Wähler (Free Voters), both local political movements. These five parties achieved the number of councillors necessary to form a
parliamentary group
A parliamentary group, parliamentary party, or parliamentary caucus is a group consisting of some members of the same political party or electoral fusion of parties in a legislative assembly such as a parliament or a city council.
Parliamentar ...
. In addition, there were 2 councillors of the ''Bamberger Realisten'' and one of the
FDP and the
Republikaner, making them ineligible for caucus status.
Mayors since 1945
Twin towns – sister cities
Bamberg is
twinned with:
*
Bedford
Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population of the Bedford built-up area (including Biddenham and Kempston) was 106,940, making it the second-largest settlement in Bedfordshire, behind Luton, whilst ...
, England, United Kingdom
*
Esztergom
Esztergom ( ; german: Gran; la, Solva or ; sk, Ostrihom, known by alternative names) is a city with county rights in northern Hungary, northwest of the capital Budapest. It lies in Komárom-Esztergom County, on the right bank of the river Danu ...
, Hungary
*
Feldkirchen in Kärnten
Feldkirchen in Kärnten ( sl, Trg) is a town in the Austrian state of Carinthia and the capital of the district of the same name. It consists of the Katastralgemeinden ''Fasching'', ''Feldkirchen'', ''Glanhofen'', ''Gradisch'', ''Hoefling'', ''K ...
, Austria
*
Prague 1, Czech Republic
*
Rodez
Rodez ( or ; oc, Rodés, ) is a small city and commune in the South of France, about 150 km northeast of Toulouse. It is the prefecture of the department of Aveyron, region of Occitania (formerly Midi-Pyrénées). Rodez is the seat of the ...
, France
*
Villach
Villach (; sl, Beljak; it, Villaco; fur, Vilac) is the seventh-largest city in Austria and the second-largest in the federal state of Carinthia. It is an important traffic junction for southern Austria and the whole Alpe-Adria region. , the po ...
, Austria
Notable people
A-K
*
Annette von Aretin (1920–2006), first television announcer of the
Bayerischer Rundfunk
Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR; "Bavarian Broadcasting") is a public-service radio and television broadcaster, based in Munich, capital city of the Free State of Bavaria in Germany. BR is a member organization of the ARD consortium of public broadcas ...
*
Carl Adam Bader (1789 in Bamberg; † 1870 in Berlin),
tenor
A tenor is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The lo ...
*
Lisa Badum
Lisa Hildegard Badum (born 2 October 1983) is a German politician of Alliance 90/The Greens. She has been a member of the Bundestag since the 2017 German federal election, after two failed attempts.
Early life and education
From 2003 to 2010, Ba ...
*
Dorothee Bär
Dorothee Gisela Renate Maria Bär ( Mantel; born 19 April 1978) is a German politician of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) who has been serving as a member of the German Bundestag since 2002. From 2014 to 2021, she served in various c ...
(born 1978), Member of Parliament (CSU), State Secretary of the Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure
*
Wilhelm Batz
Wilhelm Batz (21 May 1916 – 11 September 1988) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. Batz fle ...
(1916–1988),
Luftwaffe
The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
, ace
*
Louis-Alexandre Berthier
Louis-Alexandre Berthier (20 November 1753 – 1 June 1815), Prince of Neuchâtel and Valangin, Prince of Wagram, was a French Marshal of the Empire who served during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He was twice Minister ...
(1753–1815), Chief of Staff to Napoleon Bonaparte
*
Joachim Camerarius (1500–1574), humanist, polymath and poet
*
Claudia Ciesla
Claudia Ciesla is a Polish-born German actress and model who works mainly in the Indian film industry.[Pope Clement II
Pope Clement II ( la, Clemens II; born Suidger von Morsleben; died 9 October 1047), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 25 December 1046 until his death in 1047. He was the first in a series of reform-minded popes ...](_blank)
(died 1047), bishop of Bamberg from 1040 to 1046
*
Christopher Clavius
Christopher Clavius, SJ (25 March 1538 – 6 February 1612) was a Jesuit German mathematician, head of mathematicians at the Collegio Romano, and astronomer who was a member of the Vatican commission that accepted the proposed calendar inve ...
(1538–1612), mathematician, astronomer and Jesuit
*
Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III (german: Konrad; it, Corrado; 1093 or 1094 – 15 February 1152) of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was from 1116 to 1120 Duke of Franconia, from 1127 to 1135 anti-king of his predecessor Lothair III and from 1138 until his death in 1152 k ...
(1093–1152), king of Germany
*
Cunigunde of Luxembourg
Cunigunde of Luxembourg, OSB (german: Kunigunde) ( 975 – 3 March 1033), also called Cunegundes, Cunegunda, and Cunegonda and, in Latin, Cunegundis or Kinigundis, was Empress of the Holy Roman Empire by marriage to Holy Roman Emperor Henry II ...
(c. 975–1040), empress consort, regent of the Holy Roman Empire and wife of Henry II
*
Stefan Dassler (born 1962), non-fiction author
*
Günther Denzler (born 1948), former district administrator of Bamberg (CSU)
*
Karlheinz Deschner (1924–2014), writer and critic of religion and the church
*
Gottfried Diener
Gottfried Diener (November 1, 1926 – May 26, 2015) was a Swiss bobsledder who competed in the mid-1950s. He won the gold medal in the four-man event at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Diener also won two gold medals i ...
(1907–1987), philologist and Goethe researcher
*
Ignaz Dollinger (1770–1841), physician
*
Ignaz von Dollinger Ignaz is a male given name, related to the name Ignatius. Notable people with this name include:
* Franz Ignaz Beck (1734–1807), German musician
* Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber (1644–1704), Bohemian-Austrian musician
* Ignaz Brüll (1846–1907), ...
(1799–1890), important Catholic theologian and church historian
*
Curt Echtermeyer, also known as Curt Bruckner (1896–1971), painter
*
Erich Ebermayer
Erich Ebermayer (14 September 1900 – 22 September 1970) was a German writer of plays, novels and articles. He was also a screenwriter involved with around thirty films including the 1937 historical production ''Madame Bovary''.Paietta & Ka ...
(1900–1970), writer
*
Hans Ehard
Hans Ehard (10 November 1887 – 18 October 1980) was a German lawyer and politician, a member of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria, Christian Social Union (CSU) party.
Biography
Hans Ehard was born in Bamberg in 1887, the son of a local off ...
(1887–1980), lawyer and politician
*
Günter Faltin (born 1944), university teacher
*
Heinrich Finck Heinrich Finck (1444 or 1445 – 9 June 1527) was a notable German composer. He served as ''Kapellmeister'' first for Prince Alexander of Lithuania, later King of Poland, before living Poland in 1510. He worked in Stuttgart before becoming a membe ...
(1444–1527), conductor and composer
*
Klaus-Dieter Fritsche (born 1953), jurist and politician (CSU),
*
Karl von Gareis (1844–1923), a lawyer and author, member of the Reichstag
*
Nora-Eugenie Gomringer (born 1980), poet and writer
*
Thomas Gottschalk
Thomas Johannes Gottschalk (born 18 May 1950) is a German radio and television host and entertainer. He is best known for hosting '' Wetten, dass..?'', for many years Europe's biggest television show, which he steered to huge success in Germany, ...
(born 1950), moderator, TV presenter, actor
*
Lukas Görtler
Lukas Maria Görtler (born 15 June 1994) is a German professional football midfielder who plays as a midfielder or forward for FC St. Gallen.
Club career
Görtler joined Bayern in 2014, having previously been playing for Eintracht Bamberg. On ...
(born 1994), football player
*
Hans Grassmann (born 1960), physicist and author
*
Joseph Heller
Joseph Heller (May 1, 1923 – December 12, 1999) was an American author of novels, short stories, plays, and screenplays. His best-known work is the 1961 novel ''Catch-22'', a satire on war and bureaucracy, whose title has become a synonym for ...
(1798–1849), collector, today Helleriana in Bamberg State Library
*
Karl Höller
Karl Höller (25 July 1907 – 14 April 1987) was a German composer of the late Romantic tradition.
Biography
Karl Höller was born in Bamberg, Bavaria. He came from a musical family on both sides: his father Valentin Höller was the Bamberg Cath ...
(1907–1987), composer
*
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (; ; 27 August 1770 – 14 November 1831) was a German philosopher. He is one of the most important figures in German idealism and one of the founding figures of modern Western philosophy. His influence extends ...
(1770–1831), German philosopher
*
Henry II (973–1024), Holy Roman Emperor
*
E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776–1822), German author and composer
*
Joachim Jung
Joachim Jungius (born Joachim Junge; 22 October 1587 – 23 September 1657) was a German mathematician, logician and philosopher of science.
Life
Jungius was a native of Lübeck. He studied metaphysics at the Universities of Rostock and Giess ...
(born 1951), artist
*
Harry Koch (born 1969), football player
*
Lorenz Krapp (1882–1947), lawyer, poet and politician (BVP, CSU)
*
Dieter Kunzelmann
Dieter Kunzelmann (14 July 1939 – 14 May 2018) was a German left-wing terrorist. In the early 1960s he was a member of the Situationist-inspired artists' group Gruppe SPUR. He was one of the founders of Kommune 1 in 1967. At the end of th ...
(born 1939), communard and left-wing activist
*
Paul Lautensack (1478–1558), painter and organist
L-Z
![Marschalk von Ostheim](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Marschalk_von_Ostheim.jpg)
*
Paul Maar
Paul Maar (; born 13 December 1937) is one of the most important modern German writers for children and young people. He is a novelist, playwright, translator and illustrator.
Life
Maar was born in Schweinfurt. After the early death of his mo ...
(born 1937), German writer and illustrator
*
Emil Marschalk von Ostheim (1841–1903), historian and collector
*
Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria
Duke Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria (4 December 1808 – 15 November 1888), known informally as Max in Bayern, was a member of a Duke in Bavaria, junior branch of the royal House of Wittelsbach who were Kings of Bavaria, and a promoter of Bavarian f ...
, actually'' Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria'' (1808–1888), promoter of Bavarian folk music in the 19th century
*
Willy Messerschmitt
Wilhelm Emil "Willy" Messerschmitt (; 26 June 1898 – 15 September 1978) was a German aircraft designer and manufacturer. In 1934, in collaboration with Walter Rethel, he designed the Messerschmitt Bf 109, which became the most important ...
(1898–1978), German aircraft designer,
Flugzeugbau Messerschmitt GmbH
*
Wolf-Dieter Montag
Wolf-Dieter Montag (10 December 1924 – 21 July 2018) was a German physician, sports medicine specialist, mountain rescue doctor, and international sports administrator. His medical career spanned 50 years in his native Bavaria, and included be ...
(1924–2018), German physician, sports medicine specialist, mountain rescue doctor, and international sports administrator
*
Christina Morhaubt, convicted of witchcraft and sentenced to death by burning in 1627 during the
Bamberg witch trials
The Bamberg witch trials of 1627–1632, which took place in the self governing Catholic Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg in the Holy Roman Empire in present-day Germany, is one of the biggest mass trials and mass executions ever seen in Europe, and ...
*
Martin Münz
Martin Münz (5 November 1785 – 18 March 1848) was a German anatomist born in Bamberg.
In 1812 he obtained his medical doctorate from the University of Landshut, where in 1814 he earned his habilitation, later becoming an associate professo ...
(1785–1848), anatomist and professor
*
Ida Noddack
Ida Noddack (25 February 1896 – 24 September 1978), '' née'' Tacke, was a German chemist and physicist. In 1934 she was the first to mention the idea later named nuclear fission. With her husband - Walter Noddack - and Otto Berg she discov ...
-Tacke, (1896–1978), chemist and physicist; she discovered element 75,
rhenium
Rhenium is a chemical element with the symbol Re and atomic number 75. It is a silvery-gray, heavy, third-row transition metal in group 7 of the periodic table. With an estimated average concentration of 1 part per billion (ppb), rhenium is one ...
*
Christopher Park (born 1987), pianist
*
Fiona Parker (born 1991), Olympic silver medalist
*
Bernd Redmann
Bernd Redmann (born 10 May 1965 in Bamberg) is a German composer and musicologist.
Career
Born in Bamberg, Bernd Redmann studied at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München, music pedagogy and composition with Dieter Acker, and music ...
(born 1965), composer and musicologist
*
Mike Rose (1932–2006), painter, set designer and writer
*
Gerd Schaller (born 1965), conductor
*
Rainer Schaller
Rainer Schaller (4 January 1969 – 21 October 2022) was a German entrepreneur. He was the Founder CEO of the RSG Group, which includes the McFit, John Reed and Gold's Gym fitness studios. He hit headlines as a result of the disaster at the 2010 ...
(born 1969), entrepreneur and founder of
McFit
The McFIT GmbH is the largest fitness center chain in Germany with 246 studios and over 1.4 million members in Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland and Spain. The company's headquarters is in Schlüsselfeld. Directed by founder Rainer Schaller, the ...
Fitness GmbH
*
Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg
Colonel Claus Philipp Maria Justinian Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg (; 15 November 1907 – 21 July 1944) was a German army officer best known for his failed attempt on 20 July 1944 to assassinate Adolf Hitler at the Wolf's Lair.
Despite ...
(1907–1944), German officer who attempted to assassinate German dictator
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
in the
July 20 Plot
On 20 July 1944, Claus von Stauffenberg and other conspirators attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Führer of Nazi Germany, inside his Wolf's Lair field headquarters near Rastenburg, East Prussia, now Kętrzyn, in present-day Poland. The ...
*
Berthold Maria Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg
Berthold Maria Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg (born 3 July 1934) is a German retired Bundeswehr general. Early in his career, he commanded Germany's largest military base. At the time of his retirement in 1994 he was Germany's longest serving sold ...
(born 1934), former General of the Bundeswehr
*
Franz-Ludwig Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg
Count Franz-Ludwig Schenk von Stauffenberg (german: Franz-Ludwig Gustav Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg; born 4 May 1938) is a German lawyer and politician from the CSU. He was a member of the Bundestag from 1976 to 1987 and of the European Parliament ...
(born 1938), former Bavarian European parliament member
*
Ritter Josef von Schmitt (1838–1907), German noble, Court
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
for the
Kingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria (german: Königreich Bayern; ; spelled ''Baiern'' until 1825) was a German state that succeeded the former Electorate of Bavaria in 1805 and continued to exist until 1918. With the unification of Germany into the German E ...
, advisor to
Prince Luitpold of Bavaria,
Privy councilor
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...
and an
Honorary Citizen
Honorary citizenship is a status bestowed by a city or other government on a foreign or native individual whom it considers to be especially admirable or otherwise worthy of the distinction. The honour usually is symbolic and does not confer an ...
of the city of Bamberg.
*
Gottfried von Schmitt (1827–1908), German noble, member of
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
and member of Upper Council of
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
.
*
Josef Schmitt (1875–1944), German noble and
Privy councillor.
*
Gottfried Schmitt (1865–1919), German politician
*
Josh Shipp (born 1986), professional basketball player for
Brose Baskets Bamberg
*
Tom Schütz
Tom Schütz (born 20 January 1988) is a German former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder
A midfielder is an outfield position in association football.
Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, brea ...
(born 1988), football player
*
Sven Schultze (born 1978), basketball player
*
Karsten Tadda (born 1988), basketball player
*
Karl Borromäus Thumann (1820–1874), German theologian
*
Oscar Wassermann (1869–1934), German banker
*
Andrew Wooten
Andrew Wooten (born September 30, 1989) is an American professional footballer who plays as a forward for German club Preußen Münster.
Club career
1. FC Kaiserslautern
In 2009, Wooten signed with 1. FC Kaiserslautern II. He made his debut ...
(born 1989), German-American soccer player
*
Karl Friedrich Gottlob Wetzel (1779–1819), writer and illustrator
Fränkischer Merkur
Gallery
Image:BambergAltesRathaus.jpg, Old town hall
Image:Bamberg-altes-rathaus.jpg, Old town hall with both bridges
Image:Bamberg Klein-Venedig I.jpg, Close-up of "Little Venice"
Image:Bamberg Klein Venedig.jpg, "Little Venice"
Image:Pfarrkirche St. Martin.jpg, St Martin and Green Market
Image:Bamberg Neue Residenz.jpg, ''Neue Residenz'' (the "New Residence" of the prince-bishops)
Image:Rose Garden 2.JPG, The Rose Garden at the ''Neue Residenz''
Image:Bamberg-NeueResidenz1-Asio.JPG, Rose Garden detail
Image:Bamberg-Jakobskirche.JPG, Church of St Jacob
Image:Bamberg Rooftops.JPG, Bamberg rooftops from the Rose Garden
File:Musikpavillon Hain Bamberg.JPG, Music pavilion in park Hain, Bamberg
See also
*
Bamberg (potato) (named after the town)
*
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
The Bamberg Symphony (German: Bamberger Symphoniker – Bayerische Staatsphilharmonie) is a German orchestra based in Bamberg. It is one of the most prestigious orchestras in Germany. The orchestra was formed in 1946 mainly from German musicians ...
*
Rintfleisch-Pogrom
The Rintfleisch or Rindfleisch movement was a series of massacres against Jews in 1298. The event, in later terminology a pogrom, was the first large-scale persecution in Germany since the First Crusade.
History
It occurred in the Franconian regio ...
*
Franconia
Franconia (german: Franken, ; Franconian dialect: ''Franggn'' ; bar, Frankn) is a region of Germany, characterised by its culture and Franconian dialect (German: ''Fränkisch'').
The three administrative regions of Lower, Middle and Upper Fr ...
References
*
"Bamberg"at the ''
Jewish Encyclopedia
''The Jewish Encyclopedia: A Descriptive Record of the History, Religion, Literature, and Customs of the Jewish People from the Earliest Times to the Present Day'' is an English-language encyclopedia containing over 15,000 articles on th ...
''
External links
Town of Bamberg: UNESCO Official Website*
Bamberg World Heritage OfficeOfficial tourist websiteBamberg beer, official website
{{Authority control
Bamberg
World Heritage Sites in Germany