Whether you are interested in the history of Levi Strauss, who became world-famous through his jeans of the same name, or in Franconian beer brewing: You will not be disappointed in Bamberg.
Highlights across seven hills
Enshrouded in history and Franconian charm, a wide choice of high-profile concerts, cabaret and variety performances are guaranteed to entertain you.
The town can justifiably take pride in the wide spectrum of cultural events it has to offer. Culture in Bamberg has many faces. From resounding orchestras to cool jazz and from classical theatre to puppet and shadow theatre. Covering a diversity of subjects, the museums will take you on a journey of discovery into the world of art, history, natural history, brewing and much more. A list of cultural events can be found in the calendar.
Bamberg's museums
Bamberg - the musical city
Music plays an important role in Bamberg - it is no surprise, therefore, that the world-famous Bamberg Symphony Orchestra is its pride and joy.
Theatre and stages
Bamberg is home to many stages - all of which are very different, and in their own way, special.
Bamberg – City of art
Art is an integral part of Bamberg's cultural scene. Apart from the many exhibitions in Bamberg's museums you will find historic art and contemporary art all over the place.
E.T.A. Hoffmann in Bamberg
In the year 1808 E.T.A. Hoffmann, the composer, painter and poet came to Bamberg and took over the role of musical director at the theatre.
Bamberg's puppet theatre
The Staub'sche House, a bourgeois town palace dating from the late 18th century, forms the backdrop of a very special gem: Bamberg's puppet theatre, founded by Klaus Loose. At the end of the 1950s, Klaus Loose discovered a travelling puppet theatre in Oldenburg which the owner was selling on ...
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
The Bamberg Symphony Orchestra - which rose to the rank of a state orchestra in 2003 - is known for its virtuosity. It has been an institution in Bamberg's cultural life for more than 60 years and is "Bavaria's cultural diplomat" throughout the world. Founded by former members of the German ...
Brentano Theatre
Germany's officially smallest theatre invites you to a very special theatrical experience. A maximum of 32 guests fit inside the Brentano Theatre. The stage itself is no more than 2m² in area. But it is precisely this intimacy between the audience and actors that make a visit to this theatre so ...
Capella Antiqua Bambergensis in Wernsdorf Palace
The former prince-bishop's hunting palace in Wernsdorf forms the perfect backdrop for the concerts staged by Capella Antiqua At the gateway to Bamberg, Wernsdorf Palace is situated in the village of the same name on the edge of Franconian Switzerland. The former prince bishop's hunting palace ...
Children's Theatre Chapeau Claque
Bamberg's theatre for children stages all sorts of plays and events for children.
Club Kaulberg
nana theatre in the Kaulberg club Another great place for fringe theatre, cabaret, concerts and plays is the nana theatre in the Kaulberg club located on Kaulberg hill. Theatre director Arnd Rühlmann is the head of this company enacting plays in the wonderful atmosphere of an old vaulted ...
Diocesan Museum
Emperor Heinrich II and his consort Kunigunde embellished the diocese they founded with valuable liturgical items, relics, paraments and books. In the course of the centuries, these treasures were extended by donations, but were also decimated several times. Many works of art were lost to ...
Documentation centre on witches
In the 17th century Zeil was the place of execution during the terrible witch hunt era, when hundreds of people were burnt on the stake due to the unrestrained prosecution of alleged witches within the bishopric of Bamberg. The tower and the bond house can be visited and a museum illustrates ...
E.T.A. Hoffmann's House (closed for renovation)
E.T.A. Hoffmann lived in the narrow house on Schillerplatz in 1809/1813. He occupied the second floor and loft with the poet's little room which is still furnished as it might have been in Hoffmann's day. The other rooms are filled with information and displays as well as installations on the ...
ETA Hoffmann Theatre
Many awards are proof enough: The ETA Hoffmann Theatre stands out. The repertoire is always varied and sometimes daring, featuring everything from classical to modern, from readings to musical theatre. In 1802, a Prussian envoy and theatre lover had the buildings on Schillerplatz converted into ...
Fire Brigade's Museum
The oldest exhibit dates from 1740, a fire hose originally located at the New Residence. In the event of fire, it had to be filled with buckets of water and operated by four strong men. The most eye-catching part of the collection are the four bright-red fire engines which are equipped with ...
Former synagogue Reckendorf
The former synagogue now functions as a "House of Culture". In the women's gallery, the exhibition "Culture and Cult" was set up with reference to the former Jewish community. On display are exhibits that came from the local Genizah from the attic of the synagogue. These objects, collected over ...
Franconian Brewery Museum
In the historical, restored vaulted rooms of the former Benedictine Brewery on Michelsberg, the Franconian Brewery Museum is completely devoted to beer. You can admire more than 1300 exhibits in the 900m² museum, which traces the creation of beer from the crop to the mug - all in the unique ...
Franconian Museum of Fishing
Volunteers have founded a little fishing museum in the village of Bischberg, just outside of Bamberg. Currently the museum is being renovated and enlarged and is therefore only open on request. Guided tours are always possible.
Franconian Theatre Summer
Theatre plays all over Franconia in wonderful locations A broad variety of plays, comedy, shows, literature, cabaret and fringe theatre is offered at various locations all over Franconia. The young company of actors stages about 170 shows per year. The stage is set up in castles, courtyards, in ...
Gallery KUNST IM GANG
The gallery's name is ambivalent, as ART IN THE HALL on the one hand means, that the works of art on display here are literally shown in the corridors of a private house, on the other hand it also wants to show, that contemporary art is always in progress and in discussion. Founded in 1994 the ...
Greifenstein Castle
Greifenstein Castle, which is in the possession of Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg is located on a rock high above the city of Markt Heiligenstadt in Franconian Switzerland Greifenstein castle, which is located outside the city of Heiligenstadt in Franconian Switzerland, is a big four winged ...
Historical Museum Ebrach
The museum shows the history of Ebrach and the monastery The museum informs about the monastery’s history, the Baroque interior of the church and the monastic life.
Kunstraum Kesselhaus
The boiler house of the former hospital in the centre of Bamberg has developed into an extraordinary space for modern art. Originally, the industrial building from the early 1960s was used as a hospital laundry, among other things, before standing empty for many years. The Kunstraum JETZT! ...
Levi-Strauss-Museum
The Geburtshaus Levi Strauss Museum Jeans & Kult informs you about Levi Strauss, his life, and his famous product, the Levi's Jeans. The Levi Strauss Museum Jeans & Kult is located in the small half timbered house in Buttenheim where Levi Strauss was born. Modern and interactive presentations ...
Ludwig Collection in the Old Town Hall
The Old Town Hall will be renovated in the near future and will therefore remain closed. This also applies to the Ludwig Collection in the Old Town Hall. Thank you for your understanding! A small selection of the precious porcelain and faience will be presented in the New Residence from July ...
Missionary Museum in Bug district
The Museum created by the missionaries of St Francis in 1964 shows a variety of exhibits from India and South America whilst shedding light on today's missionary work. Perhaps the most impressive exhibit is the shrunken head from Paraguay. However, fossils, findings from an Inca cave that are ...
Museum "Tropfhaus" in Sassanfahrt
Living and working in narrow space - that's life in the museum "Tropfhaus" - probably the smallest open air museum in Bavaria. You can discover what life was like for large families living together on very confined space in a so-called “Tropfhaus”. The house was built during the late 18th ...
Museum Kutz - Communications technology and history
The history of communication goes back 5000 years with the development of the spoken and later the written word. "Museum Kutz - Communications technology and history" documents this evolution. The collection is devoted, among others, to the development of the spoken and written word, the ...
Museum in Schloss Sassanfahrt Palace
You can immerse yourself into history in this old palace turned into a museum, that used to lie on the route of emperors and kings. An old transport route passed through the valley of the River Regnitz and the town of Hirschaid here. The museum invites you to an exciting journey through time ...
Museum of Franconian Switzerland
The Fränkische-Schweiz Museum (Franconian Switzerland Museum) in Tüchersfeld with its large collection of regional artefacts, is one of Franconians most notable museums The museum exhibits important finds of former times. The building has been erected in the so-called Judenhof (Jewish Court) ...
Museum of History
Right next to the famous Bamberg Cathedral ... From October 25, 2024 to April 27, 2025, on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of Emperor Henry II's death, only the exhibition “1000 Years Ago | Life at the court of Kunigunde and Henry II can be experienced. The multi-faceted special ...
Museums on Cathedral Hill
Five institutions of international acclaim are based on Cathedral Hill - already a sight in itself - all within walking distance of each other. They harbour an abundance of treasures and exhibits you shouldn't miss. Bamberg’s Diocesan Museum emerged from Bamberg’s Cathedral Treasury. Its ...
Nativity Museum Bamberg
A rich exhibition with mainly historical Christmas scriptures and crib performances. The museum shows a new selection of Nativity Scenes every year, different in origin, material, and age from all over the world. There is a small museum shop in the foyer where you can also buy figurines and ...
Natural History Museum
The major highlight of Bamberg’s natural history museum are the nature cabinets dating back to the times of prince-bishop Franz Ludwig von Erthal in the Age of Enlightenment. Effectively this ornithological hall, with its classical furnishings and the outstanding collection of stuffed animals ...
New Residence, the State Gallery
The New Residence with its splendid rooms and lavish furnishings is an impressive reflection of the prince-bishops' life. The state gallery contains a significant collection of old German and baroque paintings. In 1604 construction work started on the New Residence on Cathedral Square. ...
Seehof Palace near Memmelsdorf
Seehof palace near Memmelsdorf was built in 1686 as summer residence for the Bamberg prince bishops and impresses its visitors with the beautiful park and its cascades. Seehof palace in Memmelsdorf is often called Marquardsburg after its builder Marquard Schenk von Stauffenberg. The Prince ...
Shadow Theatre
Celebrating 20 years of suspense, humour, and enthusiasm - Bamberg's shadow theatre The artists Norbert Götz und Frederic Heisig shed light upon the moving history of Bamberg with the help of the fascinating art of contemporary shadow theatre. The most haunting and the most joyful events in the ...
State Library Bamberg
This cultural and humanities research library is steeped in tradition. It is charged with the task of supplying the city and region with literature and looking after outstanding literary treasures. Its international standing is documented by the fact that three Reichenau manuscripts dating from ...
TaM- Theatre at the Michaelsberg
The TaM offers a top location within the monastery grounds of St. Michaels’, a diversified programme, performances with great atmosphere and good entertainment. With cabaret, comedy and theatre for kids and adults the TaM offers entertainment at its best. Their own pieces, guest performances ...
The Farmers' Museum of Frensdorf
The Farmers' Museum of Frensdorf is a popular excursion to the south of the world heritage city of Bamberg. You can see the living quarters, a stable, a barn and a baking oven all arranged around the central inner court. You will learn a lot about farmers’ life around 1920 due to the original ...
