Ranking among the most outstanding buildings are the late romanesque/early gothic imperial cathedral, featuring the world-famous Bamberg Horseman, and the Old Bridge Town Hall. Bamberg also offers many other leisure activities and things to do. Find out more about the many sights or create your own sightseeing tour to make your stay in Bamberg truly unforgettable!
Bamberg's sights
There is so much to discover in and around Bamberg: Numerous buildings full of mediaeval charm mixed in with baroque architecture, culture, music, cafés, pubs and all sorts of experiences are all part of this unique ensemble of an old town. Bamberg County offers the chance to follow up the cultural experience with active holidays, great places to visit and excursions and brew pubs galore.
Bamberg's sights
Bamberg county
Even outside of Bamberg, you will be surprised by the great variety of things to do and see. Bamberg county has so much to offer, why not give it a try and visit castles and palaces, churches and monasteries, museums, baths, traditional fairs and events, beautiful village streets and, of course, pure, unspoilt nature. It's a paradise for hiking and cycling, to discover cultural highlights and there's always a freshly tapped beer at hand, as one of the 60 local breweries is never far away.
Tourism Regions
Bamberg is surrounded by four touristic regions, all unique and different, but based on the same traditions and connected through history and the Franconian character of its people, nature and lingo.
Steigerwald Forest Treetop Path
Treetop Canopy Pathway Experience the forest and its trees from a completely different perspective, high up in the treetops. The wooden pathway takes you right to the top of the beech wood forest of the Steigerwald near Ebrach along a 1.15 kilometre long path. Highlight is the tower with its ...
Lisberg castle
Lisberg castle is one of the oldest castles in the Steigerwald Lisberg castle - one of the oldest castles in Franconia – was first mentioned in an historical document in 820. Being in possession of the Babenberger family – earls of the region – it has been used as a sanctuary for the ...
Giechburg castle
Two historical buildings are important visitor attractions near the city of Schesslitz: Giechburg castle and the chapel of St. Pankratius on Guegel hill. Driving by car from Bamberg to Bayreuth you will notice two historical buildings near the city of Schesslitz: Giechburg castle and the chapel ...
Ebrach Abbey
The former Cistercian monastery in Ebrach is a famous and popular destination. Having a wonderful and unique rose window, the Gothic church is one of the region’s great highlights, along with its Baroque monastic buildings. Ebrach was probably the most important front post for the cultural ...
Weissenstein Castle in Pommersfelden
Weissenstein Castle in Pommersfelden is a prestigious example of Franconian Baroque architecture. Its portrait galleries, fully furnished interior and impressive architecture attracts many visitors to Pommersfelden every year. Weissenstein castle in Pommersfelden is one of Germany’s greatest ...
The World Heritage Visitor Centre
Located in the heart of the city, Bamberg's World Heritage Visitor Centre displays Bamberg's outstanding universal value and serves as an interpretation aid for the World Heritage site. Embedded in the international UNESCO context the special features of the World Heritage site “Town of ...
Old Court
The Old Court ranks among the most impressive buildings in the city. The complex once served as the bishop's residence. The precursor to the Old Court was the Castrum Babenberg and the former palace of Emperor Heinrich II. After the foundation of the bishopric in 1007, it was also used as the ...
Altenburg Castle
Altenburg castle is perched on top of Bamberg's highest hill and is one of Bamberg's major landmarks. The castle was first mentioned in 1109 and was used at this time as a refuge. In the 14th and 15th centuries it served as a richly furnished residence for Bamberg's bishops, but was almost ...
Old Town Hall
The Old Town Hall in Bamberg is quite a curiosity: The frescoes that adorn the facades are as amazing as the story behind the building's construction. According to legend the bishop of Bamberg did not grant the citizens any land for the construction of a town hall. This prompted the townsfolk to ...
Cathedral
St. Peter's and St. George's Imperial Cathedral is one of Emperor Heinrich II's legacies. It contains numerous impressive sights. Emperor Heinrich II. had the Cathedral constructed in Bamberg as early as 1002 and it was completed in 1012 after a building period of just ten years. However, this ...
Cathedral Square
One of the most impressive squares, featuring architectural styles from all periods, the Old Court, the New Residence and the Rose Garden The Imperial Cathedral with four spires is perched on top of one of Bamberg's seven hills and forms the heart of the city and the region's most significant ...
St. Michael's Monastery
On the initiative of Emperor Heinrich II., the former Benedictine monastery of St. Michael was founded in 1015. Today its imposing baroque style architecture cannot fail to impress. As early as 1117 the first church was destroyed by an earthquake. Bishop Otto then had a romanesque house of ...
Monastery gardens of St. Michael’s
The gardens of St. Michael’s, a former Benedictine monastery, invite visitors to linger and amble about or enjoy a cup of coffee in the café. A lovely walk is the “Benedictine path” traversing the former baroque gardens. One of the projects of Bamberg’s 2012 Bavarian gardening show is ...
New Residence, Bamberg
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. Until 1802 the New Residence served as the seat of Bamberg's prince bishops. The more ...
Rose Garden
The Rose Garden in the inner court of the New Residence is not only filled with a sea of fragrant flowers but it also reveals a beautiful view of Michaelsberg and the Old Town. Prince-bishop Friedrich Karl von Schönborn had the garden designed by Balthasar Neumann. The symmetrically arranged ...
Lock no. 100
Last of the locks of the old Ludwig-Main-Danube-Canal, built between 1836 and 1845. It connected the Danube near Kehlheim with the River Main just outside of Bamberg. Over the course of these 172 km ships had to pass 100 locks, surpassing around 200 metres of elevation, and needed to be towed ...
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 ...
„Anxious moon“ by Rui Chafes
This sculpture by the Portuguese sculptor Rui Chafes seems to hover above the waterline of the River Regnitz. Made of steel it is fixed to a tree that has its branches hanging over the waters of the river and surprises visitors on a stroll through Bamberg’s big city park, the “Hain”. The ...
„Air-Earth“ by Jaume Plensa
This luminous sculpture from the Catalan artist Jaume Plensa is called „Air-Earth“. It was erected in the middle of the historic mill quarter in 2012, going back to an exhibition of eight of these sculptures „EIGHT POETS“ located all over town in that year. The figure changes its colour ...
"Anchor figure 2002" by Bernhard Luginbühl
The sculpture by Swiss artist Bernhard Luginbühl deals with civilisation and the environment and is made of disused objects. The sculpture was bought after an exhibition in 2004 with the support of the Foundation of Upper Franconia.
“Apoll” by Markus Lüpertz
The disputed German artist Markus Lüpertz often alludes to the great archaic motives of the classic era. Apoll is one of them and shows the Roman god in a very different light. Its final location near the little church St. Elisabeth, was proposed by the artist himself. The sculpture is set on a ...
Studio Bernd Wagenhäuser
Artist Bernd Wagenhäuser presents his work in his new arts loft in the middle of Bamberg. On 200 sqm this new exhibition hall enables him to show some of his smaller works, models, graphic art and installations and sketches, even though he is well known especially for his large Cor-Ten Steel ...
Viewpoint: Friesener Warte
Large hilltop with airfield, offering a great view of Bamberg County Friesener Warte is an exposed hilltop offering a wonderful view of the Regnitz valley and the Steigerwald nature park at a height of 562 metres. Early settlements were found here. There is an airfield and glider pilots rise ...
Viewpoint: Kraiberg hill near Baunach
View of the Main River Valley At 320 metres Kraiberg hill offers a great view of the upper Main Valley and of Bamberg county.
