bamberg walking tour map

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• Bamberg Walking Tour

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By Vicky · Published Sep. 27th, 2022 · Updated Mar. 23rd, 2023

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On this Bamberg Walking Tour explore the medieval town, its famous sights, hidden backstreets and castles.

This walk starts from Bamberg Train Station . It’s 35 minutes from Nuremberg and 1hr45mins from Munich.

Bamberg Walking Tour Map

Get the route by downloading the .gpx or .kml file below. For navigation with Maps.me on your mobile phone, simply download the .kml file and open to add it to the Maps.me bookmarks.

Tips for Bamberg Walking Tour

• This walking tour takes about 1 day.
• If you want to visit many museums, a Bamberg Card * might be worthwhile – it’s valid for 3 days and includes local transport.
• Why not also explore the historic city of Nuremberg or take a hike in nearby Fränkische Schweiz .
• Check out other walks on our Germany Hiking Page .

Page Contents:

Top Sights in Bamberg

On this self-guided walking tour you’ll see the main sites and attractions of Bamberg. One to two days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Bamberg . If you only have one day, you’ll be able to complete the walking tour but not visit all the museums or Seehof Schloss (a castle slightly out of town). If you have two days, you can see almost everything.

• Grüner Markt
• Altes Rathaus
• World Heritage Visitor’s Centre
• Bamberger Dom
• Alte Hofhaltung
• Neue Residenz Bamberg and Rose Garden
• Altenburg Castle
• Kloster St Michael
• Klein Venedig (Little Venice)

This is a self-guided tour of Bamberg. If you’d prefer to be shown around, there is a great 2-hour guided tour of Bamberg *. Apart from seeing the best sights in Bamberg, you should also try the distinctive local Rauchbier (Smoked Beer). It’s different to normal beer because instead of roasting the hops in an oven, they’re roasted over a beechwood fire. You can definitely taste the smokiness. There are seven breweries in town, and you can even go on one of several special beer and brewery tours * in the city.

Bamberg Walking Tour Route

This walking tour starts from Bamberg Train Station . Leave on the city centre side, marked on the signs. Bamberg Altstadt * is about one kilometre away.

Directions: Head straight down the road and at a main junction before the bridge, turn right. There are several nice old houses along this road. Take the first left to cross a semi-pedestrianised bridge over the Main-Danube Canal. Keep going straight down the road.

1. Grüner Markt

The Grüner Markt * is a pedestrianised area of Bamberg that contains many little shops and historical buildings. There’s a street market here on weekdays and Saturdays selling fresh produce, bread, cured meats and more, and it’s often busy. Wander along the street, and don’t miss the Church of St. Martin on your right, a Baroque church with a red and gold interior.

Directions: Cross over the road at the end of the Grüner Markt and head slightly to the right. You’ll soon be on the Obere Brücke that leads to the Altes Rathaus.

2. Altes Rathaus

The Altes Rathaus * is perhaps the most famous thing to see in Bamberg. It’s a Gothic building originally from 1462, though most of what you see now is from 1744-56. It’s built on an artificial island in the middle of the Regnitz River, with two bridges on either side. There are some very colourful frescoes on the outside which tell the legendary story of its buildings. Apparently, the Bishop of Bamberg refused to give any land to the residents of the town for a city hall, so they built it on stakes in the middle of the river instead.

Inside the Altes Rathaus is the Sammlung Ludwig Bamberg , an exhibit of porcelain and glazed pottery (€6/2.50, Tue-Sun open 9:30am-4:30pm) and an impressive rococo hall. At Christmas there’s also a nativity scene inside. The best views are from the Geyerswörthsteg footbridge where this walking tour of Bamberg heads next.

Walking on from the Altes Rathaus

Directions: Walk through the building to the other side of the river. Turn left and left again to head across Geyerswörthsteg footbridge, with great views of the Altes Rathaus.

Across this bridge you’ll see Geyerswörth Palace . This is currently undergoing a long renovation, so you can’t go inside and only see a portion of the pink outside.

Directions: Turn right and you’ll reach the Rosengarten (Rose Garden).

The tourist information office borders this garden, pop in if you want more information about Bamberg or the surrounding region. This walking tour now heads around the rivers in the middle of Bamberg, but if you want to shorten the walk by one kilometre, head straight to the next stop.

Directions: To walk around the rivers, head around the right side of the tourist information. Turn right along the river and then head over the next bridge. Continue a short distance away from the banks and you’ll come to a nice square with the E.T.A. Hoffman House.

E.T.A. Hoffman House

E.T.A. Hoffman is a famous German author who was born and lived in Bamberg. His most well-known works include The Nutcracker * (now famous for being a Tschaikovsky Ballet) and The Mouse King *. He also wrote a short and dark fairytale about The Sandman *. The E. T. A. Hoffmann House ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is now a museum you can visit if you’re interested in the author. The museum has fun imaginative models of the worlds Hoffman created and you’ll hear music from the ballets. Some of the rooms are preserved as they would have been when the author lived here.

Directions: Head back to the river and left before the bridge. Walk around an old watermill and right across a bridge in the park. Head right on the other side to walk back towards Bamberg centre. Turn right and left again to return to the Rosengarten.

On the way you’ll see some nice buildings by the river, and a cute little wooden bridge across a narrow lane.

Directions: From the Rosengarten head away from the Tourist Information and right before the main bridge. You’ll soon reach the next stop, in an old stone and wooden building.

3. World Heritage Visitor’s Centre

Key Information: Open every day from 11am to 4pm. Free entry.

The World Heritage Visitor’s Centre ( Website ) in Bamberg is a good place to learn more about the town before you continue your walking tour and town exploration. It’s quite small but there are some interactive exhibits and several short items to listen to. You can learn about the different parts of Bamberg town and why it was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Directions: Continue onwards and across the small bridge to the left. Walk along the streets straight on and when you reach a cute little square, head right. Soon you’ll be at the Dom Platz, one of the biggest squares in Bamberg. There are three main sights around this square, and it’s also the start of the walking route up to Altenberg Castle (Number 6).

4. Bamberger Dom

Key Information: Open every day 8am-6pm Apr-Oct and 8am-5pm Nov-Mar.

The Bamberger Dom ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is one of the top sights in Bamberg. The dom, or cathedral, has four tall spires that soar into the sky. Heinrich II founded the cathedral in 1004, though most of what you see today is from the 13th century.

Inside you’ll find the tombs of Emperor Henry II and Pope Clemens II, the wooden Bamberger Altar carved in 1523, and the Bamberger Reiter (Bamberg Horseman). This sculpture, dating from around 1225, has become a symbol for the city. Part of the fascination is the fact that both the sculptor and the identity of the rider remain unknown.

Diocesan Museum

The Diocesan Museum ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *) is next to the Cathedral and has several small exhibits on clothing and general church artefacts such as golden crosses and goblets. It opens 10am–5pm most days except it’s closed on Wednesday and only opens at noon on Sundays. Tickets cost €7.

5. Alte Hofhaltung

Key Information: Historisches Museum open Tue-Sun, May-Oct from 9am-5pm. Tickets €5/4.50.

The Alte Hofhaltung * is an old courtyard next to the Dom. It was the residence of the prince-bishops of Bamberg from the 16th to the 18th century, when they moved into the Neue Residence. The courtyard is half-timbered, in the German Renaissance style. In the building near the entrance is the Historisches Museum. Unfortunately, the explanatory text is all in German. There are a variety of exhibits including ancient stone sculptures, models of historic buildings, and special exhibitions about the region’s past.

Directions: Head out the cute doorway at the far side of the Alte Hofhaltung. You’ll reach a historic little area with more half-timbered buildings. Walk right, down another historic lane leading to a road. At the road turn right back to Cathedral Square, with the Neue Residenz on your left.

6. Neue Residenz Bamberg and Rose Garden

Key Information: Open every day 9am-6pm Apr-Sep and 10am-4pm Oct-Mar. Guided tours last 45 minutes. Tickets €6/5 for adults/concessions, or €9/8 for a combination ticket with Schloss Seehof (see further afield in Bamberg).

The Neue Residenz ( Website , Tripadvisor Reviews *), or New Residence of the Bamberg Prince-Bishops, was started in 1603. The wings on Cathedral Square were built about 100 years later. There are over 40 staterooms in the palace. In some of them is the State Gallery of Old German and Baroque paintings, which are of only moderate interest.

To look around the Princes Apartments you have to go on a 45-minute guided tour. You’ll see several rooms decorated as in the past, with stucco-work ceilings, furniture and tapestries from the 17th and 18th centuries. The guided tours are only in German, but there are small boards in each room with an English explanation.

Upstairs is a very large, beautiful room, with paintings, chandeliers and grand fireplaces. You can visit this and a few neighbouring rooms by yourself.

Neue Residenz Rose Garden

You can visit the Rose Garden, which is through the Neue Residenz, for free. The garden has many species of roses and there is a great view over Bamberg from here. There’s also a nice cafe looking out on the garden.

Directions: You can now choose to either visit Altenburg Castle, a 5 km roundtrip walk through countryside, or continue to stop 8.

7. Altenburg Castle (Schloss Altenburg)

Altenburg Castle * is on top of the tallest of the seven Bamberg hills. There’s a popular restaurant and great views of Bamberg town. It’s one of the best places to visit in Bamberg and you can walk there along a nice trail. There’s no public transport to the top, the only other way to get there is to drive or get a ticket for the hourly 6-Hügel-Rundfahrt sightseeing bus (€9/3).

Walking to Altenburg Castle from Bamberg Centre

Directions: To walk to the castle, head left from the Dom past the Diocesan Museum. Continue right along a pedestrian walkway to a little square in the quiet suburbs. Turn right and then left. Soon you’ll be walking on a road through the countryside, which turns into a dirt track. Head left at the top and you’ll reach a road. Cross over the road to contour around to the back of the hill, through nice woodland and countryside. At the far side of the hill, turn right to head up to the castle.

The history of the castle starts in the 12th century when locals took refuge here during attacks. It was later used as a residence for the prince-bishops. Much of it was destroyed during an attack in 1553, leaving only parts of the big walls and Medieval keep. In the 19th century, a friend of famous author E.T.A. Hoffmann restored the castle, and the writer often stayed in one of the castle towers. Perhaps he got inspiration here for his dark fairytales *.

It’s free to enter the castle but you can only look around the outside plus go up one tower (€1). It’s worth going up the tower for even better views. On your way up, make sure to head through the small door to the outside about two-thirds of the way up. The view from here is perhaps better than from the very top because there’s no glass in the way.

Altenburg Castle Restaurant

In the grounds of Altenburg Castle is a popular restaurant . In summer it’s a Biergarten, while in winter the restaurant is inside. On the menu are drinks (including the special Bamberg Rauchbier) and easy meals such as wurst and fries.

Directions: When leaving the castle, head right after the bridge to walk below its large walls. Follow the path left down some steps through the woodland. After the car park, take a slight left through woodland and soon you’ll walk out into farmland with great views over Bamberg. Head down the hill and back to the Dom. Instead of the pedestrian path, you can walk slightly further right on the road to pass by two churches (the Carmelite Monastery and the Obere Pfarre church).

Walking from Cathedral Square Kloster St Michael

Directions: To reach Kloster St Micheal, leave the square on the lowest side and turn left. Follow the road as it bends left and take the first path on the right, signed towards the Kloster. Follow this path as it enters the orchards in the grounds of the Kloster, and upwards to the top.

Discover Walking Tours of other Bavarian Cities

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8. Kloster St Michael

Key Information: Open 9am-6pm every day. (The inside is partially or fully closed until 2025 due to renovation).

The Kloster St Michael *, or Michelsberg Monastery, is a Benedictine monastery, now a home for the elderly. The garden and terrace have splendid views over the city and there’s also a nice cafe. Within the monastery complex is a beautiful church from the 12th century, full of baroque art and paintings of medicinal plants and flowers. Within the church, make sure to see Otto’s Tomb in the crypt. There’s a low passage through the tomb, and if you walk through it’s meant to relieve your back pain!

Directions: Walk around the back of the monastery to see the peaceful square where mainly elderly residents now live. The Franconian Brewery Museum is also on this square.

Directions: Head back to the front of the monastery and turn left downhill through the orchard. At the bottom you descend into a little tower, and through a heavy door to the street. Through this door, turn left and then right to reach the river. Walk right along the river and cross the first bridge to walk through a green area with great views back up to the monastery. Cross over again at the next bridge and continue for views of Little Venice.

9. Klein Venedig (Little Venice)

Klein Venedig *, or Little Venice, is a row of half-timbered cute cottages by the side of the river. It doesn’t actually look like Venice, but there is at least one gondola on the water. These rickety houses used to be fishermen’s cottages and are from the 17th century. Some of them seem to be sinking and are now quite tilted.

Directions: Little Venice is the last main stop on the Bamberg Walking Tour. To get back to the station, at the end of Little Venice head right through more of the Altstadt and left. This brings you across a bridge to the Altes Rathaus. Continue and head slightly left to walk up a pedestrianised street. Head right past the Natural Historic Museum and through the square. Turn left and cross back over the bridge. Take the next left to walk through some of the old Market Gardener’s District . You’ll see the Market Gardener’s Museum in a cute old bungalow and a few remaining market gardens. After walking through this district you’ll be at Bamberg’s main train station.

Best Museums in Bamberg

There are several museums in Bamberg visited on this walking tour. See the text for more details about the first four museums. All the museums apart from the Neue Residenz are included in the Bamberg Card *, a three-day ticket that also includes local public transport.

Neue Residenz Bamberg : A 45-minute guided tour (in German) of furnished staterooms plus a gallery of old paintings.

Historisches Museum : Old artefacts from the town and region giving an insight into former ways of life and the town’s history (exhibits in German).

Diocesan Museum : Church and bishop-related paraphernalia including clothes, gobets and gold.

E.T.A. Hoffman House : A small museum with models and music from the famous author’s works as ballets in the house where he lived.

Other Museums on the Bamberg Walking Tour

Franconian Brewery Museum (Open Apr-Oct, 1-5pm Wed-Fri, 11am-5pm Sat-Sun, tickets €3/2.50.): The Fränkisches Brauereimuseum *, or Franconian Bwerey Museum, is a museum about breweries and has exhibits about the process of making beer. These include implements, tankards, photos and more. There’s a small pub within the museum.

Bamberg Natural History Museum (Open Tue-Sun 9am-5pm or 10am-4pm in Apr-Sep or Oct-Mar, tickets €3.50/2): The Natural History Museum * has exhibits on the local flora, fauna and geology housed in a lovely old building. There are many stuffed animals, including preserved tropical birds. The museum was founded in 1791 and some of the exhibits have not been changed since then. The best bit is the room full of rocks, minerals and gemstones. It’s mainly in German but English language tours are available.

Market Gardener’s and Wine-Growers’ Museum (Open 11am-5pm Tue-Sun, closed on Mondays, tickets €5/1): This museum (Gärtner- und Häckermuseum) is housed in a typical market gardeners’ house from the 19th century. Apart from the house, there is of course a garden you can look around. It includes liquorice plants, an important source of income in the 19th century.

Further Afield in Bamberg

This walking tour of Bamberg focuses on the easily walkable old town. However, if you’re in Bamberg a great little excursion is to Seehof Palace and Park in Memmelsdorf. You can get a 20-minute bus ride that goes every hour from the centre of town or the station, or alternatively, walk there through the countryside .

Seehof Palace and Park in Memmelsdorf

Key Information: The castle grounds are open Apr-Oct 7am to 7pm and Nov-Mar 9am till sunset. The inside of the Schloss is closed on Mondays and the entire winter from October to March inclusive. The rest of the year, it’s open Tue-Sun from 9am to 6pm. To visit you must take a 35-minute guided tour (in German with an English handout). Tickets to the Schloss are €5/4, or €9/8 for a combination ticket with the New Residence, the grounds are free.

Directions : The easiest way to get to Schloss Seehof is with Bus 907. It leaves from near the Grüner Markt, at the Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB) and goes to the bus stop called Schloss Seehof right next to the castle. The bus leaves at roughly 1-hour intervals. Or, walk there from the centre of Bamberg .

The Seehof Palace * began in 1686 as a summer residence for the Bamberg Prince-Bishops. It later fell into disrepair and was significantly renovated in the early 2000s. There are nine staterooms with lovely painted ceilings to visit on a 35-minute guided tour (in German with an English handout). There’s also a rococo pleasure garden with fountains, sculptures, an Orangerie and many cool tree features.

The walk from the town centre to Seehof Palace is 13 km and goes through a park by the river, a small section of city, and then forest until you reach the palace. It takes about 3 hours. You can then take the bus back.

Accommodation in Bamberg

There are many accommodation options in Bamberg, but try to book a few weeks in advance because the best places fill up quickly. The two options below are great places not far from the town centre.

Budget : The City Hotel Bamberg * has basic but clean rooms not far from the centre of town. There’s not much character, but you get a decent place to stay for one of the lowest prices you’ll find in Bamberg.

Comfort : The Altstadthotel Molitor * has a great location in the centre of town with atmospheric old rooms. It’s hard to find a better place that doesn’t break the bank.

Bamberg Weekend Itinerary

Below is the weekend itinerary we followed when walking around Bamberg and visiting Schloss Seehof.

Day 1: Bamberg Altstadt

We arrived at 9:40am at the train station. After arrival, we started the Bamberg walking tour and headed towards the centre. We saw the Grüner Markt area, the Altes Rathaus, and walked around the island by the rivers. The World Heritage Visitor Centre was still closed when we arrived, so we saved this for tomorrow afternoon.

We continued towards Cathedral Square and looked around the cathedral and Alte Hofhaltung. At about noon we set off towards Altenburg Castle. It was a lovely walk and we had drinks and cake in the Biergarten at the top.

After walking back down we went on a tour of the Neue Residenz and to the Rose Garden where we had hot drinks at the cafe. Fully rested, we continued to Kloster St Michael, and then followed the river back to the centre of town.

We then had dinner at Special Keller , one of the old breweries 10-minutes out of town with great views over the cathedral. Afterwards we walked to our accommodation and went to sleep.

Day 2: Schloss Seehof

After a large breakfast, we set off on the 13 km walk to Schloss Seehof. It was raining, but the walk was mainly in a woodland park and forest so we were relatively sheltered. We arrived around noon at the castle and went on a 35-minute guided tour of the inside, which was nicer than I expected. After looking around the castle grounds we headed to the cafe for a drink and cake while waiting for the bus.

We took the 907 bus back to the centre of town (20 minutes) and went to the World Heritage Visitor Centre that we’d missed yesterday. After that, we walked around the centre a bit more before walking back to the station via the Market Gardener’s District. If we had more time I think we’d have visited the Franconian Brewery Museum or gone on a special beer and brewery tour *. Our train left around 18:15 (actually of course it was delayed!) after a great weekend walking in Bamberg.

Guidebooks to explore more of Germany

After Bamberg, why not also explore the historic city of Nuremberg or take a hike in nearby Fränkische Schweiz . For more walking tours and hikes in Germany, see our Germany hiking page .

FAQS – Bamberg Walking Tour

Bamberg is known for its cute Medieval Altstadt with many historic buildings, and its distinctive Rauchbier (smoker beer).

Bamberg is definitely worth visiting as it’s one of the best-preserved historic towns in Germany.

The best thing to do in Bamberg is a walking tour of the old town area. This includes all the famous sights in town.

One to two days is the perfect length of time to spend in Bamberg.

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Germany ‎ > Bamberg > Free Bamberg Walking Tour   

• Bamberg Overview
• Free Walking Tour

Free Bamberg Walking Tour:

Walking Tour Location : Old Town Bamberg Style :  Do-It-Yourself Walking Tour ( Self Guided )  Start : Bamberg Central Bus Depot ( Promenade / ZOB ) End : Cathedral Square ( Domplatz ) Walking Distance : 1.5 Miles ( +.5 miles each way to Micheals Monastery or the upper beer gardens ) Time :  1 Hour for Walk ( with attractions 5-6 hours ) Fun Scale : 9 out of 10

Overview of Old Town Bamberg:

Old Town Bamberg was a political force in the early-Medieval times which started with the construction of Babenberg Castle ( Castrum ) in the 800s on today’s Cathedral Hill.  In 995 Heinrich II became the Duke of Bavaria, moved his royal court to Babenberg Castle, and began reshaping central Bamberg on his way to becoming the Holy Roman Emperor.  Heinrich II’s largest change was in establishing the Diocese of Bamberg ( Archbishop ) and the massive Cathedral ( Dom ) which is the highlight of this free walking tour.

In the early-Middle Ages, beautiful Bamberg became so powerful that it was visited by Popes Benedict VIII and produced Pope Clement II.  In 1047, Pope Clement II was buried in the Cathedral and is the only Papal tomb North of the Alps.  King of Germany Conrad III ( House Hohenstaufen ), who ruled from nearby Rothenburg, was also buried in Bamberg Cathedral in 1152 after he died here.  During a period of no sitting Holy Roman Emperors, Conrad III was the most power man in Europe outside of the Pope and his family held the Imperial crown for generations.

As other cities like Nuremberg slowly surpassed Bamberg over the centuries, in Medieval times the city got caught up in The 30 Years War and witch trials.  Luckily most of the architecture and charm of the Little Venice of the North was preserved through the turmoil. Today following our free Bamberg walking tour map will lead you over the canals, along Medieval lanes, to royal palaces, into a unique beer culture, and through one of the best Cathedrals in Europe.

Suggested Walking Tour Route:

It only takes 24 minutes to walk from the Bamberg Train Station all the way up to Cathedral Square ( Domplatz ), but either a taxi or public bus can cut this down closer to ten minutes.  We prefer to start this walking tour either at the Bamberg bus depot or nearby Green Market as it reduces the amount of backtracking you will have later.  Because there is a long uphill staircase the last bit of the walk from Old Town Bamberg up to Cathedral Square, you will want to either taxi up or take a combo of Bus 907 & 910 ( see map ) if you have mobility issues.

You can also take numerous buses from the Train Station to the Schranne Bus Stop just below Cathedral Square in 10-minute which leaves you with a gradual 5-minute uphill walk to Cathedral Square.  Buses #901 & #991 are especially helpful on this route from the Train Station as after leaving the Schranne Bus Stop they also continue further uphill to the Würzburger Str. Bus Stop near two of Bamberg’s most famous beer gardens overlooking the city.

Bamberg Walking Tour:

1. former witch prison ( malefiz haus ):.

About The Witch Prison : While witch trials and religious pogroms are no longer a reflection of Bamberg today, it is important to know the history so it won’t be repeated.  During the heart of the 30 Years War, the population of Bamberg shrunk from over 12,000 to 7,000 due to religious conflicts, plagues, and famines.  To keep a hold on power during the turbulent times of the mid-1600s, the many churches blamed the Devil for local problems and sought out people to punish.  This mindset turned into mass witch hunts which saw over 1,000 people murdered in the Bamberg region.  It wasn’t an isolated notion either as 20,000 people around Germany and 60,000 in Europe were documented to be the victims of these Medievals witch trails.

The height of this rabid movement in Bamberg led to the building of the Witches’ House ( Maleficent Haus ) also known as the Witches’ Prison ( Drudenhaus ) which opened in 1627.  The feverish escalation was largely to do with a bad harvest in 1616 was a bad harvest and a horrid frost in 1626 that killed crops.  Thanks to a historical engraving from 1628 by Peter Ysselburg ( found in 2005 ), we were able to get details on the floorplan and location of the Witches’ Prison.  The building was enclosed by a 10-foot-tall wall, had 26 single confinement cells, two larger cells for groups up to 20 people, and a very active torture chamber.  A small courtroom inside the Witches’ Prison was marked with a statue of Justice above the door and there was even a small chapel for final Catholic Confession before death.

People in Bamberg were sent to the prison after accused of witchery by enemies, neighbors, and even family members.  You would be accused, sent to the prison, tortured for a confession, brought upstairs to document your guilt in the “courtroom”, and then put to death by burning all within an average of 20 days time.  Up to 8 people would be burned alive at a time just outside the city walls.  Among the murdered were 5 mayors and numerous city councilmen.  In some cases, the Bishops would allow for mercy killings where the victims could be beheaded before burned in exchange for them signing over their possessions and property over to the church.

On 11 February 1632, the Protestant Swedish army marched into Bamberg as part of the 30 Years War and closed down the Witches’ Prison.  Within 3 years the cursed building was torn down and it marked the end of the Witch Trials in Bamberg.

2. Green Market ( Grüner Markt ):

About The Green Market : The pedestrian zone of Bamberg begins at the long Green Market ( Grüner Markt ) which stretches as far as three football fields. The entire length of the tree-lined lane is filled with market stalls selling produce and flowers from all over the region Monday-Saturday ( closed Sundays ).  There are even times in the Winter when the Green Market comes back to life, especial during the Christmas Market season.

As you work your way down the luscious lane, make sure to keep an eye out for the Humsera Fountain ( Humsera Brunnen ) which depicts an old market haggler.  The figure was added to the fountain in 1933 in honor of a member of the Humsera family who was a staple of the market and is said to have had a loose tongue and foul mouth.   Today her statue represents the centuries of Market Women ( Markthoecken ) who labored hard in the Green Market selling their goods.

Further down the Green Market is the most famous, and largest fountain on the pedestrian lane called the Neptune Fountain .  This location has been a meeting point among locals for centuries and was originally capped with a statue of Saint George as far back at 1337.  The statue was changed to a powerful version of Neptune in 1566 ( rebuilt in 1698 ) who is locally called Man With A Fork ( Gabelmann ).  The Neptune Fountain is our favorite water feature on our free Bamberg walking tour.

Neighboring the Green Market to the Northeast is Maximilian Square ( Maximiliansplatz ) which has a delightful fountain but is otherwise a bit boring on most days.  Luckily this normally empty square does come to life for a few weeks a year during the Christmas season when it serves as a festive Advent market.  If there isn’t a market going on then simply see the Maximilian Fountain at the edge of the square and continue down the Green Market.

3. Geyerswörth Palace Island :

About Geyerswörth Palace : As the Regnitz River splits into a two-part canal, you get your first glance for why Medieval Bamberg was nicknamed Little Venice ( Klein Venedig ).  It’s these canals that powered the early mills and helped Bamberg grow.  One of the most powerful families along the river that was the Geyer family, who built a chateau complex called Geyerswörth across this small island in the 1300s complete with a private farm garden.  The courtyard of the chateau is open to the public and very pretty.

In 1580, the Bishop of Bamberg took over the Geyerswörth Chateau in 1580 and rebuilt it ( 1585-1587 ) to served as one of their many residences.  It was while the Bishops lived here that the Witch Trials in Bamberg really started to heat up.  The first victim was in 1595 which became to escalate further under two back-to-back bishops known as the Witch Burners.

Bishop Johann Gottfried von Aschhausen ( 1609-1622, also Bishop of Würzburg 1617-1622 ) set the groundwork burning 300 people and then Bishop Johann Georg Fuchs von Dornheim ( 1623-1633 ) took over.  From this residence in the Geyerswörth Chateau, they were aided by priest Friedrich Förner who followed The Witch Hammer ( Malleus Maleficarum ).  The Witch Prison was established in 1627 and the following year alone there were 192 documented trials.

The Bishops of Bamberg lost the property in 1703 and it became part of the Bavarian State government in 1803.  Today the grounds are far less sinister and are very pleasant to visit.  We love visiting the central courtyard for the Geyerswörth Chateau which is covered in vines and has an interesting tower.  The Hotel Villa Geyerswörth opened along the beautiful Geyerswörth Gardens in the center of the island in 2003.

4. Bamberg Town Hall Viewpoint ( Geyerswörthsteg ):

About Bamberg Town Hall : As you start to walk over the Geyerswörth Footbridge ( Geyerswörthsteg ) you’ll catch your first glimpse of the stunning Old Town Hall literally sitting right in the middle of the river.  This view is the most iconic in all of Bamberg and one of the highlights of this free walking tour.  Watching the river flow past the Medieval building from the flower-filled bridge is a reminder that Bamberg is best enjoyed when you take time to slow down and relax.

The Old Town Hall is first mentioned in 1387 and was built on an artificial island after the Bishop of Bamberg refused to grant the citizens land to build on.  The Gothic core of today’s Old Town Hall dates back to the 1461-1467 and the half-timber additional facing the footbridge was added in 1668.  Through Medieval times, there were also some prison cells located on the lower level which we imagine weren’t very pleasant.

Later on this free Bamberg walking tour, we will crisscross two bridges which the Old Town Hall is built on to see it and its famous Baroque mural facade up close.  Before leaving the Geyerswörth Footbridge, make sure to turn around and appreciate the Medieval watermills behind you which helped Bamberg thrive.  The Brother Mill ( Brudermühle, website ) at the end of the footbridge, which was a royal mill as far back as 896 ( name since 1314, building from 1762 ), serves as a guesthouse with an excellent restaurant patio to grab a drink and gaze at the Old Town Hall.

5. Karolinen Street Shops ( Karolinenstraße ):

About The Karolinen Street Shops : the famous Käthe Wohlfahrt

#8-14 opened in 1970 with cellars Gothic and Renaissance paintings dating back to the 1400s and a large selection of wood carved religious art. https://www.senger-bamberg.de/ the cellar is cool  https://www.google.de/maps/place/Senger+Bamberg/@49.8909312,10.8847759,3a,75y,81.22h,87.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDAoeH2Xy-SAAAAQJOHDldw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x2a6f1efe6e3cced!8m2!3d49.891115!4d10.8858864

Antique store at #17 also has cellars you can go in https://zauberhaft-bamberg.de/

6. Upper Town Hall Bridge ( Obere Brücke ):

About Upper Town Hall Bridge : Baroque and Rococo 1744-1756 with the allegorical murals, restored 1959-1962

ornate coat-of-arms by sculptor, Joseph Bonaventura Mutschele and angle statues which help to make the murals look three dimensional.

7. Fruit Market ( Obstmarkt ):

About The Fruit Market : SThe old Fruit Market ( Obstmarkt ) at the Eastern end of the Upper Bridge is an excellent place to take a break and rest your feet.  The center is a delightful emerald-color pond cradled by a multitier rock feature that creates natural seating.  Around the pond are also a couple of our favorite cafes in Bamberg to grab a cup of coffee while you relax.  The first is Café Zeis ( website ) and the other is Café Cador ( website ).  Both of the cafes serve food and have umbrella seating overlooking the small pond.  While coffee and piece of cake are the most common food items, they also have a number of traditionally Franconian dishes.

8. Canal Boat Docks :

About The Boat Docks : The Abattoir or Old Slaughterhouse ( Altes Schalchthaus )

Bamberg’s old fisherman’s quarter is home to the Sanderkwa Folk Festival each August similar to the one in Nuremberg where participants water joust ( Fischerstechen ) in the river.

9. Lower Town Hall Bridge ( Untere Brücke ):

About The Lower Town Hall Bridge : Saint Kunigunde ( Cunigunde of Luxembourg ) statue was built in 1750 but is the only one of the 6 large statues on the lower bridge to survive the Flood of 1784.  She married Duke Heinrich IV of Bavaria in 1014 and became Empress.  After his death, she chose Conrad II ( Salian ) as King of Germany and he was also elected Holy Roman Emperor.   Emperor Henry II and Empress Cunigunde’s tomb in the Bamberg Cathedral which we will see later on this free walking tour.

Make sure to take in the relaxing views of the river and boat dock area from the first section of the lower bridge before going past the Old Town Hall again.  The bright blue Heller House Mansion is also very pretty to look at from the Lower Town Hall Bridge.

10. Schlenkerla Smoke Beer Brewery ( Schlenkerla Rauchbierbrauerei ):

About Schlenkerla : Today there are 9 beer breweries in Bamberg which seems like a lot, but in the 1800s there were 65 beer breweries!  In a town famous for beer, the Schlenkerla Tavern is the one place on our free Bamberg walking tour that you have to stop for a drink.  They start serving their world-renown Smoke Beer ( Rauchbier ) early at 9:30am out of wooden kegs and the vibe of the Medieval tavern is amazing.  The Schlenkerla is also known for there excellent food which we have eaten at a few times.

Schlenkerla still uses the old brewing method of drying their barley which goes back all the way to the Babylonians and Romans.  With the lack of sunny days in Medieval Germany, the drying in Bamberg had to be done in a kiln over an open Beechwood fire.  The result of this barley drying method was a very iconic smokey taste to the beer which is best described as almost bacon flavored .  This brewing technique was abandoned by most places when malt was industrialized in the 1800s, but it is still used at Schlenkerla.

The current tavern was first documented in 1405 ( barrel makers in 1485 ) with the name House of the Blue Lion and their rock-cut Heller Brewery ( originally called Eberlein ) in Bamberg has been around since 1387.  The establishment has been managed under generations of just two families since 1767 making it a special place for locals to visit.  Unique to other taverns in town, the Schlenkerla also has a handy walk-up window to buy from even if you don’t get a table.  You’ll commonly see groups of people in the street in front of the pub drinking pints served fresh out of oak barrels.

Around 1886, the Heller Brewery grew a new nickname called Schlenkerla ( pronounced Schling-kala ) after the odd way the brewmaster Andreas walked .  He had bowed legs, a hitch step, and arms that would slinky around.  Today you can see a likeness of the beloved Andreas on the wrought iron sign on the front of the tavern.  You will also see an icon for the Blue Lion ( original house name ) and a star similar to the Star of David which was the symbol of the Medieval beer brewers in this part of Germany.  The dates 1405 for when the house was established as well as 1678 for when the brewery and tavern were formally joined in business.

The Old Inn Room ( Altes Lokal ) is the core of the tavern today and has been in operation since 1405.  The exposed centuries-old wood beams on the low ceiling have a dark color as they were painted with ox-blood over the centuries for protection.  The Medieval lamps, hanging engravings back to 1493, and the old ceramic stove, make the atmosphere of the Old Inn amazing.

Dominican Hermitage Room ( Dominikanerklause ) was built in 1310 as the chapel of the neighboring Dominican monastery which closed in 1802 and the became the property of the Bavarian military.  In 1926, Michael Graser ( brewmaster and owner of Schlenkerla ) leased the building which was later bought by his son-in-law and officially became part of the Schlenkerla Tavern.  The fantastic gold leaf paintings on the Gothic arched ceiling of this room are timeless.  Four iron lamps carry the signs of the guild of brewers, bakers, fishers, and butcher.  The Inner Courtyard ( innerhof ) of the former monastery also serves as the tavern’s beer garden in the Spring-Fall.

Tavern Location : Dominikanerstrasse 6.  Tavern Hours : Daily 9:30am-11:30pm; warm meals from 11:30am-10pm; outdoor beer garden open Easter until early-October.  Tavern Website :   Here .

11. Little Venice ( Klein Venedig ):

About Little Venice : Lining the banks of the main canal in Bamberg are tightly packed rows of Medieval fisherman’s houses which lead to the city’s nickname as Little Venice ( Klein Venedig ).  Still today there is a constant flow of tour boats up this stretch of the Regnitz River and even some season gondolas.

The balconies extending over the river are romanticly filled with flowers, but in the early days of Bamberg, they were used to toss fish guts and meat scraps into the water.  Shallow bottom boats would cruise up and down the river while bringing the day’s catch to their homes for processing.  As you can imagine the amount of fish processing, hide tanning, and cattle butching along the river made it more smelly than desirable at times.

12. Cathedral Hill Steps ( Dom Hügelstufen ):

About The Cathedral Square Steps : 3/4 the way up the steps you will notice a vertical marker in the cement of the railing.  This line marked the divide between the holy domain of the Bishop and the that of the common man who lived in the village below.

13. Cathedral Square ( Domplatz ):

About Cathedral Square : Cathedral Square ( Domplatz ) The slope of the square resulted only as a result of the lowering of the cathedral square in the years 1777 and 1778, which made steps to the portals required. This level reduction was required to provide direct access to Bamberg’s city center. Before, the gate on the so-called “Torschuster” was the only access to Domberg. For the two new access roads from the east, two canons had to give way. Since then, a wall has been forming the eastern end of the cathedral square.

Trautmann wall (Trautmannsmauer) wall was opened and the Fortunata fountain (Fortunata-Brunnen) added in 1780.

The cathedral square was called Hofplatz or Burgplatz until secularization. Only the small area in front of the chapter house was called Domplatz. Then the new Bavarian rulers named the entire area in honor of the then Queen Karoline in Karolinenplatz. It was only after the end of the monarchy that the name Domplatz gradually became known and became the official name of the square in 1949.

While Heinrich II spent most of his time traveling around the Empire, his main base remained Bamberg’s Old Court.  During his reign, a huge Tattermann Column was erected near the entrance of the palace marking the official center ( umbilicus imperii ) of Heinrich II’s empire.  Sitting over 27 feet tall ( 8.5 meters ) and capped with a 5.6 foot tall ( 1.7 meters ) blessing Jesus ( Tattermann ), the column stood here until 1779 when the square was redone.  Today you can find a negative column marker placed in the pavement at the location of the column pointing toward Jerusalem.

14a. Bamberg Cathedral History ( Bamberger Dom ):

About The Bamberg Cathedral History : After being elected the King of Germany in 1002, Heinrich II tore down the former Babenberg Castle Chapel to lay the foundation for Henry’s Cathedral ( Heinrichsdom ) in 1004.  Heinrich II had already set up his Royal Court in Bamberg in as early as 995 and wanted his reign and capital to be divinely blessed.  During construction, he established his a new Roman Catholic Diocese here in 1007 before the Cathedral was consecrated on May 6, 1012 ( his birthday ).  With the establishment of a new Archbishop, it not only took power away from nearby Würzburg but also help Heinrich II on his path to becoming the Holy Roman Emperor in 1014.

In 1020, Pope Benedict VIII made a rare papal visit outside of Italy to see Emperor Henrich II and consecrate Thomas Chapel.  The Papal connection stayed strong as the 2nd Bishop of Bamberg, Suidger von Morsleben ( 1040-1046 ), went on to be elected Pope Clement II.  After dying of lead poisoning 11 months after taking office, he was brought to Bamberg where he was buried in the Western choir of the Cathedral.  Pope Clement II’s is the only Papal tomb North of the Alps.  In addition to Pope Clement II ( died 1047 ), the tombs of Emperor Heinrich II ( died 1024 ), King of Germany Conrad III ( died 1152 ), and numerous Bishops can be found in the Bamberg Cathedral.

Massive fires on Easter of 1081 and again in 1185 which leveled most Cathedral Hill led to Henry’s Cathedral being rebuilt, although some of the original remains can be seen in the crypt today.  The second Bamberg Cathedral ( Eckertdom ) was completed in 1237 under Bishop Ekbert and pretty much looked then exactly like it does today.  Following the end of the Thirty Years’ War in 1648, the Bishop had the interior of the Cathedral redecorated in a brightly colored Baroque-style.  Nearly 200 years later Bavarian King Ludwig I had all of the Baroque details removed to bare stone in an effort to “purify” the Cathedral back to its Medieval roots.

14b. Bamberg Cathedral Tour :

Touring The Bamberg Cathedral : As you begin your tour of the 4-towered Bamberg Cathedral, we like to enter the Eastern doors facing the old town.  The Eastern door under the left tower is known as Adam’s Portal ( Adamspforte ) It has statues of Stephen, Empress Kunigunde, and Emperor Heinrich II to the left along with Saint Peter, Adam, and Eve ( missing ) to the right.  The Eastern door under the right tower is known as Mary’s Portal ( Marienpforte ) a central Virgin Mary being venerated by Saint Peter and Saint George along with the Empress and Emperor plus some Bishops.

Near the Eastern Doors, are also two even worn 11th-century lion statues from the original Heinrich’s Cathedral.  Legend has it that a lindworm dragon and two chimeras ( half toad, half lion ) were sent to sabotage the building of the church but were turned to stone.

As you enter the Bamberg Cathedral, the beauty of the original bare stone is stunning.  Remember that King Ludwig I had the brightly painted Baroque interior removed in 1847 to bring the church back to its Medieval appearance.  When the Cathedral was rebuilt from 1190-1237 they worked from East to West and you’ll see a blending of styles moving from Romanesque toward Gothic and you get reach the nave.

You have to look up at the supportive column as you enter the nave to see the famous Bamberg Rider ( Bamberger Reiter ) statue carved between 1225-1237.  The Rider is considered the first life-size equestrian statue ( 7 feet tall; 2.1 meters ) since classical antiquity in the 500s and the first to show a detailed horseshoe.  A peom about the Bamberg Rider influenced Claus von Stauffenberg, the would-be assassin of Hitler who was a member of the cavalry unit from Bamberg.

The identity of the Bamber Rider has often been thought to be an Emperor or famous knight although no Imperial regalia or common identifications are used in the work.  Others also say it may be a personification of the ideal king.  To our best assumption, it is likely one of two men: German King Philip of Swabia who was assassinated during a visit to Bamberg in 1208 or King Stephan I of Hungary who is said to have ridden his horse into the Cathedral for its consecration in 1012.  King Stephan I was married to Emperor Henrich II’s sister, is said to have been baptized in Bamberg, and the rider looks toward the Western altar across the center of the Cathedral where Henrich II’s tomb originally sat.  The base of the statue has a face of the leafy face of the Green Man, who was a Pagan deity often meant to symbolize the Spring.

Near the Bamberg Rider is the gorgeous raised tomb of Emperor Heinrich II ( died 1024 ) and his wife Kunigunde who built the first Bamberg Cathedral and founded the dioceses.  The tomb was carved out of marble and Franconian limestone by famous sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider over 14 years from 1499 to 1513.   The top cover shows detailed likenesses of the royal couple with scenes of their lives around the side panels.  The most interesting panel shows the Empress having to walk over hot coals to prove her innocence on a charge of adultery.  Originally the royal couple was buried at the center of the Cathedral along with German King Conrad III ( died 1152 ) before the current tomb was finished.

The remains of King Conrad III were moved to an altar in 1646 then the Western Choir as the interior got its Baroque makeover.  Bavarian King Ludwig I moved Conrad III to a proper sarcophagus which is located in the crypt of the Eastern Choir along with some Bishops as he stripped out the Baroque interior.  The tomb of Emperor Heinrich II was also moved back about 30 feet between to its current location and behind it, you can peak down into the Eastern Crypt ( only accessible with an official tour ).

In the Western Choir, you will find the resting place of Pope Clement II ( died 1147 ) which is the only Papal tomb North of the Alps .  The marble sarcophagus, carved in the early-1200s, shows the death of the Pope and the four Cardinal virtues among other scenes.  Below the choir is the Western crypt which you are free to explore without a guide.  This rough-cut stone crypt is original to the 11th-century Cathedral and is really cool to see.

After leaving the Bamberg Cathedral, make sure to also check out the wonderful entrance on the Northside of the building, known as the Prince’s Portal ( Fürstenportal ).  The carved details on the outside of the portal depicts the Last Judgement with the saved on the left of a throned Jesus and the damned on the right.  In Medieval times, the Prince’s Portal was reserved for high-ranking clerics who deemed themselves to be secular princes ( Prince-Archbishops ).

Church Tourist Hours : April on Weekdays 9am-6pm; Saturday 9am-4:30pm; Sundays 1pm-6pm.  May-October on Weekdays 9am-6pm; Saturday 9-11:30am & 1-4:30pm; Sundays 1pm-6pm. November-March on Weekdays 9am-5pm; Saturday 9am-4:30pm; Sundays 1pm-5pm.  Public Organ Concerts : May-October on Saturdays at Noon.  Entrance Cost : Free. Guided Tours : Daily guided tours in German take place at 10:30am ( except Sundays ), 1pm, and 3pm for 15€; English group tours with advance notice only for 65€.  Church Website : Here .

15. Diocesan Museum ( Diözesanmuseum ):

About The Diocesan Museum : Opened in 1966, the Diocesan Museum gives you a unique look back to some of the treasures during Bamberg’s time being ruled by the local Bishop ( 1007-1803 ).  There are tons of Medieval vestments, crosses, and statues, but the coolest items are the preserved textiles.  Our favorite piece is the blue and gold colored 11th-Century Star Cloak ( sternenmantel ) of Emperor Heinrich II.  There are also other textiles from Heinrich II and his wife Kunigunde along with Pope Clemens II’s papal regalia.

Visiting Hours : Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm; Closed Mondays; also Closed from mid-January through mid-February.  Entrance Cost : 4€ or an All Bamberg Museums Pass 12€.  Museum Website : Here .

16. Old Court Yard ( Alte Hofhaltung ):

About The Old Court : The location of today’s Old Court was once the home to the Babenberg Castle ( Castrum ) in as early as the 800s with the hilltop settled 200 years earlier.  The first known owner was Count Poppone I ( 819-839, Babenbergers ), but the most famous member of his family at the castle was Italian King Berengar II who was exiled here in 963 ( died in 966 ) by his former ally Emperor Otto I.  The castle became the property of the Holy Roman Empire in 974 and after Heinrich II became Duke of Bavaria in 995, the castle became his new royal palace.

As a descendant of Charlemagne the Great, Heinrich II quickly became the King of Germany ( 1002-24 ) and then the Holy Roman Emperor ( 1014-24 ).  Part of Heinrich II gaining the crown was his support to Benedict VIII in his contested bid to become Pope in 1014.  The relationship between the two men led to a rare papal visit outside of Italy in 1020 when Pope Benedict VIII came to Bamberg to hold court with Emperor Heinrich II in Babenberg Castle.  Not only did the Pope concentrate Bamberg Cathedral and Old Court’s Thomas Chapel in person, but it really helped put the city on the map as the center of the Empire.

A year after Heinrich II died in 1024, the Palace became the home of Bamberg’s Bishops but it remained important even after being rebuilt from the Fire of 1085.  The King of Germany Philip of Swabia was murdered in the Old Court while attending his daughter’s wedding in 1208 by Otto VIII of Wittelsbach, shortly before he was to be elected to the Emperor.

While the vast, but irregularly shaped half-timbered inner courtyard was started in 1475, the Archbishop rebuilt much of the Old Court as the grand complex you see today in 1568-1570.  The biggest changes to the former Old Court Palace included adding a new Council Chamber ( Ratsstubenbau ) along with a Renaissance-style exterior.  If you look at the base of the Council Chamber’s bay window facing Cathedral Square, you can see a carving of Erasmus Braun who was the designer.

The most famous element of the 1568 rebuild is the Beautiful Gate ( Schöne Pforte ) entrance carved out of sandstone which, like the Council Chamber, was originally brightly painted.  The portal with the Virgin Mary in the center in front of a representation of what Bamberg Cathedral looked like at the time.  Mary is flanked by Emperor Heinrich II and his wife Kunigunde. St. Peter on the left and St. George two bishops ( believed to be Saint Otto and Kilian ) lying figures on the outiside represent Bamberg’s rivers the Main ( to the left ) the woman the Regnitz ( to the right ).

used as a state prison

irregular courtyard expanded in the 1400s.

they acquired Geyerswörth Palace in the 1500s. courtyard used in the movie The Three Musketeers (2011).

Some of the exhibits in the museum include Everyday life in prehistory and the Middle Ages, Jewish life in Medieval Bamberg, Astronomy and Timekeeping, and access to walk through the Medieval horse stalls.  The museum has to close for much of the Winter because the Medieval building is not equipped for heating but does open for a special exhibit under the Christmas season when they turn the stables into a manager crib display.

You can also request to see the Kunigunde Chapel and remains of the 11th Century Thomas Chapel (Thomaskapelle) which was built on the lowerlevel of the watchtower that once stood here.  You can still see the deadicory inscription in the chapel.

Courtyard Hours : Daily dawn-dusk.  Museum Hours : May-October Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm, closed Mondays; November-April only open for special exhibitions including one during the Christmas Market each year.  Museum Cost : Adults 7€; teens & students 1€; Adults during Christmas 4€; All Bamberg Museums Pass 12€.  Museum Website : Here .

17. New Residence Palace ( Neue Residenz ):

About The New Residence :  The core of the New Residence ( Neue Residenz ) was built in 1602 as the main project in part of an expansion of power by the Bishops of Bamberg.  After surrendering the nearby Altenburg Castle retreat in 1553 ( acquired in 1251 ) the Bishops the purchased Geyerswörth Palace ( 1580 ), rebuilt the Old Court ( 1595 ), built the New Residence ( 1602 ), and later built Seehof Palace ( 1686 ) as a summer getaway.   The Bishops were not only religious heads of the Bamberg Cathedral, but were also the secular rulers of the region through 1802.

The New Residence really started to take shape when the two massive Baroque wings that line Cathedral Square added from 1697 to 1703.  Today you get to tour 40 of the preserved staterooms, you will find original stucco ceilings, furniture, paintings, and tapestries.  The condition of the palace interior is remarkable, largely thanks to Bamberg avoiding any major damage from World War 2.  Our favorite room in the New Residence is the huge Imperial Hall which was decorated from 1707-1709 with 16 larger than life portraits of Holy Roman Emperors and a stunning fresco ceiling.

After the de-secularization of the church in 1803, the New Residence was often home to the Bavarian royal family on their visits to Bamberg.  On December 4th, 1808 Duke of Bavaria Maximilian Joseph ( House Wittelsbach ) was born in Bamberg’s New Residence.  Maximilian Joseph is best known as the father of the Austria-Hungary Empress Elisabeth nicked ‘Sisi’.  She was not only beloved but served as the longest ruling Empress of Austria at 44 years before she was assassinated by a fanatic.

Visiting Hours : April-September Daily 9am-6pm;  October-March Daily 10am-4pm.  Guided Tours : Visit with a guided tour only; leaves every 15–30 minutes; duration 45 minutes.  Entrance Cost : Adults 4.50€; teens & students 3.50€; Combo Ticket with Seehof Palace 7€.  Palace Website : Here .

18. Rose Garden ( Rosengarten ):

About The Rose Garden : There was a large inner courtyard behind the New Residence since at least 1602 and greatly expanded in a Renaissance-style in 1733.  Most of the wonderful Baroque statues you find in the garden today were added around 1760.  Among the figures, you’ll find representations of the Roman gods Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Apollo, Venus, and Ceres along with small playful angels serving as allegories of the virtues.

In the 1800s, the garden got another huge upgrade when over 500 roses bushes were planted here.  Today these bushes have grown to nearly 5,000 flowers on 70 different rosebeds and are lined with lime trees in addition to the sculptures.  The pops of bright color and fresh fragrances the roses add to the garden in the Summer months are delightful.

The central tree-ringed fountain is also interesting, but our favorite feature of the Rose Garden is the magnificent views you get over Old Town Bamberg from the ramparts.  If you are looking to get some coffee, there is a small cafe ( website ) inside a pavilion ( built in 175 7) at the back of the Rose Garden.

Rose Garden Hours : April-September Daily 9am-6pm; October-March Daily 10am-4pm.  Rose Garden Cost : Free.

Other Sights Near Old Town:

19. michael’s hill monastery ( kloster michelsberg ):.

About Michael’s Hill Monastery : After being established in 1015, the complex was rebuilt in the 1100s by Bishop Otto after it was damaged by an earthquake.  Otto’s current raised tomb inside the monastery was carved in the 1430s and is really cool.  The top panel shows Otto holding a staff and the front has the Virgin Mary flanked by Saint Stephen and the Archangel Michael.  The sides show Emperor Henrich II and his wife along with John the Baptist.  The coolest thing is the passageway built right through the tomb which believed to have the power to help people with back pain as Otto famously helped heal Emperor Henrich II.

Benedictine path” traversing the former baroque gardens.  We also love the Neoclassical-style Holy Sepulchre

Museum Hours : Adults 7€; teens & students 1€; Adults during Christmas 4€; All Bamberg Museums Pass 12€.  Monastery Website :   Here .

20. Special Beer Garden ( Spezial Keller ):

21. jewish street ( judenstraße ):, 22. old castle ( altenburg ):, 23. special brewery ( brauerei spezial ):, 24. garden museum ( gärtner museum ):, featured article.

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Bamberg Free Original Walking Tour

Bamberg is worthy of an adventure

Another pride of Germany as one of UNESCO World Heritage holders because of its beautiful town, one on the top list of Germany. Bamberg is located in the north part of Bavaria of southern Germany. It became a residence of the largest intact city wall of Europe. Many preserved structures are still intact around the old town of the city from the early 11th to 19th centuries and among those complexes is the town hall or the muraled Altes Rathaus .

The city is acknowledged for their abounding local civic breweries, beer gardens that definitely produce special beers. The most well-known brewery in the city is Schlenkerla, a celebrated smoked beer brewery which makes their beer in a traditional way with wooden barrels. Bamberg’s industries also includes manufacturing of electrotechnical equipment, clothing and textiles, and production of foods, also the extensive market gardening.

One of the best factors in visiting a certain city is its reputation of belonging to one of the recognized lists in the world such as UNESCO World Heritage and Bamberg is one of them that makes the city a worthy destination. The proven awe-inspiring features of the city’s benchmarks along with its enriching histories adds up to the interest to look forward to in this tour. Experience the distinctive energy the city carries, its progressing prowess and how it reflects its environment and why it is a worthy place to visit. This Free Original Walking tour is accustomed to present the city’s remarkable features through fun, well-informed, and rare ways. 

Why Join This Free Walking Tour?

• As a way of giving you worthwhile layoff in this city, this tour aims to accomplish pleasing and relaxing experience but fun at the same time
• We picked the best of the top stop around the state to show and introduce to you, a view worthy sight you will see and experience
• Friendly and reasonable price that are perfectly appropriate for the experience of service, learning experience, and satisfying leisure
• Our guide are best on the field who always bring something unique for their outpost and consistently prioritizing the guest satisfaction
• Our system are well generated for a convenient and easy inquiries and booking to all our guest and won’t take so much of time
• A chance for socialization with other guest, new learnings of the city’s culture and traditions as well additional experience on your travel journals

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Free Walking Sightseeing Tours in Bamberg, Germany

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Guided Sightseeing Tours

Book guided sightseeing tours and activities in Bamberg.

Explore Bamberg in Germany with one of our free walking tours . Click on a marker on the map to get started and view details about the tour. Below is an overview of the sightseeing tours. A total of 4 tours are available in Bamberg, Germany.

Self-guided Tour #1

• E.T.A.-Hoffmann-Haus
• Klosterbräu
• Böttingerhaus
• Sankt Stephan
• Apfelweibla
• Obere Pfarre - Zu unserer lieben Frau
• Diözesanmuseum Bamberg
• Bamberger Dom

Self-guided Tour #2

• Sankt Getreu
• Fränkisches Brauereimuseum
• Sankt Jakob
• Alte Hofhaltung
• Neue Residenz
• Nabel der Welt
• Bamberger Reiter
• Staatliches Bauamt Bamberg
• Altes Rathaus
• Sammlung Ludwig
• Klein Venedig
• Naturkundemuseum
• Maximiliansbrunnen
• E.T.A.-Hoffmann-Theater
• Villa Dessauer
• Sankt Gangolf

Self-guided Tour #3

• Burg Altenburg
• Rosengarten
• St. Elisabeth
• Sankt Martin

Self-guided Tour #4

• Gärtner- und Häckermuseum

Why Visit Sights? Self-guided sightseeing tours are a free and safe alternative to bus tours. You can explore Bamberg at your own pace, any time! Do something good for your health by walking.

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Bamberg walking tour | UNESCO highlights (and its scrumptious smoked beer)

Sipping a chilled bottle of smoked beer from Bamberg is a big distraction when trying to write an article. It’s so good it deserves my full attention yet I need to share its deliciousness with you. Much like drinking smoky bacon, it makes the perfect accompaniment to traditional German sausage, sauerkraut and mashed potato. Sadly it’s the last bottle I brought home with me from Bamberg, Germany, a picturesque historic town with over 2,000 buildings deemed UNESCO World Heritage worthy. It’s an easy day trip from Munich or Frankfurt.

Join me on a Bamberg walking tour taking in all the UNESCO highlights (and a glass or two of smoked beer!).

You’ll find a map of the route at the end of this article as well as downloadable Bamberg walking tour from GPSmyCity .

UNESCO Bamberg walking tour

I stepped off the coach on a sunny morning in July and immediately fell for Bamberg. It would be worth visiting this pretty Franconian town for the beer alone but there are plenty of other reasons, in particular, the numerous beautiful buildings with UNESCO World Heritage status. Despite it being the height of summer while busy, it’s not overcrowded.

The Old Town Hall of Bamberg, Germany

Photography Tip: A good photographic viewpoint of the town hall is from the bridge immediately south, Geuersworthsteg.

Many years ago (or should that be once upon a time) the citizens of Bamberg could not agree where to build their town hall. The gentry wanted it built on their side of the river while the poor folk living on the opposite bank wanted it built there. By way of compromise, having first built an island to stand it on, they built it in the middle of the river. And everyone lived happily ever after.

Another story tells a different tale. Once upon a time the Bishop of Bamberg refused to give the people land to build their town hall. Being a determined bunch they did not let that stop them. They created an island in the river that flowed through the middle of the town and built their beloved town hall. Problem sorted.

Either way, the Old Town Hall sitting proudly in the river is an impressive building with three-dimensional trompe d’oeil frescoes on its facades. The original town hall, built in the 14th century, was reconstructed after a catastrophic fire in 1440. In the mid 18th century it was redesigned by Michael Küchel which is how we see it today. Gazing at it I could almost believe I’d drifted into a tale by the brothers Grimm.

Check prices and availability for hotels in Bamberg, Germany .

The Schlenkerla Brewery, Bamberg, Germany

Along Dominikanerstraße the original  Schlenkerla brewery tavern, with its dark green shutters, serves the famous Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier (Original Schlenkerla Smoked Beer) tapped directly from wooden barrels in the traditional manner. The brewery is known to be over 600 years old and this tavern is the only place in town serving the smoked beer from the barrels. Its the perfect place to stop for a drink and a bite to eat although it does get very busy. Many other restaurants and shops around the town also sell the beer but for the authentic taste go to Schlenkerla. You’ll also find a small shop inside selling bottles to take away and a beer garden out the back.

Bamberg Cathedral and the Alte Hofhaltung complex

From here turn left into Katzenberg, up a flight of steps that will bring you to Domplatz and the 13th century Bamberg Cathedral (Bamberger Dom St. Peter und St. Georg). In the same square, the Alte Hofhaltung or Old Court complex is made up of the 15th-century palace and outbuildings of Henry II.

The Rose Garden of Bamberg, Germany

Still in Domplatz, opposite the Cathedral is the 17th century New Residence. The smell as you enter the rose garden in the inner courtyard is simply exquisite.

Photography tip: You’ll find a lovely view across the rooftops of Bamberg from the Rose Garden.

Little Venice, Bamberg, Germany

From the Rose Garden I made my way back towards the river as I wanted to photograph the row of half-timbered houses affectionately known as Little Venice. It’s one of the most picturesque riversides I’ve ever seen. In the former fisherman’s district these quaint houses, dating back to the Middle Ages, are squeezed together along the river bank with boats tied up at the moorings by tiny but very pretty front gardens.

Photography tip: The best vantage point from where to photograph Little Venice is along Am Leinritt on the opposite bank of the river.

As I sip the last of the Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier, I remember how I was told with a wry smile “Its an acquired taste, after the third or fourth you’ll start to love it.” I loved it immediately as I did Bamberg. A beer that tastes of smoky bacon from a town full of so many picturesque and fascinating buildings – what’s not to love? Cheers!

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Such an amazingly beautiful town! I’d also love to visit it. The photos of the place were so wonderful too!

I agree, Bamberg is a picturesque city. Its urban gardens are one of its hidden gems. You mention Schlenkerla but there are a number of breweries in Bamberg and one of the great joys of walking in the city is sampling their ambience and produce.

Unfortunately I only had a couple of hours there and Schlenkerla was the only brewery I had time to visit. I would love to go back and visit them all. I doubt my elderly Mum and my sister would have thanked me if I dragged them around them all!! Is there any you’d particularly recommend? Do you have a favourite?

I’d love to see more of Bamberg itself too. Such a lovely town.

I’ve tried all the beers in the Schlenkerla range now – thanks for the recommendation. I’d give the smoked one 8/10, the helles/lager one 10/10 and the weizen/wheat one 0/10! I love a good wheat beer so was looking forward to this, but it’s half smoked, half wheat and looks like Ovaltine! Hope you managed to find a stockist near you – if not, try http://www.beergonzo.co.uk

Goodness 0/10! Glad you enjoyed the others. I need to try the Helles! Checking out Beer Gonzo now. Thanks for the tip.

I’ve never been to Bamberg but it looks so picturesque with those medieval houses and the rose garden. I’m off to Venice in October so will get my canal fix!

I’ve yet to make it to Venice so I’ll be looking forward to seeing your pictures and reading all about it. Bamberg is wonderful too though and I;d love to go back for a longer stay one day.

I’ve seen bottles of that beer sold at my local craft beer shop in Coventry. It sounds odd, but I’ll buy a bottle next time I pass it and let you know what I think. Cheers!

Yes please do let me know what you think. I need to find somewhere local to buy it.

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• Best Places to Visit in Germany in Summer | Reflections Enroute - […] I visited the charming German town of Bamberg last July, while it was busy it was in no way…
• Best Cities To Visit In Germany In Spring - Reflections Enroute - […] for its fabulous smoked beer. I was told it was an acquired taste but I loved it straight away.…

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