Pettstadt: Sacred Art and Festivals
Accommodation in Pettstadt
Pettstadt offers plenty to explore during a stay that combines church art, historic places of remembrance and seasonal festivals. In the parish church of the Nativity of Mary, architectural history sits alongside artistic details from different periods. Religious works of art can also be found in various places outside the church. The town also hosts recurring festivals in summer and during Advent. You can plan your trip around a festival date or devote it to discovering local culture.
Parish Church and Art History
The parish’s history dates back to 1399, when it was established and placed under the authority of Bamberg Cathedral Chapter as the holder of the Oblei. Construction of the present Baroque parish church of the Nativity of Mary began in 1754. The building was completed in 1756 and consecrated on August 17, 1777. These dates provide a clear historical context for the church and make the different periods represented in its furnishings all the more interesting.
Frescoes from the period’s artistic style have been preserved in the tower chapel. The figures depicted include Christ in a mandorla, Mary, John the Baptist and other saints. The church is also home to a Late Gothic sacrament house dating from 1494, bearing the coats of arms of two members of the Bamberg Cathedral Chapter. The high altar was created in 1769 by Johann Bernhard Kamm, with a freestanding architectural design. The frescoes, sacrament house and altar each offer a different point of interest, without limiting the experience to a single period.
Religious Artworks by the Bridge, Along the Path and at the Cemetery
Striking religious artworks can also be found along Pettstadt’s paths and in its squares. The statue of Saint John of Nepomuk stands directly in front of the Ebrach Bridge. It was erected on May 16, 1872; John of Nepomuk is regarded as the patron saint of Bohemia. On the old connecting path to Erlach, near the cemetery, stands the Baroque wayside shrine known as Lieb Herrchela, dating from 1727 and framed by two lime trees.
The Franzosenmarter stands near the bridge over the Rauhe Ebrach; it is believed to date from the early 16th century. At Kaulberg 2, a sandstone sculpture in the front garden of the Kraus property shows Jesus resting beside the cross. The Untere Kreuz stands in the forest on the Mainberg, at a fork in the path extending from Erlacher Straße. These individual places and artworks offer culturally minded visitors a range of features to look out for as they explore Pettstadt.
The history of ferry rights is another part of the town’s local history: the holders of Pettstadt’s ferry rights can be traced by name back to 1461. This is a separate strand of the town’s history, alongside its visible artworks and the furnishings of the parish church.
Festivals Throughout the Year
If you would like to experience Pettstadt during a festival, the recurring dates can help you plan. The Pettstadt Rose Festival takes place on the fourth weekend in June, and the Pettstadt Street Festival on the third weekend in July. The Pettstadt Christmas Market is scheduled for the third weekend of Advent. The exact calendar dates vary from year to year, so check the dates for your planned year of travel before your trip.
When choosing a holiday apartment in Pettstadt, the purpose of your trip can help you decide: would you like to plan your stay around one of the seasonal festivals, or are the church, artworks and local history your main focus? Comparing these options can help you plan the pace of your trip without having to fit every interest into a single itinerary. If you mainly want to attend the festivals, plan your travel dates around the relevant weekend; if you want to explore the town’s cultural history, you can focus on the architectural and artistic works mentioned above.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Walsdorf, Schlüsselfeld, Memmelsdorf, Scheßlitz, Kemmern, Zapfendorf, Pommersfelden, Strullendorf.
Back to the main travel guide: Bamberg.
