Discover Bamberg: Old Town, Market Gardeners’ District and Culture

Historic Districts and Market Gardening Traditions

The street layouts of Bamberg’s three historic core districts retain medieval features. The Market Gardeners’ District is also part of the World Heritage Site Old Town of Bamberg. Local vegetables have been grown there for many centuries using labour-intensive, manual cultivation methods. This combination of urban heritage and horticulture makes the Market Gardeners’ District a subject of its own for anyone who wants to discover not only the buildings but also the city’s long-established uses.

The World Heritage Visitor Centre introduces the Mountain, Island and Market Gardeners’ districts in its permanent exhibition. These three settlement centres were linked when the city was founded in the Middle Ages. The interactive exhibition places the Old Town of Bamberg World Heritage Site in the international UNESCO context and is designed to be family-friendly. For families looking to discover history together, it offers a different approach from simply viewing historic buildings and streets.

From the Old Court to the Cathedral Treasury

The Old Court is a complex of buildings constructed in the Renaissance style. From the 17th century onwards, the New Residence on Bamberg Cathedral Square served as the residence of the Prince-Bishops of Bamberg, replacing the Old Court in its original function. The two buildings thus represent different periods in Bamberg’s history. The origins of the cathedral date back to the beginning of the 11th century. Architecture enthusiasts will therefore find several historic periods in Bamberg, rather than just a single building to catch the eye.

The collections also offer a variety of highlights. The Diocesan Museum on Cathedral Square houses the famous imperial robes and the papal vestments of Pope Clement II. The cathedral treasury also includes goldsmiths’ work and the 600-kilogram cathedral cross. Another remarkable detail can be found in the monastery church of St. Michael: its Baroque ceiling painting features more than 580 intricately painted medicinal, useful and ornamental plants. St. Martin’s Church, built by the Dientzenhofer brothers, is Bamberg’s only Baroque church.

Museums, Literature and Jewish History

The E.T.A. Hoffmann House is dedicated to the multifaceted artist. The Bamberg Historical Museum presents the cultural heritage of the World Heritage city; during the summer months, various permanent exhibitions showcase aspects of the city and its history. Another exhibition explores continuity, upheaval and renewal in Jewish life in Bamberg, and covers the presence of Jewish communities in Franconia since the Middle Ages. These subjects cater to a range of cultural interests and offer more than one possible focus when planning your trip.

Views and Outdoor Activities on Michaelsberg

High above Bamberg stands Altenburg Castle, whose round tower is a defining feature of the cityscape. The freely accessible eastern plateau on Michaelsberg offers views across the Old Town rooftops to the surrounding hills. The Baroque terraced garden there features old fruit trees, cornelian cherry hedges, the Dolphin Fountain and small pavilions. It can be reached by stairways from the north and south. The viewpoint and garden each offer something different: one foregrounds the view across the city, while the other draws attention to the design of the grounds, with their plants and architectural details.

You can also experience Bamberg from different perspectives by bike: cycling routes can take you through the Old Town, along the Regnitz and out into the countryside. Your trip can therefore combine cultural exploration and outdoor activity as distinct areas of interest.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Bamberg, you can start by considering which aspects of the city interest you most: its medieval districts, market gardening traditions, museums, historic churches or the views from Michaelsberg. Families can visit the explicitly family-friendly interactive exhibition at the World Heritage Visitor Centre; those who prefer the outdoors can explore the garden, take in the views or go cycling. This lets you choose accommodation to suit the kind of trip you have in mind without limiting your stay to a single theme.

More destination pages: Pommersfelden, Buttenheim, Memmelsdorf, Altendorf, Bischberg, Burgebrach, Oberhaid and Lisberg.

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