Bamberg Cathedral And The Stunning Michelsberg Monastery – Bavaria, Germany

Bamberg is such a unique and beautiful place! In fact, the entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! After a friend visited the town, I new I wanted to explore it in depth!

In my opinion, the best way to see a city is in the early morning hours before it really comes alive with people. When the dawn is still creeping through the streets and the quiet silence just drifts through the city. So, that is where we will start in Bamberg!

Our first stop is a visit to the old Bamberg Town Hall or the Altes Rathaus. First built in 1386, it was redesigned and rebuilt in the 1700’s. The building is covered in murals that tell the story of how the Town Hall came to rest in the middle of the bridge.

The pedestrian bridge, Obere Brücke, offers stunning views of the Town Hall and the waterways of “Little Venice”.

Then it’s off to the Bamberg Cathedral, formally known as the St. Peter’s and St. George’s Imperial Cathedral. The Cathedral was built in the early 13^th century and fills the square with doorways, and statues

Across from the Cathedral is the New Residence which holds more than 40 elegant state rooms. Each room is designed with murals, artwork, and antique furniture. The New Residence is home to the State Library with hand painted portraits of former emperors on the walls in the Emperor’s Hall.

A few paces away is the Old Court, Alte Hofhaltung. The courtyard is filled with beautiful hanging baskets that capture the true essence of the city.

We of course save the best for last, St. Michaelsberg Monastery!

Unfortunately, the church is closed for to the public due to structural issues. The history of this site goes back to the 10^th century, so it’s been around for a long time! Restoration is under way but that will take many years to be complete. The Michaelsberg was founded originally as Benedictine Abbey in 1015.