2014-11 Bamberg, Germany
Hello All,
In 1007, Emperor Heinrich II made Bamberg the center of the Holy Roman Empire and the capital of his reign. He wanted the city to become a second Rome, and like its Italian model, Bamberg was built on seven hills, each with a church on top.
He ordered the building of a new cathedral, which was consecrated in 1012, and remains the architectural and spiritual heart of the city. Both the emperor and his wife were buried in the cathedral, as was Pope Clement II. Heinrich also founded St. Michael’s Abbey for the training of the clergy. Both are still standing and are considered superb examples of late-Romanesque architecture. Soon, Bamberg was the center of the Holy Roman Empire and bishops became princes of the land. But the Protestant Reformation eventually cut the bishopric’s territory in half. Later, the 17th-century Bamberg witch trials cast a dark and tempestuous curtain over the city. Bamberg was unusual in that five of its mayors—all men—were identified as accomplices to witches and burned at the stake.
Bamberg’s prosperity has always been linked to the river. In the middle ages the area was the starting point for shipping on the Main River. It is now the northern starting point of the Main-Danube Canal that was built between 1960 and 1992. Also, it is a vibrant cultural center that blossomed beginning in the late 17th century with the founding of the university. One hundred years later it rose to prominence when Bamberg became the center of the enlightenment for southern Germany.
One of the few cities in Germany not destroyed by World War II bombing, Bamberg is the largest old town to retain its medieval structures; because of this, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Along with its Gothic, Baroque, and Romanesque architecture, the city was laid out according to medieval planning rules as a cross with churches at the four cardinal points.
We arrived in Bamberg about 9am and departed on our tour shortly thereafter. It was a warm beautiful day. We crossed the Regnitz River on a small old bridge and went through a gate into the historic old section of town.
In 1007, Emperor Heinrich II made Bamberg the center of the Holy Roman Empire and the capital of his reign. He wanted the city to become a second Rome, and like its Italian model, Bamberg was built on seven hills, each with a church on top.
He ordered the building of a new cathedral, which was consecrated in 1012, and remains the architectural and spiritual heart of the city. Both the emperor and his wife were buried in the cathedral, as was Pope Clement II. Heinrich also founded St. Michael’s Abbey for the training of the clergy. Both are still standing and are considered superb examples of late-Romanesque architecture. Soon, Bamberg was the center of the Holy Roman Empire and bishops became princes of the land. But the Protestant Reformation eventually cut the bishopric’s territory in half. Later, the 17th-century Bamberg witch trials cast a dark and tempestuous curtain over the city. Bamberg was unusual in that five of its mayors—all men—were identified as accomplices to witches and burned at the stake.
Bamberg’s prosperity has always been linked to the river. In the middle ages the area was the starting point for shipping on the Main River. It is now the northern starting point of the Main-Danube Canal that was built between 1960 and 1992. Also, it is a vibrant cultural center that blossomed beginning in the late 17th century with the founding of the university. One hundred years later it rose to prominence when Bamberg became the center of the enlightenment for southern Germany.
One of the few cities in Germany not destroyed by World War II bombing, Bamberg is the largest old town to retain its medieval structures; because of this, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Along with its Gothic, Baroque, and Romanesque architecture, the city was laid out according to medieval planning rules as a cross with churches at the four cardinal points.
We arrived in Bamberg about 9am and departed on our tour shortly thereafter. It was a warm beautiful day. We crossed the Regnitz River on a small old bridge and went through a gate into the historic old section of town.
It quickly became obvious that
Bamberg had a young vibrant population. Of the 70,000 residents more than
12,000 are university students.
All of Europe is big on
bicycling. But, holy smokes, in Bamberg they seemed to be around every corner.
Maybe it had to do with the many students in the area.
“House signs” became a way to
identify a person’s home or business establishment during medieval times. Many
folks were illiterate as they couldn’t read or write. So signage as we know it
today just didn’t work. The symbol-age house signs became popular in the 13th
century. We found them many, varied, and quite interesting. There are two of
them on the building in the middle of the following photo.
Here is a close up of one of
the signs. We could only guess as to what the meaning of a sign was. Maybe this
one identified where the Storks lived. Or maybe it was a business specializing
in infant supplies. Our imaginations ran wild!
Here are a couple more house
signs. The first one is quite complex and contains what appears to be a
lantern, a reef, and the Star of David amongst other things.
This mythical unicorn was
simple but quite unique.
Bakeries were popular
throughout Bamberg. The treats they offered were many, varied, and looked oh so
tempting!
Our local guide told us that
the city is known for its “Bamberg Buttered Hornchens” (croissants). He went on
to say “They are 70 percent fat and give you 30 seconds of pure pleasure in
your mouth, and then last a lifetime on your hips!”
Merchants displayed brightly
colored items on the sidewalks as a way of attracting customers into their
shops.
Our next stop within town was
a beautiful rose garden. We couldn’t resist snapping a few photos. Roses come
in such a wide array of colors--we never tire of seeing them.
Our final shot is of one of
the seven churches on a hill in Bamberg. It is truly a lovely town. For folks
thinking about studying abroad it would be an excellent location to consider.
Next time we will be cruising
down the Main River to our next port of call--Wurzburg, Germany. We look
forward to sharing our adventures there with you.
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns