Bamberg Cathedral

This early 11th century Romanesque / Gothic architecture cathedral holds impressive sights such as Bamberg Horseman, Sculptures of the King Heinrich II and his queen Kunigund framing Adamspforte ( Adam's Gate ). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on top of a hill opposite the New Residence, an impressive Baroque palace at Domplatz, the Cathedral Square in Bamberg. We went there after New Year and had the chance to see the beautifully decorated Christmas trees and the crib inside. The entrance is free.

Bamberg Cathedral (Dom St. Peter und St. Georg) completed in the 13th century. The cathedral is under the administration of the Archdiocese of Bamberg and is the seat of its archbishop. It was founded in 1002 by King (and later Emperor) Henry II. It contains the tomb of Pope Clement II (1005–1047) the only papal grave in Germany, and north of the Alps. The cathedral is about 94 m long, 28 m broad, 26 m high, and the four towers are each about 81 m high. Another well-known treasure of the cathedral is an equestrian statue known as the Bamberg Horseman. This statue, possibly depicting the Hungarian king Stephen I.

No if you want to get a sense of the towns history visiting the Cathedral and exploring the connected / nearby buildings is a great place to start. We visited on a busy weekend but found it easy to move through the Cathedral at our own pace on a self guided tour. There were people available to answer questions and were were free to roam respectfully. Walking down to the catacomb was also a unique way to get a sense of history through the life of the space, which has had multiple fires. The stonework and scale is massive. I’m told they have music with the pipe organ on Saturdays but don’t know the details. I can only imagine what the massive organ sounds like during services.

Great Cathedral very ornate. Great architecture, though it is getting some external renovation right now. A lot of cool architecture inside. Some famous statues of the king and wonderful tomb where the Lady is on the more honored side, basically because she was so beloved! There is a Pope buried in here, but I was not able to find it, though there were a few sections cordoned off.

Beautiful cathedral. Make sure you go inside and see the only pope remains in Germany. Very cool!

Beautiful cathedral. Fine location to sit and reflect and lots of history! No crowds at all during the week.

Pope is buried in the back and on the square side door is relief of Jesus return. Worth the visit and cool on top of the hill.

Awesome historical place, established thousands of years back. Enormous architectural mystery. You will feel so little in front of it So many stories of king henry if you can hear from the priest. There are 1000 sill threads to represent his 1000 birthday.

With more than 1,000 years of history, this cathedral is simply magnificent. A "Castrum Babenberg" existed on the Domberg (Cathedral Hill) and was mentioned in 902 for the first time. It was founded in 1002 by King (and later crowned as the Holy Roman Emperor by pope Benedict VIII in 1014) Heinrich (Henry) II and consecrated in 1012. Emperor Heinrich II died in 1024, and his wife empress Kunigunde in 1040. With the tomb of the couple, the cathedral contains the remains of the only imperial couple that was canonized. The second bishop Suidger of Bamberg was elected as Pope Clemens II. in 1046. His last resting place in the Bamberg Cathedral is the only preserved tomb of a pope in Germany and north of the Alps. After the first two cathedrals burned down in the 11th and 12th centuries, the current structure, a late Romanesque building with four large towers, was built in the 13th century. The cathedral is about 94 m long, 28 m broad, 26 m high, and the four towers are each about 81 m high. It contains many works of art, including the marble tomb of the Emperor Heinrich II and his wife, the Empress Kunigunde, considered a masterpiece of the sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider, and carved between 1499 and 1513. Another well-known treasure of the cathedral is an equestrian statue known as the Bamberg Horseman (German: Der Bamberger Reiter). This statue, possibly depicting the Hungarian king Stephen I, most likely dates to the period from 1225 to 1237.

In den letzten Wochen habe ich dank des €9 Tickets etliche bedeutende Dome in Speyer, Mainz, Worms, Fulda, Würzburg und anderen Städten besichtigt, hier reiht sich der Bamberger Dom "in der Mitte" ein. Wie die drei erstgenannten ist er einer der Kaiserdome, zuerst im 11. Jahrhundert, 1237 erneut geweiht. Während des 30-jährigen Krieges wurden ihm barocke Merkmale hinzugefügt. Die Besichtigung ist zweifellos einer der Höhepunkte jeder Städtereise nach Bamberg. Zur Zeit sind die Türme mit Gerüsten umhüllt (Ich komme aus Bonn und habe den Kölner Dom in 30 Jahren dort NIE ohne Gerüst gesehen). Der Innenraum präsentiert zahlreiche Steinfiguren und Altäre, die sehr sehenswert sind. Den Domschatz hat man in das Diözesanmuseum nebenan ausgelagert, das ebenfalls einen Besuch lohnt. In der Summe muss ich sagen, dass Speyer, Mainz und Fulda die schönsten Dome sind, die ich in letzter Zeit besichtigen durfte, aber darauf folgt Bamberg. Auf dem Domberg findet man in unmittelbarer Nachbarschaft weitere wichtige Attraktionen der Stadt, z.B. die "Neue Residenz" mit opulentem Rosengarten oder die "Alte Hofhaltung".

Dominating the hillside above the old town of Bamberg is its imposing late Romanesque Cathedral. The current building is the third to stand on the site, after the original (founded by Heinrich II and his wife Kunigunde in 1104), and its successor, both burned down. Erected in the 13th Century, the style is a mixture of late Romanesque (particularly the doorways and windows) and early Gothic, best seen in the arcades. The exterior is dominated by four spires and some impressive sculpture in the porches: the interior has some lovely treasures - particularly the late Gothic tomb of its founders, Heinrich and Kunigunde, and the unusual but impressive equestrian statue of the Bamberg horseman. Sadly, the decision to strip away the plaster and wall decoration in the 19th Century does detract from the atmosphere: the bare expanse of stone could do with some colourful banners (or restored plaster and fresco) to enliven it. The cathedral has two crypts, one of which, containing saintly relics, can be visited. The west choir was roped off in my visit but contains the only papal tomb North if the Alps (that if Clemens II).

It seems like around every corner in little Bamberg is another huge, spectacular cathedral. The Dom is one of these awe-inspiring churches and does not disappoint. It is worth a few minutes, or even longer, inside to take in the unique architecture, quietness, and the beauty of this treasure.

The cathedral is a late Romanesque building with four imposing towers. It was founded in 1002 by the emperor Henry II, finished in 1012 and consecrated on May 6, 1012. It was later partially destroyed by fire in 1081. The new cathedral, built by St. Otto of Bamberg, was consecrated in 1111, and in the 13th century received its present late-Romanesque form. A must visit when in town. This place is huge. Take the time to explore the church, the surrounding areas and the museums near by. An amazing piece of architecture and I loved it.

Just opening the 12-15 foot door to enter the building starts your impression of this grand place. Yes, there is a large amount of scaffolding on the inside (and some on the outside) but when you catch glimpses of the work they are doing it truly makes an impression. Immense, beautiful architecture, you just can't help but look around in awe. There are many alcoves for different saints and such where you can light a candle if you so choose. Truly worth the stop!