by Lizz and I caught a regional train at 7 am for a day in Bamberg. Our journey from Thuringia took about an hour on that occasion—a manageable start for a day out, although the same timing will not apply to every departure point. The old town was the main attraction. We had brought the cameras, naturally.
Arrival and First Impressions
On arrival, we headed towards the old town, with cafés, shops and plenty of people along the way. Bamberg does not need much introduction once you reach the river. The buildings begin making a fairly persuasive argument on their own.
The murals on the Old Town Hall were an early reason to stop. We photographed the painted façades and the views from the bridges, discovering that crossing a river can take quite a while when the cameras are out.
The Altes Rathaus sits in the Regnitz, connected to the banks by bridges. That unusual setting gives it much of its character: a civic building with water moving around it, rather than another façade on a square. It is worth looking from more than one side.
Through the Old Town: Cathedrals and Cobbled Streets
We continued through the main streets and smaller lanes of the Altstadt. The town hall draws the obvious attention, but the corners between the landmarks were part of the pleasure too. Painted houses, courtyards and shop windows supplied plenty of reasons not to walk in a straight line.
UNESCO’s listing covers the historic town of Bamberg, rather than only the cathedral. That broader view makes sense when you are walking here: streets, river crossings and the hillside buildings work together, and the route between the sights is part of the visit.
We also browsed the market stalls, with crafts and small things to take home. It provided a change from looking up at buildings. My neck and the souvenir trade could both appreciate that.
A café break and pastries fitted comfortably into the programme. We were on a day trip, not a timed examination in Bavarian architecture. Leaving room to sit down made the wandering considerably more enjoyable.
Bamberg Cathedral and the Hillside Sights
The cathedral was a major stop. Its four towers belong to a building consecrated in 1237, after earlier cathedral buildings on the site. Inside are the tomb of Emperor Henry II and Kunigunde, the tomb of Pope Clement II and the Veit Stoss altar shown in our photographs. The cathedral’s own introduction gives the history and principal artworks.
The original diary also included St Michael’s on the Michaelsberg. Its surroundings and views are distinct from a visit inside the church: the church was under long-term restoration at the time of our 2025 outing. For access now, use Bamberg’s current Michaelsberg information rather than assuming this diary describes present opening arrangements.
Back in the centre, we stopped at Hacker’s Holzkohlegrill for a hearty snack. After the hills and churches, something from the grill was a welcome shift of subject.
Reflections on Bamberg
The river views were a particular pleasure, and we left with plenty still to explore.
There was time for another look through the stalls and a few souvenirs before leaving.
Our Würzburg day trip offered another Franconian city to compare with Bamberg. Both worked well for us by train, with time to wander and stop for food—an arrangement I remain happy to recommend to myself.
Discover more from Lizz and I
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.