Catholic town with an air of Baroque classicism - Town of Bamberg 624; Craft techniques and customary practices of cathedral workshops, or Bauhütten, in Europe, know-how, transmission, development of knowledge and innovation 01558
What and Why
Located along the confluence of the river Main, Bamberg is an ancient town with a strong cultural flair that dates back to the year 902 CE. The area was a strong Christian precinct as it was ruled chiefly by the monks of the Benedictine Fulda Abbey (German: Kloster Fulda), under the spiritual authority of the Diocese of Würzburg (Latin: Dioecesis Herbipolensis).
In early 11th century CE, the Holy Roman Emperor (Latin: Imperator Romanorum) Henry II (Heinrich II, né Heinrich von Ottonen) made Bamberg a family inheritance, with the intention of giving Christianity a firmer foothold in the region. For a short time Bamberg was the centre of the Holy Roman Empire (Latin: Sacrum Imperium Romanum) and still remains a staunch Catholic town until today.
Today it is a remarkable example of harmonious mix of mediaeval architecture, and modern lifestyle, plus extraordinary food.
Toponymy
Unknown, except we know that the suffix -berg refers to a hill in German.
See
Bamberg Cathedral (Bamberger Dom Sankt Peter und Sankt Georg)
Bamberg skyline is dominated by the four towers of Bamberg Cathedral (Bamberger Dom Sankt Peter und Sankt Georg), with its combines superbly late Romanesque and early French Gothic architecture. The cathedral was built in the early 13th century CE.
Neue Residenz
Outside the Bamberg Cathedral is the grand residence of the bishops since the 17th century CE. The Neue Residenz is no longer in use and hais become the state gallery (Staatsgalerie) and library (Staatsbibliothek).
Michaelsburg Abbey (Kloster Michaelsberg)
A short walk from Bamberg Cathedral up on a hill one will find Michaelsberg Abbey (Kloster Michaelsberg). The former Benedictine (Latin: Sancti Benedicti) abbey was built in early 12th century CE is now a small church and a community retirement home.
Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus)
The Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) is the main landmark of Bamberg as in the main picture. Sitting right in the centre of the river Main, and connected to the two banks by two bridges, the town hall provides a gathering hub of the city connecting the two shores. The iconic semi-timbered structure which seems to float on the water is added to the original structure in late 17th century CE.
The Baroque lower bridge (Untere Brücke) offers an excellent entrance to the town hall, from where one can see the many paintings on the town hall facade.
The other bridge view.
Little Venice (Klein-Venedig)
A former fisherman cottage area, the picturesque and colourful buildings sitting along the river.
Buy and Do
At the Old Town Hall, there is a description of how the architecture and construction is maintained in Bamberg. In Germany, especially when it comes to the construction and restoration of cathedrals there is an organisation called Bauhütten, which started all the way since the Middle Ages, operating similar to guilds and the blogged compagnonnage in Fontainebleau and Strasbourg in France. These Bauhütten are workshop network dealing with the construction or restoration of a building and have formed a regional network extending beyond national borders. The workshops safeguard the traditional customs, know-hows and rituals of their professions, as well as a wealth of knowledge transmitted across the generations, both orally and in writing.
Literally all cathedrals, construction landmarks, especially with special arts and crafts in Germany is maintained by Bauhütten. In particular there are 18 workshops around Europe that has been singled out as being the prime examples of these workshops, Bamberg being one of them. This workshop network is now an inscribed ICH.
Eat and Drink
Smoked beer (Rauchbier)
Bamberg is famous for its unique smoked beer (Rauchbier), which gives a smoky flavour because its malted barley is dried over an open flame. It looks like a stout, smells like charcoal but tastes like a beer.
We had our dinner with Rauchbier in the famed Schlenkerla, established in 1405 CE. They claim the original smoked beer which they insisted tasted exactly like 300 years ago! By the way Bamberg is also famous for its onion (Zwiebel), it is one of the main regions of onion-farming in Europe. Remember to try any of its onion dishes.
Stay
We were very fortunate to be able to get a cheap room from Welcome Residenzschloss Bamberg, a former palace built in the late 18th century CE and converted to a hotel lately. Everything you expect from a luxury hotel, excellent location, great rooms, very clean housekeeping, along the river, a stone's throw from the main landmarks, but incredibly very affordable. Highly recommended.
Getting There and Around
Fully walkable city, no entrance fee to anything. Bamberg deserves at least a full day of visit. The town centre is a bit of a distance from the train station though.
UNESCO Inscriptions
From the 10th century onwards, this town became an important link with the Slav peoples, especially those of Poland and Pomerania. During its period of greatest prosperity, from the 12th century onwards, the architecture of Bamberg strongly influenced northern Germany and Hungary. In the late 18th century it was the centre of the Enlightenment in southern Germany, with eminent philosophers and writers such as Hegel and Hoffmann living there.
The workshop organization, or Bauhüttenwesen, appeared in the Middle Ages on the construction sites of European cathedrals. Now, as then, these workshops are home to various trades working in close collaboration. The term Bauhüttenwesen in German refers both to the organization of a workshop network dealing with the construction or restoration of a building and to the workshop itself, as a place of work. Since the end of the Middle Ages, these workshops have formed a supra-regional network extending beyond national borders. The workshops safeguard the traditional customs and rituals of their professions, as well as a wealth of knowledge transmitted across the generations, both orally and in writing. Faced with the progressive shortage of technical skills and in an age of increasing mechanization and cost optimization, the workshops created or re-established in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have become institutions that preserve, transmit and develop traditional techniques and know-how. Their commitment to safeguarding and promoting living heritage, through targeted awareness raising, information and communication measures and close cooperation with shareholders in the field of politics, the church, monument conservation, business and research, can be considered as an example to be adapted and implemented in other contexts worldwide. Through their organization and training system for on-site practice, the workshops could be considered as a model for all types of buildings that need to be built and maintained.
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