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This 1000-year old residence of emperors and bishops is
one of Germany’s most spectacular surprises, for until
recently it was relatively unknown outside the country,
and yet it is one of the most beautiful and unspoilt
small cities - it has only some 70,000 inhabitants - in
the whole of Europe. This is no idle boast, for in 1993
UNESCO declared the whole of the inner city (nearly a
square mile) a World Heritage City.
Built, like Rome, on seven hills, and dominated by the
four spires of its historic cathedral, Bamberg’s narrow
streets and alleyways offer magnificent views of the
churches, palaces and mansions of the Old Town. Amongst
the greatest attractions of the city are the Little
Venice quarter of picturesque timber-framed houses and
the unique Old Town Hall, lying like a ship at anchor on
a tiny island in the middle of the river Regnitz.
Visitors will be especially tempted by Bamberg’s wide
range of museums, including the Franconian Beer Museum.
Theatre-goers will enjoy the open-air performances of
the annual Calderón drama festival, and for music lovers
there is the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, which ranks
amongst the finest in Germany. |
