Klein-Venedig

Without further ado, here is a tour of our beautiful city, Bamberg.  We are already proud of what we've learned about our new home, especially with the vibrant history and rich culture surrounding us everywhere we turn.

To begin the tour, we need to explain the post's title:  Klein-Venedig.  German for "Little Venice," Klein-Venedig is a term used to describe Bamberg (primarily this little stretch in the downtown area).  A few journalists back in the 1800s believed the Bamberg area reminded them of a little taste of Venice, Italy.  Based on my time in Venice, I can agree with the analogy... except, thankfully, Bamberg doesn't smell like a saltwater lagoon. But with the two flowing waterways, rows of houses peppering the river, and buildings nestled on and around the river that give the area an appearance of a floating city of canals, parts of downtown Bamberg do make it feel more like a low-lying waterbound town than a city boasting a rolling landscape of "seven hills" (more on that tidbit later).

In the following pictures, you can see our view as we drive downtown.  In the first picture, the sign in the foreground introduces Bamberg and lets you know that, thank God, there is a Burger King just ahead.  Beyond that sign, you can see a billboard listing the various Partnerstädte, or sister cities, that Bamberg has throughout the world.  One of those cities?  Esztergom, Hungary, the city after which our humble little street is named.

Letting Liam tear up the streets

One of the main drags downtown.
The store on the right, Karstadt, is much like a Macy's

The historical buildings here are wonderfully maintained.  The buildings are some of the oldest in Germany, as this city was one of the few to remain untouched by the battles of World War II.  Bamberg appears in records as early as A.D. 902, and the city cites A.D. 973 as the year of its founding, making it almost 1,040 years old.  The roads are a mix of modern pavement and uneven cobblestone, and the city maintains the expected European pedestrian-friendly atmosphere in balance with the hustle and bustle of a large city.  For comparison's sake, Raleigh, N.C., has approximately 400,000 residents -- Bamberg has around 70,000.  But while Raleigh's population density is at 2,800 people per square mile, our city holds more than 3,300 people in that same amount of space.  Though it is on the small side, the population gives you the feeling of a busy, ambitious place.

The Altes Rathaus, Bamberg's original city hall, was built in 1386 and renovated in the 1400s.  It looks essentially the same now as it did 600 years ago post-renovation.  The Altes Rathaus was strategically positioned where the Obere and Untere Brücke (Upper and Lower Bridges) cross over the Regnitz downtown.  The location and building were intended to symbolize the union of the middle class and the episcopal counterparts in Bamberg.  Today, the 44-member city council meets elsewhere, but the building remains one of the most important historical and architectural pieces of eye candy in the city.

The Altes Rathaus

On another bridge down the way from the Altes Rathaus, you can see evidence of an interesting romantic tradition the city has embraced for years.  Locals and visitors alike have participated:  lovers purchase a basic padlock, write their names/initials on it, attach it to the cables of the bridge, and throw the key in the Regnitz. The intended symbolism is obvious. 

However, a genuine concern has arisen regarding the bridge cables -- these sweet little padlocks are rubbing against the cables, corroding them and weakening them slowly but surely.  Logically but tragically, the city has voted to cut off all the padlocks.

As I mentioned before, Bamberg has seven hills enriching the landscape.  While its lower downtown area demands a comparison to Venice, the rolling hills call to mind Rome and its seven hills.  Some people even call Bamberg "Franconian Rome" (and, of course, proud locals call Rome "Italian Bamberg").  The seven hills of Bamberg include Cathedral Hill, Michaelsberg, Kaulberg/Obere Pfarre, Stefansberg, Jakobsberg, Altenburg, and Abtsberg.

Cathedral Hill is in the heart of downtown Bamberg, and it sneaks up on you like any good hill should do.  You turn a sharp right, and BAM!

You see the beautiful Bamberg Cathedral.  The Cathedral is home to the tombs of Emperor Henry II (who founded the Cathderal in 1004) and Pope Clement II.  We have yet to go inside the Cathedral, but it's kind of a no-brainer -- the place is guaranteed to be gorgeous.  The original Cathedral, consecrated in 1012, was partially destroyed by a fire towards the end of the 11th century and was rebuilt in its current late-Romanesque style in 1237.

Atop Michaelsberg Hill sits the Michaelsberg Abbey, a fantastic historic site (built in the 12th century).  The Abbey is no longer an active monastery, but the church on site is still used as an ancillary church to the Cathedral.

Another view of the Regnitz.  In the distance, you can see Michaelsberg Abbey

The city's highest hill, Altenburg, is just outside of our neighborhood and boasts an amazing castle.  I still can't get over the fact that we have a castle within view of our home.  Ridiculous.

Our very own castle!

Bamberg is brimming with beauty and excitement, and during the Christmas season, everything is amped up a notch.  The streets are full of costumed entertainers as the Christmas market attracts local performers and visitors of all kinds.

Some dude brought his Shetland pony downtown...
Totally commonplace

Bamberg's city band, rocking out some Christmas tunes.  Liam especially loved the "crumpets" (trumpets)

Not sure if you knew, but Santa plays the accordion

Enjoying lunch at one of our new favorite haunts, the Casa Italia

Liam sipping on some Heiße Schokolade (hot chocolate)

And what would a good 21st-century tour be without a video?

So there you go, a tour of Bamberg, Germany.  But we didn't do it justice -- you need to come out here and see it for yourself!  And if you make it out to our side of the pond, we happen to know a few good tour guides, wink wink.

Yes, that's a 1-liter flask of wine right there. And no, I didn't hog it all.