Visited the Bamberg Cathedral, known as Bamberger Dom St. Peter und St. Georg, during our walking…read moretour of Bamberg. The late Romanesque church was completed in the 13th century. It replaced two prior cathedrals that burned down in the 11th and 12th centuries. The church was founded in 1002 by King (and later Emperor) Heinrich II (Henry II). It was consecrated ten years later in 1012. It still contains the tombs of Henry II and his wife Kunigunde. They are the only imperial couple that was canonized. It also holds the tomb of Pope Clement II. The tomb of Pope Clement II is the only papal grave in Germany. The late Romanesque building has four large towers. It contains so many works of art. The marble tomb of the founder and his wife, the Empress Kunigunde was carved between 1499 and 1513. Look up to see the equestrian statue known as the Bamberg Horseman. Check out the sculptures both inside the cathedral and adorning the exterior. The portals are stunning. Interesting to also see a model outside the cathedral. These models are there to allow people who are blind to touch and experience what the cathedral would look like according to our tour guide. Including an opportunity to enjoy the cathedral that they otherwise could not "see." A stunning cathedral on the hill in Bamberg. Definitely worth the climb.

With more than 1,000 years of history, this cathedral is simply magnificent. A "Castrum Babenberg"…read moreexisted 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.

The "New Minster" of Würzburg is a riot of Baroque decoration, and is dedicated to the three Irish…read moremissionaries, Kilian, Colman and Totnan, martyred in 689 while bringing Christianity to the Thuringians under the rule of King Gozbert. Kilian travelled from his native Ireland leading a band of missionaries and arrived at Wurzburg by way of Rome, where their mission was blessed by the Pope. The band split at Würzburg, the three missionaries remaining while the others went further afield. All initially went well: Gozbert and many of his subjects were converted and baptised. But Kilian informed the King that his marriage to the his brother's widow Geilana was contrary to scripture. She was furious and had the three beheaded in the absence of her husband. The church was subsequently built at the scene of their martyrdom: in 1060 Adalbero of Würzburg founded the present church with an aisled nave and two choirs (east and west) in the Romanesque style. From 1180 to 1250 the church was further expanded. The first step towards its current form was the demolition of the west choir and the remodelling to form a new west front in the Baroque style between 1711 and 1716. More significant still was the thorough redesign of the interior by the Zimmerman brothers in 1725. The present Church therefore appears as a complete Baroque structure. It is painted in cool white, which highlights the baroque altar pieces and the ceiling frescoes. The fresco on the domed ceiling at the west front is a triumph of trompe d'oeil, which depicts different layers of cloud, drawing the eye upwards. In complete contrast, the casket containing the relics of St Kilian is found the the west crypt, which is dark, low-ceilinged, and a place of restful quiet - a perfect escape from tourist throngs above.

The Neumünster church was built in the 11th Century as a Romanesque Basilica. It is constructed on…read morethe site where 798 Irish Missionaries from Franconia were murdered. Previously the church has served as the main cathedral in Würzburg owing to it sustaining less damage during the bombing of Würzburg in WW2. Its a gorgeous building with detailed paintings on the inside. Like many churches around Bavaria the ceiling is beautifully painted as are many sections of the church. Inside are many works of art, such as the 15th century Man of Sorrow, and a Madonna. Its located slightly away from the main square and very quiet inside. Well worth a visit.

A gorgeous Benedictine monastery located on a hill in Bamberg. After its dissolution in 1803 the…read morebuildings were used for the almshouse Vereinigte Katharinen- und Elisabethen-Spital, which is still there as an old people's home. The former abbey church remains in use as the Michaelskirche. One of oldest mentions of brewing in Bamberg comes from a 1122 proclamation by Bishop Otto I of Bamberg granting the Benedictines of Michaelsberg the right to brew beer for sale. Although this does not exist anymore it is a big part of the history of Bamberg. Unfortunately it was closed for cleaning so we could not have a good look around. There is a restaurant / Biergarten up top and the views from up here are spectacular. A must visit in Bamberg. They sell some great beer and schnapps here. The shop was closed and we were unable to try anything or buy :-( A fried of ours had bought some beer from here in the past and I loved it.