Bamberg Cathedral

Bamberg Cathedral (Bamberger Dom) is the crown of Bamberg's UNESCO-listed old town and one of Germany's great imperial cathedrals. Its four towers rise from Cathedral Hill above a sea of red roofs in this beautifully preserved Franconian city. Inside you'll find treasures that appear in every German art history book: the mysterious Bamberg Horseman, the tomb of a saintly emperor and empress, and the only papal tomb north of the Alps. Entry is free, making it an essential stop on any day trip to Bamberg.

A thousand years of history

King (later Emperor) Henry II laid the foundation stone in 1004 and founded the Diocese of Bamberg three years later. The first cathedral was consecrated in 1012. Henry and his wife Cunigunde, both later canonized, are buried here, the only emperor and empress of the Holy Roman Empire to be declared saints.

Fires destroyed the first building in 1081 and again in 1185. The present cathedral was consecrated on May 6, 1237, and its architecture captures the shift from Romanesque to Gothic. In the 19th century, King Ludwig I of Bavaria had most of the Baroque furnishings removed to restore a medieval look, which is why the interior feels so austere and powerful today.

In 1046 Bamberg's second bishop, Suidger, became Pope Clement II. His tomb in the west choir is the only surviving papal grave north of the Alps.

What to see

• The Bamberg Horseman: A 13th-century stone statue of a young king on horseback. Nobody knows for sure whom it portrays, which only adds to its fascination.
• The imperial tomb: Carved by Tilman Riemenschneider, one of the great sculptors of late Gothic Germany, it depicts legends from the lives of Henry and Cunigunde.
• The papal tomb of Clement II: Best seen up close on a guided tour.
• Veit Stoss's Marian altar: A late Gothic carved altarpiece by the Nuremberg master.
• Choir screens and portals: Reliefs of apostles and prophets and the Princes' Portal with its Last Judgment are masterpieces of 13th-century sculpture.

Museum, tours and opening hours

Next door, the Diocesan Museum displays the cathedral treasury, including precious imperial robes from Henry II's era. Admission is €7 (€5 reduced), and visitors under 18 enter free. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.; it closes on Wednesdays.

The public "Dom.Schatz.Kreuzgang" tour (cathedral, treasury and cloister) runs daily at 2 p.m., lasts 90 minutes and costs €12 including museum entry. Ask about the tour language when booking; group tours can be arranged through the cathedral's visitor service.

As of October 2026, the cathedral is open for sightseeing Monday to Wednesday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (5 p.m. from November to March), Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m., Saturday until 4:15 p.m. (with a midday break from May to October), and Sunday from 1 p.m. Visits are not possible during services.

How to get there

Bamberg sits on the ICE high-speed line between Munich and Berlin, roughly two hours from Munich and under three hours from Berlin; Nuremberg is a short regional-train ride away, and a Deutschlandticket covers regional trains. From the station, walk about 30 minutes through the old town or take city bus 910 to Domplatz. There is no parking at the cathedral, so use the garages at the edge of the old town. The climb up Cathedral Hill is steep and partly cobbled.

Is it worth visiting?

Absolutely. Even if you only have a few hours, the cathedral, the Rose Garden next door and a stroll down to the Old Town Hall give you a superb taste of medieval Germany. Go on a weekday morning for the quietest visit, and remember that this is a working church: keep your voice down during prayers.

Nearby

• New Residence and Rose Garden: A Baroque prince-bishops' palace with a garden overlooking the rooftops.
• Old Court (Alte Hofhaltung): A Renaissance courtyard housing the Historical Museum.
• Old Town Hall and Little Venice: The town hall built in the middle of the river and the old fishermen's houses along its banks.