Bamberg (Germany Bavaria)

Bamberg is a Main River cruise port and city in Germany's Bavaria state (Upper Franconia region, Urban district) with population around 80,000. It is situated on Regnitz River, near its confluence with Main River. The settlement was founded in the early-10th-century as a major center for trade with the Slavs (Slavic peoples) in Poland and Pomerania (Baltic Sea). The town developed from the 12th century onwards and was briefly the center (Reichstag/Imperial Diet) of the Holy Roman Empire (Heiliges Romisches Reich / 800-1806 AD). Oldtown's architecture is strongly influenced by the architecture styles of Hungary.

Since 1993, a large part of Bamberg City is designated as a UNESCO Site. The town extends over 7 hills, each crowned by a large church. This is why Bamberg is often nicknamed the "Franconian Rome". These hills are named Abtsberg, Altenburger, Michaelsberg, Cathedral Hill, Kaulberg/Obere Pfarre, Jakobsberg, Stefansberg.

Bamberg Cathedral (Bamberger Dom St Peter und St Georg, built 1004-1012) has 4 towers and was constructed by Holy Roman Emperor Henry II (reign 1014-24). Bamberg is also famous for its Rauchbier (smoked beer) and houses 9 breweries and the brewpub Ambrausianum. The 5-day Sandkerwa is a traditional annual fair that takes place in the old town every August. The traditional kirmess (Kermesse) is a Catholic festival celebrated with local draft beers.

Most tourist attractions are in the Old Town (Alte Stadt) and include Bamberg Cathedral (has the tombs of Emperor Henry II and Pope Clement II), Alte Hofhaltung (bishops residence in 16th-17th centuries), Neue Residenz (bishops residence after the 17th century), Staatsbibliothek Bamberg (State Library), Old Town Hall (late-14th-century), Klein-Venedig (19th-century fishermen's colony), Michaelsberg Abbey (12th-century), Altenburg (castle on Altenburger / city's tallest hill), Neue Residenz (late-17th-century, prince-bishops residence in 1864-67, with its Rosengarten overlooking the town).

InterCityExpress (high-speed trains) link Bamberg with Munich-Nuremberg-Leipzig-Berlin-Hamburg/Baltic Sea) taking ~2 hours to Munich and ~ 3 hours to Berlin. Bamberg is also directly railway connected with Frankfurt am Main. Bamberg-Breitenau Airfield (former military airport) is used by public aircraft (including charter flights). The closest large international airports are in Frankfurt and Munich, the nearest is Nuremberg Airport (within 30-min drive / 1-hour train travel).