Bamberg Kathedrale: A Divine Masterpiece
A minor basilica of the Archdiocese of Bamberg administered by the Roman Catholic Church, the Bamberger Dom St. Peter and St. George or Bamberg Kathedrale is famous as one of the imperial cathedrals of Germany.
Location:
The Bamberg Cathedral is situated in Bamberg, a town in Upper Franconia in the state of Bavaria, Germany. It stands on the Cathedral Hill or Domberg, which is the historic center of the town of Bamberg.
Weather:
An oceanic climate makes Bamberg warm in July and August, with mean temperatures reaching almost 25 degrees Celsius. An average temperature of -3 degrees Celsius makes January and February the coldest months. The best time to visit Bamberg is during the months of June, July and August, which generally have pleasurable weather conditions.
History:
Heinrich, the former Duke of Bavaria, presented his wife St. Kunigunde with the property of Bamberg as a wedding gift in 1000. Because the couple was pious and childless, 1002 saw the making of the decision to establish a diocese in the town of Bamberg. Eberhard von Abenberg was the first bishop of the Diocese of Bamberg, which was built in 1007, with King Heinrich as a canon or priest of the Cathedral chapter. The cathedral was consecrated in 1012. A fire burned down this first cathedral or Heinrichsdom in 1081 during Easter. Though the church was rebuilt around 1087 under the orders of Bishop Otto of Bamberg and was consecrated once again in 1111, a second major fire led to its demolition in 1185. The present cathedral was erected by three men belonging to the House of Andechs of Merania – Otto, Ekbert, and Poppo.
In the 17th century, it’s interior was given a Baroque style in two phases – the first under Bishop Johann Gottfried von Aschhausen; and the second under Bishop Melchior Otto Voit von Salzburg after the Thirty Years’ War had ended. The Bishopric of Bamberg became a component of the Electorate of Bavaria in 1802-3, and an archdiocese in 1817. The Baroque modifications in the cathedral were replaced with the Romanesque style by the order of Ludwig I of Bavaria. The church was altered according to the wishes of the Second Vatican Council during the 1969-74 renovation work and has been a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bamberg since 1993.
The Cathedral:
The imperial Bamberg Kathedrale is about 95 meters long, 25.5 meters high and 28.5 meters wide with four big towers. Different parts of the cathedral were constructed in various styles of architecture, especially in the Romanesque and the Gothic fashions. The two east towers, each of which is 76 meters high, have an entirely Romanesque design, while the two towers to the west, which have a height of 74 meters each, are modeled on the towers of the Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral of Laon. The basements of the west towers, however, have somewhat ogival windows in Romanesque design. A total of ten bells are housed in the east towers, including the Kunigunde bell, the Poor Soul bell, the Heinrich Bell (the largest), the measuring Bell (the smallest), and the Marie Bell.
The cathedral welcomes you through one minor and three major portals. In a porch on the north wall stands the Prince Portal, the main portal, which now opens only for processions on Holy days. Here stand statues of Abraham and the Angel declaring the Last Judgment, and atop the columns are figures of Ecclesia and Synagogue. The Adam Porte or the Red Door, the oldest of the portals, has figures of Kunigunde, St. Peter, St. Stephen, and Adam and Eve, and the Lombardian-styled Marie Porte or Gate of Grace is in the south tower. The Veit Gate is a minor portal and showcases the early Gothic Cistercian architectural style.
At each end of the cathedral is a choir. The Romanesque eastern choir or Ostchor, dedicated to St. George, is the cathedral’s oldest part, having a length of 30 meters. The eastern chancel, a symbol of the Holy Roman Empire, has a fresco above the apse which displays the Judge Christ in a Mandorla. Sculpted lions and chimeras can be found in the choir stalls, which date back to the 14th century. The west choir or Westchor, representing the Gothic architectural style, was consecrated by St. Peter with a length of 28 meters. It has a vault which was constructed from 1232, and richly carved Gothic choir stalls dating from the late 14th century stand to its left and right. A wheel chandelier is suspended above the 20th-century people’s altar (Volksaltar).
The 37-meter long nave, which joins the two choirs, occupies about a third of the total length of the church and has a Transitional design. Four angel figures adorn the corners of the case of the nave’s organ, which has a pedalboard and four manuals.
In the northern transept can be found the Marienaltar or Mühlhausener Altar, a late Gothic altar dating from the year 1500. The southern transept houses the Christmas or Virgin Mary altar formed of basswood by the famous artist Veit Stoss. This altar, however, is incomplete, as it has no predella. The side aisles have two more altars – the 16th century Kirchgattendorfer Altar dedicated to Mary and the Riemenschneider Altar with sculptures from the early 16th century.
How to Get There:
The Deutsche Bahn (DB) trains, particularly the InterCity Express, frequently run through the station of Bamberg to Nuremberg, Würzburg, and Bayreuth, and even to Berlin and Munich. Tourists traveling by plane to the Frankfurt International Airport can reach Bamberg by changing trains in Würzburg or by taking a roundabout route through Nuremberg. Although the town of Bamberg is not situated near any of the major Autobahns, it is connected to this network in all directions. The A73, for instance, links the eastern side of Bamberg to Nuremberg by joining with the A9.
Having arrived at Bamberg, you can take a bus to the cathedral from the central bus station. Or you can make your way towards the cathedral by foot from the Bamberg Railway Station, which is around 2 kilometers to the north-east of the old city center or Altstadt.
Why Visit?
With Simon Peter, the first Confessor besides being one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus of Nazareth, as the first pope and patron of the Bamberg Cathedral, and the knight George the Dragonslayer as the church’s second patron, the cathedral is one of the most sacred places on earth. As you walk around the entire church, you can almost feel the religiosity and piety in you awaken! Imparting a serene ambiance, this cathedral is sure to leave a lasting impression on you.
Major Attractions:-
- The Bamberg Horseman (Bamberger Reiter) – This equestrian statue, possibly dating from the period between 1225 and 1237, is considered to be the oldest such statue carved in post-Roman Germany, and is taken to symbolize the town of Bamberg. The exact identities of both the sculptor and the rider on horseback remain a mystery to his day, but the rider is thought to be the Hungarian King Stephen I of the 11th
- Kaiser Grave – On the sides of this marble grave of Emperor Heinrich II, the cathedral’s founder, and Empress Kunigunde, his wife, made between 1499 and 1513 by Tilman Riemenschneider, you can perceive traditional stories from the life of the duo. It portrays the Empress’ ordeal, the miracle of the penny, the Empress mourning for her husband on his deathbed, and the miraculous healing of Heinrich from the stone disease. The cover plate represents the figures of the couple in repose, with two lions bearing the Luxembourg and the Bavarian coat of arms.
- The Cathedra – In the western choir, the Bishop’s Chair created in 1899 is a neo-Romanesque objet d’art. This wooden chair, covered with a sheet of copper and leather and adorned with semi-precious stones, was gifted to the Archbishop Joseph of Schork by the Metropolitan Chapter in 1904. This chair, the inner side of which bears the Archbishop’s official coat of arms, has ivory reliefs which show Archangel Michael and some other leading and notable figures of the era. The cathedra has stood in front of the Papal Grave since 1969.
- Pope’s Grave – Behind the cathedral by the side of the Kaiser Grave rests the grave of Pope Clement II, the only papal grave to the north of the Alps that is still preserved. The grave, made of Italian marble, is accessorized with figures dating back to the middle of the 13th century – Archangel Michael with the Pope on his deathbed; the cardinal principles of justice, strength, wisdom, and moderation; John the Baptist; and streams of the Garden of Eden.
- Crypts – Under the east chancel, the crypt houses the grave of King Konrad III and that of Bishop Gunther of Bamberg, along with a fountain that continues to be used for baptism. The German King Konrad III died in Bamberg on his way to Rome in 1152 and has been buried in the crypt since 1845. The oldest portion of the new cathedral building is the 27-meter long crypt under the George choir.
- The Nail Chapel (Nagelkapelle) – This chapel accommodates the 11-centimeter long sacred nail from the True Cross, and is one of the relics related to Jesus Christ. The altarpiece of the apostles farewell altar displays how the apostles united and made their final arrangements for travel before making their way around the world. As a chapel for silent prayers and worship on weekdays, the Nagelkapelle has served since the 1990s.
- The Andreas Chapel – In this remote chapel, the Holy Andreas, and the saints Sigismund and Wenzel are revered. Its paintings exhibit Matthew, Lukas, and other Evangelists, as well as the fathers Augustine and Ambrose.
- Bishop Graves – Because of the right of each bishop to be buried in his church, Bamberg Kathedrale has several tombs of bishops. The grave stone of the late Bishop Friedrich von Hohenlohe, representing the bishop as an aged man, is one such example. You can also glance at the statue of Pope Clement II, which was sculpted between 1225 and 1237.
What Else is Around?
- The Diocesan Museum
- The Domkranz
- The Cathedral Square (Domplatz)
- The Chapter House (Domkapitelhaus)
Bamberg Kathedrale, thus, shelters numerous well-known treasures and sacred relics. Don’t miss any chance to visit this dominant historical structure in Bamberg!