Bamberg - now number one!

So it’s become a contest. Which Bavarian town is the favourite? I thought Passau had it in the bag but today’s trip to Bamberg pushed it down the list. Bamberg is another charming town but with a difference recognized by UNESCO. While at first glance it looks medieval, you quickly notice that most of the streets are lined with houses with baroque facades. One of the prince-bishops decided the split timber style of the medieval houses were so yesterday. He hated them and insisted baroque was “in”. He had a new house (palace) built for himself and also influenced the local architecture. He offered to give a tax-free exemption to the fishermen along the river if they changed the facade of their homes. But of all the townspeople, the fishers resisted. Their houses were built so their boats could drive from the river to the bottom floor to unload the fish. They also needed balconies to dry their nets. None of this works with a simple baroque style. Much of the charm of the river now depends on the medieval houses so it was just as well for the current town's economy. Asking the value of the houses, we were told they are never sold - just handed down within families.  

Hilltop home for one of the first Prince-Bishops - medieval structure - so yesterday.

'New' baroque style - now that is modern!

Rooftops of higgledy piggledy medieval/baroque Bamberg

St Stephen and St George Cathedral - you can see change in style as towers were built over centuries - round Roman arches change to pointed Gothic. Now being restored. 

"Little Venice", the fishermen's medieval houses with entrances at water level for boats (now gardens) and balconies for drying nets.