Bamberg: Saturday August 20
ORIGINAL PLAN: Continue along the Main–Danube Canal this morning, arriving in Bamberg in early afternoon. Enjoy a tour of Bamberg, with its medieval city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your walking tour includes a visit to the magnificent 11th-century cathedral, reworked in late Romanesque style in the 13th century, and the picturesque city hall built on a tiny island in the middle of a river. Take some free time to enjoy Bamberg and sample some of the town’s distinctive smoke-flavored beer before returning on board. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included)
See the burial place of emperors and the home of smoked beer on this included excursion. Join your local guide and head to the medieval city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the magnificent 11th-century cathedral with its four imposing towers. The church was rebuilt in late Romanesque and early Gothic style in the 13th century; this is where both Emperor Henry II and Pope Clement II are buried. You can pause to admire the detailed statue of the Bamberger Reiter, or Bamberg Horseman, here. You will also see the picturesque Rathaus, or Town Hall, built in the middle of a double-arched bridge over the Regnitz River. From here, you can see fishermen’s cottages on the nearby riverbanks. You will have time to follow your own whims in Bamberg, perhaps sampling some of the town’s distinctive rauchbier, or smoke-flavored beer, before rejoining your ship.
* Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.
OUR EXPERIENCE:
An overview for the day with special insights was in the Viking Daily.
The bus was rolling by 1:30 pm. Unfortunately, we had to make a return trip to the ship for 5-6 passengers who were tardy getting to the bus. Once we arrived, the guide pointed our the Messerschmitt Hotel as a meeting point at the end of the tour to meet the bus. From there, we crossed through town past some musicians towards the church where an emperor and pope were buried.
We crossed a river with rapids where kayakers could train for competition, took pictures of painted walls, and entered the church courtyard where the guide show us a picture of a Three Muskateers movie taken here on location as if it were Paris:
St. Peter's and St. George's Imperial Cathedral is one of Emperor Heinrich II's legacies. It contains numerous impressive sights.Emperor Heinrich II. had the Cathedral constructed in Bamberg as early as 1002 and it was completed in 1012 after a building period of just ten years. However, this house of worship fell victim to fire, as did its successor. The third construction which contains stylistic elements of the late romanesque and early gothic periods has survived to the present day. The highlights include the tomb of the holy imperial couple Kunigunde and Heinrich II., created by Tilmann Riemenschneider, the "Bamberg Horseman" who is shrouded in mystery, the altar by Veit Stoß and the papal tomb of Clemens II.
Nearby, I took a picture of a typical waiting line and euro collection plate at a toilette (Damen and Herren)...
...then a picture of a St. Otto and an upcoming event:
The guide then showed us the way to the rose garden...
...and to a view of the entire city. From there we wandered back towards the bus stop without exact directions. We passed a newly wed couple on the way and returned to familiar territory:
Bill and I sampled the famous smoke-flavored beer with a few sausages, sauerkraut, and local bread at a local beerhouse before getting back on the bus. A group of rose garden tour guides sat directly behind us.
After another short delay waiting for a "lost husband", we were on our way back to our ship.
