Bamberg Info
History
902:
First mention of a "Castrum Babenberch" in the chronicles of abbot Regino von Pruehm (840-915), an eminent historian, during the Babenberg Feud.
1002:
Henry II, Duke of Bavaria since 995, is elected as king of Germany after the death of Emperor Otto III. In 1024 Henry II dies and is buried in Bamberg's cathedral. In 1139 he is canonised.
1007:
The diocese of Bamberg is founded by Henry II. Bamberg becomes the centre of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.
1012:
The first Cathedral of Henry II. is consecrated by John of Aquileja.
1014:
Pope Benedict VIII crowns Henry II Emperor of Germany in the St. Peter cathedral in Rome.
1047:
Pope Clemens II (once bishop Suidger of Bamberg) dies and is interred in Bamberg's cathedral. His tomb is the only Papal burial place north of the Alps.
1093:
The first mention of beer is made in Canon Oudalricus's will. He orders beer and food to be handed out to the poor on the anniversary of his death. Today, there are still ten private breweries in the city.
1102:
Otto I. takes over the diocese of Bamberg and becomes one of the outstanding bishops in Germany. He leads the diocese to a time of prosperity and makes a great contribution to the realm policy. He founded numerous monasteries and supervised the rebuilding of Bamberg's cathedral after it burnt out in 1081. Since he was known as a respectable building owner, many churches were built under his reign and he had the city extended by some quarters. On 30.06.1139 he dies and he is buried in the St. Michael monastery on the Michael hill. In 1189, he is canonised.
1109:
The "Altenburg" fortress, perched on the highest of Bamberg's seven hills, is first mentioned. The fortification protects the city to the west.
1185:
Bamberg's cathedral burns out a second time. The building of the late Romanesque - early Gothic new cathedral lasted until 1237. The new cathedral is an unsurpassed gem of the German architecture during the Staufer period.
1230:
Bamberg Horseman. It is the first life-size sculpture of a rider since the Ancient World. It is still uncertain who the rider represents; but scientists assume that it depicts St. Stephan of Hungary (969-1038).
1386/87:
Construction of the first Town Hall which is today the Old Town Hall. It was built on an artificial island in the River Regnitz and marks the border between the clerical city on the hills and the merchant's island city.
1632/34
During the Thirty Years' War, Bamberg was occupied twice by the Swedes and though, remained essentially preserved.
Bamberg underwent a period of cultural ascendancy, which was characterised by monumental buildings, in the High Middle Ages during the reigns of the Andechs-Meranier house, and in the late Baroque age with the bishops of the Schönborn house.
1633:
Bamberg's prince bishop Johann Georg II, "Fox of Dornheim", dies. During his reign, the witch hunt in and around Bamberg reached its height.
1647:
Foundation of the University. In 1803 it is closed and refounded in 1972. It regains the status of university in 1979 and receives its original name: "Otto-Friedrich University of Bamberg" in 1988.
1693-1746:
The "Schoenborn-Area". The Baroque Bamberg takes form under Prince Bishops Lothar Franz and later Friedrich Karl von Schönborn. Many magnificent buildings are created by prominent architects, e.g. Balthasar Neumann, the three brothers Dientzenhofer, Lucas von Hildebrandt, Maximilan Welsch and Joh.J. Michael Küchel.
1698:
"Gabelmann". The fountain of Neptune, known by the locals as the "Fork Man" (German "Gabelmann") is erected. Today, it is a popular meeting place for Bamberg's youth.
1707-1713:
The Baroque Böttingerhouse is certainly the most famous patrician residence in Bamberg. It was built by Johann Ignaz Tobias Böttinger.
1714-1722:
Watercastle Concordia. Because of bad living conditions in the Böttingerhouse, Böttinger had another palace built, the watercastle Concordia. The architect was Johann Dientzenhofer.
1767:
Wolfgang Heller founds a brewery, which later becomes the "Schlenkerla" with the world-famous smoky beer (German "Rauchbier").
1802/1803:
Secularisation. The ecclesiastic principality of Bamberg falls to Bavaria. In the course of the secularisation, many monasteries and churches are destroyed.
1808-1813:
E.T.A. Hoffmann, the romantic all-rounder, works in Bamberg as the theatre's music director , a music teacher, author, scene painter, poet, director and music critic...
1841:
The connection to the Ludwig-Donau-Main Canal and particularly to the railway network in 1844, as well as the extension of the urban infrastructure led to a period of economic development.
Beside traditional gardening, hop trade gained in importance.
1919:
The "Bamberg Constitution" is devised as the city becomes Bavaria's seat of government from April to August, under Johannes Hoffmann and his cabinet, while the soviet republic temporarily rules in Munich.
1946:
The famous Bamberg Symphony Orchestra is founded. Musicians from the "Prague Philharmonic Orchestra", expelled from there at the end of World War II., find a new home in Bamberg.
Bamberg came out of World War II almost intact. The Franconian imperial and clerical city was restored in the following years in an ideal way.
1950:
The first "Sandkerwa. Today, it is the biggest and most popular street festival in Bamberg. It commemorates the consecration of "St. Elizabeth's Church".
1962:
The River Regnitz is joined to the Main-Danube-Canal and Bamberg's new harbour is opened.
1993:
Bamberg's Old Town is declared a World Heritage Monument by UNESCO. With its historical townscape, Bamberg uniquely illustrates the development of a Central European city.
1998:
Opening of the International Artists' House Villa Concordia. It initiates modern art exhibitions to the general public. The purchase of large sculptures of Fernando Botero and Igor Mitoraj by the citizens in June 2001 made it possible to start Bamberg's Path of sculptures.
2002:
The Bavarian state exhibition 2002 about Henry II's history and his time was a large success with more than 205,000 visitors.
The exhibition, which took place at five different places on the cathedral hill, gave visitors the opportunity to go back to the Middle Ages. The cathedral and its Western crypt are the most impressive donation of the imperial pair.
2003:
In July, the International Artists' House Villa Concordia is inaugurated by Dr. Edmund Stoiber, leader of the Bavarian state.
On October 3rd, the completion and reopening of the E.T.A. Hoffmann Theater was celebrated. After three years of renovation work following the fire on July 27th 2000, the ensemble can now perform again in the theater.
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