Top 10 Museums of Bamberg

There are quite a few museums in Bamberg you can visit on your vacation. To give you an idea of what is on offer, so you can better plan your days, here is an overview for you.

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Note that museums in Bamberg are closed on Mondays.
Also, it is advisable to have cash on you. Only Euros are accepted.

Natural History Museum

The by far prettiest museum in Bamberg is the Natural History Museum. It’s located in the halls of the former Jesuit College that was later turned into a scientific teaching facility with archives from geology and biology.

There are two permanent exhibitions. The main one centers around regional biodiversity and history, how the landscape and geology was shaped over time, what is growing naturally, etc. The information boards are in German but you can see a lot of samples and recreations, so it still will give you enough information in an overview.

The actual heart of the museum is the historic Birds Hall that has been uniquely preserved over the centuries, making it the oldest intact and untouched museum room in Europe.

It really is magnificent with its awe-inspiring wall decorations in pristine white and blues, high arched ceilings with delicate trimmings and the floor-to-ceiling glass cases.

In those, you can see an impressive range of taxidermized birds from Germany and foreign lands, along with other items, such as crystals, seeds, bones etc.

Even without specifically inspecting the animal exhibits, raking in the room as a whole will make you want to linger. You can also head up the wooden stair case in the back and go up one level and enjoy the view from the balcony along all four walls.

Besides these two exhibitions, there are changing ones as well, about three times a year. They could be photography or art, but are always focused on the theme of regional wildlife and nature.

Bamberg State Library

This is one of the most significant libraries in Germany, with over a million volumes of books, manuscripts, maps, and more. It is housed in the beautiful baroque New Palace building and is a must-visit for anyone interested in history and literature.

The library is located in the Residenz (Residential Palace) right opposite the cathedral.

Diocesan Museum

The Diocesan Museum in Bamberg is a museum located in Bamberg, Germany that houses an impressive collection of art and artifacts related to the history of the Roman Catholic Church in the region. Its pieces cover the times from from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period.

The museum is located in in the heart of the city, near other popular attractions such as the Bamberg Cathedral and the Alte Hofhaltung, which are the former stable buildings of the Prince-Bishop’s Palace, which was built in the 18th century.

Highlights include intricately carved ivory crucifixes and stunning gold reliquaries. Other noteable items are liturgical items such as chalices, monstrances, and reliquaries, as well as paintings, sculptures, and other decorative arts.

One of the highlights of the collection is the Bamberg Rider, a bronze statue of a knight on horseback that dates back to the 13th century.

The museum also features a collection of ecclesiastical textiles, including vestments and altar cloths, as well as a collection of manuscripts and books. Many of the items in the museum date back to the Middle Ages and offer a glimpse into the religious and cultural history of the region.

The Diocesan Museum is open to the public and is a popular destination for tourists visiting Bamberg.

Bamberg Historical Museum

The Bamberg Historical Museum (Historisches Museum Bamberg) is located in the former Benedictine abbey of St. Michael and explores the city’s rich history from the Middle Ages to the present day.

The former Dominican Monastery of St. Michael was founded in the early 12th century and later became a museum in the early 20th century.

The museum’s collections cover the history and culture of Bamberg and the surrounding region, with exhibits spanning from prehistoric times to the present day. The exhibits are divided into several sections, including archaeology, art and culture, everyday life, and the history of the city.

Highlights include exhibits on the city’s brewing heritage and traditional folk costumes.

The Bamberg museum also features a reconstructed medieval kitchen and a collection of antique toys and games as well as a collection of ecclesiastical art and treasures from the city’s churches and monasteries.

Overall, the Bamberg Historical Museum is an excellent destination for anyone interested in the history and culture of Bavaria and Germany.

Franconian Brewery Museum

Beer lovers will want to visit this museum, which explores the history of brewing in the Franconian region. Visitors can learn about the different types of beer produced in the region, the brewing process, and the role of beer in Franconian culture.

Plus, it’s located in the monastery on Michelsberg mountain, which offers you one of the best views over Bamberg and is a must visit sight anyway.

Bamberg Ludwig Collection

This art museum is home to an impressive collection of works by German expressionist artists, including Emil Nolde, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and Max Pechstein. Visitors can also see contemporary art exhibits and installations.

Levi-Strauss-Museum

Did you know that the person credited for inventing the jeans has his own museum near Bamberg in Buttenheim? Naturally, it is called after him as it is the house he was born in, and it deserves an honorary mention in this article about the best Bamberg museums.

The museum is interactive and gives a glimpse into what life in a Franconian town was like for Levi. There are also historic jeans on display.

A drive from Bamberg to Buttenheim takes 16 minutes.

• Address: Levi-Strauss-Museum, Marktstraße 33, 96155 Buttenheim
• Entrance fees: 5 EUR (regular), 2.50 (disabled)
• included in BAMBERGCard (get it here*)
• Opening times: 2pm to 8pm on Tuesdays/Thursday, 11am to 5pm on weekends (closed over Christmas and NYE)
  Phone: +49 (0) 9545/442602

The Market Gardeners’ and Wine-Growers’ Museum

Bamberg has one of the largest consecutive gardening spaces in Europe. No wonder, an entire district of the city is entirely dedicated to gardening, growing and cultivating plants. There are

In case you want to visit many of the local garden shops and nurseries in Bamberg, you can do so on the Day of the Open Gardens. 2023 actually marks its 10-year anniversary! Entry is free and you can see current garden trends.

Peasant Museum

Another museum in the Bamberg region but not directly in the city is the Peasant Museum, which is dedicated to the rural history and countrylife in former centuries.

Based in the former yard Fischerhof, is a collection of houses that used to be stables, living quarters and furnace. Much of the furniture and interior seen here is original and reflects the styles of 1920.

Throughout the year there are several temporary exhibitions. Not to not expect English information boards.

A drive from Bamberg to Frensdorf takes 13 minutes.

• Address: Bauernmuseum Bamberger Land, Dr. Birgit Jauernig, Hauptstraße 3-5, 96158 Frensdorf
• Entrance fees: 2.50 EUR (regular), 1.50 EUR (kids up to 17 years, disabled, students), free (kids up to 5),
• included in BAMBERGCard (get it here*)
• Opening times: 2pm to 8pm on Tuesdays/Thursday, 11am to 5pm on weekends (closed over Christmas and NYE)
  Phone: +49 (0) 9545/442602

Missionary Museum Bug

Entry to this museum is free. You can find it in a historic building at the edge of Bamberg city, in the district of Bug, which lies just beyond the Hain park in the south of Bamberg.

The house and its exhibits are dedicated to the missionaries of Saint Francis and offer a broad selection of items from missionary work in India and South America. This includes a shrunken head, over 500-year-old fossils, taxidermied animals and ivory carvings.

• Address: Missionsmuseum Bug, Missionsbrüder des hl. Franziskus, Schlossstraße 30, 96049 Bamberg
• Entrance fees: free
• Opening times: Sundays & holidays: 2pm to 5pm
• parking available

These are just a few of the many excellent museums that Bamberg has to offer. Whether you’re interested in history, art, or science, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this beautiful city.