About Bamberg

Bamberg, Germany. A town many people have never heard of, unless you’re a history buff, ex-military or a beer aficionado! Beer? Yes, beer…but I’ll get to that in a second. Bamberg is a very historic town in the northern part of Bavaria ( a state in southern Germany).

It was the center of the Holy Roman Empire for a short time when Emperor Henry II (Kaiser Heinrich II) and Empress Kunigunde made it their official residence. Both are local patron saints of Bamberg, as the city owes them a great deal in regards to wealth, infrastructure, culture and buildings. Both are buried in Bamberg’s Cathedral, along with Pope Clement II, the only Pope buried north of the Alps.

Bamberg was left almost unscathed during World War II, which is why it has an old town center with centuries old buildings and architecture that will literally take you back in time when you visit! It was the site of an US Army installation from 1945-2014. It was one of the most popular duty stations for American soldiers. Many of them return with their families regularly to visit. Beer…oh yeah. Bamberg is THE Beer Capital of Germany!

At first glance, the historic city of Bamberg may not look like it has much to do with the modern craft beer movement. Steeped in tradition, with a history and culture over a thousand years old, a walk through the old part of town is like stepping back in time! Churches, cathedrals, palaces, old city walls and century old inns (called a Gasthaus here) around every corner, make the history come alive. Oh…and of course, there are the breweries. Many of them are centuries old and tied to a Gasthaus of their own. They have been the heart and soul of the city for centuries. Most have been family owned and operated for generations.

Located in the Upper Franconia region of the state of Bavaria in southern Germany, Bamberg has 15 breweries within city limits and HUNDREDS in the near vicinity! Bamberg, and the towns around it that belong to the Bamberg city district, cover an area of about 472 square miles (1,223 square kilometers) and boast about 65 breweries! Upper Franconia, which boasts the world record for highest number of breweries per capita, is only about 2,782 square miles. There are over a 160 breweries in this small area alone. All of Franconia (Upper, Middle and Lower) covers an area of 8,883 square miles and is home to over 300 breweries! That’s an area just a little bigger than New Jersey or Wales…!