Neue Residenz
Prince-bishops' residence on Bamberg's Domplatz with the Imperial Hall, state rooms, a state gallery of Baroque painting, and a rose garden overlooking the old town.
About the museum
The Neue Residenz on Bamberg's Domplatz (Cathedral Square) was the seat of the prince-bishops. The two Renaissance wings were built first, from 1604 to 1612; Prince-Bishop Lothar Franz von Schönborn had the grand Baroque wings facing Domplatz built between 1697 and 1703 to plans by Leonhard Dientzenhofer.
The highlight of the interior is the Kaisersaal (Imperial Hall), which the Tyrolean painter Melchior Steidl decorated from 1707 to 1709 with a complex program of frescoes. The state apartments document the building's use as a prince-bishop's residence and, after secularization, as a residence of the Wittelsbach family. In the 19th century, King Otto and Queen Amalia, expelled from Greece, lived here in exile.
Today the Bavarian Palace Administration (Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung) manages the residence as a museum. The Bavarian State Painting Collections (Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen) show Baroque painting and early German panel paintings in a state gallery; the Electoral Apartment and the Altdeutsche Galerie (Gallery of Early German Art) are currently closed for renovation.
The ensemble includes the Rose Garden in the inner courtyard, which offers a sweeping view over the rooftops of the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Opposite stand the Imperial Cathedral and the Alte Hofhaltung, with which the residence forms one of the most impressive square ensembles in Germany.
Highlights
- Kaisersaal (Imperial Hall) with frescoes by Melchior Steidl
- Prince-Bishop's Apartment
- State gallery of Baroque painting
- Rose Garden with a view over the old town
- Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Old Town of Bamberg
Permanent exhibitions
- Prunkräume und Staatsgalerie – A tour through the Baroque state rooms, including the Kaisersaal, and the Baroque gallery of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
- Operated by
- Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung (Schloss- und Gartenverwaltung Bamberg); Staatsgalerie der Bayerischen Staatsgemäldesammlungen
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6Seniors 65+, people with severe disabilities, groups of 15 or more paying visitors, students of art/art history, volunteer service participants, members of artists' associations |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and young people under 18 free; school students free even if over 18 |
| Seniors | €6Aged 65 and over, with ID |
| Visitors with disabilities | €6companion free · With severe disability ID (Schwerbehindertenausweis); companion free with "B" marker |
| Students & apprentices | –Reduced rate (€6) only for students of art, art history, and art studies; school students free even if over 18 |
| Groups (15+ people) | €6 per personReduced rate for groups of 15 or more paying visitors; one tour leader per 25 people free |
| Families | –No separate family rate; children under 18 are free |
| Combination ticket Neue Residenz Bamberg + Schloss Seehof | €10Reduced €8 |
| Bavarian Palace Administration annual pass (individual) | €55Valid for one year from the first visit at more than 40 state palaces and museums, excluding special exhibitions |
| Bavarian Palace Administration annual pass (family/partner) | €100 |
| Bavarian Palace Administration multi-day ticket (individual) | €40Valid for 14 days |
| Bavarian Palace Administration multi-day ticket (family/partner) | €80Valid for 14 days |
2026 prices. Tickets only at the museum ticket desk, no online sales.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Step-free access through a separate door in the inner courtyard (Euro key); elevator (135 × 100 cm) to the second and third floors, doors at least 90 cm wide. Accessible restroom in the ticket area. Three public accessible parking spaces on Domplatz (approx. 120 m, partly cobblestones). Loaner stools, tactile model of the Domplatz buildings, sign language tours available. Rose Garden reachable via a wheelchair path.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Occasional tours and activities for children, young people, and families, especially in the summer months (see the events calendar); online games, craft sheets, and coloring pages from the Palace Administration.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Domplatz
Bus to the "Domplatz" stop right at the residence; approx. 20 minutes on foot from the train station.
By car
Parking available
No dedicated parking; a parking guidance system directs you to the municipal parking garages. 3 public accessible parking spaces on Domplatz (approx. 120 m to the entrance). Free bus parking on Pfeuferstraße, Mußstraße, and at Margaretendamm; Domplatz is closed to tour buses.
- Accessible parking
The residence is on the Main Cycle Route (MainRadweg).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Café-restaurant in the Rose Garden; museum shop. Free lockers (€2 deposit), free Wi-Fi.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
Up to 300 guests.
The Kaisersaal is available for concerts and ceremonies with up to 300 people.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Photography | Permitted for private use, but not during guided tours; commercial photography only with a paid permit. |
| Good to know | Groups of 15 or more and school classes should register in advance (sgvbamberg@bsv.bayern.de). Themed tours according to the events calendar. |
