Welterbe-Besuchszentrum Bamberg

About the museum

To give residents and visitors a first way into the World Heritage Site “Town of Bamberg”, the city council decided in December 2015 to set up a dedicated visitor centre on the Untere Mühlen. The site is steeped in history: water power was already used here in the time of Emperor Henry II, and the present address was later occupied by a complex of several mills. The Sterzermühle, built around 1639, was rebuilt after a major fire in 1839, badly damaged in 1945 and taken down to the ground floor in 1950.

Construction of the new building began in 2016 under difficult conditions in the middle of the river, with boats and divers. Archaeological excavations brought to light millstones and around 900 oak piles dating from the 11th to the 18th century. The surviving remains of the Sterzermühle façade were incorporated into the building. The visitor centre opened on 29 April 2019. Beneath the terrace a turbine generates electricity for around 300 households, continuing the site's old use as a mill.

The permanent exhibition on the upper floor does not see itself as a museum with its own collection but as a reading aid for the town. On about 220 square metres it follows the three historic settlement areas of the hill town, the island town and the market gardeners' town, places Bamberg in the global World Heritage context and points to places where the special value of the old town can be discovered outside. The centre is run by the Zentrum Welterbe Bamberg of the City of Bamberg, whose offices are on the top floor.

Highlights

• Interactive model of Bamberg's old town
• Building models of the hill town, island town and market gardeners' town
• Seed wheel on the market gardeners' town
• Listening stations, films and digital applications
• Seating landscape covered with reused leather
• New building incorporating remains of the Sterzermühle, right on the Regnitz

Permanent exhibition

• Welterbe Altstadt von Bamberg – Overview of the World Heritage Site of Bamberg along the three historic settlement areas of the hill town, island town and market gardeners' town, with models, listening stations, films and interactive stations as well as pointers to places to explore in the old town.

Founded

2019

Operated by

Stadt Bamberg – Zentrum Welterbe Bamberg

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the operator, the exhibition is barrier-free.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

World Heritage shop with products from Bamberg and other World Heritage Sites. On the ground floor is the day bar and wine bar HENRII with a terrace (independently run).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit