Little Venice

Built on seven hills in the Franconian landscape and threaded with rivers, Bamberg is as beautiful as it is spread out. And that means plenty of distinct neighbourhoods to explore — the Upper Town, the Market Gardeners’ District, and the Island City, to name just a few. And where there’s an island, there’s water… and quite often, fishing. In this medieval German city, that’s 100% true — especially here, where you’re standing now. This charming, green, romantic spot is affectionately called “Little Venice” — or Klein Venedig, if you’re brave enough to try it in German. Today, it’s a peaceful place for a stroll, but in centuries past, the scene was rather different. This was Bamberg’s fishermen’s quarter. Picture the wooden jetties across the river lined with drying fish, and even small boats being built right there on the water’s edge. Those working days are long gone, but the area has kept the most beautiful part of its character: a row of half-timbered houses, many dating back to the Middle Ages, each with a tiny garden spilling down towards the Regnitz River. It’s the perfect spot for a simple, unposed photograph — proof that sometimes, the best things in life really are the simplest.