Old Town Hall

Of all the treasures Bamberg has to offer, the Altes Rathaus — the Old Town Hall — is without doubt the most iconic. And that’s no exaggeration. After all, how often do you see a town hall built right on a bridge? Someone had to come up with that idea — and this was back in the 14th century. At the time, Bamberg was caught between two worlds: on one side, the episcopal hilltop city you can see ahead of you; on the other, the bustling bourgeois island city you’ve just left behind. According to local legend, the Bishop of Bamberg refused to give up any of his land for the construction of a town hall. But the townsfolk, clever and determined, came up with a plan. They drove wooden stakes into the River Regnitz, creating an artificial island strong enough to hold the building they wanted. Whatever the truth of the tale, the town hall is first mentioned in records from 1387. Just over fifty years later, it was badly damaged by fire. Then, between 1744 and 1756, architect Johann Küchel transformed it, replacing its Gothic style with striking baroque and rococo touches. This was also when the first trompe-l’œil frescoes appeared, bringing the façades to life. And there’s one little detail you shouldn’t miss: look to the bottom of the left-hand façade, and you’ll spot the leg of a small boy, sculpted instead of painted, jutting out from the wall. A playful surprise — and just as remarkable as the building’s own history, wouldn’t you say?