Blick über die Altstadt, Foto: BAMBERG Tourismus und Kongress Service Führung durch die Gärtnerstadt Die Bamberger Gärtnerstadt, Foto: Andreas Hub, Lizenz: Frankentourismus Bamberg Aussichtsplattform Gärtnerstadt, Foto: J. Schraudner / L. Müller, Lizenz: BAMBERG Tourismus & Kongress Service Verwöhnen Sie Ihren Gaumen mit dem Gärtner Menü Michaelsberg mit Bambergs Weinberg, Foto: Tourismus & Kongress Service Blumen in der Gärternstadt-Bamberg, Foto: TKS-Image - Schraudner Mueller Blick in den Chor, Foto: Sabine Frank Aussichtsplattform Gärtnerstadt, Foto: J. Schraudner / L. Müller, Lizenz: BAMBERG Tourismus & Kongress Service Bambergs Gärtner- & Haeckermuseum, Foto: BAMBERG Tourismus & Kongress Service, Lizenz: BAMBERG Tourismus & Kongress Service Schild des Brauereigasthofs Faessla, Foto: BAMBERG Tourismus & Kongress Service, Lizenz: BAMBERG Tourismus & Kongress Service St. Gangolf, Foto: Sabine Frank Der Schaukräutergarten von MUssAEROL, Foto: MUssAEROL
Tour

On a voyage of discovery in Bamberg's garden centre

family friendly
All ages
Gardens and parks
Indoors and outdoors
Culturally Important

Everything you always wanted to know about liquorice: Take a walk and discover the historical world of Bamberg and the horticultural culture of liquorice, aniseed and mustard oil. Discover now!

Start
Bamberg
Duration
5 h
Distance
4 km
Key facts of the tour
Liquorice, the basic ingredient of delicious liquorice, was already an export hit from Bamberg in the early 16th century. Valued as a precious medicine, it became popular as a sweet in the 18th century with the addition of sugar or honey.

Today, Bamberg is the only place in northern Europe where liquorice is once again professionally grown and processed - in the Bamberg Gardeners' Town. Like the cathedral city and the island city, it has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Numerous gardening families settled east of the right branch of the Regnitz as early as the 14th century and produced widely popular culinary delicacies. Even today, this part of the city is still characterised by its rural character and is dotted with numerous market gardens.

The 5-kilometre walk is not just for garden lovers. Experience how old horticultural culture is being revitalised today. You will gain an insight into the former living environments and historical gems of Bamberg, which are well worth a visit not far from "Little Venice" and the imperial cathedral.

But liquorice is not the only traditional Bamberg horticultural speciality. Let us surprise you! What's the story behind the Mussärol, for example, or the Bamberg onion? Of course, you will have the opportunity to sample culinary delights and take home many a culinary souvenir. And perhaps you will be able to sample some real sweet treats here.

Please check the opening times of the individual tour highlights in the app before setting off on your trip so that you can be sure of making the most of all the recommendations.
A city tour for nature lovers and culture vultures

Start and end station

Start station
Bahnhof Bamberg
6 tour steps
4 km / 5 Stunden
End station
Bahnhof Bamberg

Our tip: Please make sure to check your train connection and the expected capacity before you start your journey.

Schedule

Tour starts on Bahnhof Bamberg

Direction

Bamberg railway station was put into operation in 1844. The historic building, designed by architect Georg Friedrich Christian Bürklein, has been preserved apart from minor alterations. In front of it, you will find one of the green steles that enrich your walk through the garden centre with information. Read about the bright but also the dark sides of the railway connection for Bamberg's gardeners.

From the station forecourt, turn right into Ludwigstraße. Following Klosterstraße, you will come to a 700-year-old sacred place that was an important centre of attraction in the early days of the Gardeners' Town, the Dominican Monastery of the Holy Sepulchre.

Dominican Convent of the Holy Sepulchre

Originally, the Corpus Christi Chapel was open to the faithful of the neighbourhood for their church services. On 12 February 1352, the wealthy Bamberg couple Kunigunde and Franz Münzmeister donated the monastery of St Catherin zu dem Heiligen Grab. This made it possible to build the monastery church, which was consecrated in 1356. The Cross of Divine Mercy, also donated by the Münzmeisters, subsequently became a popular pilgrimage destination.

The Peasants' War and the Thirty Years' War left their destructive mark on the monastery. Secularisation, however, was a decisive factor, as a result of which the monastery was declared dissolved in 1803 and passed into military administration. A garrison hospital was established. The church served the military as an equipment and clothing store until 1918. In 1926, the convent was refounded and eight Dominican nuns from the St Ursula convent moved in. More recently, the sisters have taken up the monastic tradition of producing sacred textiles.

The convent opens some of its rooms to the public on "open days".

Heiliggrabstraße 24
96052
Bamberg

Phone: 0951 208510
Email Address: dominican.bamberg@hotmail.de
Monday: 05:30am - 05:30pm
Tuesday: 05:30am - 05:30pm
Wednesday: 05:30am - 05:30pm
Thursday: 05:30am - 05:30pm
Friday: 05:30am - 05:30pm
Saturday: 05:30am - 05:30pm
Sunday: 05:30am - 05:30pm
Blick in den Chor, Foto: Sabine Frank

Direction

From the monastery, walk back a little way. Follow the Spiegelgraben and pass the traditional Schumm nursery on the right at no. 10. The Schumm family has been growing vegetables since the 19th century. The family business therefore has old local varieties on offer, which have been propagated over generations.

The next destination is a highlight in the truest sense of the word and awaits you directly at the Böhmerwiese nursery in Heiliggrabstraße. The nursery has been family-owned since 1913 and is now run by siblings Sabine Gründler and Ralf Böhmer. The company is not only known for its floristry and horticultural work, but also for its successful cultural and tourist events. The Bamberg Garden Fair and the Onion Festival are held here every year.

The architecturally unique viewing platform on the Böhmerwiese is also part of the gardening business.

Gärtnerstadt viewing platform

The impressive glass viewing platform was built by architect Stefan Giers on the occasion of the 2012 State Garden Show and was included in the "Bavarian Architectural Tours" in the same year. The steel and glass construction is reminiscent of a classic greenhouse. This is one of the few opportunities to access the interior of the city block through the almost completely closed perimeter block development of the Gärtnerstadt and gain an insight into the historical urban structure characterised by agriculture.

The glass building is irritating at first glance because it is slightly tilted. This initially caused some debate, but also earned the viewing platform the affectionate nickname "Leaning Tower of Bamberg".

Heiliggrabstraße 57
96052
Bamberg

Aussichtsplattform Gärtnerstadt, Foto: J. Schraudner / L. Müller, Lizenz: BAMBERG Tourismus & Kongress Service
Aussichtsplattform Gärtnerstadt, Foto: J. Schraudner / L. Müller, Lizenz: BAMBERG Tourismus & Kongress Service

Direction

Continue along Heiliggrabstraße and Spitalstraße to the Gardeners' and Growers' Museum. It is a unique open-air and specialised museum and is still an insider tip among visitors to Bamberg.

On the way there, you will first come across another market garden. The Dechant family business has been delighting its customers with flowers and perennials for several generations.

The gardener and horticulturist museum

A gardener from the 18th century would immediately find his way around the house and garden and be able to go about his daily work straight away. The current museum building was erected in 1767 as a drive-through and stable house in a functional design for gardeners' houses of the time. The house belonged to the Kauer family, who lived in it until the 20th century and made a considerable fortune thanks to good business. The last descendant of the Kauer family lived here until 1969.

A gardener's house with a draw well had already stood here around 1600. The furnishings of the museum were modelled in every detail on the beginnings and development of gardening culture in Bamberg. The black kitchen is identical to those used by the gardener families who lived here around 1769. The parlour is furnished in the style of the 19th century. The farmyard, including the coach house with all its utensils, gives a clear impression of the way gardening families lived and worked in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the kitchen garden next to the house, everything that the kitchen demanded at the time and that was part of Bamberg's specialities is grown. A separate part of the house and garden is dedicated to the life and work of the Häcker family. They originally worked as winegrowers on the hillsides around Bamberg, but had to switch to cold-tolerant crops during the Little Ice Age, including hops.

Visitors can discover the museum and garden on their own with an audio guide or book a guided tour.

Mittelstraße 34
96052
Bamberg

23.04. - 07.11.
Tuesday: 11:00am - 05:00pm
Wednesday: 11:00am - 05:00pm
Thursday: 11:00am - 05:00pm
Friday: 11:00am - 05:00pm
Saturday: 11:00am - 05:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am - 05:00pm
Bambergs Gärtner- & Haeckermuseum, Foto: BAMBERG Tourismus & Kongress Service, Lizenz: BAMBERG Tourismus & Kongress Service

Direction

After so much exercise, mental nourishment and fresh air, you will no doubt be in the mood for some culinary refreshment. Then look forward to a visit to the Fässla brewery, which you can reach on a short walk through Letzengasse. You can find out interesting facts about the brewing trade in Bamberg on one of the green information pillars at the end of Letzengasse, on the corner of Obere Königsstraße.

Fässla Brewery

The building in which the brewery in Obere Königsstraße was founded 350 years ago dates back to the 14th century. One year after the Thirty Years' War, the brewer and brewer Hanß Lauer set up his Fässla brewery here, which means "little barrel". The Kalb family has been running the traditional brewery since 1986, now in its second generation. Seven widely appreciated beer specialities are brewed here with love and expertise in ultra-modern facilities.

But Fässla not only stands for excellent beer quality, its hospitality is also famous. In the rustic restaurants, of which the Fässla brewery runs nine, tourists feel just as at home as the locals from Bamberg, who enjoy their beer or a meal here after work. Franconian specialities such as Schäuferla and Bräten are popular and are prepared with much love.

Obere Königsstraße 19-21
96052
Bamberg

Phone: 0951 26516
Monday: 08:30am - 11:00pm
Tuesday: 08:30am - 11:00pm
Wednesday: 08:30am - 11:00pm
Thursday: 08:30am - 11:00pm
Friday: 08:30am - 11:00pm
Saturday: 08:30am - 11:00pm
Sunday: 08:30am - 12:00pm
Schild des Brauereigasthofs Faessla, Foto: BAMBERG Tourismus & Kongress Service, Lizenz: BAMBERG Tourismus & Kongress Service

Direction

Well fortified, we now continue along the Obere Königsstraße towards Theuerstadt, once a suburb of Bamberg. A 700-year-old document mentions Bamberg's first gardener in Theuerstadt, his name was Fritz Pleinser.

In the Obere Königstraße, there is plenty for gourmets to discover, for example in the "Müller Delikatessen" shop, which sells delicacies from its own production. Perhaps you have left yourself a little room for a small dessert at the Fässla pub, then you are sure to find something at "Müller Delikatessen".

At the church of St Gangolf, which dates back to the 11th century and is the oldest church in Bamberg, you will find another of the green steles on which you can learn more about the district of Theuerstadt. You should definitely treat yourself to a look inside the church.

St Gangolf

The collegiate church in Theuerstadt was consecrated to St Gangolf in 1063. St Gangolf lived in Burgundy in the 8th century. He was a knight who, according to legend, was charitable and worked miracles. Through his prayers alone, he caused a dried-up spring to bubble up again. After forgiving his wife for her adultery and giving her half of his property, he was murdered by his wife's lover. Miracles were said to have happened at his gravesite. He was canonised and the former collegiate church of St. Gangolf is said to house part of the saint's head as a relic.

In the 12th century, the church was extended with the construction of two towers. Over the centuries, the church was increasingly gothicised and extended. However, some of the wooden beams in the roof truss still date back to the 12th century.
Until the 19th century, St. Gangolf was the spiritual and legal centre of the village.

Today, the parish of St Gangolf can once again boast a lively community life. The oldest church in Bamberg keeps itself young in a creative way and also organises church services especially for doubters under the motto "zweifelLOS".

Theuerstadt 2
96050
Bamberg

Monday: 09:00am - 06:00pm
Tuesday: 09:00am - 06:00pm
Wednesday: 09:00am - 06:00pm
Thursday: 09:00am - 06:00pm
Friday: 09:00am - 06:00pm
Saturday: 09:00am - 06:00pm
Sunday: 09:00am - 06:00pm
St. Gangolf, Foto: Sabine Frank

Direction

Make your way in the direction of Egelseestraße. If you take a look at the other information pillars along the way, you will also learn something about the vegetable seeds grown in the garden centre, the types of gardener's houses and religious markings.

At Nürnberger Straße 86, you will find the Mussärol nursery - the last stop on your tour. You have probably already solved the riddle of the meaning of the word Mussärol in the museum. The Mussärol nursery not only cultivates, cares for and processes herbs, it is also home to the only professional liquorice cultivation in Germany and Northern Europe. The farm shop and show garden are open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Mussärol Bamberg herb nursery

The nursery has been family-owned for six generations. In 1994, Gertrud Leumer switched to organic herb cultivation and was the first organic nursery in Bamberg. It is run sustainably and as climate-neutral as possible.

The Mussärol Bamberger Kräutergärtnerei is a speciality nursery that offers visitors a wide range of plants and products three days a week. Visitors will find over 200 different herbs and aromatic plants in the show garden. Touching is expressly permitted. Here you can simply give your soul a rest and open your senses. There are guided tours on fixed dates and, of course, the farm shop offers seasonal plants that will delight any gardener, such as seedlings of various vegetable plants in May, for example old tomato varieties, as well as liquorice and herb products. Or home-grown herbs and refined herbal products, such as the popular lavender syrup.

Since 2020, the cultivation and processing of liquorice has been integrated into the Mussärol Bamberger Kräuter Gärtnerei as a further branch of production, making it unique in the whole of Germany. In the meantime, numerous points of sale can once again be supplied with Bamberg liquorice products from local cultivation.

Nürnberger Strasse 86
96050
Bamberg

Phone: 0951 22023
Wednesday: 02:00pm - 06:00pm
Friday: 10:00am - 06:00pm
Saturday: 09:00am - 02:00pm
Der Schaukräutergarten von MUssAEROL, Foto: MUssAEROL

Tour ends on Bahnhof Bamberg

Direction

Your way back leads you through Nürnberger Straße and Josephstraße to Luitpoldstraße.

Green steles with information about the history of the town also await you on this stage. Various bistros and snack bars as well as restaurants invite you to stop for refreshments on the way back to the railway station or to reflect on your impressions over a good glass of wine. You will find Vegan Food Rebels Bamberg at Luitpolstraße 34, Imbiss Lokanta at No. 39 and the Cocoon Restaurant with delicious Asian dishes at No. 55.

Rich in impressions and surely in possession of one or the other aromatic or eye-pleasing souvenir, you can start your return journey comfortably by train.

Tour map

Start/Ende

Bahnhof Bamberg

Ludwigstraße 6

96052 Bamberg

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