Bamberg is a diocese and, as such, is the seat of the Bishop of Bamberg. The Erzbistum Bamberg (diocese of Bamberg) was established in 1007 and the first cathedral in Bamberg was built in the year 1012. Saint Michaelsberg, the largest monastery in the area was founded in 1015 by Benedictine monks. The church at Michaelsberg houses the tomb of Saint Otto of Bamberg.

The Domplatz, Cathedral Square, to the left is the Bamberger Dom and the rest of the complex which includes a catholic school, museum and offices. On the right hand side is the Neue Residenz, the new residence of the bishop of Bamberg.

Bamberg as seen from the front door of the Dom.

Inside Bamberg's Cathedral

Organ pipes mounted up on the wall

Kaisergrab des Kaisers Heinrich II. und der Kaiserin Kunigunde. The royal tomb of Heinrich II and Kunigunde from 1513

Heinrich II ruled the Holy Roman Empire from 1014 to 1024

The Plague on the sarcophagus, in latin

The back of the Cathedral, St. George's Choir. On the pillar is the Bamberger Reiter (The Knight of Bamberg) which was dated 1215. Construction on the current version of the Cathedral was started in 1211

Many Bishops from the 15th-17th centuries have these 5ft wide displays all along the outer walls of the Cathedral

"In respectful rememberance of our comerades from the 17th Mounted Regiment, who for Germany, our fatherland, gave their lives" the plaque below it is dedicated to those who were "In opposition against the unjust and deadly dictatorship"

The main altar at the front of the Cathedral

The mural on the dome over St. George's Choir

St. Michaelsberg, a Benedictine monastery above Bamberg

The view from St. Michaelsberg toward Bamberg

Inside the church at Saint Michaelsberg

Whereas the Cathedral is very gothic and Byzantine, St. Michaelsberg is extremely Baroque

The Hochaltar, the main altar at the front of St. Michaelsberg's church

The main altar is named in honor of Saint Otto, his tomb can be found behind the altar

The view from the front, the organ is located above the entrance

The ceiling is refered to as the 'Botanical Garden'

Creepy disembodied cherub heads...

Flanking the entrance are large statues of St. Joseph and St. John

St. Josephus und St. Johannes

Stairway to Heaven

A display for a Bishop who was the head of St. Michaelsberg during part of the 30 Years War, 1618 - 1638

Otto's Altar

Otto the Holy (Otto der Heilige), the Bishop of Bamberg who first established a church at St. Michaelsberg

Otto's mitre and vestments

Otto's tomb, behind Otto's altar and underneath the main altar

Me going through Otto's tomb. When I was taking pictures an old lady crawled through it then rubbed her hands on the face of the Otto statue. She said that anyone who steps through the tomb is cured of back pain forever, aparently this is something she does daily.