Kloster Michaelsberg (Saint Michael's Abbey), Bamberg (must see)

Saint Michael’s Abbey stands proudly atop Michaelsberg Hill, overlooking Bamberg with one of the city’s most commanding viewpoints. Founded in 1015 by Empress Cunigunde and Emperor Henry II, the Benedictine monastery soon became a major religious and intellectual center within the Holy Roman Empire. For centuries, its monks contributed to the region’s education, manuscript production, and spiritual life, strengthening Bamberg’s reputation as a place of cultural significance.

Architecturally, the abbey reflects an intriguing blend of Romanesque foundations and later Baroque additions. Its church, with a long, majestic nave, invites visitors into an atmosphere of solemn beauty. One of its most famous interior features is the “Garden of Heaven” ceiling painting, where hundreds of plants and herbs appear to bloom across the vaulting. Each species is depicted with scientific precision. The abbey complex also includes a grand terraced garden and historic buildings that once housed workshops, a brewery, and living quarters.

Despite secularization in the early 19th century, which brought monastic life to an end, Saint Michael’s Abbey has remained an essential part of Bamberg’s identity. In recent years, major restoration efforts have been underway to preserve the structure, and while some interior areas may be temporarily closed, the surrounding grounds remain accessible. From the terraces and nearby viewpoints, visitors can enjoy exceptional panoramas of the old town — red rooftops, cathedral towers, and the winding Regnitz far below.