Maximiliansplatz – Bamberg’s central square

Bamberg’s largest square with Baroque façades, Maximilian Fountain and the town hall—ideal for a short stop in the old town.

Wide square with fountain and Baroque façades at Maximiliansplatz

The Maximiliansplatz—affectionately “Maxplatz”—is Bamberg’s largest civic square, a broad space of Baroque façades, the town hall ensemble and the Maximilian Fountain. It forms a natural meeting point between the Green Market and the lanes of the island district. [1][2][3]

Highlights

  • Maximilian Fountain (1880): Created by Ferdinand von Miller, it features King Maximilian I Joseph and figures central to Bamberg—Emperor Henry II, Saint Cunigunde, Saint Otto of Bamberg and King Conrad III—as a focal landmark. [2]
  • Town Hall on Maxplatz: Two coherent Baroque blocks shape the ensemble; executed 1732–1737 to designs by Balthasar Neumann and realized by J. H. Dientzenhofer and J. J. M. Küchel. The New Town Hall wing followed in 1939 to the northwest. [2]
  • Urban stage: The square’s generous rectangle invites strolling, people‑watching and photo stops around the fountain. [1]

History & layout

Named for King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, the square combines representative architecture with everyday city life. The northern edge is dominated by the town hall façade, while the fountain scripts a visual narrative of rulers and saints in the foreground. Easy paths link to the Green Market, St Martin and the Old Town Hall. [1][2]

Plan your visit

  • Address: Maxplatz, 96047 Bamberg—right in the pedestrian zone. [2]
  • Coordinates: 49.8949644, 10.8889492 (centre of the square). [2]

Nearby


About this page: editorial overview based solely on the linked sources. Last reviewed: 2025-11-04.

Sources

  1. https://gobamberg.de/sehenswuerdigkeiten/maxplatz-bamberg/
  2. https://www.bambergguide.de/item/maxplatz/
  3. https://www.gpsmycity.com/attractions/maximiliansplatz-%28maximilian-square%29-61739.html

FAQ

Why is it called “Maxplatz”?
The official name is Maximiliansplatz—named for King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria—yet locals usually say “Maxplatz”. [2][3]