The New Residence (Neue Residenz) completes Bamberg’s Cathedral Square alongside the cathedral and the Old Court, forming the core ensemble of the Domberg. Built in two phases—Renaissance wings to the rear and Baroque wings facing the square—it unites state rooms, the State Gallery and the Rose Garden, with short paths linking architecture, art and city views. [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Highlights
- State rooms & Imperial Hall: A sequence of richly decorated ceremonial rooms culminates in the Imperial Hall with large-scale ruler portraits and Baroque ceiling painting. [1][2][5]
- State Gallery & State Library: The complex houses the State Gallery (collections from the Bavarian State Painting Collections) and the Bamberg State Library. [2][5]
- Rose Garden: Behind the palace, the Rose Garden opens wide views over the city—an atmospheric counterpoint to the ornate interiors. [2][3]
- Central location: Right next to the cathedral and the Old Court—ideal for a compact Domberg circuit. [1][3]
History in brief
Construction proceeded in two stages: the Renaissance tract (early 17th century) created arcaded courts at the rear, while the Baroque expansion (late 17th–early 18th century) by Leonhard Dientzenhofer formed the four-wing front on Cathedral Square under Prince‑Bishop Lothar Franz von Schönborn. The New Residence replaced the Old Court as the main seat of the prince‑bishops until secularization. [1][2][4]
Architecture & rooms
The Renaissance sobriety of the back wings meets the Baroque grandeur of the square façades: strict sandstone rhythms outside lead to a sequence of halls and apartments inside, with stucco, wood floors, tapestries and paintings spanning several centuries. The Imperial Hall (ceiling painting by Melchior Steidl) offers a compact lesson in Baroque symbolism on the Domberg. [1][2][5]
Plan your visit
- Address: Domplatz 8, 96049 Bamberg—entrance on Cathedral Square. [1][3]
- Hours & tickets: Details may change; always consult the official page:
– Bavarian Palace Department – New Residence [1]
Nearby
About this page: editorial overview based solely on the linked sources. Last reviewed: 2025-11-04.
Sources
- https://www.schloesser.bayern.de/deutsch/schloss/objekte/bam_res.htm
- https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neue_Residenz_(Bamberg)
- https://www.bamberg.info/poi/neue_residenz_bamberg-4663/
- https://www.domberg-bamberg.de/news/artikel/neue-residenz-bamberg/
- https://museen-in-bayern.de/museen/detailseite-museum/staatsgalerie-in-der-neuen-residenz-bamberg
- https://museen.de/neue-residenz-bamberg.html