Bamberg

My incurable love for the yesteryears often makes me want to turn back the hands of time. I have often wondered what it would be like to live under the whims and fancies of our colonial masters. How experiencing the many marvels of the golden Elizabethan Era would feel like. A day in Bamberg, a spectacular Bavarian town, fulfilled a lot of my wishes. With an almost absolute lack of modern influences and the omnipresence of cobbled streets intersected by canals, Bamberg in Germany provides you the surreal feeling of being in a different period. Incidentally, it was built on seven hills, and the comparison with Rome is therefore expected. It is also a miniature version of Venice given how the tiny houses open out into the river. But the locals would like to believe that it is unique. And it really is, in several ways.

The extremely narrow medieval alleys of Bamberg are fringed by pubs and breweries with an inundation of tourists relishing a beer or two. Considering how the old town (Altstadt) is a historical and an architectural paradise, it has deservedly been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is dreamy, ridiculously attractive and provides you a brilliant taste of luxury. For the hopeless romantics, Bamberg is a perfect setting for some display of affection, and for the aspiring academicians, it is a major centre for learning. While most travellers give in to convenience and cut costs by taking a day trip to this German beauty, an overnight visit is highly recommended. Undoubtedly the best place to stay in Bamberg is ‘Welcome Hotel Residenzschloss’. With its palatial Baroque façade, elegant rooms, decadent lounges and sprawling lawns, it makes you feel like a member of royalty. See the Bamberg Cathedral, the many residences of the bishops, State Library, Old Town Hall, fishermen’s colony or Little Venice and Altenburg Castle. Take a trip to Bamberg and let it truly surprise you!