Michaelsberg Abbey

Michaelsberg Abbey is a Benedictine monastery set on a hilltop overlooking the Bamberg old town. The complex includes a church with a baroque facade and neo-gothic vaulting, surrounded by extensive terraced gardens, while the monastic buildings now serve as a retirement home.

The monastery was founded in 1015 by Bishop Eberhard I and underwent major reconstructions following an earthquake in 1117 and a fire in 1610. The Dientzenhofer brothers transformed its architecture between 1696 and 1723, reshaping the complex into its present form.

The church ceiling displays a fresco of the Garden of Heaven with detailed illustrations of more than 500 different flowers and medicinal herbs from the region. This artwork shapes the space and speaks to the connection between monastic life and nature.

The church is currently closed to visitors due to extensive restoration work. The terraced gardens can be viewed from outside and offer nice views across Bamberg.

When the Dientzenhofer brothers redesigned the site, they created a grand staircase and wide terrace from which visitors gaze down into Bamberg below. These imposing features visually connect the monastery to the city through the landscape.