Day 55 ~ Saturday August 24, 2019 Bamberg Germany on board the Viking Grand European Cruise

A City on 7 Hills. Smoked beer & a 11th- Century Cathedral.

Today's cruising was interesting as we entered the Main-Danube Canal which connects the Main and Danube rivers.  The 171km long canal runs from Bamberg at one end, through Nuremberg to Kelheim.  Our ship was moored on the outskirts of Bamberg historical center.  Bamberg is a city with many charms.  Built on seven hills, with a beautiful church gracing each of the hills, Bamberg reminds me of a lot like Rome.  We had a cheeky tour guide  that will however tell you that Rome is the "Bamberg of Italy".  It also has its own "Little Venice" a district that was formerly the Fisherman's settlement.  Bamberg is also a city of market gardeners and in the market gardeners district Bamberg gardeners still live in the typical "market gardening houses" and preserve their centuries-old market gardening traditions,  But most of all this city is full of medieval charm and its not surprising that the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Town hall that the citizens from the 14th century wanted to build a city hall that served both sides of the river.  Their solution to build a bridge across te Regnitz e the Rathaus or town hall on a manmade island in the middle.  This building served the town for 350 years, until 1736. It is also a Beer city, after all the sightseeing one can get quite parched or very dry... this is where beer drinkers score because this city is a Beer city.  With a population of only 80,000, is has 9 breweries producing some 50 different types of beer, including its specialty Rauchbier a "Smoked " beer.  Of coarse we had to try one  and my first impression was that it almost tasted like beer infused with smoked ham. I liked it but Bob didn't. The malt is roasted over beech wood fire to give it that smoky flavor. 

 

Above the church door

They were having a festival in the town today loads of people

Lovely door

 

Fishermans houses that are over 2 million dollars

 

Market in town

 

What a charming town

 

Nautical Term

-of the day-

FOOTLOOSE

The bottom portion of a sail is called the "foot". If it

is not secured it is "footloose" and dances randomly in the

wind.

 

Good night from the Lunmans