Bamberg - Cathedral

Since 1007, when Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich II (Henry II) made Bamberg the seat of a diocese, the Bamberg Cathedral ("Bamberger Dom St. Peter und St. Georg") is the seat of the Archbishop of Bamberg.

The first cathedral on this place, founded in 1004 by Heinrich II and named "Heinrichsdom", got consecrated already in 1012. This building got destroyed by fire in 1085. Around 1215 the construction of the building seen here started. It was commisioned by Bishop Eckbert von Andechs-Meranien, brother of Hedwig von Andechs (aka Hedwig of Silesia). The new cathedral consecrated in 1237.


Between 1225 and 1237 this sculpture, the "Bamberger Reiter" ("Bamberg Horseman") was created by an unkown master, probably coming from France. Since the consecration it has been on the same place, located on a console at the north pillar of the St. George choir.

It is considered the first monumental equestrian statue since classical antiquity, and one of the first to depict a horse shoe. The statue is more than 2 meters high (lifesize) and was painted once.
The horse was white, the cape red - and the crown golden.

There are many theories, who this unarmed rider could be.

Heinrich II,
whose tomb is only a few meters apart, or

Philip of Swabia,
the first German king ever being assasinated - next door? I tend to

Stefan I
("Stephen I of Hungary"), aka "Sankt Stefan" ("Saint Steven"). He was married to Gisela von Bayern ("Gisela of Hungary") and brother in law of Heinrich II. When Bishop Eckbert von Andechs-Meranien after Philip´s assasination (1208) was suspected to have teamed up with the murderer Otto von Wittelsbach, he fled to Hungary, from where he reached rehabilitation, returned to BAmberg and completed this cathedral.