Bamberg’s crown shines anew: St Michael’s reopens after 14 years

After 14 years of renovation, St Michael’s Church is once again opening its doors to the public, thereby enriching the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg with a central landmark. The centrepiece of the comprehensively renovated church is the famous ‘Heavenly Garden’, which continues to amaze its visitors. Michael Stoschek has been a committed patron from the very beginning and, through his support, has contributed significantly to the project’s success.

The ceremonial reopening took place on 25 April as part of a formal ceremony attended by numerous representatives from politics, business and society. Individuals who had rendered outstanding service during the long-running restoration were honoured for their commitment. Particular mention was made of Michael Stoschek, who, as former chairman of the board of trustees of the World Heritage Foundation, initiated several high-profile charity concerts and thus made a decisive contribution to the funding. The concert by pianist Lang Lang, who performed with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra in the sold-out Brose Arena in 2016, remains unforgettable. Mayor Andreas Starke emphasised that without this extraordinary commitment, the fusion of culture, architecture and World Heritage would scarcely have been possible. As a token of gratitude, Michael Stoschek, along with Bertram Felix, the city of Bamberg’s finance officer responsible for the project, and other key contributors, were invited to sign the city’s Golden Book.

St. Michael: A milestone in Bamberg’s architectural history

The former monastery church of St. Michael has undergone extensive restoration work, carried out in several phases. According to the city administration, the restoration in line with conservation guidelines, which began in 2012, ranks among the most significant construction projects in Bamberg’s history. A total of around 43 million euros was invested to preserve and renovate the historic building.

The trigger for the renovation was a chunk of plaster weighing around two kilograms that fell from the ceiling, revealing serious structural damage. Mayor Andreas Starke described this at the time as a “wake-up call”. In the years that followed, thousands of square metres of natural stone were worked on and numerous details were restored using traditional craftsmanship.

From now on, St Michael’s is open from 11 am to 4 pm on Fridays to Sundays and on public holidays, with free admission. A public festival in early May will celebrate the reopening in style. The undisputed highlight remains the ‘Heavenly Garden’: the monumental ceiling fresco from 1617 shines in new splendour following extensive restoration. Over 580 medicinal, useful and ornamental plants are depicted in rich detail along the nave – a unique work of art.