Bamberg
A Franconian city where, between 1626 and 1631, over a thousand people were executed in some of the worst witch trials in Europe.
Practised and told of here
Best time: Spring to autumn.
Under the prince-bishop Johann Georg II Fuchs von Dornheim, Bamberg built a special 'witch house' prison with a torture chamber. Those accused were questioned and made to name others, so each trial led to more. Estimates of the dead run from several hundred to more than a thousand, among them council members and the mayor Johannes Junius.
Johannes Junius
Junius's letter from his cell to his daughter in 1628, written before he was executed, survives. It says that he confessed under torture, and that he would only do so again if forced. It is one of the most direct testimonies of what the trials were.
Remembering
The Hexenhaus was pulled down in the 1700s. Local museums cover the period, and historians have worked to name the victims and record what is known of each.
Visiting
Bamberg's old town is a UNESCO site with a cathedral and a river that runs through it.
A respectful visit to Bamberg
Living communities are not a show. Ask before photographing a person or a ceremony, and follow local rules.
- Historisches Museum See exhibits on the trials.
- The old town Walk through the UNESCO area.
- The cathedral Visit the cathedral on the hill.
Written by the EveryJaadu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Bamberg" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and ceremonies change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
🇩🇪 Germany and 5 moreWitch trials in the Holy Roman Empire
A wave of executions across Central Europe between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries.Belief · Cursing and harm Historical
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Witch trials in the Holy Roman Empire: Unknown author, Public domain, source