Under the motto “Let’s Celebrate the 10th!”, Bamberg’s gardeners cordially invite you to the 10th anniversary of their “Open Market Gardens Day” on Sunday, April 30, 2023. On that day, the gates of the large market gardens in Bamberg—a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “City of Gardeners”—will open, offering exclusive glimpses into the city’s green landscape. Exactly 10 market gardens from across the city, ranging from vegetable, fruit, herb, and ornamental plant nurseries to perennial gardens, will provide fascinating insights into their daily work. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., they invite visitors to look, marvel, and get involved.
In addition to professional tips and explanations of the latest gardening trends from master gardeners, the springtime splendor of blossoms also entices visitors to stroll through the historic ambiance of the UNESCO World Heritage Site with views of the cathedral and Bamberg’s churches. “Urban gardening is not a modern trend in Bamberg,” says Diana Büttner, acting director of the Bamberg World Heritage Center, “these areas were already being cultivated in the Middle Ages to supply the city’s population—and they have been preserved in a unique way to this day. The Open Garden Day offers a unique opportunity to explore this part of our World Heritage site, which is normally less easily accessible!”
Garden enthusiasts also have the opportunity to learn interesting facts about the day-to-day work of master gardeners, immerse themselves in “Romantic Hydrangea Worlds,” learn about perennial hedges, get expert advice on tree care from the “Tree Expert,” or benefit from professional tips on vegetable gardening, garden design, or grave design. There’s also a wide range of activities for young guests: children can paint wooden pinwheels, make dreamcatchers and seed bombs, or plant their own lettuce. In case of bad weather, the many greenhouses offer a fun refuge.
Delicacies prepared by the gardeners, such as “Blaue Zipfel nach Gärtnerinnen Art,” grilled char, “Bambercher Broodworschd,” and vegetarian and vegan treats made from “Bambercher Gmüs,” will delight your palate. These are accompanied by gardener’s lemonade, rhubarb secco, and specially created gardener’s cocktails. Beer lovers can choose from a variety of Hopfengarten’s own craft beers.
Admission to all market gardens is free. This year, guests with limited mobility, among others, can easily reach market gardens located outside the city center using free electric shuttles. A list of participating market gardens, the program booklet, and much more information can be found at www.gaertnerstadt-bamberg.de.
Those who would like to learn more in advance about the participating market gardens, the historic gardening culture, and the Gardener’s Trail can do so in the newly published 5th edition of the Gardener’s City Guide. This popular guide to Bamberg’s Garden City is available at the displays of Bamberg’s gardeners, as well as at the World Heritage Visitor Center on the Untere Mühlen.
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In addition to the gardeners’ houses, the unique features of Bamberg’s Garden City include the inner-city cultivation areas, which contributed to the designation of Bamberg’s Old Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since the Middle Ages, Bamberg’s gardeners have been growing their produce in this district, exporting it far beyond the region—then as now. With their remarkable perseverance, the gardeners have held on to their inner-city production areas, thereby preserving the medieval urban structure to this day.
Photo: Bürgerspitalstiftung, Lara Müller
