World Heritage and Craftsmanship at the Bamberg Cathedral Workshop

On November 6, 2025, students from the Department of Historic Preservation at Otto Friedrich University of Bamberg gained insight into the work of the Bamberg Cathedral Workshop as part of the “World Heritage and Craftsmanship” project. Ulrich Först, director of the Bamberg Cathedral Workshop, and Mr. Hanlein led a tour of the workshops and explained how traditional techniques and artisanal knowledge continue to contribute to the preservation of the World Heritage Site to this day.

The stonemasonry trade makes it clear that the protection of historic buildings is far more than a technical task—it is a cultural process, sustained by people who preserve their knowledge, pass it on, and continually adapt it to current requirements.
Since 2018, the Cathedral Workshop system has been included in the Register of Good Practices for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Hanlein and Mr. Först for the fascinating insights into their daily work, and to the students for their keen interest and many thought-provoking questions about the stonemason’s craft.

The “World Heritage and Craftsmanship” project is funded by the Bamberg World Heritage Foundation—thank you very much for your support!

Photo: Magdalena Dittrich / Bamberg World Heritage Center