A wonky facade greets you. This is St Sebastian in Bamberg. Its slightly askew front reveals a charming quirk. It was built parallel to the old street not the new one. St Sebastian’s Chapel in Bamberg isn’t your typical tourist hotspot. For most of the year it’s closed to the public. Only special religious events and services open its doors. This makes it a rare and intriguing find.
This unassuming chapel has a rich and often surprising history. Records first mention it in 1477. It was then known as the St Sebastian lazaret. A lazaret was a hospital for those suffering from infectious diseases. The street name Siechstrasse a direct translation of infirmary still reflects this. Imagine a time when plagues swept through Europe. St Sebastian offered solace and care to the sick. Separate wards existed for men and women suffering from the plague or syphilis. The latter a disease incurable until the discovery of penicillin.
The Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) brought about changes. The chapel was remodeled in the Baroque style. Later during the Napoleonic Wars secularization threatened to end its existence. A local wine merchant planned to transform it into a wine bar. However the local gardeners who frequented the chapel intervened. They acquired St Sebastian saving it from a less pious fate.
A fascinating story surrounds a 19th-century plague outbreak. The parish priest made a deal with the parishioners. Generous donations would secure the chapel’s future if Bamberg escaped the epidemic. Bamberg was spared. The chapel received a much needed financial boost. The Schmidt couple later purchased the chapel. They renewed the interior adding two large paintings. The paintings of Saints Andrew and Elizabeth are a nod to their own names.
St Sebastian’s Chapel belongs to the larger church of St Otto. It participates in several annual celebrations. The Sebastiani procession on January 20th is a highlight. A large statue of St Sebastian is carried through the streets. The Flurgang a prayer for abundant harvests also takes place within the chapel. The chapel also plays a part in the city’s Corpus Christi processions. During the Kirchweih in September the community cleans and decorates it.
The organ inside St Sebastian is original. Barely used since 1862 it requires specialized tuning. St Sebastian’s Chapel in Bamberg. It’s a little off the beaten path. It is a hidden gem. It’s a testament to Bamberg’s rich history. Its perseverance against secularization. Its enduring connection to the community. It’s a story waiting to be discovered. One that mixes the sacred the secular. The historical with the deeply personal.