Imagine monks chanting within these very walls centuries ago. This is the Dominikanerbau in Bamberg a place that has undergone an incredible transformation.
Founded in 1310 by King Bishop Lavant this Dominican monastery quickly became a significant religious hub. Lavant even belonged to the Dominican order himself. The Dominikanerbau’s story is one of faith expansion and surprising repurposing.
Initially financing for the monastery was secured through the sale of indulgences. In the following years monks purchased adjacent estates in 1337 and 1340. This allowed them to expand their church with a chancel. Around 1400 they moved the neighboring court house into the new island city. This area is now Bamberg’s pedestrian zone. Again the monks used the space to further expand their monastery with the help of private donors.
Around 1450 the monastery underwent reforms. New buildings were erected along the Regnitz River. For decades reconstructions and repairs continued. However the Thirty Years’ War from 1618 to 1648 brought these efforts to a halt.
After the war the Dominikanerbau entered a new phase. The monks acquired the neighboring “Haus unter den Störchen” today part of the Schlenkerla brewery. They installed a bakery and a brewery. Additional land was purchased towards today’s Kasernstraße. The new convent building which still stands today complete with its magnificent Dominican library was constructed around 1740.
Secularization in 1803 marked a major turning point. The Bavarian military took over all the rooms of the former monastery. The remaining monks were forced to relocate. The church became an armory. The convent building housed officers and gunsmiths. It wasn’t until 1890 that the Dominikanerbau returned to a more suitable role. It became a study church for the New Gymnasium a high school.
After World War I the state of Bavaria leased the “house of storks” to Michael Graser owner and brewmaster of Schlenkerla. He renovated the historic arched ceiling from the 14th century. The rest of the complex remained in military hands. After World War II the Dominikanerbau became home to the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. The convent building was repurposed as a state department building. The former monastery sick bay the Dominikanerklause and the “house of the storks” became permanent parts of Schlenkerla.
In 1993 the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra moved to a new concert hall. The Dominikanerbau then became the assembly hall of Bamberg University. In 2011 the ceiling of the Dominikanerklause was elaborately restored. The Dominikanerbau’s beer garden is part of the Schlenkerla brewery.
Consecrated in 1400 the church within the Dominikanerbau has seen many changes. In 2015 after extensive redesign and renovation it reopened as an auditorium. Alterations included a complete color redesign in white. Heavy-duty partition walls were added to improve acoustic conditions.
Today the Dominikanerbau stands as a testament to Bamberg’s evolving history. From a Dominican monastery to a military barrack to a concert hall and finally a university assembly hall its walls have witnessed centuries of change. The Dominikanerbau serves as a reminder of Bamberg’s rich past and its continued importance as a center of culture and learning.