Ever wonder how Bamberg’s famous gardens came to be? Here at the Gärtner- und Häckermuseum, we unravel that very story. The Gärtner- und Häckermuseum is dedicated to the history and culture of Bamberg’s gardeners and Häcker. Häcker is a Franconian term for winegrowers.
Established in 1979, the Gärtner- und Häckermuseum is housed in a traditional gardener’s house. This building allows us to step back in time. It illustrates the life and work of a gardener’s family around 1900. Imagine life in the living room, bedroom, and kitchen. Picture the hustle and bustle of the storeroom and courtyard. The Gärtner- und Häckermuseum shows the economic spaces and garden.
The building itself dates back to 1767. It began its life as a gardener’s home. Notice the passage dominating the street facade. It leads to the rear courtyard and the long, narrow garden. Originally, a long hall divided the house. The hall separated the heated living area on the left from the economic area on the right. The economic area was converted into a second modern apartment between 1890 and 1895.
In the garden, behind the Gärtner- und Häckermuseum, you can see how a typical house garden would have looked. It showcases plant cultivation and a market field for ripening vegetables. The garden shows the era around 1910. Bamberg’s gardeners used sophisticated mixed and subsequent crops. They used every patch of sunlit garden and field soil. Intensive fertilization enabled multiple harvests each year.
The Gärtner- und Häckermuseum demonstrates the effectiveness of the “Bamberg hoeing method.” Even into the 1920s, it was considered very effective. The garden reflects not only the time, but also the efficiency of the gardeners.
Until the early 20th century, Bamberg gardeners used traditional local cultivation methods. They had been praised around 1800. After World War I, modern methods replaced much of the old gardening skill. Mechanization, around 1970, also contributed.
The rear half of the Gärtner- und Häckermuseum’s garden honors the Häcker. These winegrowers lived in the mountain area between Michelsberg and Stephansberg. The orchard and tree field display old Bamberg fruit varieties. These agricultural forms were common around 1910.
In 2012, the Gärtner- und Häckermuseum was redesigned. It was nominated for the Bavarian Museum Prize in 2013. In 2016, it was included in the Federal Directory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This recognized the urban market gardening in Bamberg.
Visiting the Gärtner- und Häckermuseum is EUR 5. Reduced tickets are EUR 4. Pupils pay EUR 1. The use of the audio guide is included. Step inside the Gärtner- und Häckermuseum. Discover the world of Bamberg’s market gardeners and wine-growers.