Aerial photograph of the Altenburg ob Bamberg in black and white, castle on the right on a forested hill, behind it the city of Bamberg in the morning mist.

About this project

This collection of sources and stories on the Altenburg in Bamberg is a private project.

Frida starts her rounds around the Altenburg several times a day. Equipped with a GPS tracker, she keeps discovering new traces in the woods, wall remnants on the slope, foundations under leaf litter. Most of all, Frida loves contact with the people around the Altenburg. Whenever she can, she greets visitors in the courtyard or on the trails around the castle. She sniffs, wags her tail in friendly fashion, and dispenses kisses.

Our small, peaceful, curious dachshund has lived on the Altenburg since 2022 and is probably the actual reason for this site. Frida's encounters are the starting point of countless conversations around the castle and the source of most of the stories, research, questions and answers that come together here.

Dachshund Frida lying in the sunlight on the wooden floor, tilting her head curiously.

Dachshund Frida sitting in the grass below the Altenburg, the castle glowing in the evening light behind her.

About the author

Maybe just coincidence? During my student years I had the privilege of living in the beautiful Josephstraße 7. Built in 1902 as the residence of coachman Georg Alt by Gustav Haeberle, the very same architect who from 1884 onwards shaped today's Altenburg through conversions and new buildings.

From Bamberg I commuted by train to my studies at FAU in Erlangen. First four semesters of physics and geology, then pharmacy. During that time I met Eugene, who lived with his wife Mona on the Altenburg. In 2008 Eugene asked me whether I would take over the apartment on the Altenburg.

I write here as a private individual. I am a member of the Altenburgverein, of the Historischer Verein Bamberg, and a squire in the Rytterschaft zum Goldenen Federkiel zu Babenberg, which is also at home on the Altenburg.

Jochen Meyer with dachshund Frida in front of the gate of the Altenburg

Acknowledgements

Thanks for all the interesting conversations and inspiration for this site. In particular to Paul Einwag, the long-serving Burgbaumeister (castle master builder), the knights of the Rytterschaft zum Goldenen Federkiel for the countless stories about Bamberg and the Altenburg, Dr. Karin Dengler-Schreiber, for the conversations and her valuable articles on E.T.A. Hoffmann, Gustav Haeberle, and Dr. Adalbert Friedrich Marcus, as well as Christian Schmitt for his extensive archive of historical photographs from Bamberg.

Last but not least, thanks to Anna Chechetka for the design and her support with the research.