We were standing in front of a revered site on the most famous of seven hills in the Bavarian town of Bamberg. The Imperial Cathedral of St Peter and St George loomed before us, its four signature steeples so tall they seemed to stab the clear blue sky.

As my German guides and I were about to step into this, the final resting place of 11th-century Emperor Henry II and Pope Clement II, a supermarket trolley shot out from one of the cobblestoned alleys. It was pushed by a bevy of young men and women. In it, a girl in a ceremonial gown and a mortar board was giggling euphorically.

"They are probably celebrating her graduation," said my guide. Indeed, the University of Bamberg is situated in the Old Town at the bottom of the hill - one of seven that make up the town of 70,000 people. Each is topped by a church,

Archbishops had the town built more than a thousand years ago. Today, Bamberg is one of the largest heritage areas in Germany with over 2,000 buildings preserved in the old style.

It escaped bombing during World War II as its artillery factory deterred planes from flying too close. The authenticity of the town earned it Unesco world heritage status in 1993.

Despite looking like a picture out of a medieval storybook with many buildings sporting decorative frills and sculptures, Bamberg has a youthful energy that belies its pretty, old-school looks.

As a destination that's an easy day trip from Munich, however, it is often overlooked.

Easily covered by foot, most of Bamberg's attractions are centred around cathedral hill. Most visitors take the public buses and alight just outside the Imperial Cathedral situated in the city square named Domplatz.

We wandered across the square through gates bearing gothic lion heads into the Neue Residenz, or the New Residence of the bishops. For a short period, Bamberg was the centre of the Holy Roman Empire where royalty and religion converged.

The Residence's palatial grounds house a sprawling manicured maze-garden. In the summer, it is filled with roses. From one angle, the garden provides a spectacular foreground to the majestic Michaelsberg Abbey situated on an adjacent hill; and from another, the Old Town below can be seen.

Venturing downhill, we came to the strange 14th-century Old Town Hall built in the middle of the River Regnitz and accessible only by two bridges.

Apparently, the bishops who ruled Bamberg could not agree on the location of this community hub, so it was finally built on a small reclaimed island.

The waters below it sport an obstacle course that stretches all the way to Little Venice - a row of pretty fishermen houses on the far side of the river. It's often used by college students in kayaks. Visitors can explore the town by water, too, as there are various canoe tours available.

We joined the young crowds at one of the many packed al fresco taverns near the Town Hall. There, I had my first taste of Rauchbier - Bamberg's famous smoked beer. It's one of more than 50 varieties produced by the town's nine breweries. The beer, like Bamberg, seemed to exude a fresh, tangy flavour that's held in place by traditional musky overtones.

Sitting in the city's century-old tavern and sipping traditional brew among youthful chatter, I was glad I'd come here. The town's youthful vibrance adds another dimension to its historical beauty.

Bamberg in winter

Characteristic of Bavarian towns, Bamberg celebrates the festive season with gusto. From late November, visitors can tour the Nativity Trail with almost 400 scenes, and shop for treats in the town's Christmas markets. Details at www.bamberg.info/en/

Copyright 2012 MediaCorp Pte Ltd | All Rights Reserved