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In the first year, the ULL will be hosted by the Town of Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The main aims are:
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Operationalising and integrating climate action into the Management Plan of the World Heritage Property “Town of Bamberg”
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Enhancing the communication of climate action to professional stakeholders and the broader public.
The Bamberg ULL contributes to the overall Go2CHANGE objectives through the following local goals:
The main aims are:
Identify and assess climate risks and vulnerabilities of World Heritage attributes in Bamberg
Integrate climate adaptation and climate risk management into existing World Heritage management
Identify mitigation measures for the World Heritage property that reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions while preserving heritage values
Strengthen community involvement and capacity building, transforming local knowledge and practices into climate resilience actions
Generate transferable lessons and best practices to feed into the Go2CHANGE network, policy briefs, and guidance documents.
2026 Host City: Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg, located in Franconia in northern Bavaria, Germany, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993. It is an outstanding example of a Central European town that has preserved its medieval urban structure and developed harmoniously over the centuries, reflecting significant phases of European political, socio-economic, and cultural history.
Founded in 1007 as the seat of a bishopric by King Henry II and designed as a “second Rome” on seven hills, it became a key religious and political centre within the Holy Roman Empire. The town stands as an exceptionally well-preserved urban masterpiece, with its wealth of ecclesiastical and secular architecture, especially from the High Middle Ages and the Baroque period.
The World Heritage site covers approximately 142 hectares and also includes a buffer zone for additional protection. It consists of three historic districts: the Hill District (Bergstadt), the Island District (Inselstadt), and the Gardeners’ District (Gärtnerstadt). Together, these districts form a distinctive urban landscape where medieval planning principles, religious symbolism, architectural continuity, and the integration of agriculture are still clearly visible and integral to the city’s character.
Optional information about Bamberg’s intangible cultural heritage:
Bamberg cathedral construction workshop tradition (Bauhüttenwesen) is listed in UNESCO’s International Register of Good Safeguarding Practices for Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Bamberg State Library preserves two important documents recognised by UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme: the Lorsch Pharmacopoeia (the oldest medical book of the Western Middle Ages) and two outstanding illuminated manuscripts from Reichenau – the “Bamberg Apocalypse” and the “Commentary on the Song of Songs and the Book of Daniel.
The Hill District served as Bamberg’s spiritual and political heart for nearly a millennium, as reflected in the dense concentration of ecclesiastical architecture, most notably Bamberg Cathedral. Surrounding the cathedral are buildings associated with the former ecclesiastical immunity zones, such as the Benedictine Abbey of St. Michael and the collegiate churches of St. Stephan and St. Jakob. These areas not only shaped the district’s physical layout but also played a central role in the town’s governance and identity throughout the medieval and early modern periods. The district also includes places of administration and learning, burgher houses, and vineyards.
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The Island District reflects Bamberg’s traditions of trade, craftsmanship, and civic autonomy, and is shaped by the two arms of Regnitz River. From the 14th century onwards, it developed into a vibrant urban centre featuring public institutions and administrative buildings, including the iconic Old Town Hall. This district also housed the historic harbour, a hub of economic activity where merchants and sailors traded goods, supported by an extensive network of roads and markets extending into the city. The Island Town’s dynamic character is evident in its diverse building types, such as mills, tanneries, cranes, and fishermen’s dwellings.
The Gardeners’ District forms the green heart of Bamberg, preserving a long-standing tradition of urban gardening dating back to the Middle Ages. Situated along a historic trade route, this district developed a unique structure of market gardens, consisting of houses and large open spaces for cultivation. It remains a living example of traditional agricultural practices, demonstrating resilience and continuity in land use across centuries. The inner-city gardening in Bamberg was included in the German National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016.
What is COST?
