WEEKEND ON TWO WHEELS

Germany - I’m there a lot — deliveries, pickups, passing through. Nothing unusual. But once in a while, I get a slower weekend. This time it was near Bamberg, in the middle of summer.

The weather was postcard-perfect — warm, sunny, just right. Sitting in the truck in that kind of weather feels like a waste, so obviously… I grabbed the bike. I always take it with me in spring and summer. It’s the only way I can get to places when there’s no public transport nearby — and honestly, after a thousand kilometres of sitting, my legs demand some proper movement.

First day: I cycled into Bamberg. No real plan. Just wandered, explored the old streets and bridges. Took some photos (they’re still waiting for their moment, but they’ll show up eventually).

Second day? I felt like going a bit off the path. Opened Google Maps, scrolled around, and something popped up — SEEHOF CASTLE, in Memmelsdorf. Never heard of it before. But it looked interesting. Only about 11 km from where I was parked. Perfect for a short ride.

I wasn’t expecting much. But when I got there… it surprised me.

The castle was built in the late 1600s as a summer residence for the prince-bishops of Bamberg. It’s a full-on Baroque masterpiece — designed to impress from the moment you see it. Those twin onion domes, the mirror-like symmetry, the huge façade — you can tell it was built for people who wanted to show power and style.

What’s even more interesting is that the castle was once surrounded by a formal Baroque garden with fountains, sculptures, and long alleys lined with trees. Parts of it are still there today, and the setting is just as peaceful as you'd hope. It was meant to be both a place of rest and political theatre — where beauty and influence went hand in hand.

I walked around. More than once. Took photos from every angle I could find. The light kept shifting, the reflections were too good to ignore. Every few minutes I thought I was done, and then — another shot. You know how that goes

And it was quiet. Very quiet. Hardly any people around. Just the sound of birds and leaves and a building that’s been standing for centuries.

And that’s what I love most about having my bike on the road. Without it, I would’ve never ended up in this place.
It wasn’t planned, it wasn’t on a list.
But it stayed with me.