KLOSTER BANZ

USD 6

6th Ultrafast Surface Dynamics

Conference Site

The location of the conference is the Baroque monastery of Kloster Banz, situated in the heart of Franconia, about 200 km east of Frankfurt and 100 km north of Nürnberg (Nuremberg).

Nowadays, Kloster Banz is a convention center. Participants will be accommodated in the monastery; full board will be available.

Address
Bildungszentrum Kloster Banz
96231 Bad Staffelstein
Germany
Phone: +49-9573-3370

Kloster Banz and surroundings

The long and moving history of the Francs started in this particular region around 600 AD. There never has been an independent kingdom of Franconia, but a large number of smaller areas belonging to different authorities throughout the centuries. Since the middle ages the most important centres are the bishopric of Würzburg and of Bamberg, the independent town Nürnberg and the region of Ansbach connected with Kulmbach and Bayreuth belonging to the Zollern, relatives of the later King of Prussia. Only after 1803 these regions became part of Bavaria. The river Main is the dominant stream which starts in the mountains near Bayreuth and flows into the river Rhine near Frankfurt. It connects the large diversity found in Franconia: from the high and cold mountains (Frankenwald and Fichtelgebirge) in the east with poor and protestant people and plenty of beer breweries, to the center of German Catholicism in Mainz with rich and large wineries starting in the area of Würzburg. One of the most spectacular scenery is around Lichtenfels where the river cuts through the Jura Mountains. The picturesque village of Staffelstein is the home of Adam Ries (1492-1559) the author of the first German textbook on calculus. Next to the Staffelberg (539 m with Celtic ruins on top), the large pilgrimage cathedral Vierzehnheiligen is located at the right bank of river Main overlooking the valley to the north. It is an impressive building of late Baroque, partly designed by the world famous German architect Balthasar Neumann (1687 - 1753) and finished in 1772 as an important pilgrimage. The saying is that 1519 a shepherd had a vision of the Fourteen Auxiliary Saints and build a small chapel. Over the centuries the site became popular and subsequently larger churches were erected until in 1735 it was decided to build a large pilgrimage church. The bishop of Bamberg and Würzburg, Friedrich Carl von Schönborn comissioned Balthasar Neumann who had already built the Residence of Würzburg.

On the left bank of river Main opposite to Vierzehnheiligen we find Kloster Banz build around 1700. The Benedictine monastery was founded in 1069 and soon donated to the bishop of Bamberg. The present appearance is based on the design of Leonhard Dientzenhofer in 1695 and continued by his brother Johann, who build the church in 1710-1719. The monastery was completed in 1775 and soon became famous for the bustling scientific life, edition of journals and the large collections. Overall, a perfect location for the Sixth International Conference on Ultrafast Surface Dynamics.

We encourage participants arriving already Saturday to visit the pilgrimage church Vierzehnheiligen or hike the Main trail passing Kloster Banz. We will provide necessary information at the site. Destination of the conference excursion is the city of Bamberg. The historical old town is a cultural and architectural site of European rank and was added to the UNESCO world heritage list.