This gate takes its name from the nearly life-size sculpture of the biblical forefather, which receives the visitors on the right side of the portal. Next to him are his wife Eva, as well as St. Peter, one of the two patrons of the Bamberg Cathedral. The statues on the left side of Adam’s Gate depict Henry II, his wife Cunegonde and St. Stephen.
Unfortunately, over the centuries the weather has caused considerable damage to the original statues on the outside of the cathedral. For this reason, it was decided in 2002 to replace the originals with copies. If you would like to see the effects of erosion on the sandstone, you can take a closer look on the lion statue in front of the Adam’s Gate. This lion is, as well as his twin in front of the Marienportal, so strongly eroded by the time that the Bambergers jokingly refer to them as Domkröten, the Cathedral toads.
