Kempten (Allgäu): Roman history, parks and Allgäu cuisine

Kempten (Allgäu) combines visible traces of Roman times with churches, Baroque interiors, green spaces and a weekly market offering regional and other specialties. You can explore the city’s history outdoors at the Cambodunum Archaeological Park, learn more in museums and churches, or take in views over the city from the Burghalde.

Discover Roman history and city life

At the Cambodunum Archaeological Park, Kempten’s Roman origins are presented in an open-air museum around the excavation sites. You can explore the grounds on your own; 15 activity stations make it an immersive historical experience. The Kempten Museum explores the city’s eventful history, from Roman times to the present, in eleven themed rooms spanning different eras on the first and second floors.

The Erasmus Chapel Exhibition Space offers another way to explore history: a multimedia show covers almost eight centuries of the city’s history, with the building itself also playing an important role. Underground, you can discover archaeological finds, fire damage and remnants of wall paintings. Two openings in the east wall offer a view into the ossuary behind it. The exhibition space can only be visited as part of a guided tour.

Churches and the residence also tell the story of Kempten’s past. St. Mang’s Church is the city’s oldest church and is now an Evangelical Lutheran parish church. Its high altar, made of oak and limewood, has stood there since 1906. The Basilica of St. Lawrence is a Kempten landmark, and its lavish interior is well worth seeing. The grand rooms of the Residence feature Baroque and Rococo living quarters. The Throne Room is considered a highlight of Bavarian Rococo. The Prince-Abbot’s Residence was Germany’s first monumental Baroque monastery complex built after the Thirty Years’ War.

Parks, viewpoints and outdoor routes

The 12-hectare Engelhaldepark lies east of the Iller River. Two adventure playgrounds and a large climbing wall provide opportunities for activity. The Way of St. James from Munich towards Bregenz also passes through the park. If you’d like to combine exercise with the city’s history, the Burghalde in the Old Town has visible remains of a medieval castle. From there, views stretch in every direction: the Alps are visible to the south, while to the west you can see the Prince-Abbots’ Residence and the Basilica of St. Lawrence.

Other green spaces offer a variety of settings. Kempten’s Court Garden is designed in the Baroque style and has terraces at different levels. On the edge of Stiftallmey is the five-hectare Stadtweiher, created in 1494 on the grounds of the town monastery. An octagonal music pavilion is the focal point of Stadtpark. The park has hosted the Allgäu Festival Week since 1949; during this annual event, it becomes the setting for one of Germany’s ten largest regional consumer fairs.

Kempten also offers a handy landmark for a cycling trip: the Iller Cycle Route and the Allgäu Cycle Route intersect in the city. Together with the paths through Engelhaldepark, they provide different options for a stay combining culture and outdoor activities.

Weekly market and Kässpatzen at Hildegardplatz

The weekly market takes place twice a week at Hildegardplatz, with around 50 stalls. They offer seasonal fruit and vegetables, cheese, fish, sausages and other meats, homemade pasta, plants, honey and other specialties from Kempten, the Allgäu, the Lake Constance region and Italy. The selection may vary depending on when you visit. At lunchtime, locals and visitors also meet at Hildegardplatz to enjoy freshly prepared Kässpatzen, among other dishes.

Find accommodation that suits your travel plans

When choosing accommodation, consider which side of Kempten interests you most: its museums, churches and historic interiors, its parks and viewpoints, or a stay that combines both. If you’re also planning to explore the cycle routes or visit the weekly market, these interests can help guide your search. That way, you can base your choice on the kind of trip you have in mind without committing to a single focus.

Back to the main travel overview: Kempten.