Kempten (Allgäu): Roman History, Church Art and Cycling Routes

Roman traces, church art and routes along the Iller give Kempten (Allgäu) a range of thematic perspectives. When planning your stay, you can focus on your own interests: the history of Roman times, church architecture or outdoor activities.

Roman History at the Museum and Open-Air Museum

The Kempten Museum in the Zumsteinhaus tells the city’s story in detail, from Roman times to the present day, across eleven themed rooms. This broad span of time offers insight into different eras and makes the museum a starting point for anyone who wants to get to know Kempten not only through individual buildings, but also through its history.

The Archaeological Park Cambodunum offers another way to explore Roman times. The open-air museum presents archaeological evidence of the former Roman city of Cambodunum, within what is now the city of Kempten. The site is divided into three visitor areas: the Gallo-Roman temple district, the Small Baths, and the Forum with its basilica. This brings different parts of the Roman complex together, rather than limiting your visit to a single area.

You can explore the park independently. There is an adventure trail with 15 interactive stations, and a virtual reality app is also available. The activity stations and the app complement the tour with different ways to engage with the Roman remains. So if Cambodunum is your main interest when planning your trip, you’ll find both archaeological sites and several ways to explore them here.

Churches and Art History

St. Mang’s Church is Kempten’s oldest church and is now an Evangelical Lutheran parish church. Its building history includes a precisely dated turning point: from 1426 to 1428, it was extended in the Gothic style, and its tower was raised to its present height of 66 metres. These details give the church a special place among the historic landmarks in the city’s history.

The Basilica of St. Lawrence stands out for its art-historical significance and interior decoration. It is considered the first major church built in southern Germany after the Thirty Years’ War. Inside, elevated and partly fully sculptural stucco by Giovanni Zuccalli, stucco-marble panels by a “Frau Stuckhatorin” (Mrs. Stuckhatorin)—probably Barbara Hackl—and frescoes by Andreas Asper come together. The works and their differing attributions offer several specific details to look out for as you explore the basilica.

The Erasmus Chapel exhibition space, in turn, uses a multimedia presentation: atmospheric lighting, projections and audio imagery bring the walls to life. A multimedia show explores almost eight centuries of city history. Alongside the church buildings, this offers a different way of presenting history through images and sound.

Cycling and Exploring the Landscape

For active days out, the Iller Cycle Route and the Allgäu Cycle Route pass through Kempten. There are also cycling opportunities along the Iller, in the city and through the Allgäu countryside. These options offer different surroundings: you can consider cycling by the river, in the city or through the Allgäu landscape. The tour “Kempten: In Kneipp’s Footsteps” is easy to reach by car or train.

Engelhalde Landscape Park reveals another side of the area. The restored gravel pit includes a pond, a wetland habitat, an adventure playground and the region’s largest bike park. Nature and active pursuits are both at the heart of the park. This gives you the option of focusing on something different from a visit centred mainly on Roman remains or church art.

Choosing a Focus for Your Accommodation Search

Deciding which themes you want to shape your stay is a helpful starting point for planning your trip. Cambodunum and the Kempten Museum offer different perspectives on history; St. Mang’s Church, the Basilica of St. Lawrence and the Erasmus Chapel exhibition space each have their own focus on architectural history, art and interpretation. Cycle routes and the landscape park add opportunities for outdoor activity. By deciding which interests matter most to you, you can search for accommodation in Kempten more effectively and plan your stay around the experiences that interest you most.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Durach, Hörnergruppe, Obermaiselstein, Blaichach, Waltenhofen, Oberstaufen, Rettenberg, Oy-Mittelberg.

Go to the broader travel guide: Oberallgäu.