Ravensburg: Towers, Gates and Museums

Ravensburg combines a largely preserved historic Old Town with distinctive towers and museums where history, art and play come to life in different ways. The pedestrian zones invite you to browse, and you can combine shopping with exploring the Old Town. Whether you prefer to wander through historic rooms, take a closer look at an exhibition or admire Ravensburg from a tower, the city offers a range of experiences for your days of discovery.

Old Town, Marienplatz and Mehlsack

Distinctive buildings, squares and streets shape the appearance of the Old Town, which is still largely preserved today. Traffic is restricted in much of the area, making it easy to explore on foot. The centrally located Marienplatz is a good starting point for discovering Ravensburg as the “City of Towers and Gates.” From here, Ravensburg train station is 800 metres away—a useful reference when weighing up your travel arrangements and the location of your accommodation.

The Mehlsack is Ravensburg’s landmark. Built around 1425, the tower stands 51 metres tall. From the top, the view stretches across Ravensburg and, on some days, as far as Lake Constance and the Säntis. If this view is part of your plans, check the dates and booking conditions for visits in advance. That way, you can factor in a possible tower visit when planning without treating it as the same thing as an Old Town tour.

City history in historic rooms

The Humpis Quarter Museum is the cultural history museum of the city of Ravensburg. Since opening in July 2009, it has traced 1,000 years of city history—from the Middle Ages to the present day—across five buildings in a late-medieval residential quarter. The award-winning museum concept connects the architecture with the themes and stories on display. As you explore, you’ll gain insights into building culture as well as the living spaces and everyday worlds of former residents. The focus is therefore not only on individual exhibits, but also on the rooms that bring the city’s history to life.

The Ravensburger Museum offers another way to discover history, in the historic headquarters of the world-famous company. Across three floors, it explores the company’s history, classics such as memory® and Malefiz®, and how games and puzzles are made. The museum makes for an interactive family outing. A tiptoi® museum rally leads children and teenagers through the rooms and asks them questions to test their knowledge. Families can make the company’s history and the world of games part of their visit in their own way.

Art, guided tours and the right accommodation

At the Kunstmuseum Ravensburg, guided tours in Easy Language give you the chance to view and discuss the art exhibition together. Afterwards, participants can get creative with paper and paint in the art workshop. Guides also provide more in-depth background information on current exhibitions; dates may change. To get a broad overview of the city’s history and its key periods, consider the “Ravensburg City History” guided tour, which extends to the present day. Check the relevant dates in advance if you plan to join a tour.

There are ways to enjoy your stay beyond the museums, too: Ravensburg is a good base for cycling trips in Upper Swabia and towards Lake Constance. For buses and trains, the city is part of the bodo transport network, which offers good-value connections within the city and across the region. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore focus on what you have planned: the Old Town and its museums, a guided city tour or cycling trips. Current timetables can help you plan your journeys during your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Wolfegg, Horgenzell, Aulendorf, Altshausen, Berg Bei Ravensburg, Bergatreute, Isny Im Allgäu, Amtzell.

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