Discover Kaufbeuren

Kaufbeuren brings together visible traces of its history and museums covering a range of subjects. The walls and towers of the historic old town define the cityscape, while exhibitions explore the city’s past as a Free Imperial City, as well as art and industrial history. The Crescentia Pilgrimage Trail also begins here, and its scale extends well beyond a city walk. You can choose between exploring on foot and embarking on a multi-day hike, depending on your interests.

Old Town, City Walls and Crescentia

The historic old town can be explored on foot. Large sections of the historic city wall, along with numerous well-preserved towers, are still standing. The Fünfknopfturm is Kaufbeuren’s landmark and a striking feature of its historic cityscape. The exhibition venues in the center are also within easy walking distance, making it convenient to experience the city and its culture. A walking tour and in-depth visits to exhibitions offer different ways to explore the city.

The Crescentia Monastery is located in the heart of the old town and is regarded as the place where Kaufbeuren began. The Crescentia Memorial at the monastery displays valuable original items from the secular and religious life of Saint Crescentia. These include clothing she wore on her travels and the decree of her canonization. The objects on display give the monastery’s history a personal and religious dimension.

The History of the Free Imperial City and Art

The Kaufbeuren City Museum presents the history of the former Free Imperial City in a modern permanent exhibition. Its focus goes beyond the visible buildings, exploring the historical development of Kaufbeuren. For a different perspective on history and culture, the Kunsthaus Kaufbeuren hosts changing exhibitions on 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century art, as well as cultural history. The two venues therefore offer different points of focus—from the city’s history to art and cultural history spanning several centuries.

Neugablonz and the Gablonz Industry

Neugablonz is also part of Kaufbeuren and is the city’s largest district. The Isergebirge Museum presents its history and offers insights into 400 years of German cultural and industrial history in the Jizera Mountains. This brings both the development of the district and a broader cultural and industrial history into focus.

The Gablonz Industry Experience Exhibition displays numerous examples of fashion jewelry. On view are fashion jewelry, souvenirs, toys and bags. This range makes the exhibition a distinctive way to explore industrial history: alongside the historical overview, you can see concrete examples from the fashion jewelry industry and related product areas.

From an Old Town Walk to a Pilgrimage Trail

The Crescentia Pilgrimage Trail begins at the monastery in Kaufbeuren’s historic old town. The nearly 90-kilometer circular route passes through Mindelheim and Ottobeuren before returning to its starting point in Kaufbeuren. This makes the pilgrimage clearly different from exploring the old town on foot: it leads out of the city and requires planning for several days. Experienced hikers are advised to complete the trail in four daily stages. Its length, circular route and number of stages give you concrete points to consider when deciding whether to plan Kaufbeuren primarily for city and cultural experiences, or also as a starting point for a longer hike.

Experience Puppet Theater Online

The Puppet Theater Museum continues to offer a virtual online tour of the world of puppet theater. The former physical museum is no longer operating at its previous location; the virtual tour is still available online. This makes it possible to explore the subject independently of the former museum site.

Discover more travel destinations

Mauerstetten, Eggenthal, Nesselwang, Lamerdingen, Obergünzburg, Rieden am Forggensee, Unterthingau, Oberostendorf

For the overview of the wider travel region: Ostallgäu.