Discover Ulm: historic districts, museums and trails

Water and history in the cityscape

In the Fishermen’s and Tanners’ Quarter, many buildings dating from the 15th to 17th centuries have part of their foundations directly in the water. Water also shaped the area’s former work: water power and a total of seven mill wheels once kept operations running. Here, architectural history and historic uses can be explored together; the mill wheels belong to the quarter’s past, not its present-day working life.

Another historic attraction is the astronomical clock on Ulm Town Hall. It was installed on the east side in 1520. Five moving elements show the sun’s path, including sunrise and sunset, the phases of the moon, solar and lunar eclipses, and the signs of the zodiac. The clock thus combines a display of the sun’s course with various celestial phenomena. Those interested in the history of technology can get a close-up look at how such events were represented on a historic building.

Museums and special collection pieces

The Ulm Museum presents 40,000 years of art and cultural history in a listed ensemble of buildings dating from the 16th to 20th centuries. Its collection includes the Lion Man, over 40,000 years old: a human-animal sculpture made of mammoth ivory. The museum therefore brings together a vast span of time and one very old object, made from a specific material and in a distinctive figurative form.

At the Museum Bread and Art, 19 themed installations explore the social, cultural and technological history of agriculture, nutrition and bread. The focus thus goes beyond bread as a food, taking in its cultural and technological contexts as well. The museum also hosts “Kunstschmaus” on the first Wednesday of every month. If you would like to include this event in your plans, check the current program in advance.

Trails with different focuses

The Ulm/Neu-Ulm Fortress Trail is about 12.5 kilometres long and connects surviving structures from the fortress ring. Its 32 information panels cover their construction, function and post-military use. The Ulm Mill Trail, by contrast, leads to the sites of 22 mills in the city. Its five themed sections trace the development from 19th-century mill operations to modern regional industrial culture. Both trails explore history, but focus on different aspects of buildings and their uses.

The 20-kilometre Ulm Heights Trail runs through the north of Ulm. It can be walked from either end and is signposted; the walking time is about three hours. For planning purposes, it therefore provides an approximate duration as well as its length. The three trails can be distinguished above all by their themes: fortress architecture, mill history or a longer hike through the north of the city.

City park, cycle routes and getting around

Friedrichsau is Ulm’s large city park and includes, among other things, a tree trail. This adds a park with a specific nature and learning experience to the historic sites and themed trails. For cycle tourists, another point of context is relevant: Ulm/Neu-Ulm lies at the intersection of seven long-distance cycle routes.

Much of Ulm/Neu-Ulm can be explored on foot. Buses and trams are available for longer distances; in the region, you can also get around by train and bicycle. When planning your stay, you can first consider which topics interest you most and which routes you would like to include. The routes listed differ in length, approximate walking time—where specified—and focus. At Ulm Minster, you can climb the tower to the second platform, 102 metres above the ground; check the latest visitor information before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Bernstadt, Obermarchtal, Dornstadt, Börslingen, Langenau, Öpfingen, Ballendorf, Asselfingen.

Go to the regional travel overview: Alb-Donau district.