Kempten (Allgäu): Roman History, Culture and Green Spaces

Kempten (Allgäu) offers several specific highlights for a stay: Roman times, local history, churches, parks and regional market offerings. There are also different ways to visit: you can explore the Cambodunum Archaeological Park on your own, while access to the Erasmus Chapel exhibition room is only possible as part of a guided tour.

Roman Times and Kempten’s History

The Cambodunum Archaeological Park presents Kempten’s Roman-era beginnings as an open-air museum around the excavation sites. A total of 15 interactive stations offer an immersive historical experience. This lets you explore at your own pace, while the stations offer different ways to engage with history.

At the Kempten Museum, you can discover another perspective on the city’s history: on the first and second floors, eleven themed rooms spanning different eras explore its development from Roman times to the present day. Kempten’s history is also the focus of the Erasmus Chapel exhibition room. The multimedia show covers almost eight centuries, while the building itself also plays an important role. In the underground exhibition room, you can discover archaeological finds, fire marks and remains of wall paintings. Two openings in the east wall offer a view into the ossuary behind it. If you plan to visit, note that access is by guided tour.

Churches, Residence and Views

The State Rooms of the Residence bear witness to the lavish era of the prince-abbots during the time when Kempten was a divided city. St. Mang’s Church tells a different story: it is Kempten’s oldest church and is now an Evangelical Lutheran parish church. Its high altar, carved from oak and limewood, has stood in the church since 1906. The Basilica of St. Lawrence is a landmark of Kempten; its lavish interior is also worth seeing.

The remains of a medieval castle can be seen on Burghalde hill in the old town. It is also a viewpoint with unobstructed views in every direction: the Alps are visible to the south, while to the west you can see the Residence of the prince-abbots and the Basilica of St. Lawrence. Burghalde thus combines visible traces of the city’s history with wide-ranging views of the surrounding area.

Parks and Green Spaces

The 12-hectare Engelhalde Park lies east of the Iller River. Its facilities include two adventure playgrounds and a large climbing wall. If you plan to use these during your visit, check their availability in advance, as it may change. The city park also has a distinctive feature: its octagonal music pavilion forms the center. The park has hosted Allgäu Festival Week since 1949.

Kempten’s Court Garden is laid out in the Baroque style and has terraces at different heights. The Stadtweiher pond on the edge of Stiftallmey has a different character: the five-hectare body of water was created in 1494 on the grounds of the town monastery. The Court Garden, city park and Stadtweiher offer different options if you would like to include gardens and parks in your trip alongside museums and churches.

Weekly Market and Routes Through Kempten

At the weekly market on Hildegardplatz, about 50 stalls offer seasonal fruit and vegetables, cheese, fish, cold cuts, homemade pasta, plants, honey and other specialties twice a week. The stated places of origin range from Kempten and the Allgäu to the Lake Constance region and Italy. The selection may vary. At lunchtime, locals and visitors also meet at Hildegardplatz to enjoy freshly prepared Kässpatzen, among other things.

There are also specific local points of interest for travelers interested in cycling or pilgrimage routes: the Iller Cycle Route and the Allgäu Cycle Route intersect in Kempten. The Way of St. James from Munich toward Bregenz runs through Engelhalde Park. These route connections add another potential focus to your stay alongside the cultural attractions.

For the broader travel overview: Kempten.