Göppingen

Göppingen combines the city’s history, contemporary art, and regional themes connected with the Staufers. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can plan your stay around which of these aspects you’d like to explore more closely.

Staufer History in Göppingen

The ruins of the Staufers’ ancestral castle are located in Hohenstaufen, a district of Göppingen. The castle was built around 1070 and destroyed during the German Peasants’ War in 1525. Hohenstaufen is also the hub of the “Staufer Route,” a cultural route that leads to important architectural remains from the Staufer period. Here, history can be experienced both at a specific site and in the broader context of a cultural route.

The Staufer exhibition explores the history of the ruling dynasty, including the reigns of Frederick I Barbarossa and his grandson Frederick II. Schlossplatz offers a different historical perspective: together with the Renaissance palace and the town church, it forms a harmonious ensemble. The square was redesigned in 2014. This combination of older buildings and a newly designed urban space makes central Göppingen a distinct counterpoint to the historical focus on Hohenstaufen.

Art and Festival Traditions

Since 1989, the Kunsthalle Göppingen has presented international contemporary art. Its formats include exhibitions as well as public and digital spaces. Its engagement with art therefore extends beyond the traditional exhibition format. If you’re interested in contemporary art, this perspective complements the city’s historical themes.

The city’s festival traditions also have different historical associations. The original Göppingen Peace and Thanksgiving Festival was first held on August 11, 1650, to celebrate the end of the Thirty Years’ War. The Göppingen Maientag is a traditional local festival that has brought together tradition and modernity for more than 350 years. The two festivals represent different chapters in the city’s history; the Maientag’s long tradition does not, by itself, indicate current event dates.

Plan Routes and Visits

To visit Hohenstaufen, the city of Göppingen offers a free guided tour once a month in spring and summer. The tour goes up to Hohenstaufen, which is 684 meters high, and provides information about its history. As these tours take place seasonally, check the current dates before your trip. This lets you plan the outing for a specific time without confusing the historical route with the guided tour.

In Jebenhausen, a suggested circular route leads to sites of Jewish history and remembrance. Check the current access arrangements for individual stops. Faurndau offers another option for planning your trip, with a railway stop and a rail connection on the Filstal timetable. Check the current timetable before travelling if you plan to include this district in your journey to or from Göppingen.

Regional Perspectives in the Wider Göppingen Destination

Beyond the city’s own attractions, the wider Göppingen destination offers a chance to explore the district. The Löwenpfade are circular hiking trails there, ranging from 3 to 24 kilometres in length. They can be walked in either direction and are signposted and marked in both directions. An information board at each starting point provides details about the route, elevation profile, and nearby sights. This means you can factor trail length and route information into your plans.

For mountain biking, the district has the Löwentrails: four circular routes ranging from 16 to 30 kilometres, particularly suitable for beginners and e-mountain bikers. Hiking trails and mountain-bike routes differ both in their mode of travel and in their stated lengths. In the wider Göppingen destination, traditional orchards along the Albtrauf also shape an old cultural landscape. Hohenstaufen offers panoramic views over the district’s landscape and is considered the best-known of the Three Kaiser Mountains, as well as a landmark of the Staufer region.

Another regional history attraction is the Märklineum, which presents Märklin’s more than 165-year company history and its products. Göppingen and the wider destination bring together historical themes on different scales: from the Staufer castle and the town ensemble to company history and the district’s landscapes.

Tailor Your Stay to Your Interests

The city and regional attractions have clearly distinct characters. Check current dates and timetables in advance for seasonal guided tours and rail travel.

Discover more destinations: Geislingen an der Steige, Bad Überkingen, Hohenstadt, Heiningen, Salach, Aichelberg, Adelberg, Wäschenbeuren.

View the wider travel guide: Göppingen.