Kempten: Roman Park, Residence and the Iller

Roman Kempten on the eastern bank of the Iller

On the eastern high bank of the Iller, within the present-day city limits of Kempten, lies the Cambodunum Archaeological Park. As the largest Roman park in southern Germany, it showcases the archaeological remains of the former Roman city of Cambodunum. You can explore the grounds independently along a themed circular trail. Along the way, 15 interactive stations offer an immersive experience of history, complementing the archaeological remains.

The Kempten Museum in the Zumsteinhaus offers a view of Kempten’s history beyond the Roman era. It presents more than 2,000 years of the city’s history using multimedia. Notable exhibits include a nine-square-metre city model, described as the largest city model in Bavaria created using 3D printing. The exhibition space covers 580 square metres and is accessible.

Residence, churches and city history

The Princely Abbey Residence in Kempten is Germany’s first monumental Baroque monastic complex built after the Thirty Years’ War. Its grand rooms include living quarters from the Baroque and Rococo periods; the Throne Room is considered a highlight of Bavarian Rococo. St. Lorenz Basilica offers a different ecclesiastical perspective: it is considered the first major church built in southern Germany after the Thirty Years’ War and today serves as Kempten’s Catholic parish church. St. Mang’s Church is Kempten’s oldest church and today serves as its Protestant Lutheran parish church.

The Erasmus Chapel also brings together architectural history and modern interpretation. It was built in the 13th century as a cemetery chapel with an ossuary. In the Erasmus Chapel exhibition space, multimedia displays offer insights into Kempten’s eventful history. Important for planning your visit: access to the exhibition space is only possible as part of a guided tour.

The Allgäu Castles Museum is housed in the gatekeeper’s lodge of the former fortress on the Burghalde. A knights’ hall, historical everyday objects, models, drawings and photographs offer insights into the medieval castles of the Allgäu. The Burghalde also affords views of Kempten and the Alpine foothills.

The Iller, parks and trails

The Old Town Park lies right beside the Iller, on the site of the former gasworks and near the Burghalde. If you would like to explore Kempten on foot, you can start a walk up the local mountain, Mariaberg, directly from Rathausplatz in the city centre. Two pilgrimage routes also offer different ways to explore the area: the Munich Way of St. James passes directly through Kempten, while Bachtelweiher is part of the St. James pilgrimage route from Munich to Bregenz. The Iller Cycle Path and the Allgäu Cycle Path also intersect in the city.

The routes and attractions offer different points of focus: Cambodunum explores the archaeological traces of the Roman city, while the museum and churches highlight the city’s history, architecture and contemporary religious life. The pilgrimage and long-distance cycling routes mentioned above extend your visit beyond individual attractions.

Guided tours, audio stops and seasonal theatre

Kempten offers the classic “Experience Kempten” city tour and themed tours on scheduled dates. Group tours can be arranged for a date of your choice. Since tour dates can shape your visit, it is worth checking them before you travel. A free alternative is the Lauschtour audio guide, which takes you to various listening points around Kempten via your smartphone.

The Allgäu Fairytale Summer is staged on the Burghalde during the summer months. This interactive fairytale theatre presents a different production each year. If you would like to include it in your plans, check the dates for your travel period.

Weekly market at Hildegardplatz

The weekly market at Hildegardplatz is part of everyday life in Kempten and takes place twice a week. Around 50 stalls offer seasonal fruit and vegetables, cheese, fish and sausage specialities, homemade pasta and honey. The approximate number of stalls and the seasonal selection give an idea of the variety; check the market schedule again before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Kempten, Ammersee, Lower Bavaria, Freising, Ansbach, Aichach-Friedberg, Hof, Kelheim.

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