Neu-Ulm: Museums, Fortress History and Nature

In the heart of Neu-Ulm, at Petrusplatz, the Edwin Scharff Museum brings an art museum and a children’s museum together under one roof. Here, two different approaches meet: art and hands-on discovery.

Art and history in Neu-Ulm and the district

At the children’s museum, experimental and interactive stations invite visitors of all ages to get involved. This complements the museum’s focus on art with opportunities to try things out—a compelling combination for anyone who enjoys exploring different perspectives during a museum visit.

Caponniere 4 also tells the story of Neu-Ulm: it is part of the Ulm/Neu-Ulm Federal Fortress and is one of the city’s few well-preserved historic monuments. The Archaeological Park Caelius Mons in Kellmünz reveals another layer of history. The park recalls a time when the Raetian Limes, running along the Iller and Danube, formed the western border of the Roman Empire. The museum tower, built on ancient foundations, documents the history of the Roman province of Raetia and the findings of archaeological excavations.

The Monastery Museum in Roggenburg focuses on the history of the Imperial Abbey and its territory from its founding in 1126 until secularisation in 1803. Works of religious art from the 17th and 18th centuries complement this historical perspective, exploring the Baroque period, popular piety and monastic history. The Museum of Fine Arts in the Neu-Ulm district offers a contemporary contrast with its collection of regional art.

Gardens, birdwatching and trails

Around 200 different bird species have already been spotted at Plessenteich in Gerlenhofen, a district of Neu-Ulm. A viewing tower offers year-round views of resting and nesting birds. The area thus combines a chance to observe wildlife with a protected natural habitat.

The Museum of Garden Culture on Jungviehweide brings together an exhibition, library, aromatics workshop, gardens and indoor and outdoor experience spaces. More than twenty themed gardens await you on the grounds, including the insect garden, expanded in 2025, and the “Medicinal Plants of the World” garden. Anyone with a particular interest in plants and garden design will find a different kind of nature experience here than at Plessenteich: the focus is on designed gardens and the themes they explore.

Green river and lake landscapes also shape the Neu-Ulm district beyond its individual attractions. The Obenhausen nature excursion follows a river trail of around five kilometres through the district’s largest lowland bog. Check the excursion’s booking details in advance. For further hiking guidance, the trails throughout the district are signposted in both directions. The Rechberg route in the municipality of Buch is a signposted hiking trail. The Upper Swabian Baroque Route also passes through the Neu-Ulm district.

A route for cycling pilgrims passes through Oberelchingen and by the monastery complex, which is well worth a stop. This means the district offers a range of ways to find your bearings: a nature excursion, signposted hiking trails, a regional cultural route and a cycling pilgrimage route.

Seasonal activities and hotel planning

At Donaubad in Neu-Ulm, guests can use the sauna; in winter, the ice sports centre offers seasonal skating fun. These wellness and seasonal sports options complement the museums and nature attractions. From Easter to October, the Bavarian Bee Museum gives visitors the chance to observe a queen bee and her retinue in a glass display case and learn about life in a beehive.

The Bavarian-Swabian Audio Tour in Roggenburg starts at the Roggenburg Education Centre for Family, Environment and Culture. The tour uses a free app, which you can find under “Bayerisch-Schwaben”; check that it is available before you travel. This makes it easy to include the tour in your plans, just like the seasonal opportunity to observe bees at the Bee Museum.

When choosing where to stay, it helps to first consider your priorities: would you mainly like to explore the museums and fortress history in Neu-Ulm, or include destinations elsewhere in the district too? Plessenteich, Kellmünz, Roggenburg, Oberelchingen and Buch show the range of places and themes across the wider travel area. Search for accommodation based on the activities that matter most during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Illertissen, Neu-Ulm, Weißenhorn, Roggenburg, Vöhringen, Altenstadt, Senden, Buch, Elchingen

Return to the main travel overview: Bavaria.