Kempten (Allgäu): Roman History and Church Art

Kempten (Allgäu) offers clearly distinct highlights for your stay: Roman history, church art and cycling. The following places and activities offer different ways to explore the city’s history, as well as opportunities to experience the city and the Allgäu landscape by bike.

Roman History from Two Perspectives

The Cambodunum Archaeological Park is an open-air museum presenting the archaeological remains of the former Roman city of Cambodunum in what is now the city of Kempten. The Roman remains are spread across three visitor areas: the Gallo-Roman temple district, the Small Baths and the forum with its basilica. A circular trail with 15 interactive stations and a virtual reality app let visitors explore independently. The trail and virtual reality app offer different ways to explore the site.

The Kempten Museum in the Zumsteinhaus takes a different historical approach: across eleven themed rooms, it tells the story of the city in detail, from Roman times to the present day. If you are particularly interested in the Roman period, the two places offer different emphases. Cambodunum focuses on the archaeological remains of the former Roman city, while the museum spans the eras through to the present day.

Churches and Their History

St. Mang’s Church is Kempten’s oldest church and is now an Evangelical Lutheran parish church. It was extended in the Gothic style from 1426 to 1428, when the tower was raised to its current height of 66 metres. The dates and the striking height of the tower provide two specific reference points for understanding the building’s history.

The Basilica of St. Lawrence is considered the first major church building in southern Germany after the Thirty Years’ War. Its interior features impressive, partly fully three-dimensional stucco by Giovanni Zuccalli, stucco-marble panels by a “Frau Stuckhatorin,” probably Barbara Hackl, and frescoes by Andreas Asper. The historical context of the church’s construction and the named details of its decor offer different perspectives on the basilica.

Experience the City’s History Through Multimedia

In the Erasmus Chapel exhibition space, atmospheric lighting, projections and audio scenes bring the walls to life. A multi-projection show explores almost eight centuries of the city’s history. This multimedia approach complements the museum’s themed rooms and Cambodunum’s archaeological visitor areas.

Cycling and Landscape

The Iller Cycle Route and the Allgäu Cycle Route pass through Kempten. There are also cycling opportunities along the Iller, in the city and in the Allgäu countryside. When planning your trip, you can choose between the two named routes and other options described by their setting.

Engelhalde Landscape Park is a restored gravel pit with a pond, wetland habitat, adventure playground and the region’s largest bike park. Nature and leisure activities come together in one place here. This makes the park distinct from the cycle routes and other cycling opportunities, giving you a separate option to consider when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Buchenberg, Oberstaufen, Hörnergruppe, Wertach, Immenstadt Im Allgäu, Altusried, Sulzberg, Durach.

For the overview of the wider region: Oberallgäu.