Tubingen Historic Walking Tour: Dive into History with a Professional Guide

Tübingen

Embark on a captivating historic walking tour of Tubingen with a knowledgeable guide. Discover the city's rich history, Stockerkahn tradition, famous residents, and more!

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Neckar - Start the tour with your guide on Eberhards Bridge also known as Neckar Bridge and marvel at the scenic waterfront with its ancient houses lovingly painted in pastel shades. Look down on the River Neckar and the Neckar Island bordered by almost 200 years old plane trees. Take your time and watch the „Stocherkähne“ - the punting boats exclusive to Tübingen navigated by a long wooden pole – gliding past in a romantic setting. Go up Neckarhalde and view the „Burse“ built as a students’ home and study in 1482, a few years after the foundation of the university. Learn about the German lyric poet Friedrich Hölderlin who had studied theology in Tübingen. A considerable part of European intellectual history has been written within the walls of the Protestant collegiate, a former Augustinian monastery dating back to 1534. After the reformation it served as a ducal stipend for students of Protestant Theology, among whom were included the famous astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler, the philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and the poet Friedrich Hölderlin to name only a few. Tired? Hold your breath because we’ll walk up the Castle Lane and one of Tübingen’s earliest streets with some of the oldest houses - and get to Castle Hohentübingen. Chronicles mentioned the castle for the first time in 1078. Most of the buildings still existing today date from the 16th century and host numerous institutes and collections of the university. Enjoy the views on the city, the Neckar and Ammer valleys and the extended region up to the Swabia Jura. Stroll back down to the Old Town which survived WWII and stayed intact due to the city’s lack of heavy industry. Wander along the Market Square – also known as „the living room“ of Tübingen - where you can admire the picturesque half-timbered house, most of which were built in the 15th and 16th century. Discover the medieval City Hall with its richly decorated façade and an artful astronomical clock made by Johannes Stöffler. The Renaissance fountain in front, featuring Neptune with his trident, was created in 1617 and adds to the cozy atmosphere of the square. From there, your guide will take you to the central landmark of the city, the St. George`s Collegiate Church. Built in late Gothic style, it received a most resplendent decor inside: An altar of Dürer’s pupil Hans Schäufelein, a richly decorated baptistery, masterfully created choir stalls, beautiful stained glass windows and one of the most superb Gothic rood screens in South Germany. Finish your tour in Münzgasse (Coin Lane) at the Old University Assembly Hall, once the center of the newly founded Eberhard Karls University in 1477. Until the completion of the New Assembly Hall in Wilhelmstrasse in 1845 it stayed the main building of the university and is listed as a historical monument.

What's Included

Private guided tour
Exclusive local guide for your group

What's Not Included

Gratuities

Additional Information

Gathering point: Eberhards Bridge. We can also meet at your centrally located hotel at no additional cost.

Length of Time: 1.5 hours

Up to 25 persons can be accommodated per guide

Here’s what you’ll discover:
• The local historical background
• The tradition of Stockerkahn
• The life and work of Friedrich Hölderlin, a well-known poet
• The city’s experience during World War II
• The chronicle of the Hohentübingen Castle
• Well-known attendees of the Protestant college
• Prominent inhabitants and academics