The entrance to a cave, seen from the inside. There is a forest in front of the entrance.

World Heritage Sites in Baden-Württemberg

From Caves to Hollywood

Time Travel Through Southwest Germany

Baden-Württemberg – Where Wonders Happen

Baden-Württemberg’s first marvel was created around 40,000 years ago: the Lion Man. New wonders have been emerging ever since. In between lie ancient civilisations and modern brands, wonders of the world and global market leaders, cuckoo clocks, Celts and magnificent monasteries. Brilliant minds developed the theory of relativity and revolutionised mobility. Pioneers helped launch the American film industry in Hollywood, while others transformed football by inventing the red card.Baden-Württemberg is home to seven of Germany’s 55 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They range from the caves of the Ach and Lone valleys in the Swabian Jura, with their 40,000-year-old Ice Age art, to two Le Corbusier houses at Stuttgart’s Weissenhof Estate, added in 2016 as outstanding examples of modern architecture. The other sites are Maulbronn Monastery Complex, the Monastic Island of Reichenau, the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes, the prehistoric pile dwellings and Baden-Baden.

Figure made of mammoth ivory resembles a human and stands in front of a campfire

The Venus of the Hohle Fels

One of the oldest works of art in the world can be seen in the Blaubeuren Museum of Prehistory

Sites of Human History

At a Glance

7 Major Milestones

Neolithic pile dwellings on Lake Constance, spa town Baden-Baden, a 164-kilometre stretch of the Limes, Ice Age caves in the Swabian Alb, the monastic island of Reichenau, Maulbronn Monastery, and Stuttgart’s Weissenhof Estate – historical landmarks lie close together here.

Beam me back!

Back in time or forward to the future? From the Ice Caves of the Swabian Alb to the futuristic Climate Arena in Kraichgau. Celts, Romans, Baroque, Modern – take a journey along the timeline!

Le Corbusier’s Houses

Did you know that Stuttgart was one of the centres of modern architecture in Germany in the 1920s? The Weissenhof Estate is a milestone of this architectural era and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Baden-Württemberg at a Glance

Seven Places That Bring Baden-Württemberg’s History to the World

Seven of Germany’s 55 World Heritage Sites are located in Baden-Württemberg, listed here by year of inscription.

The largest of Lake Constance’s three islands has been a World Heritage Site since 2000. It is home to three important Romanesque churches – the Minster of St Mary and Mark, the Church of St Peter and Paul and the Church of St George – which give the ‘Monastic Island’ its name.

Reichenau Island at Lake Constance
Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Island
CulturePalaces & castles

7 in Total

True Wonders in Baden-Württemberg

SÜDEN FACTSSÜDEN FACTSSÜDEN FACTSSÜDEN FACTSSÜDEN FACTS

15,000

patents are filed each year on average in Baden-Württemberg

1817

Karl Drais invented the bicycle in Mannheim

50

flavours of ice cream are offered by Dario Fontanella, the inventor of spaghetti ice cream, in his two ice cream parlours in Mannheim

13

roller coasters provide thrilling rides at Rust’s amusement park

4 million

fashion fans shop annually at over 100 stores in Outletcity Metzingen, originally a Hugo Boss factory outlet

100 sqm

of model trains delight young and old fans alike at the Märklineum

Historic Places and Periods at a Glance

From Cave Art to High Tech: History Comes to Life

Welcome to Southwest Germany’s fascinating time tunnel! From the distant past to the near future. Ice Age dwellers to futuristic homes. Just choose an era and start your journey.

How did people live in the Stone Age? See it today in some of the region’s best museums or at walkable original sites like caves or pile dwellings.

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NatureCanyons & Caves
Nebelhöhle
In the Fog cave, located not far from the castle Lichtenstein, you find one of the most beautiful stalactites and stalagmites on the Swabian Alb. Together with the Bear cave it functions as a Geopark...
Sonnenbühl-Genkingen
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NatureCanyons & Caves
Bärenhöhle
The bear cave Bärenhöhle near Erpfingen was already frequented 20,000 years ago: Bone finds bear witness to the fact that rhinos, cave lions and, of course, bears lived in the stalactite grotto.There...
Sonnenbühl-Erpfingen
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CultureMuseums & galleries
Pile Dwelling Museum Unteruhldingen
Travel back in time on Lake Constance. At one of the largest archaeological open-air museums in Europe, find out what everyday life was like back in the Stone Age by visiting 23 reconstructed houses,...
Lake Constance
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CultureMuseums & galleries
Urgeschichtliches Museum
Museum of prehistory Blaubeuren – Where man came into being!
Swabian Alb
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NatureCanyons & Caves
Wimsener Höhle
The Wimsen Cave (Geopoint of the UNESCO Global Geopark Swabian Alb) is the only show cave in Germany accessible by boat and also the deepest explored underwater cave in Germany.
Hayingen
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CultureMuseums & galleries
Museum of the University of Tübingen MUT Ancient Cultures
The "Vogelherd figurines" are among the most famous exhibits at the "Museum of the University of Tübingen MUT Ancient Cultures" at Hohentübingen Castle. They are among the oldest works of art known to...
Swabian Alb

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The Celts' wealth is truly astonishing – trace their legacy through impressive burial mounds, mighty fortifications, and other treasures scattered across the region.

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CultureMuseums & galleries
Heuneburg - Pyrene
Most important Celtic acropolis in Europe Visitors can immerse themselves in the time of the Celts at the Heuneburg in a dreamlike natural and cultural landscape, at a historical site.
Herbertingen - Hundersingen
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NatureViewpoints
Early Celtic princely seat Ipf
Visible from afar and the landmark of the town of Bopfingen is the 668 meter high cone-shaped mountain Ipf. Sublime and mighty, mysterious and unique - that is the Ipf.
Bopfingen

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The Romans loved their bathing temples and protective walls. The Limes, a masterpiece of Roman engineering, stretches for kilometers through northern Baden-Württemberg.

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CultureMuseums & galleries
Limes Museum Aalen
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Swabian Alb
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CultureMuseums & galleries
Roman Museum Osterburken
The Osterburken Roman Museum invites visitors to discover fascinating finds from Osterburken and the surrounding region and provides fascinating insights into Roman life on the Limes. As a supra-regio...
Osterburken
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SÜDENSwimming
Friedrichsbad
The traditional thermal baths: the Friedrichsbad. An unforgettable bathing experience.
Black Forest
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SÜDENSwimming
Cassiopeia Spa - Thermal baths
WELLNESS WITH TRADITION
Black Forest

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Fascinating monasteries and their art treasures, later fairytale castles and opulent buildings – the Middle Ages in Baden-Württemberg are steeped in nobility.

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CulturePalaces & castles
Sigmaringen Castle
Standing high on a cliff above the Danube, Schloss Sigmaringen was built as a fortress. Over the centuries, it has been transformed into a royal residential palace, complete with fairytale towers and...
Swabian Alb
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CulturePalaces & castles
Langenburg Castle
Langenburg Castle and the historic old town of Langenburg are situated on a ridge high above the idyllic Jagst Valley.
Langenburg
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CulturePalaces & castles
Hohenzollern Castle
It is the landmark of the Zollernalb region, a symbol of home for all locals and a tourist magnet for visitors from all over the world: Hohenzollern Castle, located in the heart of Baden-Württemberg,...
Swabian Alb
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CultureMuseums & galleries
The Princely Fürstenberg Collections
One section of the museum houses temporary exhibitions of world-renowned contemporary art. As such, the natural history collection documents the museum traditions in Germany.
Black Forest
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The Monastic Island of Reichenau
Only 3 miles/5 km long, this tiny island of Lake Constance is notable for its Benedictine Monastery.

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It couldn’t be more picturesque: baroque palaces, lavish libraries, fairy-tale gardens – all walkable sites from an era of grandeur.

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CultureParks & gardens
Blühendes Barock Ludwigsburg (blooming baroque)
The very beautiful gardens around the residential palace make a trip to Ludwigsburg unforgettable. Garden art from various eras and regions is presented for the pleasure of the visitors.
Ludwigsburg
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CitiesSmall town gems
Upper Swabian Baroque Route - Main route
The main route of the Upper Swabian Baroque Route covers around 380 km and will take you through well-known places such as Wiblingen, Ochsenhausen, Biberach, Bad Schussenried and Weingarten as well as...
Upper Swabia-Allgäu95:4h380.1kmLoop tour
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CultureMonasteries & churches
Kloster Wiblingen
The Benedictine Monastery of Wiblingen is about 5 kilometres from the centre of Ulm.
Swabian Alb
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CulturePalaces & castles
Neues Schloss Tettnang
Tettnang New Palace is one of the most beautiful palaces in Upper Swabia. Its spectacular Baroque interiors are among the finest in the region.
Lake ConstanceON_REQUEST

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The fact that the Zeppelin, the car, and the teddy bear all come from Baden-Württemberg – no surprise there! The inventive spirit here knows no bounds. There’s much to discover. So, enjoy a Baden-Württemberg original: spaghetti ice cream!

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CultureMuseums & galleries
Porsche Museum Stuttgart
The Porsche Museum has been presenting automotive history and “Fascination Porsche” in an incomparable style ever since 2009. The impressive building is located in the heart of the company’s home city...
Stuttgart Region
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CultureMuseums & galleries
Mercedes-Benz Museum Stuttgart
Take a journey through more than 130 years of fascinating automotive history – and on into the future. Enter the only place in the world capable of documenting the unbroken history of the automobile f...
Stuttgart Region
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CultureMuseums & galleries
Gottlieb Daimler Memorial Site
Gottlieb Daimler reconverted his garden house into a workshop. The room with a tool bench and a forge became the refuge for Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach. Here the two engineers wanted to reali...
Stuttgart Region
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CultureMuseums & galleries
Vitra Design Museum
The Vitra Design Museum is one of the most important design museums in the world.
Black Forest
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CultureMuseums & galleries
Märklineum
The Märklin Legend – A Thrilling Experience for the Whole Family
Swabian Alb
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CultureMuseums & galleries
German clock museum - Furtwangen
You'll find everything you need to know about the cuckoo in the world's largest collection of Black Forest clocks. But did you also know how quartz and atomic clocks have completely changed the way we...
Black ForestCLOSED
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CultureMuseums & galleries
Zeppelin Museum Friedrichshafen
Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance was the birthplace of the airship. The story is told in this fascinating museum containing the world's largest and most comprehensive exhibition on the history and te...
Lake Constance
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CultureMuseums & galleries
Steiff Museum
The world’s most famous teddy bears are made by Steiff and are recognizable by the iconic button in their ears.
Giengen (Brenz)
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CitiesShopping
OUTLETCITY METZINGEN
Discover the city of fashion Visitors from around the world have long seen OUTLETCITY METZINGEN as a real city of fashion on a par with with major style capitals around the world.
Swabian Alb
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CultureMuseums & galleries
The Museum
Embark on a fascinating journey through time and follow the milestones of the small town on its way to becoming the “capital of shopping”...
Swabian Alb

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Art and culture in Southwest Germany take new paths: exciting city and art projects, fascinating small-town gems, and museums across the state where avant-garde and modernity thrive.

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CultureMuseums & galleries
Museum Ritter and Chocolate Exhibition
Square, delicious, sensational – in Waldenbuch everything revolves around the Square. Directly adjacent to the Ritter Sport chocolate factory, Marli Hoppe-Ritter's extraordinary art collection is on s...
Waldenbuch
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CultureMuseums & galleries
Schauwerk Sindelfingen
The SCHAUWERK Sindelfingen presents the hitherto virtually unknown collection of international contemporary art by Peter Schaufler and Christiane Schaufler-Münch.
Sindelfingen
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CultureMuseums & galleries
Weishaupt Art Gallery
Within 50 years, the entrepreneurial couple Siegfried and Jutta Weishaupt built up a priceless collection of modern and contemporary art. The collection is housed in the newly built privately owned mu...
Swabian Alb
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CultureMuseums & galleries
Grässlin Collection
The Grässlin Foundation presents its internationally significant collection of contemporary art in a unique way. A visit to the KUNSTRAUM GRÄSSLIN is the starting point for a guided discovery walk thr...
Black ForestON_REQUEST

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A cave from the inside with steep stairs and railings. A few lights are installed at the edge of the stairs.

You can see reconstructed Celtic houses made of clay and wooden bricks. A wall with small windows is built around them. Below the hill are wide meadows and a river.

Interior view of a church with paintings and stone paneling on the walls and ceiling. Several benches are lined up in the middle in front of a cross of Jesus

A man and a woman walk through a corridor in the castle. Paintings hang on the walls, the ceiling is decorated and painted. Glowing chandeliers hang from the ceiling.

Entrance to the house where Gottlieb Daimler was born in Schorndorf. A large statue of his head stands in front of it.

Building overgrown with plants and blue “Klima Arena” lettering

Descend into Germany’s Deepest Show Cave

and Start the Laichingen Cave Tour

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Special Tip

800 Years of Celts – Follow Their Trail Across Southwest Germany!

Go to Celtic Land Baden-Württemberg

Famous Brands from Baden-Württemberg
From Idea to Best-Seller
SÜDENTheme parks

Famous Brands from Baden-Württemberg

From Idea to Best-Seller

SÜDENTheme parks

40,000 Years of Culture in Baden-Württemberg

Crisscross Through Time

40,000 years of culture in Southwest Germany. Is a vacation or short trip enough to take it all in? Here are some inspiring examples.

Historic Attractions in Baden-Württemberg
The Most Fascinating Places for a Journey Through History
CultureExperience history
Roman Baths in Baden-Württemberg
A Historical Delight
WellnessSpas & Thermal Baths
Wirth 2 Museum in Künzelsau
Collector’s Treasures
CultureMuseums & galleries
Cuckoo Clocks & the Art of Clockmaking in the Black Forest
All Around the Clock
SÜDENBlack Forest
KLIMA ARENA Museum in Sinsheim
Exploring Climate Action
CultureMuseums & galleries
Hiking the Löwenpfad Staufer-Runde Trail in the Swabian Alb
The Emperor's New Paths
NatureHiking
The Kessler Sekt Winery in Esslingen
Germany's Oldest Sparkling Wine Winery Between Tradition and Modernity
WineWine events

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Historic Attractions in Baden-Württemberg

The Most Fascinating Places for a Journey Through History

CultureExperience history

Roman Baths in Baden-Württemberg

A Historical Delight

WellnessSpas & Thermal Baths

Wirth 2 Museum in Künzelsau

Collector’s Treasures

CultureMuseums & galleries

Cuckoo Clocks & the Art of Clockmaking in the Black Forest

All Around the Clock

SÜDENBlack Forest

KLIMA ARENA Museum in Sinsheim

Exploring Climate Action

CultureMuseums & galleries

Hiking the Löwenpfad Staufer-Runde Trail in the Swabian Alb

The Emperor's New Paths

NatureHiking

The Kessler Sekt Winery in Esslingen

Germany's Oldest Sparkling Wine Winery Between Tradition and Modernity

WineWine events

FAQs About UNESCO World Heritage in Baden-Württemberg

A Journey Through 40,000 Years of Cultural History

Baden-Württemberg is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Maulbronn Monastery Complex (1993), the Monastic Island of Reichenau (2000), the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes (2005), the Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (2011), the Le Corbusier Houses at Stuttgart’s Weissenhof Estate (2016), the Caves and Ice Age Art of the Swabian Jura (2017), and Baden-Baden as one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe (2021).

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southwest Germany
Seven Great Milestones
CultureWorld heritage sites

The seven sites are spread across Baden-Württemberg: the Monastic Island of Reichenau and the pile dwellings at Lake Constance, the Ice Age caves in the Ach and Lone valleys near Ulm, Maulbronn Monastery Complex in the Kraichgau, the Le Corbusier Houses in Stuttgart, Baden-Baden on the edge of the Black Forest, and the Limes in northern Baden-Württemberg and on the Swabian Jura near Aalen. Original archaeological finds are on display at the Pile Dwelling Museum in Unteruhldingen, the Federsee Museum in Bad Buchau and the Museum of Prehistory in Blaubeuren.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southwest Germany
Seven Great Milestones
CultureWorld heritage sites

Baden-Württemberg spans around 40,000 years of cultural history: from Ice Age art on the Swabian Jura, Celtic sites such as the Heuneburg and the Roman Limes to medieval monasteries, Baroque palaces and the modernist architecture of the Weissenhof Estate. Seven cultural sites in the region have UNESCO World Heritage status.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southwest Germany
Seven Great Milestones
CultureWorld heritage sites

World Heritage Sites in Baden-Württemberg

Time Travel Through Southwest Germany

Sites of Human History

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Baden-Württemberg at a Glance

Maulbronn Monastery in Baden-Württemberg

Reichenau Island at Lake Constance

The Limes UNESCO World Heritage Site in Baden-Württemberg

Federseemuseum Bad Buchau and Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen

UNESCO Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Alb

UNESCO World Heritage: The Great Spa Town of Baden-Baden

15,000

1817

50

13

4 million

100 sqm

Historic Places and Periods at a Glance