© Max Haller
Historic Attractions in Baden-Württemberg
The Most Fascinating Places for a Journey Through History
20.7.2026by State Tourist Board Southwest Germany
Discover Baden-Württemberg’s historical highlights. Travel with us from the Stone Age into the future. Start your journey through time now.
Baden-Württemberg is rich in history and stories. The world’s oldest works of art carved from mammoth ivory were created here during the last Ice Age – around 40,000 years ago! Creativity and ingenuity have barely let up since. Across every age and era, outstanding cultural, technological and architectural achievements have shaped Baden-Württemberg – and continue to do so today. Best of all, they bring history to life.Discover our historical highlights. Travel with us from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. Learn more about the mystical Celts and explore places steeped in legend. Immerse yourself in the present – and join us for a glimpse into the future.Please fasten your seat belt – your journey through time starts now!
#2 Heidelberg Palace in the Palatinate
The World’s Most Famous Ruin
Surrounded by green forests, majestic Heidelberg Palace towers high above the city on the Neckar River. Built from red Neckar Valley sandstone, the ruins offer breathtaking views of the old town below from their terraces. Heidelberg Palace has a rich and eventful history. Once a fortified castle, it was later transformed into a magnificent palace. Today, its ruins are admired as an enduring symbol of Romanticism. Since the 19th century, Heidelberg Palace has captivated visitors from around the world with its unique charm.Tip: Don’t miss the themed tours featuring historical characters speaking in the local Palatinate dialect – or the legendary Great Heidelberg Tun!
© SSG, Foto: Bayerl
Germany’s most famous palace ruin
The ruins of Heidelberg Palace are considered a symbol of German Romanticism and attract visitors from all over the world.
#1 Hirsau Monastery in Calw
Step into the World of Monastic Life
Experience history. Discover extraordinary exhibitions. Let the enchanting atmosphere work its magic – and immerse yourself in the remarkable history of Hirsau’s monastic culture. The monastery museum takes visitors on a captivating journey through time, while a scale model reveals the complex as it once looked in its heyday. St Aurelius Church beckons with its magical atmosphere and wonderful concerts. In the herb garden, the healing power of plants takes centre stage. Engaging and informative guided tours bring the monastery’s history to life for visitors of all ages.
© Nina Zasche
The Middle Ages up close
The ruins of Hirsau Monastery are among the most important surviving examples of medieval monastic culture in Southern Germany.
#3 Weinheim an der Bergstrasse
Experience History Up Close
There is plenty to discover around Weinheim’s historic market square. A wide range of guided town walks and themed tours offer an immersive journey through the history of this town of two castles. Engaging and informative discovery tours invite visitors to follow in the footsteps of the past. The popular market square is lined with numerous restaurants housed in charming half-timbered buildings. It is also the starting point of the Ingrid-Noll-Weg trail. Step into the world of Germany’s best-known crime novelist.Tip: Public guided tours take place every Friday at 6 pm, departing from Weinheim’s Mediterranean-style market square.
© Kay Müller
Historic charm in the town of two castles
Half-timbered houses, castle ruins and cosy lanes give Weinheim’s historic old town its distinctive charm.
#4 Mergentheim Residential Palace in the Tauber Valley
Headquarters of the Teutonic Order
Mergentheim Residential Palace has dominated the townscape for centuries. Once the residence of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order, it also served as the headquarters of the Order’s government. Today, it is home to the Museum of the Teutonic Order, where visitors can experience the history of the Order up close. German poet Eduard Mörike was also captivated by the town. He lived in Bad Mergentheim for seven years and married here. The Mörike Cabinet commemorates his time in the town from 1844 to 1851 and displays first editions of many of his works.
© Reishonger
In the footsteps of the Teutonic Order
For centuries, Mergentheim Residential Palace was the seat of the Grand Masters and the centre of the Teutonic Order.
#5 UNESCO Caves in the Swabian Alb
Ice Age Adventures in Baden-Württemberg
In the caves of the Ach and Lone valleys in the Swabian Alb, a journey back to the Ice Age is entirely possible. It was here that our ancestors created humanity’s first figurative artworks and musical instruments some 40,000 years ago. The original artefacts, made mainly from mammoth ivory and animal bones, are displayed in museums across the region. The Eiszeittäler-Radweg, a cycle route through the Ice Age valleys, and the interactive Eiszeitspuren themed trails are particularly well suited to exploring the area. . Follow their routes to delve into Ice Age caves and archaeological sites. The caves and Ice Age art of the Swabian Alb have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017.
© Geschäftsstelle Weltkuktursprung
In the footsteps of Ice Age people
The oldest known works of art created by humankind were made in the caves of the Swabian Alb around 40,000 years ago.
#6 Waldburg Castle in Upper Swabia-Allgäu
A Journey Back to the Middle Ages
Ever wanted to be a princess or a knight in a real medieval castle? At Waldburg Castle, immersive medieval experiences make it possible. With almost 1,000 years of history, it is one of the most important castles in Baden-Württemberg. A visit feels like stepping into another age.The varied programme of events includes family days and kids days throughout the year. Sword fights and puppet theatre delight children and adults alike, while a photo studio and Insta Selfie Point provide perfect mementoes of your visit. Medieval banquets in the castle’s 1,000-year-old vaults and wine tastings in its vinotheque complete the journey back in time. You can even stay overnight: the romantic Staufersuite accommodates two guests.
© Max Haller
From another age
Perched high above the forests of Upper Swabia, Waldburg Castle invites visitors on a journey back to the Middle Ages.
#7 Technik Museum Sinsheim
From Beneath the Waves to Outer Space
The Concorde and Tupolev Tu-144 tower above the museum roof. Visible from afar, these supersonic jets welcome visitors to the museum. Both are fully accessible and rank among its most popular exhibits. At Technik Museum Sinsheim, thousands of historic exhibits tell their stories and offer fascinating insights into the evolution of technology. Classic cars set pulses racing. Majestic aircraft invite visitors to climb aboard and explore. Formula 1 legends bring the history of motorsport to life, while giant locomotives trace the course of the Industrial Revolution. And there is much more waiting to be discovered – a day at the museum simply flies by.
© TMSNH, Schnepper
The dream of supersonic flight
The Concorde is one of aviation’s most fascinating milestones and can be explored up close in Sinsheim.
#8 Landesmuseum Württemberg in Stuttgart
A Journey Through History
The Old Castle in the heart of Stuttgart is a place steeped in history. Once a centre of power, it is now home to the Landesmuseum Württemberg, the region’s museum of cultural history. Its predecessor was founded by King Wilhelm I of Württemberg in 1862. Outstanding collections take visitors on a journey through Württemberg’s history, preserving key elements of the region’s cultural heritage to this day. Highlights include the 38,000-year-old lion’s head, the crown jewels of Württemberg’s kings and queens, and the early Celtic princely grave from Hochdorf. One thing is certain: a visit to the museum is a unique journey through time, from the past to the present.
© Landesmuseum Württemberg, Foto: Hendrik Zwietasch
From the counts’ residence to a museum
For centuries, the Old Castle was the residence of Württemberg’s rulers. Today, it preserves the region’s history.
