With the nine-euro ticket, Bavaria can be explored away from overcrowded attractions. The SZ presents nine tours for hiking fans, culture enthusiasts and nature lovers. Part 7: The city of Memmingen in the Allgäu.
Memmingen is the city of freedom rights, because the twelve articles of the Upper Swabian farmers were written here in 1525. At that time, 50 representatives of the Allgäu, Baltinger and Bodensee farmers came together in the Kramerzunft in Memmingen and agreed on basic political principles such as freedom, justice, choice, self-determination and co-determination. The articles written by the writer Sebastian Lotzer became an early basis of our current understanding of freedom. That sounded revolutionary for the time: every parish should have the right to elect its pastor and to dismiss him if he behaves improperly. Not only this article is still waiting for implementation today.
The origins of the former imperial city go back to Roman times. Today Memmingen has around 43,000 inhabitants. The old town with its squares, town houses and patrician houses and the city fortifications is well preserved.
It takes a good hour by train from Munich and Augsburg to the Upper Swabian city, where you can experience nature and culture. Memmingen offers up to ten exhibitions of contemporary art per year in the renowned art gallery – and admission is free. The well-preserved city fortifications from the 14th and 15th centuries with their five city gates, six wall towers and three ruined towers and the oldest covered battlement in Germany, which was built around 1370, should also be seen. Interesting buildings include the town hall from 1488, whose facade was later redesigned in the Rococo style. A landmark of the city is the “Siebendacherhaus”, which was originally built to dry leather and fur.
Various routes are signposted for exploring the city. The “Red Trail” leads to the historical and architectural highlights. The “Green Path” runs along the city wall through parks and green areas and is also ideal for children with city scooters. There is an adventure rally, which can be combined with the Red and Green Trails, especially for young visitors to the city. The flyer for the rally can be obtained from the tourist information on the market square.