Reutlingen is an industrial city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located at the foot of the Swabian Mountains near the valley of the River Neckar, and was founded in 1855 by Frederick II. Today Reutlingen is home to a modern industrial center and also houses machinery, clothing production and dominant manufacturing facilities.
Reutlingen offers a large market with several shopping facilities, numerous museums and cafes, restaurants and nightclubs. Many visitors enjoy hiking on the nearby Achalm and a typical lonely peak near the city that gives a beautiful city view.
In Reutlingen, you can experience several art galleries, music, dance, ballet, breathtaking nature and very old historic buildings. Let’s check out the best things to do in Reutlingen!
12. Alte Stadtmauer
The city wall houses built into the Zwinger in the 18th century make this medieval wall unique from the middle of the 16th century. Between the Eisturm and Albtorplatz, you can marvel at the carefully restored houses,
The old city of Reutlingen is beautifully constructed. Garden and Tübingen Tor, Marienkirche, boiler tower, armory, kennel, countless fountains, and the city wall bear witness to this time. The linden fountain is especially impressive.
The narrow street and the beautifully restored city wall give a good overview of how it used to look here. However, it is an interesting place and easy to reach from the pedestrian zone. The best way to enjoy the remains is on a Sunday morning with warm weather.
11. Spreuerhofstrasse
Spreuerhofstrasse is the narrowest street in the world. It is located a few meters from the main pedestrian zone. On average, it is just about 40 centimeters wide and 31 centimeters narrow at the narrowest point. For this reason, Spreuerhofstrasse was named in the Guinness Book of Records since 2007, which largely destroyed Reutlingen. The alley was created after the city fire of 1726.
This road is so narrow that neither a car, a motorcycle, nor a bicycle can be found through it, you can only pass sideways. Also, there is not much more to see rather than only a space between two buildings, But of course worth a visit.
There is an information board on both ends of the narrowest part of Spreuerhofstrasse which shows the scale in centimeters.
10. Bürger Park
The Citizens Park is spread right next to the town hall and it is created in different sections. The main highlight of this place is the fountain in front of the hospital with illuminated fountains.
Culture square directly behind the Reutlingen city hall offers a wide range of activities such as water games, a track for skateboards, green areas, an exercise park, fitness equipment and a public toilet for young and old.
Reutlingen’s community park is very attractive, including a skate park by board athletes and inline skaters and BMX riders can demonstrate their driving skills on the track. A garden with various equipment can be found in about 500 square meters.
9. Exotarium Reutlingen
Exotarium Reutlingen eV is a German zoo based in Reutlingen. It is positioned in the former federal horticultural show site in an old house with numerous exotic species and excellent quality of stay in the park.
The Exotarium is a small exhibition that shows insects, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, tarantulas, giant pinnacles and in front of the entrance, there is a small concrete pond with fish, turtles and swamp beavers. It is a very exciting place for all age people, especially for children.
In the beautiful Pomologie Park, there is a greenhouse with aviaries with ornamental birds.
Note: It is no longer open to public
8. Pomologie
Pomologie is one of the most famous parks in Reutlingen, located in the middle of the city. The park name comes from the fact that there used to be a school for horticulture and fruit cultivation on its site. Pomology is actually the scientific term for fruit growing and was founded by Eduard Lucas and Stuttgart in 1860.
The park offers a fantastic view of the local mountain Achalm with numerous quiet areas for relaxation, many playgrounds for young children, an apiary, bird aviary, sunbathing lawn, a café and snack bar. There are several gym equipment and even a pharmaceutical garden for adults. In addition, a large number of fruit trees with species descriptions are worth mentioning.
7. Kunstmuseum Reutlingen (Spendhaus)
The impressive half-timbered building is the oldest preserved secular building in Reutlingen and not far from the market square on the medieval city limits. It was built in 1518, above all, it survived the devastating fire disaster that destroyed around four-fifths of the building fabric in 1726. The name suggests that until the late 19th century, it was used as a storage building for donations of mainly agricultural products. After, it became the Municipal Art Museum in 1999, focusing on high-pressure art in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Reutlingen Fine Art Museum invites you for a great panoramic view of the town from upstairs, with a fantastic art gallery on display. There are two exhibitions, the permanent (focus on HAP Grieshaber) and special (currently the Reutlinger artist Gudrun I. Widmann) exhibitions.
Sometimes for children it is tough to entertain, but there are some things for them to do, like creating their own rubber-stamped souvenir.
6. Zunftbrunnen
The guild fountain is located near the entrance portal of the Marienkirche, it was created in 1983 by the Aachen sculptor Bonifatius Stirnberg.
The artistically valuable fountain with the twelve movable guild figures is absolutely worth seeing. It shows the guilds of the 16th century such as vintners, coopers, bakers, butchers, tailors, Tucher (weavers), shopkeepers and others, a piece of history in this beautiful city. A small water basin specially attached for dogs.
Here you can experience a fabulous work of art in this charming old section of town. The figures can be turned and viewed from all sides. It is interesting to look at all the activities of a person and find the correct names. Also very interesting for children who do not know the cooper or the furrier from their own experience.
5. Tübinger Tor
The Tübingen Gate is one of the landmarks of Reutlingen’s city, built in 1235 as part of the construction of the city wall and 36 meters high. It lies on one side in the immediate vicinity of the bus station and on the other borders the pedestrian area of the city center.
It is one of a total of seven city gates, of which only the Tübinger Tor and the garden gate still exist. There you will find the narrowest street in the world, countless fountains that are really worth seeing, especially the linden fountain.
It is a popular meeting place for young and old in summer, as it has a seating place with many benches and lawns, sunken trampolines for children. Also, there are several bars, cafes and an ice cream parlor in the immediate vicinity.
On the outer side, a very beautiful late Gothic crucifixion group was present.
4. Schönbergturm
Schönberg Tower rises 793 meters high above sea level and popularly known as “Onderhos” – underpants due to its shape and color. It is a 26.4-meter high observation tower that was built in 1905 by the Stuttgart architect Theodor Fischer.
There is a large area with benches and barbecue facilities and a lawn for the obligatory picnic in front of the entrance tower. Here you can experience the fantastic view from the top of the 28-meter high tower rewards all those who are ready to climb the 112 steps. Above are plenty of places to linger.
The tower is open for visitors everyday and the kiosk mostly on weekends and public holidays.
3. Marienkirche
The Marienkirche in Reutlingen is the largest church between Stuttgart and Lake Constance and was built in the 11th and 12th centuries located in the middle of the busy pedestrian zone on Weibermarkt. It is named after Mother Mary and its construction is said to be based on a vow made during a siege.
There is an impressive sculpture of an angel on top of the 71 meters high west tower, but you need to have binoculars to see pieces of information. The font, which is over 500 years old, has been largely preserved in its original condition.
On market days, that is on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and there are some short pieces on the Rieger organ and some brief thoughts at 12 p.m. Of course, many concerts or silent film accompaniments are also worthwhile.
2. Achalm
Achalam is located on top of a large mountain, overlooking the entire region. The tower also offers a spectacular view of the city and the Swabian Alps.
During a panoramic walk, you will go over the establishments of the archaic Achalm Castle and marvel at the magnificent panoramic view of Reutlingen, Engen, Tübingen and the Swabian Aps from the perception tower. At the point when the sky is clear, even the Hornisgrinde in the northern Black Forest can be seen not too far off.
1. Nebelhöhle – access the underworld
The Nebelhöhle is one of the most beautiful and largest stalactite caves in the Swabian Alps located in the districts of Sonnenbühl.
Being the oldest stalactite cave open to the public, there are around 150 stairs leading to the underworld, in the “hole out where the mists rose”, which was viewed as an associating gateway between the lower and upper world.
At the main entrance area of the second hall, you experience an entire forest of stalactites. In some sections, you can find large fall blocks which are very impressive to see. In the middle of the hall, funnel-like depressions are lined up.
Here you can move freely without a guide and explore all the corridors of height on your own. At the end is an area lit with colour-changing lamps.
