Mengen is a half-timbered town: half-timbered houses shape the townscape, particularly along the wide main street. The town is also situated on the Upper Swabian Baroque Route. Visitors looking to combine historic architecture with different ways of getting to know a place will find both local history and guided experiences, as well as routes for cycling and hiking tours.
Half-timbered houses and city history
The Alte Posthalterei is a prominent landmark in the town’s history. It is housed in a half-timbered building dating from 1702, which once served as a post station on the Thurn and Taxis postal route. As a museum, the Alte Posthalterei brings Mengen’s history to life, from early settlement through to modern times. The historic building and the exhibition topics are closely connected: alongside the building itself, the town’s development is also a focus.
The collection includes documents and finds from the town’s history. It also features the municipal art collection, with paintings by Gottfried Graf and Theo Barfus. Sculptures by Upper Swabian masters date from the Middle Ages through to the Baroque period. The museum therefore encompasses both historical records and art; visitors with a particular interest in either area can focus on it as they explore the town’s history.
Guided insights and culture in Rulfingen
On an immersive guided tour of Mengen, four historical characters make an appearance: a carter, a washerwoman, a night watchman and a market woman. These roles offer a different way to experience the tour than one focused solely on buildings and the town’s history. Another themed tour, “In the Footsteps of the Habsburgs,” combines a walk through the town with historically inspired dishes at three restaurants. These are intended to transport participants back to the period before 1806. As details of the culinary offering may change, check the current tour information before planning your stay around it.
Rulfingen, a district of the municipality, offers its own historical and cultural highlights. The Alte Kirche Rulfingen is a former village church dating from 1759, with a late Gothic tower. Today, it serves as a venue for cabaret, concerts, theatre and comedy. Since its official opening in 1999, more than 300 events have been held there. The church thus combines its former role as a village church with its current use as a cultural venue.
Cycling and hiking
The Danube Cycle Path runs through Mengen. There are also signposted cycling routes around the town. For hiking, the Fuhrmann hiking trails are marked with the town of Mengen’s walking Fuhrmännle character; starting points include Mengen and its districts. These details distinguish between the long-distance cycle route, signposted cycling routes in the surrounding area and the marked Fuhrmann hiking trails.
The municipal area is also home to the Zielfinger Seen Rollwanderweg. It is 8.5 kilometres long and suitable for all types of wheelchairs, walking aids and pushchairs. If this specific accessibility information matters when choosing a route, you can use it as a basis for planning; it applies to this trail and not generally to all hiking routes. Cyclists can also find two specialist bicycle shops in Mengen, lockable bicycle boxes in the town centre and e-bike charging stations. As information about such facilities may change, check it again before travelling.
A local flavour on your plate
In Mengen-Ennetach, the Gaggli NudelLaden offers more than 100 varieties of Buck pasta specialities. This is a distinct culinary option alongside the Habsburgs tour, which includes historic dishes as part of its guided walk through the town. If you prefer to plan your time in Mengen by theme rather than follow a set itinerary, you can choose between local history, cultural events, cycling and hiking tours, and culinary offerings.
Discover more destinations: Schwäblishausen, Thiergarten, Illmensee, Krumbach, Sauldorf, Meßkirch, Schwenningen, Herbertingen.
For the regional travel overview: Sigmaringen.
