Sitting at the heart of the Lake Constance and Allgäu holiday region and with a population of 50,000, the former free imperial city of Ravensburg is the economic hub of the area. Already a trading centre in the past, it has now become the shopping city of Upper Swabia. At the centre of town, the Marienplatz is the ideal starting point to explore the “City of Towers and Gates”. The square is bustling with life, as are the adjacent streets and alleyways such as Bachstraße, where the Stadtbach flows in the open air, and the lovingly renovated Marktstraße.
Seventeen towers and gates, both round and square, with arrow slits and machicolations, colourfully adorned or sparsely decorated, bear witness to earlier times. Visitors can even climb one of the towers: at the very heart of the old town, the Blaserturm offers stunning views over the colourful roofscape and beyond to the Allgäu hills, the glittering waters of Lake Constance and the snow-covered Alps.
Once the centre of late-medieval trade, Ravensburg is still the economic hub of the Lake Constance-Upper Swabia region. A stroll through the old town offers a refreshing experience. Wander through narrow alleyways, dropping in here or trying something there. Whether your taste is elegant, trendy or classic – there is something for everyone in the numerous boutiques and specialist stores. A particular highlight is the weekly Ravensburg market. Every Saturday, the lively market attracts shoppers with its regional farm products, fresh fruit and vegetables, sweet-smelling bread, colourful flowers and international specialities.
Four museums make Ravensburg old town a centre of attraction for culture lovers. In the immediate vicinity, a wide range of exciting and inspiring exhibitions await visitors.