You may be tempted to pass up Giengen an der Brenz for a bigger neighboring city like Ulm, but that would be a mistake. One of the cities that the Jacob Pilgrimage passes through on the way to Spain, there are many natural areas that are breathtaking and cultural attractions to visit.
Right when you arrive in this town, you are going to notice the mountains. Right at the southern tip of the Swabian Alb, there is trail after trail of natural delights.
One trail that many people take starts from the train station and is a huge loop of the area. You have to be really ambitious to finish this (and you might need more than one day if you aren’t in tip top shape).
Every little girl remembers her favorite teddy bear. Chances are that teddy bear might have been a Steiff. Where do those bears come from? Giengen an der Brenz, of course. With a history of over 130 years, the tour of the museum will take about 3 hours. If you get hungry during the tour, don’t worry, there is a restaurant where you can soak up the atmosphere.
A trip to the Old Town is a must see. The Protestant City Church has two different towers. Take a couple of pictures of this church, which is built in the Gothic style and then move on.
Giengen an der Brenz is the home to the annual Children’s Festival. On the Tuesday after Pentecost, the whole town celebrates, and has been celebrating for the past 300 years. The parade takes a route past the observation tower.
Even if you don’t make the festival, a trip to this tower is worth it. If you miss the Children’s Festival, complete with parade, you should plan to make it to the 3-day City Festival later in the year.
