There is certainly no shortage of medieval towns such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber or Regensburg in Bavaria. But it’s not only north of Munich that you’ll find such ancient gems, but also southwest on the edge of the Allgäu, away from the tourist crowds. In Kaufbeuren, just like in Rothenburg , you can walk along the old city wall, admire the legendary towers and experience a festive highlight.
Medieval buildings
Photo: Stefan Schweihofer/Pixabay
By 1333 at the latest, Kaufbeuren was surrounded by a 1.6-kilometer-long ring wall with nine defensive towers and three gates. Today, five of these nine towers still stand and a 200-meter-long battlement remains. It runs between St. Blasius Church and the Fünfknop Tower, and you can walk along it, feeling like a medieval guard. In addition to its actual roof, the Fünfknopfturm has four other small pointed roofs at the corners of the tower, hence its name. It used to serve as the town’s fire station and was still inhabited until 2014. Today, the former residents conduct tower tours, which you can take part in from April to October. At the foot of the tower, a medieval Christmas market also takes place during Advent.
In addition to the Fünfknopfturm, Kaufbeuren has four other towers: the Blasiusturm, the Gerberturm, the Sywollenturm, and the Hexenturm.According to legend, the latter was a meeting place for local witches. Loud music would sound from the tower and the witches would dance on the forecourt until dawn. In fact, witch trials took place in Kaufbeuren in 1591, during which 10 women were burned at the stake.
In the middle of Kaufbeuren’s old town stands the Franciscan Crescentia Convent. This is where Saint Maria Crescentia Höss lived, who became the mother superior of the convent. She was canonized centuries after her death in 2001. On the 90-kilometer-long Crescentia Pilgrimage Trail, you can visit some of the most important places in her life, including Kaufbeuren, her birthplace and place of work.
Medieval tradition
Photo: Jenny/Pixabay
The sights are not the only medieval relics in Kaufbeuren. The annual Tänzelfest festival probably originated from medieval guild festivals and is now considered the oldest children’s festival in Bavaria. Every year in July, before the start of the summer holidays, Kaufbeuren hosts the Tänzelfest and revives the old custom. The festival kicks off with a dance circle on the fairground, where children perform traditional dances. Afterwards, Kaufbeuren is transformed for two days with camp life back to the time when it was a medieval imperial city. Here, craftsmen display their wares and artists show off their skills.
Camp life is followed by a play in front of the town hall, which recounts the legend of Emperor Maximilian I, who is said to have founded the festival for the town. The play is followed by the parade as the highlight and further dance performances. Finally, the fairground is transformed into a folk festival with rides and tents for 10 days, where you can enjoy yourself to your heart’s content. Whether bumper cars, flip fly or chain flyers, there is something for every adrenaline level. The grand finale is the fireworks display, which bids farewell to the Tänzelfest until next year. This year, you can visit the Tänzelfest in Kaufbeuren from July 9 to 20.
Even outside of the festivities, Kaufbeuren is worth a visit. In addition to the towers, the wall, and the monastery, there are other sights to see, such as the pretty pink town hall and the imposing Neptune fountain. Kaufbeuren is about 70 minutes by car from Munich, roughly halfway to Lindau. The Swabian town also calls itself the “Gateway to the Allgäu” because it is located directly on the border. Nevertheless, Kaufbeuren still belongs to the Munich metropolitan region and will even become part of the MVV public transport network in 2027.