About 30 miles south of Stuttgart, the capital city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg, lies Tübingen, a pretty little University Town. About one third of the town’s population is students, the leading University being the The Eerhard Karls University of Tübingen. But education was not the reason we visited this beautiful town.
We were in Stuttgart in July, and were planning a drive to the Alps, a little to the south. Making elaborate road travel plans, routing towards the Alps mountains, making sure we touched some interesting places, consumed an entire day. We packed our luggage, checked out of the hotel, and went to the nearest car rental shop only to realise there were no cars available. It was summers and everyone drives out. We went to two more rental places, no cars. Not wanting to lose time, we rebooted the plans, and decided to take a train to a nearby place. And Tübingen it was.
In 2022 July, the German government had issued Euro 9 train tickets which were valid for three months all across Germany, unlimited journeys. Armed with these tickets, we headed towards Tübingen, barely some 20 minutes away by train.
The city of Tübingen was probably formed in and around 6-7AD. It has had a long history, from the Roman Frontier Wall in AD85 to the siege by King Henry IV of Germany in 1078. From the founding of the Augustinian Monastery in 1262 to the Georgian Collegiate Church in 1469. From the founding of the Eberhard Karls University in 1477 (making it one of the oldest Universities in Europe) to the plague in 1635 and the Swedish Troops conqueriong Tübingen in 1638 and then the French occupying from 1647-1649. From the founding of one of Germany’s largest newspaper, the Allgemeine Zeitung in 1798 to the unfortunate urning down of a Synagogue in 1938. Tübingen has also been at the forefront of environmental activism.
The city of Tübingen escaped a lot of wartime destruction because of its lack of industry. As such, its Altstadt, or Old Town, is largely intact, making it a great place to visit. There are plenty of weekly and season events, like the market days by the Stiftskirche (Church) and the Rathaus (Townhall). Tüingen also hosts Europe’s largest Afro-Brazilian Festival. There are amazing autumn and Christmas markets too. The food scene is vibrant, considering the student population.
Overall, there is a lot to experience in this small town. You could spend at least two days here, and more if you just want to laze around.
Loved these beautiful traditional style houses in Tübingen. The one with the paintings all over is especially interesting.The area around the Eberhardsbrücke Bridge is very interesting. With colourful flowers, traditional buildings, virant cafes, it is a place you could spend a day in.The Neckar River flows through Tüingen. There are boats and “gondolas” you could ride in.Colourful flowers decorate the Eberhardsbrücke bridge in Tübingen.A Gondola in the Neckar River in Tübingen. The Burschenshaft Germania. The Fraternity House of the University of Karls Eerhard in Tübingen is one of the oldest Fraternity Houses in Germany.Just standing at the Eberhardsrücke Bridge and taking a look around.A nice outdoor restaurant next to the Eberhardsbrücke Bridge. We spent a long lazy lunch here.Love these alleys with undulating layers between houses in Tübingen.Another view of the beautiful Neckar River and the houses along it.The Church Square with Market at the Stiftskirche St Georg Church.The Church square has a nice and vibrant market along it.Just lazying in the sun, people watching. The Gothic Church Architecture is gorgeous.Found a restaurant serving Nepali food in one of the lanes around the Church Square of Tübingen.Wow. That building behind…So many modern stores in the market…And some classic German Buildings too in the square…Just walking through the square, building watching…More undulating lanes in Tübingen…These Cafes are after my heart…Friends catch up in Tübingen… Dappled light…
This is probably a Hostel for students…Walking along this lane in Tübingen was amazing. Very quiet, beautiful old houses, charming cafes…And speaking of Cafes in Tübingen…A quintessentiall European lane with cobbled road and old houses.Gorgeous doors and windows of Tübingen. More building watching. More beautiful doors of Tübingen.Even more building watching and door watching in Tübingen.We sat at a park bench in this corner for a while…Some greenery and some sitting down.Watching the boats from a small bridge on the Neckar River. Some of these trees on the Neckarinsel are almost 200 years old!On the Neckarinsel, the Park Island on the Neckar River in Tübingen.A monument dedicated to a local composer, Friedrich Silchar, on the Neckarinsel. The monument itself has its own controversies, as Silchar’s work was used by the Nazi Government as ‘patriotic songs’.View of Tübingen’s Skyline from the Neckarinsel.Walking on the park on the Neckar River island, Neckarinsel.
Coming back to the Eberhardsbrücke Bridge.And taking the train back to Stuttgart.
Your photos, especially those alleyways in the Altstadt, remind me of its counterpart in Nuremberg. They really make me miss Germany — the cleanliness, the quietness of the streets, and the overall crisp weather. Good to know that Tübingen’s old town area are still very much intact.
A very pretty place and lovely pictures
Thanks Rahul…
Your photos, especially those alleyways in the Altstadt, remind me of its counterpart in Nuremberg. They really make me miss Germany — the cleanliness, the quietness of the streets, and the overall crisp weather. Good to know that Tübingen’s old town area are still very much intact.