After a short stop in Ulm, I found myself continuing my drive toward Tübingen, a university town nestled in the heart of Baden-Württemberg. The road wound gently through rolling hills, and as I approached, the Neckar River shimmered in the afternoon light, welcoming me to a place that seemed to balance history and youth in perfect harmony.
Tübingen, with its 900 years of history, immediately charmed me. The famous Neckar waterfront was alive with students chatting on the riverbanks, while the Hölderlin Tower stood quietly, a reminder of the city’s literary past.
I wandered through cozy pubs and small boutiques, each doorway inviting me to linger just a little longer. The medieval center, lovingly restored, felt like stepping back in time—yet the energy of the students gave it a vibrant pulse that made me smile.
Walking through the old town, I paused at the Rathaus on the Marktplatz, its ornate façade glowing in the late sun. The square was bustling, but not overwhelming—locals carrying shopping bags, students sipping coffee, and tourists like me craning their necks to take in every detail.
From there, I climbed toward Schloß Hohentübingen. The castle, now part of the University of Tübingen, offered sweeping views over the rooftops and rivers, and I couldn’t help but imagine the centuries of scholars who had walked those same paths.
Schloß Hohentübingen Castle was one of the seven fortresses in Baden Wuertemberg that were built in the 16th century. More or less untouched in the many wars it became a University building in the late 1800’s and is still used as such today.
What struck me most was the way Tübingen blends contrasts: the quiet dignity of its medieval streets with the laughter of students spilling out of cafés, the weight of history alongside the lightness of everyday life. For me, it wasn’t just another stop on my journey—it was a reminder of how places carry stories, and how we, as travelers, become part of them simply by walking through.
The city lies along the Neckar River at its junction with the Ammer river, offering a picturesque setting. It has a lovingly restored medieval center combining old-world charm with vibrant student life.
I enjoyed a lovely spot at the Neckar Riverfront. The trees are very old old, planted in 1828. You can see the spire and roof of the Collegiate church and in the middle the oldest University buildings. This is a late medieval ensemble that survived till this day without destruction.
Market Square an City Hall
The picturesque Marktplatz is the heart of the town. The medieval City Hall was built in 1435 and was used also as a warehouse, court of justice and city council meetings. The colorful facade dates back ton 1876. It shows the Coat of Arms of Tübingen on the right hand side of the clock. Above it the remarkable astronomical clock of the 1511 and below is a picture of Eberhard “the Bearded” and founder of the University. The central landmark is the Stiftskirche (Collegiate Church)
Stiftskirche with the “Jörgenbrunnen” fountain
Along with the rest of the city, the Stiftskirche was one of the first to convert to Martin Luther’s protestant church. As such, it maintains (and carefully defends) several “Roman Catholic” features, such as patron saints.
In the Old Town at the Stiftskirche stands the statue of St. George (Jörgenbrunnen) slaying the dragon on a column in a fountain basin. The fountain was first constructed by Andreas lang in 1523, then demolished and rebuilt. The model for the reconstruction was the figure’s upper body, which was found in the Neckar in 1911.
The Giant Wine Barrel (1549) in the cellar of Schloß Hohentübingen
Descending into the cellar of Schloß Hohentübingen, the air immediately grew cooler and heavier, carrying that unmistakable scent of damp stone and aged wood. My footsteps echoed softly against the vaulted ceiling, and with each step I felt myself moving further away from the bustle of the town above and deeper into history.
And then, there it was—the enormous wine barrel, built in 1549, looming in the shadows like a sleeping giant. Its sheer size was overwhelming, stretching across the cellar with a quiet authority. The wood, darkened by centuries, seemed to breathe with the stories it had absorbed. I ran my hand lightly along its surface, feeling the rough grain beneath my fingertips, imagining the countless hands that had touched it before me.
This barrel once held an astonishing 84,000 liters of wine, a volume so vast it’s hard to picture. Standing before it, I tried to imagine the golden liquid sloshing inside, the feasts it supplied, the laughter and music that must have accompanied its pouring. Though empty now, the barrel seemed alive with echoes of celebration. In that moment, I felt connected not only to the town’s history but to the generations of people who had celebrated life with the wine that once flowed from this extraordinary vessel.
After two full days of exploring the charming town and enjoying a scenic boat ride on the beautiful Neckar River, I returned to my hotel exhausted and quite tired. It was late in the afternoon when I finally settled in for some much-needed rest. I didn’t leave again until the next morning. The next morning, I embarked on my next exciting adventure.
