Mengen

A town of around 10,000 inhabitants, Mengen is in the Sigmaringen district of Baden-Württemberg. Situated on the Upper Swabian Baroque Route, it is part of the Upper Swabian Danube tourist region. This is also where the Ablach and Ostrach rivers flow into the Danube.

City Highlights

Looking out over the beautiful, tightly packed old quarter from the viewing tower on Missionsberg hill provides a taste of what is to come in Mengen. The town has no fewer than 23 places of interest marked out a tourist map, and an ideal starting point for a stroll is the coachman's fountain in the centre of town in front of St. Martin's Church – a reminder of Mengen's centuries-old tradition as a trading town and stopover for coachmen. Dates and events describing the history of this lovable and livable Danube town are inscribed onto the bronze surface of the fountain. St. Martin's Church is immediately recognisable by its huge tower, which in days gone by was used more for defensive than ecclesiastical purposes. These days, however, it is crowned far more peacefully with a stork's nest. Inside the church, the choir ceiling is decorated with exquisite and elaborate paintings and goldleaf. A stone's throw away is the Church of Our Lady, a triple-naved Gothic basilica given a baroque treatment in 1742. The local history museum, housed in a 17th century half-timbered building, shows various exhibitions on the town's history and culture. Both the church and the museum can be visited on one of the town's themed guided tours, where the visitor can experience the historical life of Mengen through the eyes of a coachman, a laundry maid, the nightwatchman and a marketwoman. It's a fascinating trip back in time. Although by the time the tour is over, you'll be glad to be back in the 21st century.

In 1876 what is so far the only Roman colour mosaic to be uncovered in Upper Swabia was found on the site of a former Roman villa rustica. It shows the head of the legendary figure of Medusa in a medallion and the remains of a decorative border to which other medallions were joined. Since it opened in 2001, the Mengen-Ennetach Roman museum has received several awards. In addition to the mosaic, it contains finds from the fort on Ennetach hill and from the Roman settlements of the first three centuries AD. There are also relics from the Bronze Age and Celtic times. The first floor is divided into five subject areas – trade, fashion, architecture, food and drink, and religion – that depict everyday Roman life. Interactive exhibits include a soldier's backpack, items of clothing to try on, and various Roman games. Café DOMUS and a museum shop can be found on the ground floor.

For more than 80 years, the family company Buck, which is based in Mengen-Ennetach, has been producing the finest pasta to traditional recipes. Tours of its facility bring the manufacturing process to life, from the cracking of the eggs to the packaging of the end product. The adjoining Gaggli NudelLaden (pasta shop), with its special offers and unusual pasta gifts for all occasions, is a good place to end your visit.

Accommodation in Mengen

Mengen offers a wide range of accommodation and restaurants, from hotels and inns to holiday lets and private lodgings. The Zielfinger Seen lakes and recreation area, located on the edge of the Upper Danube Nature Park, is a popular spot for motorhome owners and many others. Two restaurants – the Südsee III and the Neuseeland on the windsurfing lake – are open all year round. There is also an area with up to 50 motorhome pitches with power hook-ups and water and waste disposal facilities.

Mengen and its surrounding areas are full of places for relaxation, active pursuits or simply recharging your batteries. The area is part of a pilot project, Cycling in and around Sigmaringen, that has provided two new bike tours for the Mengen area.

These tours also link up with the Swabian Alb Cycle Route, meaning Mengen is now linked to two long-distance bike trails (the other being the Danube Valley Cycle Route). Cyclists also have the choice of another five routes in the Sigmaringen district with various levels of difficulty.

Contact:

Stadtverwaltung Mengen (town council)
Hauptstrasse 90
88512 Mengen
Tel.: +49 (0)7572 6070
Fax: +49 (0)7572 607 710
info@mengen.de
www.mengen.de

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