The Top 10 Things to See and Do in Dinkelsbühl, Germany

Dinkelsbühl‘s Old Town is agreed to be among the most quaint Old Towns in Germany. This 800-year-old townscape, preserved in an almost-original condition, has rows of colorful half-timbered houses, a soaring church, ancient fortifications and gates, and broody patrician buildings. One unique aspect of Dinkelsbühl’s Old Town is that it grew unplanned.

Segringer Tor is one of the several defense towers of the city, but stands out because of its Baroque architecture. This is because it was rebuilt in a different style after incurring heavy damage after being invaded by Swedish troops in 1648. This is a quiet and peaceful area with lovely views of gabled houses and ancient walls. From here, you can access the moat down a staircase.

A hop away from Weinmarkt, lies Dinkelsbühl’s bustling market square, Wochenmarkt. It is the perfect place to mingle with the locals and see more of the lovely gabled houses. This square is especially lively on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, when the farmers’ market is in full swing. You get the chance to fill your shopping bags with the freshest fruits, vegetables and meat and indulge in yummy bakery products.

If you are in Dinkelsbühl in mid-July, you have the chance to catch the historic annual event, Kinderzeche. During the devastating Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) that razed much of Europe to the ground, the Dinkelsbühl watchman’s young daughter led the children of this town to talk Gustav II Adolf out of invading the city. Even today, several centuries down the line, the brave children who saved the city are honored with a ten-day-long festival, during the course of which the children of Dinkelsbühl reenact the event.