Tuebingen, City of Culture

The renown of Tuebingen as a “City of Knowledge” is mainly derived from the famous scholars of its university. The many forums of this „elite“ university nevertheless welcome people from all walks of life and serve as an integrating factor: the Studium Generale, the Lectureship of Poetry, the world´s first Childrens´ University.

Other establishments of note: The Max-Planck Institutes and the newly founded Technology Park. Both benefit from an environment conducive to innovation: competence in the sciences of Tuebingen and the region.

Co-eds (at present the majority) and male students are everywhere. Tuebingen does not "have" a university - it "is" a university. Many of the 19th century buildings bear witness to student life when fraternities played a major role. And events like the annual punt race are reminiscent of those earlier traditions.

There is no lack of famous names. Friedrich Hoelderlin (who lived in the Hoelderlin Tower for 30 years), Ludwig Uhland, Hermann Hesse (who worked in the bookshop Heckenhauer) and many others compete with the contemporary Nobelist Christiane Nuesslein-Volhardt, best-selling authors Walter and Inge Jens, the theologian Hans Kueng, the philosopher Otfried Hoeffe, but also the pop star Dieter Thomas Kuhn. Many have studied or taught at the university, among them the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Horst Köhler, and Pope Benedict XVI.

For a city of this size, the cultural scene is amazing, with two leading theaters of the region, the Zimmertheater, a chamber theater, and the Landestheater (LTT), or state theater, as well as several other theatrical groups. Beside the extensive collections of the Schlossmuseum – the museum of the castle – there is a Stadtmuseum (municipal museum) and car and toy museum – the Boxenstop.

Beyond the widely known Kunsthalle in the north of Tuebingen, there is a great number of exhibition sites, ranging from the Paul Lechler Krankenhaus to the many small galleries where also local artists show and sell their works.

Tuebingen is definitely a city for bibliophiles. There are numerous shops for old and new books, and many resident authors, publishers and libraries rendering the city a leading city of books. All two years, recently in 2004, a Buecherfest, or book festival, draws attention to this important cultural landmark.

During the course of the year many events attract visitors from many countries: the Umbrian-Provencal Market, the typical non-commercial Christmas Market. So do flea and art markets (e.g., Market of Possibilities), markets on St. Martin´s and Saint George´s Day.

As for sports, there is an international City Run in Summer, a half-marathon on St. Nicholas Day and a major-division SV 03 Basketball team among other events that leave no room for boredom.

The many concerts ranging from sacred music – the Motette of the Stiftskirche – to classical music and Jazz, to parties for young people, and then the Stadtfest – annual city festival – give us an impression of the great music tradition of our town. Tuebingen allegedly has the most pianos per inhabitant, but most definitely some outstanding makers of musical instruments and a number of first-rate schools of music.

There is an abundance in Tuebingen of historical buildings and monuments from the Middle Ages to the present. The Castle, City Hall, the Neckar Front, two old churches, medieval streets, squares and gardens, allow for a leisurely and agreeable joie de vivre.

Shopping can be done without stress, and is rather like ambling through a bazaar. The old part of town is made up of many small shops, unique and exquisite, authentic pubs and restaurants to relax and dine, as well as snack bars for the thrifty.

Tuebingen is embedded in a beautiful landscape: to the north there is the natural preserve Schoenbuch, located in the Ammer and Neckar valleys – all perfectly suited for hiking and biking, In the west there is the Spitzberg with the Wurmlinger Kapelle (Wurmlingen Chapel); In the east there is an artificial lake and in the south we have a grand view of the many-layered Schwaebische Alb mountains.

One of the Routes of St. James leads through Tuebingen. The city itself has two botanical gardens – a good place to rest and relax. Tuebingen is at the geographical center of Baden-Wuerttemberg far enough from the main crossroads and still easily accessible.

There are accommodations for every need: from hotels with all conveniences to small inns. All accommodations are now listed in the Internet, including the Jugendherberge, (youth hostel), Campingplatz or Privatzimmer (private rooms). This allows you to book your rooms directly at the hotel or online via the Verkehrsverein Tuebingen (Tourist Office).

Youtube - Tuebingen Foto Show (4:35 min)

Tuebingen is home to more than 100 nationalities. Accordingly, there are many international institutes, shops and restaurants that make the city a place of hospitality for visitors from all over the world. With this English-language guide of the typical things to do and see while you are in our town I hope I have motivated you to come and see for yourself.

Helpful Links

http://www.tuebingen.de/en/1559.html

The Tuebingen A B C
(by Jack Lohrmann, longtime Tuebingen resident from New York City)

Amble through Old Tuebingen

Buy souvenirs  - or a Porsche or a Mercedes in nearby Stuttgart

Climb the Tower of the Stiftskirche after a visit to the tomb of Count Eberhard, founder of the University of Tuebingen 1477

Delight in the scenery of the nearby Swabian Alb as the Romans did 2000 years ago

Enjoy indigenous home cooking at the medieval castle of Hohenentringen

Fathom the depths of the Neckar River by Swabian gondola

Go to an exciting major-league game of the Walter Tigers (SV 03) basketball team

Have a glass of wine or a stein of beer at the many old pubs or in a beer garden

Inspect the Castle of Tuebingen and its many exhibits – Egyptian, Greek, Roman

Journey to the nearby Black Forest only 25 miles away

Kill time at the botanical gardens or at the historical cemetery (!)

Listen to good music at the many live concerts

Meet people from every corner of the world at any corner in town

Navigate the Neckar by kayak, rowboat or pedal boat

Order refreshing drinks at the many cafés

Peruse the contents of the library at the d.a.i. - the German - American cultural center

Question locals where you are when you get lost (it´s easy in Tuebingen)

Read the newspaper Schwaebisches Tagblatt for daily events

Swim and refresh yourself in the beautiful outdoor and indoor swimming pools

Travel to all parts of town on the nearly 30 commuter bus lines

Use the time to relax to the tunes of street musicians

View the exhibit at the reputable Kunsthalle

Write a few postcards telling your friends about this fabulous town

X-ray your feet at one of the famous University of Tübingen hospitals after you´ve walked the cobblestone streets

Yawn and yank the blanket over your head in the evening and

Zzzzznore at one of our comfortable hotels

Tuebingen  Keywords

in English

© (P) 2008 Otto Buchegger Tuebingen                            tuepps.de/tuebingen-english.html