Tourist Attractions in Esslingen

To the north of St Paul's in Esslingen, beyond the ring of streets marking the line of the old fortifications (footbridge), can be found the High Gothic Frauenkirche (1321-1516), with a magnificent tower designed by Ulrich von Ensingen, architect of Ulm Minster. The tower contains a museum.

Opposite the New Town Hall in Esslingen is the Old Town Hall, a half-timbered building of 1430 by H. Schickhart, rebuilt in 1586-89 with a Renaissance facade (clock with mechanical figures, carillon). The Municipal Museum at present housed here is being moved to the Gelbes Haus in the Hafenmarkt.

To the north of the Town Halls in Esslingen the Burgberg (Castle Hill) rises above the old town, with a covered flight of steps and the Burgsteige leading up to the top. The Burg dates from the time of the Hohenstaufens. From the Dicker Turm (Stout Tower; restaurant) and the remains of the old town walls (wall-walk) there are fine views.

Behind the Frauenkirche in Esslingen is a footpath which leads through an old town gate into the Neckarhalde (the slopes of the Neckar Valley).

In Rathausplatz in Esslingen is the New Town Hall, occupying the Palmsches Palais (1746).

On the west side of the Marktplatz in Esslingen is the Early Gothic St Paul's Minster (built by Dominicans 1233-68; R.C.), one of the oldest surviving churches of a mendicant order in Germany.

In the Marktplatz stands the twin-towered Stadtkirche (dedicated to St Dionysius; Protestant), built on eighth century foundations in the transitional style of the 13th-14th centuries, with a High Gothic choir. It has a fine interior, excavations in which in 1960-63 brought to light remains of earlier churches, a crypt and a hut of the Urnfield culture of the 13th-11th centuries B.C.; the remains can be seen by visitors.

Opposite the choir of the church is the old Speyerer Pfleghof, a former hospice now occupied by the Sektkellerei Kessler, the oldest Sekt firm in Germany, founded in 1826.