Once an Imperial Free City of the Holy Roman Empire, Biberach an der Riss is a small town in the Upper Swabia region of Germany. It is named after its role as the capital of the Biberach district and its location on the banks of the Riss River. The town centre is clustered with whitewashed buildings and dominated by the soaring tower of St. Martin’s Church.
Things to do in Biberach an der Riß
In Biberach an der Riss’s main square is “The Donkey’s Shadow”, a contemporary sculpture designed by the German artist Peter Lenk. Stroll through the Weberberg District to admire the beautifully preserved timber-framed houses where textile manufacturers worked in the 16th century. Biberach an der Riss’s largest church is St. Martin’s, a Gothic masterpiece elaborately decorated with frescoes.
Occupying one of Biberach an der Riss’s oldest buildings is the Braith-Mali-Museum, which showcases the area’s archaeological, artistic and natural history. Computer animations detail the settlement of Upper Swabia by the Celts, Romans and Alemanni while tin toys reflect the town’s manufacturing past. Artwork from the 17th to 19th centuries are exhibited, alongside the recreated studios of Anton Braith and Christian Mali.
At the Wieland-Museum, you can learn about the life and legacy of Christoph Martin Wieland, a poet and writer of the German Enlightenment. The museum occupies his former summer house on the northern edge of Wieland Park, which was designed by Ulm-based architect Hans Dieter Schaal as a place of relaxation and reflection.
Getting around Biberach an der Riß
Biberach an der Riss is around 30 minutes’ drive from Ulm and 40 minutes from Memmingen Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Regular trains connect to the Biberach and Biberach Süd railway stations while the town centre is small enough to explore on foot.