The Metzgerturm, or Butcher's Tower, features a noticeable lean that locals attribute to legendary butchers who were imprisoned inside and moved around, causing the tower to tilt.
The city wall was part of the 'Reichsfestung Ulm' defensive system, which was once the largest fortress complex in the German Empire during the 19th century.
The promenade atop the wall allows visitors to walk above the high-water mark of the Danube, reflecting its historical purpose as a flood defense as well as a military one.
Parts of the wall are built directly onto the river's edge, using the Danube itself as a natural moat for the city's defense.
The wall sections near the Fischerviertel district are integrated into a heritage-protected area characterized by medieval water-management channels.
The Ulm City Wall (Stadtmauer) is a historic fortification system dating primarily from the 15th and 16th centuries that stretches along the banks of the Danube River. It features the iconic Metzgerturm, a leaning brick tower that served as a gatehouse. The ramparts have been converted into an elevated promenade providing a continuous walkway from the Fischerviertel district to the Metzgerturm. These fortifications were part of the city's extensive defensive network that protected Ulm against regional conflicts during the late Middle Ages. The path offers distinct views of the river and the old town's timber-framed architecture. Several sections of the wall integrate restored brickwork and original bastions that define the boundary between the historic city core and the river. It remains one of the best-preserved segments of medieval defensive infrastructure in Southern Germany.
From the promenade looking back toward the Fischerviertel with the city's timber-framed houses reflected in the Danube.
Walk the entire length starting from the Fischerviertel to see the transition from residential timber-framed houses to the defensive structures.
Bring comfortable footwear as the path includes uneven stone and brick segments.
Look for the plaque on the Metzgerturm that details the historical context of its construction and structural tilt.
Do not attempt to climb the exterior brick walls or enter unauthorized restricted areas near the riverbanks.
