Author: Kristina Saur / Ulm/Neu-Ulm Touristik GmbH

Front image: Führung am Fort Kuhberg (Tobias Rocholl), Photos by: bildwerk89

The Ulm Federal Fortress is one of Europe’s most significant fortification systems—yet many visitors only grasp its scale, history and hidden structures through a guided tour. With a diverse program ranging from family-friendly experiences to exclusive visits of rarely accessible outer forts, Ulm/Neu-Ulm Touristik GmbH and the Förderkreis Bundesfestung Ulm e.V. open the doors each year to this remarkable 19th-century military monument.

The wide-ranging tour program of the Ulm Federal Fortress highlights one thing above all: this extraordinary fortification landscape can be explored in many different ways. To offer both locals and guests multiple points of access, Ulm/Neu-Ulm Touristik GmbH, together with the Förderkreis Bundesfestung Ulm e.V., presents a rich selection of thematic tours that reveal the historical, architectural and cultural dimensions of the fortress.

A particular favorite among families is the children’s flashlight tour inside Wilhelmsburg (Work XII). Equipped with their own lamps, young explorers venture through winding corridors, vaulted casemates and narrow stone stairways—an unforgettable adventure that brings history to life in an engaging and playful way.

In addition to these family experiences, regularly offered fortress tours provide rare opportunities to visit outer works normally closed to the public. These include Fort Prittwitz, named after the fortress’s chief engineer; the circular Fort Illerkanal, which holds a unique position within the system of outer forts; the half bastion with its impressive gunpowder magazine in Neu-Ulm; or the Kienlesberg Bastion with its western mountain front. The monumental Fort Albeck, the largest of all outer forts, also opens for guided tours—featuring reconstructed structures and museum-quality installations that vividly illustrate the scale and function of this vast military site.

All tours are led by knowledgeable fortress guides from the Förderkreis Bundesfestung Ulm e.V., whose expertise brings depth and detail to each visit. Ulm/Neu-Ulm Touristik GmbH provides overarching information, visitor guidance and complementary city tours that help place the fortress in a broader urban and historical context.

Current information, meeting points and tour schedules are available at www.festung-ulm.de und www.tourismus.ulm.de. Together, the programs create a diverse and welcoming offer that makes the Ulm Federal Fortress accessible to a wide audience—transforming one of Europe’s most important fortifications into a lively, engaging and inspiring cultural experience. Whether driven by curiosity, historical interest or the joy of discovery, every tour opens up a new perspective on this exceptional heritage site.