Biberach an der Riss - A wintry virtual tour of the town (February 2003)

By Dan Boisvert

Ochsenhauser HofWeberbmuseum und Wielandarchiv, Zeughausgasse 4RathausSt. MartinKomödienhausVolkshochschuleMarktplatzStadthalleWeberbergGigelturmSchillerhöhePolizeiWeißer Turm, BiberachJugendmusikschule BiberachStadtbücherei BiberachUlmer Tor, BiberachBahnhof und Busbahnhof BiberachAmtsgericht, Alter Postplatz BiberachVolkshochschule BiberachHospital und Braith-Mali-Museum BiberachGigelberg BiberachWieland Gartenhäuser BiberachBürgerpark Biberach
The virtual tour starts at the Tourist Information bureau (see below) and slowly winds through the following sites:

 

Tourist-Information

 
From the Tourist Information bureau hang a left towards downtown. On your left-hand side is the immense Stadthalle (municipal hall).
Next to the Stadthalle is a small park where you can see a piece of the old city wall towered over by the Weisser Turm (White Tower).
The archway leads through the wall into the old Weberberg area (Weaver's quarter).


1st stop: Stadthalle.

And its restaurant Weißer Turm

The old theater house used to be here.

 

2nd stop: The Weberberg - Biberach's artistic quarter

Biberach's artistic quarter

This house (see right) is from 1421. In it you'll find a small Töpfermuseum (Pot museum, not like in Amsterdam…actual pots.) Across the street, Engelgasse 6, is actually even older. It doesn't look it, but it was built in 1351.

More information on the Weberberg can be found in the
Weaver stories by Reinhold Adler. (unfortunately only in German)
Look here: a perfect example of renovated and non-renovated houses coexisting in blissful harmony. Looking at the house on the left you can easily see one of the damp basements in which the weavers wove. Doubtful that these working conditions would be tolerated nowadays. Well, unless you work for Nike. More information about the life of the average weaver can be found (again in German) in an interview with the anthropologist Sabine Betzler-Hawlitschek. Across the street from the old sweatshop and up a floor (above the store window) is where the magic of creating weberberg.de takes place.
     
Continue on straight, but don't forget to take a look at the jeweler's in the house on the right.
You will soon come across a big yellow building. This is Brauerei zum Biber (The Biberach brewery) One of the few remaining breweries in Biberach. At least it's better than American beer…barely.
Standing directly in front of the brewery you get a view of your next stop: The Gigelturm (the Gigel Tower).
A painting adorns the façade of the brewery and a large window lets you drool over the gallons of beer being brewed.
7. After the brewery you will see stairs leading to the Gigelturm.l.
This you probably walked by without noticing: you would have had a glimpse at the back of Engelgasse 8 - a liittle garden with a pond.
     

 

3rd stop: The Gigelturm (Gigel Turm)

  


Looking at the Gigelturm from the Schillerhöhe (Schiller's Hill)

Inside the tower: A church-like atmosphere.

We are continuing our walk. Parts 2 have been written. The rest of the English version is in the pipeline.
All photos Copyright Weberberg.de. Loosely based on a German text by Dierk Andresen.
Many more oictures tht present Biberach, everyday life the, the youth scene , the famous Schützenfest and more you will find in our Picture Gallery. which has, at least, an English language table of contents.
And more really large photos here.