Open Monument Day 2026

Open Monument Day in Radolfzell

This year’s Open Monument Day on September 13, 2026, coincides with the anniversary of the death of the city’s founder, Bishop Radolt—and thus with the grand weekend of celebrations marking Radolfzell’s 1,200th anniversary. As the highlight of the anniversary year, the anniversary weekend offers a varied historical program. Various reenactment groups will depict life in earlier times, providing a fascinating glimpse into the lives and work of our ancestors. Visitors can explore a Stone Age hunting camp, learn about the daily lives of the Celts, and examine the equipment and everyday items used by Roman legionaries. Camp life during the Early and High Middle Ages will also be vividly brought to life.

In addition, numerous guided tours will be offered that day.

Münster

At 11:00 a.m., Christof Stadler will lead a tour of the Cathedral of Our Lady. The existing structure, an eight-bay pillar basilica, was built between 1436 and approximately 1555. Flanking the choir are the church tower—at 82 meters, the tallest church tower on Lake Constance—and St. Fridolin’s Chapel. Visitors can climb the cathedral tower on this day from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Old Town

Free cultural and historical tours of the Old Town begin at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Radolfzell’s Old Town, with its nooks and crannies, narrow streets, and many historic buildings, has a rich and eventful past. The 1.5-hour tour traces its development from a prehistoric settlement through its time as a well-known pilgrimage site to the town as it stands today.

Historic City Pharmacy

The Radolfzell City Museum is open to the public free of charge from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In addition, museum director Rüdiger Specht will lead tours of the historic pharmacy rooms at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The Radolfzell City Museum is housed in the former city pharmacy, which dates back to 1689. The original dispensary from the Biedermeier period, the herb chamber, and other preserved pharmacy rooms transport visitors back in time. Architectural timelines provide insight into the building’s 300-year history across its various construction phases and illustrate how pharmacy and interior design have evolved over the centuries. The tour also takes visitors through those historic pharmacy rooms that remain closed to the public for curatorial reasons.

Villa Schmal

On Open Monument Day, a special building on Untertorstraße will be open to the public for the first time. Villa Schmal will be open for self-guided tours from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Information panels and QR codes allow visitors to trace the history of the building’s original builders and residents, as well as their techniques and craftsmanship. Villa Schmal and its outbuildings are prime examples of the Schmal family of master builders’ work. The two properties at Untertor bear witness to the history and skill of the Schmal family of master builders—who worked throughout the region—during the period between the Wilhelminian and Imperial eras, as well as to the subsequent generations of artisan families.