Geislingen an der Steige
HIDDEN PEARL IN THE SWABIAN ALPS

But where did the city get its long, strange name from? Geislingen an der Steige is located on an ancient trade route which once wound its way through the mountains of the Swabian Alps. The German word “Steige“ refers to a steep path leading uphill. In this case, it was the trail that the tradesmen had used long ago. By the mid-19th century, however, Geislingen an der Steige received its own train connection. At the time, it was celebrated as a miracle of technology and today it is one of the steepest train lines in central Europe. At the so-called you receive historical facts and information about the area around the “Steige”.

There are many historical buildings in the centre of town, for example, the in the pedestrian zone. While there, you’ll certainly pass the , a building eight storeys high which used to serve as Geislingen’s grain silo long ago.

The operates a campus in Geislingen an der Steige and another in Nürtingen. Depending on what you study, your lectures and seminars will either be held Geislingen or Nürtingen.

LIVING IN GEISLINGEN AN DER STEIGE

There are a number of popular meeting places in town including numerous cafés in the pedestrian zone and around Schlossplatz. After a tiring day at the library or shopping around town, you can find a quiet spot to relax at the city park (Stadtpark). Students have the advantage that the park is located directly next to the university. It is generally very quiet there, which means it’s a good place to revise for your end-of-term exams in the summer. Residents of Geislingen love to meet at their and share news and gossip. By visiting the market every Wednesday and Saturday, you can join them and become better acquainted with your new home.

The Horse Market takes place every year on Carnival Tuesday. But they don’t sell real horses there. The most beautiful horses receive prizes and visitors can enjoy traditional specialities. If you’re daring, you might treat yourself to a portion of “Saure Kutteln”, an especially popular dish in Baden-Württemberg made with beef tripe. It’s a real test of courage for people who aren’t used to such „delicacies“.

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