Upper-Swabia

Regional Overview

A Fractured Land

The ancient conflict between the Welf and Staufen dynasties left the region without a ruler by the end of the Middle Ages. In the vacuum arose countless city-states and principalities, many of which existed as independent states for centuries. Sundered again by religion, the region is united only by language and a shared Swabian identity.

Regional Identity

What to Lookout For

  • The resplendent Baroque churches of the counter-reformation
  • The great baroque cityscapes of the free Imperial Cities
  • The dramatic landscapes of the Upper Danube valley

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Justin Bunch | CityscapeTravel My suggested travel destinations with the top three destinations highlighted.

What is Upper Swabia?

Upper Swabia or “Oberschwaben” corresponds broadly to the Danube basin and the dialect groups associated with it. This is in contrast to the Swabian peoples around Lake Constance who speak a dialect more similar to Swiss German and the Allgäu, which is based along the Iller River. Other than the Duchy of Württemberg, there is no simple political or cultural division of Swabia. The choice of Upper-Swabia and the Allgäu is somewhat arbitrary based on historical tradition.

This region of Swabia splintered into numerous microstates in the late middle ages after the Duchy of Swabia was left without a ruler. The result of this fracture is a land where every city, town, and village was the capital of their own tiny realm. Everywhere you can expect to see the trappings of power: resplendent town halls, palaces, and churches.

My Quantitative Travel Rankings

To understand where the categories come from, see this article here.

Social Score

7.7 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Hype: 10
  • Growth: 9.7
  • Wealth: 7.7
  • Recognition: 5.0
Ease of Travel

4.1 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Accommodation: 2.2
  • Transportation: 3.7
  • Ease of Planning: 5.5
  • Infrastructure: 5.6
  • Interactivity: 5.0
  • Airport: No
Historical Immersion

4.5 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Historical Context: 1.6
  • Monuments: 4.5
  • Quality*: 8.0
  • Landscape: 3.0
  • Vineyards: 3.3
Authenticity

4.5 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Undiscovered: 1.9
  • Cultural Immersion: 5.8
  • Tradition*: 7.0

Navigation

Swabia

A splintered land of Princes, Free Cities and Monasteries

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