Whether you're into genuine Bavarian culture and history, classic architecture, modern cars, shopping, or even horror stories, this is the right place for you! This is the home to many things you might not expect. Most prominent of all is the AUDI headquarters, museum and car manufacturing plant just outside the old city. Or perhaps you fancy some horror stories like Frankenstein? It might interest you to know that the author of the famous novel, Mary Shelley got her idea from a prominent science university, and so the story tells of Victor Frankenstein who created life in the University of Ingolstadt! What a tale! This city has played a role as a fortification and as a city of science for centuries in Bavarian history. In the annals of history since 806, it was the capital of the duchy of Bavaria-Ingolstadt during the Middle Ages, and in 1472 it became the first university city in Bavaria. Later in the 19th century, it became a fortified city of the Bavarian army, earning the nickname of “Schanz”.
See the Old Town Hall, dating back to the 14th century and rebuilt in the late 19th century in the neo-renaissance fashion. Have a look at the Old Fortress “Reduit Tilly”, where Charles de Gaulle was a prisoner of war during WWI. Today, it is home to the German World War One Museum. Discover the New Castle, built in the 15th century and an important example of Bavarian Gothic architecture. It is now home to the Museum of the Bavarian Army, containing an impressive array of cannons in the inner court amongst other things. Visit the Cathedral of Ingolstadt, erected in the 15th century and one of the largest structures erected in Bavaria in the late Gothic period. Learn how the Hohe Schule, the ancient facility of the former university, influenced the famous novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley. Discover this, and much more, in a pleasant walking tour that covers the main highlights of the city.