Affenberg Salem (Monkey Mountain)

A few kilometres from Lake Constance, a monkey suddenly sits across from you at the side of the path, scratches its head and ignores you. At Affenberg Salem almost 200 Barbary macaques live in more than 20 hectares of woodland, with no fences or ditches between them and visitors. It is Germany's largest open monkey enclosure and also one of the most important research sites for this endangered species.

History: a baron and his monkey mountains

The park was founded by the Alsatian Baron Gilbert de Turckheim. He opened his first enclosure, La Montagne des Singes, in Kintzheim in Alsace in 1969, followed by Rocamadour in southern France in 1974 and Affenberg in 1976, on land leased from Salem Castle. The idea: just one species, but lots of space. As a result the monkeys behave much as they would in the wild. Since 2006 the park has been run by the primatologist Roland Hilgartner.

The animals

• Barbary macaques: They come from the mountains of Morocco and Algeria, where they live at up to 2,000 m, and the climate at Lake Constance is similar to home. Only about 10,000 remain worldwide. At Affenberg they live in three groups. Rank is everything: females inherit theirs, while males must fight for it with the help of allies.
• Storks: In 1978, when the white stork had vanished from much of Baden-Württemberg, Affenberg set up a stork station. Today a free-flying colony of around 90 storks breeds on the roofs of the Mendlishausen farm.
• Fallow deer: In the deer enclosure you walk right among the does and a fine stag.

Almost half of what is known today about Barbary macaques comes from Affenberg, which works with institutions such as the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig.

Feeding times and Treewalk (2026 season)

The macaques are fed about twice an hour between 10:40 and 16:00, on some days also at 17:00, while keepers explain the life of the groups. You can feed the deer yourself at 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00, with food provided free. Visitors have not been allowed to feed the monkeys since 2020.

The Treewalk is a 250 m canopy trail with 11 suspension bridges and 12 platforms up to 12 m high, attached to the trees without a single screw. It costs €5 extra and is open to children from 5 accompanied by an adult, provided you have a head for heights.

Opening hours and prices (as of October 2026)

• Season: daily from mid-March to early November, in all weathers. The park closes in winter, which is the monkeys' undisturbed mating season.
• Admission: adults €13.90, children aged 5 to 14 €9.90, under 5 free, pupils and students €12.90. Card payment only, no booking needed.
• Parking: free.

Allow two to three hours for the trail, feedings and Treewalk.

Getting there

The park is at the Mendlishauser Hof west of Salem in the Lake Constance district; just enter "Affenberg Salem" in your sat-nav. Bus 110 between Überlingen and Oberuhldingen stops at Affenberg. In autumn 2026 the direct road from Salem/Stefansfeld was closed for roadworks on the L 205, with a diversion via Frickingen.

Tripto tip

Come for a late-morning feeding and then stay sitting by the path: once the group has eaten, the grooming, playing and squabbling begin, and that is when you see the most. Just a few kilometres away are Salem Abbey and Palace and Birnau Pilgrimage Basilica.