The "Gasthaus Zum Roten Bären" (Guest House/Hotel of the Red Bear), is said to be the oldest guest house in Germany. The bear on the house is actually gilded (not red) and the sign on the guest house pub gives the shortened name "Bären". The deep cellar can be traced back to the time of the city's founding. The house was first mentioned in 1387 and there is documentary proof that the "Bären" had its first landlord, Johann Bienger, in 1311. Since then, there have been approximately 50 generations of landlords!

It is believed that the "Bären" was damaged by the explosion of the city fortifications in 1744-45. Because of this, remains of walls which had been destroyed at an earlier time, were used to repair parts of the building. The present Baroque facade was erected in the 19th century. The "Bären" survived the war undamaged, however its interior has been renovated several times.

In 1957, the exterior was painted in red and grey tones and the coat of arms and inscriptions were added. The back building was constructed in 1981 on a site where a small section of the old city wall is still preserved.