The birthplace of the motorhome 

Upper Swabia-Allgäu 

Many, perhaps even most, motorhomes have their roots here: Hymer in Bad Waldsee, Carthago in Aulendorf and Dethleffs in Isny in Allgäu.

Touring began with a simple trailer back in 1931. In Isny, Arist Dethleffs built the first caravan in Germany, which he called a ‘Wohnauto’. When travelling with his wife and daughter, the businessman wanted to have their own beds and cooking facilities. 

25 years later, Erwin Hymer joined his parents' wainwrighting and bodywork company and, together with Erich Bachem, developed the original Troll in 1957. One year later, the famous ERIBA-Touring series went into mass production. Today, the Hymer brand name and its highly modern, comfortable vehicles are almost synonymous with motorhomes.

Another company was founded in the region in 1979. Carthago, originally founded in Ravensburg, is located in Aulendorf in Upper Swabia and employs around 1,100 people. 

All three companies now belong to the leading premium manufacturers of motorhomes and caravans in Europe. They also rent out motorhomes to newcomers who want to experience camping in comfort in the Upper Swabia-Allgäu region.

Motorhome manufacturers

in Upper Swabia-Allgäu

Reisemobil unterwegs, im Hintergrund ein Wald

HYMER

HYMER has been the epitome of premium motorhomes and caravans "made in Germany" for over 60 years, and enjoys cult status with its HYMER motorhomes, HYMER camper vans and ERIBA caravans. What began as tinkering by two gifted engineers is now a success story spanning more than 60 years.

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Blick auf das Firmengebäude von Carthago

Carthago City

“With the enthusiasm and care of our qualified employees, many of whom are themselves enthusiastic motorhome owners, at Carthago, we create vehicles that are as unique as the landscape where we produce our vehicles.”

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Außenansicht des Firmengebäudes der Firma Dethleffs

Dethleffs

“Not without my family!” declared Arist Dethleffs when he constructed Germany's first "Wohnauto" in 1931. Few people knew the word "leisure" before then; family holidays were a privilege and tourism was still in its infancy. A new era began with the invention of the caravan.

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