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Discover a World of Possibilities
Lake Constance (Bodensee) is still a little secret among the big destinations of Central Europe. It’s a safe place to travel and refreshingly unspoilt in many ways. People are friendly, prices reasonable and a superb infrastructure of accommodation and public transport makes travelling easy and enjoyable.

At the heart of Europe
Situated on the northern edge of the majestic Alps, Lake Constance, or Bodensee in German, is the third biggest lake in Central Europe. Three countries share the 273 km long shoreline: Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The Principality of Liechtenstein is also part of the region. The river Rhine is the main source of water. It enters the lake at its eastern end and meanders imperceptibly across the lake. Some 60 kilometres further west it leaves the lake again at Stein am Rhein before cascading down the biggest and most spectacular waterfall in Europe near Schaffhausen in Switzerland.
Lake Constance is easy to get to: It is only an hour’s drive away from Zurich Airport in Switzerland and less than two hours from Munich in Germany. It also boasts two local airports in Friedrichshafen in Germany and Altenrhein in Switzerland.

A wealth of history and culture
The region of Lake Constance is steeped in history and culture. For thousands of years this area has been a melting pot of culture and a crossing point for trade between the south and the north side of the Alps. Celts, Romans and Alemanni have left their traces: Mediaeval towns, castles and fortresses are strung around the lake like a pearl necklace.
Historic towns of stunning beauty like Constance, Überlingen, Lindau or St.Gallen stand alongside gems such as Meersburg, Stein am Rhein, Wasserburg, the UNESCO World Heritage site of the island of Reichenau or the gorgeous flower island of Mainau.
Immerse yourself in the region’s history in one of the numerous museums or take a step back in time in the mediaeval castles and churches. The rich cultural past of the region is reflected in the lifestyle of the inhabitants today, their enjoyment of celebrations and the fine arts. The famous opera at the Summer Festival in Bregenz, set on a spectacular floating stage in the lake, is the highlight of the cultural year. But there is much more to discover: Innumerable concerts, festivals, theatre productions, traditional events and exhibitions of all kinds can be enjoyed the whole year round.

Sports and water pastimes
The choice of sports from golf to sailing, hiking, skiing, all kinds of watersports, not to mention the excellent network of cycling and skating routes around the lake makes Lake Constance a paradise for sports lovers. There are many ways to enjoy the water. The most popular for visitors is surely to take a boat trip on one of the passenger ships of the legendary White Fleet. Put your feet up for a few leisurely hours on the boat.
In summer, a visit to one of the many lidos is an absolute must. The quality of the lake water is excellent. There is nothing more refreshing on a hot summer’s day than to take a dip in the cool water. The wonderful spas on the lake are also well worth visiting: Even in winter, you can enjoy the view over the lake in water temperatures of over 30 °C. Make sure you have your swimming things with you when you visit Lake Constance!

Treat your palate
Another favourite pastime is food, of which there are many local specialities. Thousands of restaurants, bars and cafés offer exquisite cuisine. Why not try Maultaschen, Zwiebelrostbraten, Bratwurst or Wiener Schnitzel? Soak in the unique beer garden atmosphere, dine in style in a castle restaurant, watch the world go by in a street café, or relax on one of the fantastic lake-side terraces. Sample the delightful wines of Lake Constance at a vineyard, get the real taste of German beer in a micro brewery, and explore the colourful weekly food markets with local delicacies. Titillate your taste buds on Lake Constance!

Landscapes and artists
The scenery around Lake Constance is also extremely varied: To the west of the lake are the fascinating volcanic mountains of the region of Hegau, the famous waterfalls on the river Rhine, the rolling hills reaching from the Black Forest across Upper Swabia and Bavaria to the majestic peaks of the Alps in the east. The Säntis and Pfänder mountains are particularly worth visiting. All around the lake are beautiful vineyards, hop plantations, orchards with apples and other fruits. The ever-changing blue of the water is a feast for the eyes. For centuries, the lake has inspired writers, artists, poets and philosophers. Famous names include Napoleon III, Emperor of the Second French Empire, the airship inventor Count Zeppelin, the poet Hermann Hesse, the mesmerizing Franz Anton Mesmer, the artist Otto Dix and the poet Annette von Droste Hülshoff. Not to be missed: Relive the legendary Zeppelin experience and float above Lake Constance in the world’s largest working airship!

Endless fun with the BodenseeErlebniskarte
Explore the lake with just one ticket: The all-inclusive card BodenseeErlebniskarte opens the door to over 180 destinations on Lake Constance, across three countries! The card gives you free or reduced entry to the most exciting attractions, the most fantastic family destinations and the most fascinating art exhibitions. There are three types of BodenseeErlebniskarte to suit different needs!
Whether you want to explore on land (BodenseeErlebniskarte für Landratten), on water and on land (BodenseeErlebniskarte für Seebären) or just relax on a longer stay (BodenseeErlebniskarte für Sparfüchse) – this ticket guarantees relaxation, adventure and lots of fun! With the BodenseeErlebniskarte for 3, 7 or 14 days, you can visit almost all the destinations and leisure attractions in the region of Lake Constance without taxing your purse. The card can be bought at all tourist offices around the lake and at the ticket offices of the White Fleet.

Just a stone’s throw away from Constance is the lake’s major tourist attraction: Mainau Island. Over one million visitors a year come to the 45 hectare large island to enjoy the flowers, the castle and the unique atmosphere.

A royal island
Mainau Island has a long aristocratic tradition. Count Lennart Bernadotte († 2004), who opened the island to the public in the 1930s, was born a Swedish Prince in 1909. His father, Prince Wilhelm, handed over to him the administration of the family island, which was to become his life’s work. Today, the island is still managed by the Bernadotte family.

An ocean of flowers
From spring to autumn, the island blooms in tune with the seasons. The Mainau flower year starts in spring with the orchid show in the Palm House and a million tulip bulbs at the spring flower display from March to May. An ocean of rhododendrons marks the end of the season. Two rose gardens invite visitors to admire the rose display and vote for the “Queen of the roses”. The summer brings 350,000 flowers as well as exotic potted plants such as palms, citrus plants, bananas, bougainvillea, and a magnificent display of fuchsias. In September, the colourful dahlias ring in the autumn and enchant flower lovers until the first signs of frost. The arboretum is the heart of the island. The valuable collection of trees dates back to Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden, who founded the present-day park over 150 years ago.
The majestic ensemble of buildings that makes up the castle is a prime example of South German baroque architecture. It houses a café and a gallery with temporary exhibitions. Further attractions include the butterfly house, the playgrounds: children’s water world and Blumi’s lakeside world, the Palm House and the many cultural events.
After so much splendour, visitors can treat their palate with culinary delights from one of the island’s restaurants. The island is open all year round. Visit it in winter too for a contemplative walk through the arboretum.

Fabulous Meersburg Castle
Like an apparition from another world, the magical Meersburg Castle stands proudly overlooking Lake Constance. Not only did it give the town its name, it is also one of the main attractions on the lake. According to legend, this massive fortress dates back to the 7th century. Visitors can trace the eventful history of the castle from the Middle Ages right up the 19th century on a tour through the castle museum.
More than 30 rooms show how the inhabitants lived. From 1841 to 1848, the famous German poetess Annette von Droste-Hülshoff lived in the castle during her stays on Lake Constance. It is here that she wrote her most beautiful poems.

Beauty and the Beast
Imperia is the name of the provocative beauty who has kept watch over the entrance to Constance harbour since 1993. In the Middle Ages, she stirred the blood of visitors to the Council of Constance. Some 600 years later, the erection of her statue also caused some excitement among the city fathers. Since then, however, the waters have calmed and the people of Constance are glad that Imperia has become a landmark of the town.
But let‘s go back to the beginning: When the papal council took place in Constance in 1414–1418, the town was host to some 30,000 secular and holy men together with their retinues. A large number of courtesans were also in town. The subject of the sculpture was one of these ladies of easy virtue. The sculptor, Peter Lenk, has seated the Emperor and Pope in her hands to indicate that both the clergy and the gentry enjoyed her services.
The artist is a well-known agent provocateur, and so Imperia might never have been erected if it had not been done under cover of the night with the help of sponsors. Once the sculpture was unveiled, the town council was outraged and demanded that Imperia be removed. They said that she was a blight on the town’s image, and the church was not amused either. The inhabitants embraced her immediately, however, and today there is no more talk of removing her.

A Step Back in Time
In the Pfahlbaumuseum in Unteruhldingen, visitors can travel 6000 years back in time to the Stone Age and 3000 years to the Bronze Age to witness the fascinating world of the farmers, fishermen and bronze founders who lived on the shores of Lake Constance at the time. Who were these people? How did our ancestors live?
These and many more fascinating questions are answered expertly and impressively in this open-air museum. Located directly on the lakeside, the museum of lake dwellings has been one of the top cultural highlights in the region since it was built in the 1920s. A tour leads across wooden boardwalks to the 23 lake dwellings that have been furnished as they would have at the time. Visitors can marvel at scenes of everyday life, see the tools that were used and admire the faithful reconstructions based on scientific research. During the summer and Whitsun holidays, younger visitors can experience for themselves how a flint drill works or how a Stone Age soup tastes.

Lindau, a Picturesque Island
The Bavarian town of Lindau lies at the north-eastern end of Lake Constance. The town’s name was first mentioned in records in 882 and originally meant “island on which linden trees grow”. The entire historic old town enjoys a unique position on an island in the lake and is joined to the mainland by a causeway. The streets and squares of the old town are lively and bustling. But just a few steps away from the hustle and bustle, you can discover romantic alleys and quiet courtyards that offer an insight into days long gone. It is worth visiting the 15th-century town hall with its murals that tell of Lindau’s history. The covered outside staircase is decorated with illustrations of the Ten Commandments. Arriving in Lindau by ship, you enter the old town past its 33-meter-high lighthouse and the Bavarian lion looking out over the lake. The lighthouse offers spectacular views of the town, the lake and the Alps.

At its south-eastern end, Lake Constance borders onto the majestic mountains of the Alps. Within a short distance from the lake, various mountain cable cars take visitors to the peaks. Up there, it’s a world apart.

Get that real “Heidi” feeling, marvel at the unique fauna and flora, and experience the rural life of the mountain dwellers. Visitors can gain an insight into traditions that have been kept alive for generations at the many cultural events on offer. With a little luck, hikers can catch a glimpse of chamois goats or ibexes, hear alphorns or yodelling, or watch alpine farmers making cheese.

Säntis Mountain
Säntis in the region of Appenzell near St.Gallen is the highest peak at 2,502 metres. More than any other mountain, it is a distinctive feature of Lake Constance. On clear days it can be seen from all over the region. The area around Säntis is known as one of the most beautiful natural settings in Europe. At the top of the mountain, spacious observation halls and sun terraces, easy paths around the summit and two panorama restaurants offer views across six countries! Hikes from the summit are only advisable for experienced mountaineers with suitable alpine equipment. The routes at the bottom of the cable car at Schwägalp, however, are suitable for families. A charming restaurant and a demonstration dairy producing cheese await the visitor.

Pfänder Mountain
One of the best-known mountains in the region is the Pfänder in Austria. A cable car conveys visitors from the centre of Bregenz up to the summit of the town’s own 1,064-metre-high mountain. From here, you can enjoy magnificent views over the whole of Lake Constance. But it is not just the view that attracts visitors: Three mountain restaurants, an alpine wildlife park, well-marked walking routes, an eagle sanctuary with birds of prey and much more will guarantee an enjoyable day out.

Hoher Kasten and Ebenalp
Two other mountains in the region of Appenzell can be reached by cable car. One is the Hoher Kasten (1,794 meters). A new rotating restaurant offers breathtaking panoramic views over four countries: Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein and Germany. The Alpine Garden next to the mountain station is also worth a visit.
The Ebenalp mountain is a special tip. The cable car takes visitors up to the 1,644 meter-high plateau. Follow the footpath for 15 minutes to reach the spectacular Wildkirchli caves. Five minutes further on a legendary restaurant nestles against a steep rock face.

Toboganning in summer
Careering down a mountain on a sledge is the ultimate in fun for old and for young. Bizau in the Austrian region of Bregenzerwald (approx. 40 km south-east of Bregenz) boasts the longest summer toboggan run in the world. A double chairlift takes you up to the 1,436-meter-high Hirschberg mountain. The 2-kilometer track races around 80 bends, covering a difference in altitude of 400 meters.
Kronberg, a popular destination for families in the region of Appenzell, just south of St.Gallen in Switzerland, also has a summer toboggan run. A cable car takes visitors up to an altitude of 1,633 meters. From here, you can hurtle down the one-kilometer-long Kronberg bob run into the valley.