Travel to Germany, whether in spring, summer, winter, or fall, can bolster by a stay at Lake Constance. Known locally as the Bodensee, the lake and the shores of the three countries that border these waters offer unexpect experiences in food and drink, history, culture, and natural beauty. The location takes in the dramatic backdrop of the Alps in the heart of Europe, surround by Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, with the Principality of Lichtenstein very close by. These four magnificent countries offer a true retreat with cultural sites all around, including three UNESCO World Heritage sites, spas, five-star hotels, charming pensions, wine and delicious local fare.
Museums and Cultural Attractions around Lake Constance
Lake Constance is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the monastery island of Reichenau, an idyllic setting with orchards and farms which preserves the site and the traces of an influential Benedictine monastery, found in 724. The other is the Pfahlbauten, or dwellings built on pilings, which are replicas of Lake Dwellings from the Stone and Bronze Age (4,000 to 850 BC) along with authentic artifacts.
The Abbey Cathedral of St.Gall, the abbey library and the surrounding monastery buildings – in short the St.Gallen Abbey District – was declares a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. This magnificent baroque complex, known far beyond the borders of Switzerland, rose from a small hermitage found in 612 by the monk Gallus in “the green wilderness between Lake Constance and Säntis.” The Zeppelin Museum, locate in Friedrichshafen, is an altogether different experience as it is a contemporary display of pioneerism, entrepreneurship, technology, and history. These four distinctly worthy destinations are only four of the many museums and engaging historic places you can visit on the Bodensee.
Travel to Germany: Gardens and Palaces along the Bodenese
The garden island of Mainau can almost take your breath away as you begin to realize its depth and breadth of flora. Over 110 acres of gardens, including an enormous butterfly house, the Rhododendron Slope, Italian Rose Garden, Dahlia Garden and Hydrangea Path, Herbaceous Garden are open to the public. One of the most beautiful promenades on the island draws visitors with its resplendent historic roses that include more than 400 varieties.
Other beautiful and treasure gardens include the former Cistercian abbey and present-day Salem Palace locate in the midst of extensive parks and gardens. Together with the Thurgau Art Museum, the Ittingen Museum forms the core of Ittingen Charterhouse, one of the most important cultural monuments in the Lake Constance region. More than 1,000 rosebushes along with flowers, herbs, hops, vineyards, and four garden theme paths invite you to relax and discover.
Travel to Germany: Food and Wine of the Region
The sunny slopes of the Lake Constance region are home to another asset: vines as far as the eye can see. In addition to numerous wine festivals, culinary events, tastings, picturesque hiking trails, and the wine museum await you in the medieval town of Meersburg. In the nearby town of Salem, the SENFT Distillery is where they make fine distillates, fruit brandies and gin creations. For more than 30 years, the family business has been producing all kinds of liquid treats from Lake Constance’s orchards. Also, the Locher family is known to produce an excellent beer at Hopfengut No 20 where they combine all aspects of the precious hop bud: cultivation, brewery, museum, shop, and restaurant.
Cuisine around Lake Constance combines the best of the four neighboring countries. Swiss potato specialties have crossed the “Rösti divide” to reach the lake. “Kässpätzle”, “Schäufele” and “Maultaschen” come from Baden and Swabia. Combinations, including “Käsknöpfle” with apple sauce, can be tasted in the Principality of Liechtenstein while sweet hearty dumplings have found their way to the four-country region from the Austrian Arlberg along with apricot and ham dumplings.
An absolute “must eat” is “Dünnele” in every form: traditional with cream and ham, refine with smoked salmon, sweet and flambéed with plums. These dishes can accompany by a fruity white wine crafts from the Müller-Thurgau grapes, or a red from the Schaffhausen pinot noir region as well as a number of delicious wines from the German slopes. There are also distill fruits made into Schnapps, brandies, and Obstler, which are perfect to try after a delicious meal.
Lake Constance Fast and Slow
Travel to Germany can be managed at any speed. You can take Lake Constance as a trained athlete and jet off to all corners of the lake or you can take your time and absorb the attractions at a measured pace. For the adventurist, it is possible to see all four countries in just one day. That might mean a visit to medieval Meersburg castle, followed by cycling across the rolling landscape of the Swiss shore before climbing to meet the spectacular views from the ‘Pfänder’ mountain in Austria.
After that it may be visiting the Museum of Art in the Principality of Liechtenstein. One real find is the thermal spa in Überlingen where you can unwind and re-charge all body, mind and soul back into shape in the stunning setting that is Lake Constance. When, eventually, the bathing season concludes, the lake reverts to its native peace and quiet and becomes the ideal place for winding-down.
Travel to Germany: Get the Card
The Bodensee Card PLUS, the holiday pass of Lake Constance, offers 160 attractions, including museums, castles, theme parks, free boat trips, and swimming pools. To visit this region of Lake Constance from the US or Canada, travelers will fly to Bodensee-Airport Friedrichshafen (via Frankfurt) or Stuttgart Airport (both Germany) or Zurich Airport in Switzerland. And, of course, Deutsche Bahn and Swiss Federal Railwaysbring passengers to Constance from many cities in Europe to Constance.

Author: Travel Intel
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