Lake Constance Shoreline, Germany
YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LAKE CONSTANCE: 5 BEST ATTRACTIVE PLACES IN GERMANY

Lake Constance, bordered with Germany, Switzerland and Austria, is actually made up of two lakes linked together by a small part of the Rhine. This set of bodies of water with an area of more than 500 km2 takes its name from the German city of Constance. We invite you to discover 5 un-miss-able tourist sites on the German shores of the lake.
1- The island of Reichenau and its abbey

Table of Contents:
1- The island of Reichenau and its abbey
2- The city of Konstanz
3- Meersburg and its castle
4- Mainau, the island of flowers
5- Lindau Island and its lighthouse

Do You Know Top Rated tourists Attraction Places In Italy.? No, Then Read Here

Lake Garda-Lake In Italy: What Everyone ought to know about Lake Garda Italy | Things to Do in Lake Garda Italy

1- The island of Reichenau and its abbey

The Reichenau island, located on the Untersee (the lower part of Lake Constance) is famous for its abbey, which has earned it a UNESCO World Heritage status since 2000.

With a length of 4.5 km and a width of 1.6 km, it is the largest island in Lake Constance.

It was in 724 that Saint Pirmin founded the first Benedictine abbey in Germany on the island. Today, three well-preserved churches still bear witness to monastic architecture from the 9th to the 11th century.

Island of Reichenau Church, Germany

On this island, which for centuries was an artistic and scientific center, the mild climate is conducive to market gardening and the cultivation of vines.

2- The city of Konstanz

Constance (or Konstanz in German) is the city that gave its French name to the lake (called Bodensee in German).

It has founded by the Romans in the 4th century and named in honor of Emperor Constantius Chlorus.

An archaeological museum traces the history of the city from the fourth millennium BC. AD, date of installation of the first houses on stilts until the recent industrial past.

This city lies in the south of the Land of Baden-Württemberg, on the western shore of the Obersee (upper part of Lake Constance) and the Seerhein (the part of the Rhine making the connection between Obersee and Untersee).

The historic center of the city has concentrated on the southern shore of the lake. Notable curiosity, the border between Germany and Switzerland passes to the south of the city, in the middle of the streets and houses. On the other side is the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen. At the entrance to the port of Constance, do not miss to admire Impéria, the statue made by Peter Lenk to commemorate the Council of Constance, which took place in the city between 1414 and 1418. This statue represents a woman holding two small men seated in her hands.

These two men are Pope Martin V and Emperor Sigismund, while the woman is an Italian courtesan named Impéria who was the mistress of both the Pope and the Emperor! She has considered the most influential woman of her time.

3- Meersburg and its castle

The small town of Meersburg in Baden-Württemberg is famous for its castle. Located on a plateau surrounded by vineyards and orchards, this town offers beautiful views of Lake Constance.

It also has the particularity of being right in front of the city of Constance, and at the point of intersection of two parts of the lake: the Obersee and the Überlinger See. The castle or Burg rises above the lower part of the town. According to a legend dating from 1548, it has built in the 7th century by the Merovingian king Dagobert I.

This castle is the oldest still inhabited castle in Germany! It is open to visitors and invites you to go back in time by discovering the kitchen of the castle, the arms room, and the knights' room.

A tourist town, Meersburg is also renowned for its vineyards. It produces white (Mueller Thurgau), rosé (Weissherbst), and red (Spaetburgunder) wines.

Mainau, the island of flowers

4- Mainau, the island of flowers

Mainau is a small German island of 45 hectares, the third largest island in Lake Constance.

Located in the northwestern part of the lake (the Überlinger See), it is very popular with tourists for its flora, which has earned it the nickname Flower Island.

Thanks to the mild climate, the local flora consists of palm trees as well as tropical or Mediterranean plants that might be admired in the park of the Baroque castle and in the gardens of the island. An arboretum, created in 1856, extends to the northwest of the castle and is home to more than 500 species of trees. Some specimens are rare and/or impressive like giant sequoias, cedars, metasequoia, and tulip trees. In spring, at the end or March-beginning of April, the island of Mainau has covered with flowers and its tropical greenhouse (Palmenhaus) organizes a large exhibition of orchids.

From late March to mid-May, visitors throng to witness the blooming of tulips, narcissus, and hyacinths, especially in the famous Spring Alley (Frühlingsallee). The spring alley leads to a Mediterranean terrace adorned with exotic potted plants and offering breathtaking views of Lake Constance and the Alps. From May to June, you can also admire more than 200 rhododendrons and various varieties of azaleas on the island. An Italian-style rose garden is a place not to miss for all lovers of this flower.

Even in autumn, this island has adorned with a thousand flowers, especially in the southern garden (Südgarten) where no less than 20,000 dahlia plants of 250 different varieties flourish from September to October!

Finally, note that Mainau is home to a butterfly greenhouse (Schmetterlingshaus) with an area of 1000 m² open all year round and a water garden with play areas for children.

Lindau Island and its lighthouse

5- Lindau Island and its lighthouse

The island of Lindau, located on the Obersee not far from the border with Austria, is the second largest island in Lake Constance after Reichenau. Many tourists come here to enjoy the waterfront promenades and Bavarian state casino. Several tourist routes pass through this city, including:

=> the Green Route (Grüne Straße), which connects Contrexéville to Lindau via Meersburg

=> the German Alps Road (Deutsche Alpenstraße), which starts from Lindau, passes through Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Berchtesgaden, and leads to Marktschellenberg near Salzburg.

=> the cycle route (Bodensee-Radweg)

=> the hiking trail around Lake Constance (Bodensee-Rundwanderweg).