Lake Constance: Germany’s tourist paradise

Story by Iris Reiff
Contributing writer


***image1***Lake Constance

The mild climate and lots of sunshine make Germany’s Bodensee, or Lake Constance, a great vacation resort for visitors from all over the world. Bodensee is divided into three lakes, of which the Obersee, or Upper Lake, is the largest of all. The freshwater Bodensee sits at 365 meters above sea level and is Central Europe’s third largest lake, after Lake Balaton and Lake Geneva.

The three countries of Switzerland, Germany and Austria share Lake

Constance.

The Bodensee area is one of the warmest areas of the country, not just because of its southern latitude but also because of the warming influence of the water, which gathers heat in the summer and releases it in the winter. The lake offers a lot of leisure activities, including swimming, sailing, surfing, diving and rowing. Visitors can swim in the cold waters of the lake or in one of the heated lakeside pools.  

Konstanz

The university town of Konstanz is the largest community on the Bodensee. It features one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Germany because the city’s infrastructure was never destroyed during the war. Konstanz was founded in the 3rd century by Emperor Constantine Chlorus, father of Constantine the Great.

In the old part of town, visitors can find narrow streets lined with restored half-timbered houses and small stores. Here, visitors can find a variety of restaurants, hotels, pubs and nightlife. Konstanz has a beautiful harbor with several beer gardens, restaurants and great shopping opportunities.

The International Lake Constance Festival takes place the second weekend in August and features the largest fireworks display in Europe. Breathtaking islands

The Bodensee has three islands that vary greatly – Mainau Island, Reichenau Island and Lindau. 

Visitors of Lake Constance may experience the beauty of the flowers of Mainau, a hidden treasure on the Bodensee; the charm of the medieval towns of Lindau, Meersburg or Friedrichshafen; or simply enjoy a fun time seeing the monkeys on Salem Mountain.

Mainau Island

The main attraction of Lake Constance is Mainau Island. The tiny island carries rare plants, including millions of tulips, hyacinths and narcissi.

Rhododendrons and roses bloom from May to July with dahlias following in the late summer. Because of its mild but humid climate, visitors can enjoy seeing exotic plants, palm trees and even a curtain of bamboo.

A butterfly house is the home of hundreds of silent-winged bugs, known to be Germany’s largest butterfly conservatory. The island is owned by the family of Count Lennart Bernadotte, who died in 2006.

Lindau

Lindau is also a prime tourist attraction on the Bodensee. It was a free imperial town of the Holy Roman Empire from the Middle Ages until the year 1804.Half-timbered houses lean over narrow streets and it is famous for its patrician houses, fountains, historical buildings and fine frescoes.

Reichenau Island

Reichenau Island is famous for its historical buildings, its vineyards and vegetable farms. A diverse birdlife attracts many visitors each year, when thousands of birds from across Europe come to the island.

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