Bregenz: the capital of Vorarlberg
Bregenz is well-known for its cultural events and wonderful location on Lake Constance. The city is about 30 minutes from the Hotel kommod. One highlight is the Bregenz Festival which takes place every summer on the world’s largest floating stage. But Bregenz still has much to offer outside the festival season. Take the Pfänderbahn to the city’s “own” mountain, the Pfänder, and enjoy a stunning view over Lake Constance and the alps. The promenade and harbour invite you to a leisurely stroll.
Mainau island The flower island
Mainau island is an absolute must for gardeners and flower lovers. Famous as the “flower island”, Mainau has a splendid assortment of flowers on show all year round. Mainau can be reached by car in about an hour and a half from the Hotel kommod. Wonderful gardens, exotic plants and one of Germany’s largest butterfly houses await you on the island. The baroque palace complex and impressive parkland entice you to linger. www.mainau.de
Konstanz: Experience culture and history
Konstanz, the largest city on Lake Constance, is a drive of about 1 hour and 20 minutes from the Hotel kommod and offers a perfect blend of history, culture and modernity. Stroll through the picturesque Old Town with its well maintained medieval buildings and visit Konstanz Minster, an imposing gothic cathedral. Sea Life Konstanz (www.visitsealife.com/konstanz/) is another highlight, particularly for families. Here you can discover the underwater world of Lake Constance and other bodies of water. Another must is the State Archaeological Museum that vividly presents the history of the region from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages.
Meersburg: A journey into the past
Meersburg, famous for its well preserved Old Town and impressive castle, is also about 1.5 hours by car from the Hotel kommod. Meersburg Castle, Germany’s oldest inhabited castle, offers a fascinating glimpse of life in the Middle Ages (www.burg-meersburg.de). A walk through the labyrinthine alleyways of the Old Town takes you past charming half-timbered houses and cosy weinstuben. A wine-tasting at one of the local wine producers is particularly recommended. Here you can sample the excellent wines of the Lake Constance region.
Lindau: An island in Lake Constance
The island village of Lindau is yet another highlight of Lake Constance which you must not miss. The journey from Liechtenstein to Lindau takes about three quarters of an hour. Lindau’s quaint Old Town is built on an island that is linked to the mainland by a bridge.. The entrance to the harbour, with a lighthouse on one side and the lion of Bavaria on the other, is a favourite subject of photographers and has become a landmark and symbol of the city Wander through the narrow alleys of the Old Town, visit the old town hall and enjoy the wonderful view across Lake Constance from the promenade.
Friedrichshafen: Technology and adventure
Friedrichshafen is the home of the Zeppelin Museum that records the history and technology of the famous airships (www.zeppelin-museum.de). It takes about an hour to drive to the city from the Hotel kommod, and is a must for technology enthusiasts and families. In addition to a visit to the museum, you can also take a trip on a real Zeppelin to view Lake Constance from the air – a unique experience (www.zeppelinflug.de)!
Überlingen: Wellness and relaxation
Überlingen, well known for its thermal spring (www.bodensee-therme.de) and the outstanding beauty of its promenade along the lakeshore, is an ideal place for relaxation and recreation. The city is about 1 hour and 30 minutes by car from the Hotel kommod. Visit the Lake Constance hot spring where you can relax in the warm thermal baths, or enjoy a walk along the lakeshore promenade with its many cafés and restaurants. The Überlinger Stadtgarten (City Garden) and the Höhlengarten (Cave Garden) are also worth a visit and provide a magnificent view of the lake.
Wherever you go on the shores of Lake Constance, you will not be disappointed.
An excursion to Lake Constance offers so many leisure activities and places of interest that there is scarcely enough space here to list them all. Whether you are interested in history and culture, want to enjoy nature or just wish to relax, you will find the right destination along the shores of Lake Constance. Pack your camera and get yourself ready for a day filled with unforgettable impressions and experiences.
Picture: (c) Petra Rainer – Bodensee-Vorarlberg
