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Lake Constance,
or
Bodensee in German, is the largest lake in Germany (208
square miles) and one of the “inland seas” of Central
Europe. It is a region of great natural beauty, while
its enormous expanse of water ensures a particularly
mild climate in the spring and autumn, and a gentle,
almost mediterranean atmosphere.
The scenery of the lake is remarkably varied, and the
south shore in particular, which lies within Switzerland
and Austria, offers a beautiful panorama of wooded hills
and, in the distance, the Alps. The north shore is less
hilly, but compensates for this by offering an almost
endless variety of fascinating lakeside towns and
villages, which can be visited by road, of course, or by
the pleasure boats which ply the lake between mid-April
and mid-October.
The Rhine flows into Lake Constance at the east end and
out at the west, while the lake itself is actually three
lakes: the Obersee, the Überlingersee and the Untersee.
The lakeshore is speckled with important nature
reserves, which are undisturbed nesting-places for
numerous varieties of birds. On the other hand, fishing
is very popular, and over 30 species of fish occur in
the lake, particularly blue char, a gastronomic
speciality of the region. Water sports are also very
popular.
Lake Constance is one of the oldest centres of German
culture, and the visitor will hardly know where to begin
his explorations. An obvious choice might be Constance
itself, which is the largest town on the lake and lies
directly on the Swiss border. Constance (Konstanz in
German) is beautifully situated on a stretch of the
Rhine and has a lovely Old Town with many cosy wine
taverns and historic buildings, including the Council
Building, where the Council of Constance met between
1414 and 1418 to settle the schism which threatened to
destroy the late-mediaeval Church. It was here that Jan
Hus, the Bohemian forerunner of the Reformation, was
condemned to be burnt at the stake; a plaque marks the
spot.
Only 7 kilometres north of Constance lies the flower
island of Mainau, one of the ‘jewels’ of the lake, with
its historical connections with the Grand Dukes of
Baden, and now with a branch of the Swedish royal
family. Almost the whole island is covered with
beautiful subtropical and even tropical vegetation –
palms, oranges, lemons, bananas and hibiscus –
encouraged by the gentle climate of the region. Mainau
is also renowned for its gastronomic festivals, held
between November and March.
Further east lies the wine town of Meersburg, whose
castle is the oldest inhabited in Germany. Built on a
steep slope above the lake, Meersburg is almost
unbelievably picturesque and boasts a fine wine museum.
It is also a water-sports centre, and there is a choice
of swimming in the lake or in the town’s heated pool.
Almost at the east end of the lake lies the island town
of Lindau. Here, too, the historic Old Town is
extremely picturesque, with its beautiful mixture of
Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings, and much of
it is pedestrians-only. Lindau is known as the “Garden
City”, and its splendid climate allows its orchards to
flourish even though the Alps are close by. The harbour
is a particular delight, and the town is noted for its
numerous fine restaurants and pleasant outdoor cafés.
Lake Constance is an elegant base for discerning
visitors exploring the whole surrounding region, the
Southern Black Forest is not far away, and much of
Switzerland is within easy driving distance. |
