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One Lake, Four Countries, Four Seasons
Whether you call it the Bodensee or Lake Constance, the lake and its shores full of history, food, wine, castles, museums, and gardens beckon to all of us.
New York, New York – September 27, 2022 - Whether it’s spring, summer, winter, or fall, Lake Constance, has it all. Known as the Bodensee, in German, the lake and the shores of the three countries that border this beautiful piece of water offer tantalizing experiences in food and drink, history, culture, and natural beauty. All within the dramatic backdrop of the Alps in the heart of Europe, Lake Constance is surrounded by Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, with the Principality of Lichtenstein very close by. These four magnificent countries offer a true retreat refreshing the mind and body with cultural sites, including three UNESCO World Heritage sites, spas, five-star hotels, charming pensions, wine and delicious local fare.
Museums and Cultural Prominence
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, founded 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 declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. This magnificent baroque complex, known far beyond the borders of Switzerland, rose from a small hermitage founded in 612 by the monk Gallus in “the green wilderness between Lake Constance and Säntis.” The Zeppelin Museum, located 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.
Gardens and Palaces
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 treasured gardens include the former Cistercian abbey and present-day Salem Palace located 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.
Food and Wine
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 very best of the four neighbouring countries. The famous potato speciality has crossed the Swiss “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, refined with smoked salmon, sweet and flambéed with plums. These dishes can be accompanied by a fruity white wine crafted 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 distilled fruits made into Schnapps, brandies, and Obstler, which are perfect to try after a delicious meal.
Fast and Slow
You can take Lake Constance as a trained athlete and speed around 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: a visit to medieval Meersburg castle can be followed by cycling across the rolling landscape of the Swiss shore before admiring the spectacular view from the ‘Pfänder’ mountain in Austria, then visiting the Museum of Art in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Those wishing to spend some real, quality time discovering more about the culture in each individual country can, of course, take it a little easier. 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.
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 get to Lake Constance from the US or Canada, fly to Bodensee-Airport Friedrichshafen (via Frankfurt) or Stuttgart Airport (both Germany) or Zurich Airport in Switzerland. Of course, trains come in from many cities in Europe to Constance.
www.tourism-bw.com
www.lake-constance.com
www.bodensee.eu/en
Victoria Larson
Press Representative
SouthWest Germany
victoria@vklarsoncommunications.com
www.tourism-bw.com
Natalie Dietl
Overseas Marketing and Sales Manager
SouthWest Germany
n.dietl@tourismus-bw.de
www.tourism-bw.com
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