How to get to Lake Constance from Karlsruhe. Lindau - holidays with children

How to get to lake constance

Lake Constance, or as it is also called, Bodensee is located in the south of Germany and is located on the territory of two states - Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Also, on the other hand, the lake is located on the shores of Switzerland and partly of Austria. The lake itself is conditionally divided into upper and lower, in its water area is the island of Mainau. Bodensee in Germany is popular resort place recreation.

by the most major cities on the lake from the German side are Friedrichshafen, Meersburg and Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg and Lindau in Bavaria. It is more convenient to get to the first three from such major cities, located in relative proximity, like Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart or Karlsruhe. It is more convenient to get to Lindau from Munich.

How to get to Lake Constance from Frankfurt am Main

The distance between Frankfurt and Lake Constance is on average about 400 km. Getting from Frankfurt to Friedrichshafen you can take a train with a change in Ulm or Stuttgart, or direct bus. You can check the flight schedule accordingly. on the railway service .

You can only get to it with a change in Friedrichshafen, since there is no railway station in Meersburg. You can get directly from Friedrichshafen to Meersburg by taxi, the distance is about 15 km

Before Constanta There are no direct trains from Frankfurt, but you can get there with a change in Offenburg, the journey time is about 4.5 hours. Once a day, there is also a direct bus that departs from the central railway station Frankfurt at 11 am, travel time - almost 6 hours.

How to get to Lake Constance from Stuttgart

The distance between Stuttgart and the Bodensee is on average 200 km. from Stuttgart to Friedrichshafen can be reached both by a direct regional train and by a high-speed train with a short change in Ulm. By bus, you can also get on a direct route, or on a route with a change in Freiburg.

You can get to the same way, having previously reached Friedrichshafen, since the nearest railway station is located there.

Direct trains to Constanta from Stuttgart not, but there are options with transfers in Singen (travel time - about 3 hours). But direct buses run even faster along the route, within 2 hours on the way. Buses leave both from the city center and from Stuttgart Airport. Direct buses run on the route more than 5 times a day.

How to get to Lake Constance from Karlsruhe

The distance between Karlsruhe and Lake Constance (or Lake Constance, as it is also called) is 250 km. direct rail or bus service between Karlsruhe and Friedrichshafen no, but there are options with transfers in Singen or Ulm (train) or in Freiburg (bus) .

It is necessary to get to the same way as to Friedrichshafen, the distance of 15 km between Friedrichshafen and Meersburg is most conveniently overcome by taxi.

The most convenient way to get from Karlsruhe to the town Konstanz. Direct regional trains run between settlements (travel time is about 3 hours). Trains run throughout the day. Direct buses also run twice a day (journey time, almost 4 hours).

Ștefan Jurcă/Bodensee

Where to stay on Lake Constance

All Bodensee hotels are divided into city and country hotels, which you need to choose according to the principle whether you want to stay in the center cultural life or want to relax in nature. Also, when choosing a hotel, it is worth considering the distance to the lake itself. Some hotels have their own access to the beach, while others are located a few kilometers from the coast. Since the Bodensee is considered a popular resort in summer time, then for a holiday in the "high" season it is worth reserving accommodation in advance.

Bodensee-Hotel Sonnenhof 4 stars

This hotel is located in Cresbronn. The hotel can offer its guests panoramic views of the lake, private beach, spa, swimming pool, restaurant. Parking and internet access is free for hotel guests. The hotel is located 2 km from railway station Cresbron.

The hotel has standard, deluxe, premium and suite rooms. All rooms have a safe, mini-bar, hairdryer, TV, telephone, radio. Some of the rooms are equipped with balconies. Breakfasts are included in the price. The hotel received the highest marks for the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms, as well as for the location.

The hotel offers luggage storage. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 12.00. You can find out more about the availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Hotel Der Löwen 3 stars

The hotel is located in the town of Hagnau, in its green area and is considered a country hotel. Here you can find a private beach, a Japanese garden, a restaurant in traditional style, terrace. The nearest railway station is about 10 km away. Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the hotel. Free private parking is available on site.

In the rooms you can find everything you need to relax, including telephone, radio, satellite TV. The hotel itself is housed in a cozy historic building. Top Reviews the hotel received for the cleanliness of the rooms and the work of the staff.

Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00. You can find out more about the availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates on the booking websiteBooking.com.

Landhaus Müller 3 stars

This hotel is located in Immenstadt. Lake Constance is within walking distance. The hotel offers its guests to use the sauna, free parking and wireless internet throughout its territory.

The hotel has single and double rooms, most of which have balconies. Breakfasts by type Buffet» are included in the price and are served in the garden or on the terrace. In the rooms you can find a TV, telephone, mini-bar, refrigerator. The hotel received the best ratings for the work of the staff and the cleanliness of the rooms.

Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 10.30. You can find out more about the availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Seehotel Kressbronn

The hotel is located in the green area of ​​Cresbrona, a 15-minute walk from the centre. The hotel has its own beach and terrace on the lake. There is also a restaurant on site. local cuisine. Free public parking is available nearby. Wi-Fi is available on site free of charge.

The hotel has single and double rooms. Some of the rooms have views of the lake, others have views of the garden. Inside you can find a telephone, TV, safe, hair dryer. Breakfasts are included in the price. The hotel received the best reviews from guests for its location and cleanliness of the rooms.

Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 11.00. You can find out more about the availability and cost of staying at the hotel for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

What to see on Lake Constance

To the sights of the Bodensee, in addition to the directly picturesque marine species, include numerous architectural monuments of cities located on the lake. In addition, another unique attraction of Lake Constance is the island of flowers Mainau, where it is most convenient to get from the town of Konstanz, which is located on south coast lakes.

Friedrichshafen

Friedrichshafen is known for several historical monuments that have been preserved here. For example, the castle church of the 17th century deserves attention, as well as the Catholic churches of St. Nicholas and St. Petrus Canisius. But the city gained the greatest fame thanks to the development of airship building here. The city has several museums dedicated to aeronautics. In addition, flying zeppelins can often be seen over Lake Constance itself. More about .

Meersburg can boast of two castles at once, which have been preserved here. One of them, the so-called Old Castle, dates back to the 7th century of creation, the second - the New one - was built in the 18th century. Both castles are open to visitors, now museums are located here. In addition, Meersburg boasts of its thermal complex, which was opened recently, but has already gained popularity and may well compete with the Baden-Baden thermal baths. The modern and equipped thermal complex of Meersburg boasts several swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms and hammams, water attractions and hydromassage facilities. More about .

Lindau

Not many historical monuments have been preserved in Lindau, the city is more suitable for leisurely walks along the lake than for sightseeing. Nevertheless, the architectural monuments of Lindau include, for example, catholic church Mary, decorated with paintings by baroque masters, the old city hall, which was built in the early 15th century, the Mangturm lighthouse tower, the construction of which took place in the 11th-12th centuries. The Lindau City Museum, which tells about the history of the region, also deserves attention. On the waterfront of the city there are many attractive buildings, villas, small palaces and castles, as well as a Tuscan-style park. More about .

Konstanz

Konstanz was more fortunate with the quantity architectural structures worthy of attention. The old part of the city has been preserved almost untouched, therefore, walking here, you can see many historical buildings. The Cathedral is considered the central historical monument of the city. Virgin Mary. Its construction took place in the 15th century, and appearance made in the Gothic style.

The building of the local Benedictine abbey, which was built 10 centuries ago, also attracts attention. Now its premises house an archaeological museum. You should definitely visit the University of Constanta with its botanical gardens located on the Gissberg mountain, which overlooks the old town. There is also an oceanarium in Constanta, which will be of interest to both adults and children. Konstanz is also the starting point for a trip to the island of flowers Mainau, but more on that later.

Mainau Island in Lake Constance

Visiting the island of Mainau is a great idea how to spend a holiday on Lake Constance. Mainau Island is the third largest island in the lake, with mainland(one of the districts of the city of Konstanz) it is connected by a car-pedestrian bridge. Here is a vast landscaped garden with rare species of trees, shrubs, plants and flowers. In addition, here is the baroque palace-residence of the Swedish family Bernadotte, surrounded by elegant greenhouses.

It makes sense to visit the island starting from early spring, as more and more new species of plants and flowers are constantly blooming here, continuously replacing each other throughout the year. The Butterfly Conservatory is open year-round from 10 am to 5 pm winter time and until 7 pm in the summer. The residence is open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm. The Palm Greenhouse is open from 9 am to 9 pm in summer and 5 pm in winter. Entrance tickets can be purchased on the spot, or in advance on the official website of the island.

There are many separate sections on Mainau, divided by plant species. So, here you can find a dahlia garden, an arboretum, a garden of perennial flowers, a sequoia alley, a Mediterranean-style terrace, a meadow of spring flowers, a staircase made of Italian varieties of flowers, a plane tree alley, a hydrangea corner, a promenade of spray roses, a rhododendron slope, as well as many interesting and original buildings and sculptures. More about .

July 12th, 2016 07:41 pm

I have written more than one post about the cities of Lake Constance. No one significant city the coast of Constance did not go unnoticed: Konstanz, Meersburg, Friedrichshafen - you can read about these cities at the links. It's time to talk about the brightest city on the coast - Lindau, with which I will complete this series. Lindau is so good that in the two years of my life in the south of Baden-Württemberg I have been there six or seven times, of which five times I have brought my guests here, as this is the most a nice place on the coast with the best view to Lake Constance, and I tried to show my guests the brightest in the region, the list of which is definitely headed by Lindau Island.

The mainland of the city of Lindau is modern and boring, there is nothing to see there. All the most interesting here is on the island. To clearly understand how beautiful Lindau Island is, I will give a bird's-eye view of it. The island is connected to the coast by a road bridge and a railway embankment. So you can get to the island both by train and by car. It is especially pleasing that the island has a large and inexpensive parking lot and even in the season there are no problems to park a car, unlike the same Meersburg.

Snapshot from Wikipedia

As you can see from the photo, Lindau Island is quite compact - its area is only 0.68 km², but at the same time, this territory is rich in bright locations and gorgeous views. Most of the island is occupied by a well-preserved old town, which is a historical monument. Let's start the review with it.

01. For those who arrive on the island by train, a walk around the city begins with a chic station building built between 1913 and 1921.

02. The island can be reached by the most common regional trains of the Deutschebahn.

03. Next to the station there is another beautiful building built in Art Nouveau style. It currently houses the city library and post office.

04. At the station I met a couple of funny babies. Evaluate the dimensions in comparison with conventional machines!

05. But the machine is also a four-seater! I can imagine going on such a four-week trip!

06. Let's move to the main street of the old town Maximillianstrasse. On the left in the photo is the oldest surviving building in the city - the old town hall, built in 1422 in the Gothic style and rebuilt in 1576 in the Renaissance style. To the right of it is the new town hall.

07. The luxurious painting of the old town hall was made in the 19th century. The frescoes depict various characters and events from the city's history.

08. From the reverse side, the building looks no less pretty.

09. Let's continue walking along the central street of the old town, which has a traditional look for Bavarian towns.

10. Beautiful, but crowded and bustling - Lindau Island is a popular resort, located on the border of three countries - Germany, Austria and Switzerland, so there are enough tourists here.

11. It's not what you think. six pointed star in Bavaria traditionally celebrated the houses of brewers. It was believed that this symbol is a talisman of beer producers.

12. Bay windows, traditional for the south of Germany (recently discovered this new word for myself from a report by the famous Morsa).

13. You can admire the local architecture for a long time, but I have long cooled down to medieval towns, and I came to the island not at all for the sake of these cute streets that are in every city in southern Germany.

14. But palm trees do not grow in the ground in every city in the German south.

15. Such vegetation adds a resort shade to the island, which is already so pronounced here.

16. I come here for a walk and millionaires (by the way, what country number, no one will tell you?)

17. And hipsters.

18. Krutetsky tuning, by the way.

19. In addition to palm trees, there are a lot of flowers in the city, sometimes intertwined in fancy arches.

20. Sometimes just winding up the walls of houses.

21. Beautiful!

22. A sea of ​​flowers, palm trees, agaves - the island is immersed in greenery and walking along it is a real pleasure.

23. It is enough to turn off the main street and you find yourself among the uncrowded and cozy streets.

24. I like such places more than the center teeming with tourists.

25. What a nice house, probably with an interesting layout inside.

26. In the labyrinths of narrow streets, cats lazily collapsed in the shade.

27. That's who has a good life!

28. One of the city fountains with a statue of Neptune.

29. River Station located right next to the train station. Numerous boats leave from here. regular flights between the cities of the Constance coast of all three countries.

30. Everything is beautiful on the island of Lindau, but I am especially impressed with the views of the lake. There will be many more along the way.

31. Wheeled retro-steamboat "Hohentwiel" under the Austrian flag rides tourists on the lake.

32. Beautiful ship! Year of construction 1913.

33. One of the tallest buildings on the island, in the features of which the military architecture of the 19th century is guessed. The island was until 1973 the haven of the military and there was an active military unit.

34. Railway tracks end in dead ends, five meters from which the waters of Lake Constance are already.

35. A pleasant walking path runs along the southwestern part of the lake near the water, separated from the water by a stone wall, in the place of which there was a defensive wall with towers in the past. That wall has not been preserved, but some towers have been preserved.

36. Such are the views of the lake from the southern part of the island.

37. The mountainous coast is Austria.

38. Near this walking path near the coast I notice some kind of sculpture park.

39. Which turns out to be a store sculptural compositions for garden.

40. Some sculptor bought the territory of the freight railway station and opened here such a shop selling figurines and other utensils for the home garden.

41. Former buildings freight station very picturesquely overgrown with greenery.

42. As you have already noticed from the previous pictures, Lindau Island is very green. Therefore, it is pleasant to walk here in any weather - even in the heat it is cool here due to the abundance of greenery and the proximity of the lake.

43. My guest received a charge of positive and joy from this walk. Lindau has not left anyone indifferent.

44. Once on this place there was one of the towers of the fortress wall, now it's just some kind of technical room. Pay attention to the purity of the water in the lake.

45. For those who want to swim in the purest water, there is a special ladder.

46. ​​Another former barracks, built in 1902-1903 and used for its intended purpose until 1973. For seventy years of history, the troops of the Kingdom of Bavaria were stationed here, then the soldiers of the Reichswehr, who later became the Wehrmacht. After the end of the Second World War, the French occupation troops were stationed here for ten years, after which the Bundeswehr air defense battalion settled here, the withdrawal of which in 1973 ended the garrison history of the island.

47. Now, on the site of the former parade ground, a lawn, where instead of harsh warriors, hippies and punks hang out, drink beer and smoke weed.

48. A couple more views from this part of the island. The town on the opposite bank is the Austrian Bregenz. In general, the Austrian coast of Lake Constance is completely boring, like the Swiss. All the brightest, most interesting and touristic is only in the German sector of the coastline.

49. And the views from the German coast are the most impressive.

50. The sun is gradually rising towards the horizon, promising a spectacular sunset.

51. Swiss steamboat.

52. One can estimate the scale of one of the largest lakes in central Europe.

53. For those who want to see the details on the opposite bank, there are monocles in places with the best panoramas.

54. If central streets filled mostly with tourists, outside of them most of the people are locals. Someone is doing sports on the embankment...

55. ...someone is reading a book or just relaxing...

56. Someone is walking the dog. Very pleasant atmosphere in this place and the view of the lake here is just gorgeous.

57. Another train arrives on the railway embankment on the island.

58. View of the embankment from the bridge.

59. Swiss trains also come here.

60. Another reason to visit Lindau Island is the sunsets.

61. Lindau has the most beautiful sunsets on Lake Constance, as I propose to see from these photographs.

62. No other city in the German part of the Constance coast has such views and such sunsets.

63.

64. For this alone, it would be worth coming here.

65.

66. Since Lindau is located in the eastern part of the lake, from here you can watch how the sun hides behind the horizon, going under the water.

67. Beauty!

68. After sunset, the island lights up and its streets are transformed. The bustle of the day leaves with the setting sun, and the cozy warm atmosphere of a southern resort reigns on the streets.

69. Evening Lindau is beautiful!

70. Business card cities are the gateway to the harbor with the only lighthouse of Lake Constance, to which I even devoted a separate post.

71. Fast forward to another day. My good friend from Berlin came to me, and this time I decided not to confine myself to a walk along Lindau, but to sail on a boat on the lake. Since the boat started from the island, it was possible to look at it from the water.

72. Having set sail from the Lindau pier, the ship headed for the Austrian coast, so that it was possible to examine it up close.

73. The Austrian coast is interesting for its landscape - the foothills of the Alps immediately begin and literally behind them are real mountains with snow-capped peaks and gorgeous panoramas, which you can enjoy by climbing one of the coastal mountains on the Bregenz cable car.

74. But in terms of sights and architecture, the Austrian coast is nothing. There are a couple of historical buildings here, like the army barracks in the center of the frame, but in general the whole building is modern and completely unimpressive.

75. In this picture, the support of the Bregenz cable car is visible on the top of the mountain. A very bright place that I can recommend to visit. In addition to the impressive views that open from the observation deck both to Lake Constance and to the side of the Alps, there is also a small zoo, so it’s quite possible to occupy yourself for an hour or two on this peak.

76. An original water scene with large-scale figures of bulls off the coast of Bregenz. It seems that some kind of concerts or theatrical performances are held here.

77. Austrian water police.

78. Another interesting attraction, which I never got to and apparently will not get to, is a 33-kilometer narrow-gauge railway built in 1895 to regulate the alpine section of the Rhine River. Currently, it is a museum and rides tourists along the river.

79. We return back to Lindau Island from the western side.

80. Barracks from 1903, which currently houses some kind of hospital complex. On the right in the picture you can see the powder tower, which was built back in 1508, then in 1897-1898 it was rebuilt into a residential building. During the restructuring was completely changed interior layout towers.

81. View of the harbor of Lindau, the entrance to which is indicated by a lighthouse.

82. One of the oldest surviving towers of the island is Mangturm, built in 1180 and served as a lighthouse until 1300.

83. The pier opposite the lighthouse is crowned with a statue of a lion, which is a symbolic figure of Bavaria and integral part her coat of arms. A 70-ton Bavarian lion was installed at the end of the pier in 1856.

84. Part of the development of the island is modern, but thanks to the classical form of houses and tiled roofs, the eye does not immediately notice the relative modernity of the architecture of this quarter.

85. The same houses from the last photo, but from a different angle. Post-war architecture is devoid of any frills, but still the Germans manage to create stunningly cozy quarters, consisting entirely of modern buildings.

86. The architecture of the 21st century on the island of Lindau is present in pinpoint doses, but it is also harmoniously inscribed in the overall panorama, without causing any disharmony in architectural appearance islands.

87. I will complete the story about this great place, another sunset.

88. Summarizing all the above and shown, I can only say that if you are ever going to Lake Constance and want to see its brightest side, do not hesitate to go to Lindau Island.

89. This place can impress even seasoned travelers who have seen a lot. A real piece of heaven on German soil.

Lindau - on the borders of three states March 3rd, 2014

There is such a city in the very south of Germany, on the shores of Lake Constance, very close to the borders of Austria and Switzerland. A small German paradise within a small island connected to the mainland by two roads: railway and road. To get to the island, at different times I used different of these roads.

Like many other localities in the Lake Constance region, Lindau has ancient history, and scattered around a large number of attractions. The historic Old Town is located on an island and is connected to the mainland by a causeway and bridge, the mainland is mostly new urban areas.

Let's take a closer look at it...

Photo 2.

Obviously, the first settlements appeared on the site of Lindau as early as the 1st century BC, and the name Lindau itself was first mentioned in historical chronicles in 882, when a convent was founded on the mainland of the territory, later transferred to the island for security reasons. The very name of the city, like a number of others geographical names on the territory of Germany and traditional Germanic names comes from Linde - linden, a sacred and beloved tree of the ancient Germans.

The oldest surviving building in Lindau is currently considered to be the Heidenmauer (Pagan Wall) fortification wall, according to one version, which arose back in the days of the Roman Empire, when various Germanic pagan tribes inhabited the vicinity of the city.

Photo 3.

The port complex Lindau, built in 1856, is still considered the most beautiful on Lake Constance. On one side of the entrance to the harbor is the Bavarian Lion - a 6-meter-high monument by the sculptor Johan von Halbing, proudly looking at Lake Constance, on the other - the New Lighthouse. Nearby - built in the 13th century old lighthouse(Mangturm tower). At night, thousands of lights lit in the port create a magical atmosphere here.

Photo 4.

Old Town Hall. Built in 1422-1436. in the Gothic style, in 1536 and 1578 it was reconstructed in the Renaissance style. On the ground floor there is a library with a long history and a city archive. Both upper rooms are currently used as meeting rooms. Both inside and outside the town hall is decorated with paintings on biblical and historical motifs.

Photo 5.

City Museum (House Cavazzen) After a city fire in 1730, it was restored under the supervision of the architect Grubermann from Teufen, and, according to the art historian Dehio, was the most beautiful burgher house on Lake Constance. Since 1929, this Baroque building has housed the City Museum with an extensive collection of furniture, silverware, ceramics, historical toys, as well as paintings and sculptures, and mechanical musical instruments. The painting on the facade of the house also deserves attention.

Photo 6.

Former "Church of the tramps" (Barfusserkirche), since 1951 the city theater. Maximilianstrasse street, with the so-called "Bread house" (Brotlaube) and numerous historical buildings. Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Mary, the former Church of the Ascension of the Virgin, baroque ceiling paintings and majestic decor in red and gold tones.

Photo 7.

Church of St. Peter (Peterskirche, she is the Church of the Fishermen), built in the 8th c. n. e. - the oldest in Lindau. Frescoes by masters Hans Holbein the Elder (1480) and Mathis Miller have been preserved on the northern wall.

Diebsturm (Thieves' Tower), built around 1370 as the westernmost point of the old city fortification. In the Middle Ages, the city prison was located here.

Embankment Aeschacher Ufer
Various villas and mansions in the mainland (Schachen Palace, Lindenhof Villa, Hoyerberg- and Gruber Palaces, Leuchtenberg Villa, Holdereggen Castle, Senftenau Castle, Tuscany Park with a villa (currently the city administration is located here), Montfort Palace.

Tower Pulverturm (Powder Tower) on the western tip of the island, built in 1508. In the 16th century it became part of the city wall.

Photo 8.

For many years Lindau has been the venue for the Deutschland Tour. Many international athletics competitions have been held here. Lindau Club sailing- organizer of the regatta "Around the Bodensee" (Rund um den Bodensee).
Especially many opportunities are offered in the city and its surroundings for water sports.

Beaches and pools of the city.
The Eichwald bathing area is located in the Reutin area. Beach, 3 outdoor pools heated, water slide, windsurfer, playground, green area.
Swimming area Lindenhof in Bad Schachen: pool under open sky in the magnificent natural surroundings of the Lindenhof park.
Aeschacher Bad beach on the Aeschacher Ufer promenade.
Beach of the Hotel Bad Schachen Outdoor pool Oberreitnau in the Oberreitnau area: heated pool, waterslides, sports games, beach, kiosk, children's pool.

Photo 9.

Every fourth Wednesday of July, the city hosts a traditional Children's Day (Kinderfest). It was first set up in 1855. The organizer was Valentin Haider. It is believed that it was held specifically to return the “abandoned” local youth to a joyful mood. To this day, this holiday is celebrated by primary school students from all over the city; it also gathers numerous guests from neighboring cities. The official part takes place in the morning, but in the afternoon the holiday turns into general folk festivals throughout the city.

Other regular events include conferences Meeting of Nobel Laureates And Weeks of psychotherapy, gardening days.
The Easter Young Masters Piano Festival takes place in April, followed by the Isle of Music Festival in the city's cafes and restaurants and Ball Night in May, as well as a series of events at the large Bodensee International Festival. At the end of November and December, a traditional pre-Christmas market is held.
Numerous visitors are attracted by a large casino.

Photo 10.

Currently, horticulture is developed in the vicinity of the city, so you can buy the freshest fruits and vegetables at the local market, and a large juice manufacturer is also located here. The restaurants serve fresh fish, fresh from the Bodensee. The water that flows from the taps also comes from the Bodensee, but the gas used on the farm is purchased from us, in Russia!
Numerous cafes and restaurants, focused mainly on tourists, are open until late on the island, but in the mainland of the city they are closed mostly at 11 o'clock. Numerous nightclubs operate in the port and in the industrial zone of the city (Nana, Marmorsaal in the port, Pool Factory, Grisu, DOME, CLUB VAUDEVILLE in the city).

Photo 11.

In the vicinity of Lake Constance, we recommend visiting cable car Pfander-Seilbahn in Bregenz with an Alpine nature park and a view of the eastern part of Lake Constance; Affenberg Castle in Salem; baroque Wallfahrtkirche church in Birnau, nature reserve ( natural Park) Bodanryuk, as well as take a boat trip on the lake (

Photo 12.

Major highways pass mainly bypassing Lake Constance.
All areas of the city are interconnected by buses, a special bus also runs between the island and the mainland (only in summer).
The railway station is located right on the island, not far from the port.
By boat you can get from Lindau to Konstanz, Bregenz in Austria and other points along the coast of Lake Constance. In addition to the central port, the city has numerous berths for yachts.

Photo 13.

Photo 14.

Photo 15.

Photo 16.

Photo 17.

Photo 18.

Photo 19.

On the shores of Lake Constance, in addition to small villages and resort towns, there are four cities: the Austrian Bregenz and the German Konstanz, Friedrichshafen and Lindau.

Here we will talk about one of these cities, about a German, or rather, a Bavarian town.

The city is small, the population is only 24.5 thousand people, but it is visited annually by up to 1 million tourists. What is so attractive here?

Firstly, the climate is one of the southernmost cities in Germany. Secondly, history and architecture - the old city is very beautiful, its history goes back centuries. Thirdly, the location and landscape - it lies in the foothills of the Alps, on the coast huge lake(Lake Constance is one of the three largest lakes in Western Europe, losing the championship to Balaton and Lake Geneva). This is, if you like, the German Venice.

The historic center of Lindau fit on a small island. The settlement on the island arose a long time ago, but it especially grew after a monastery was founded there. Holy Mother of God-under-Limes. In 882 it is already mentioned in chronicles as the city of Lindau. "Linde" in German means "linden".

Subsequently, the city receives the status of a free imperial city, i.e. he reports directly to the emperor. And it becomes part of Bavaria only in 1805.

From above, Lindau Island resembles a short-haired fish drawn to the shore by two ropes: a short road-pedestrian bridge and a 500-meter dam with railway tracks. Imagine, on this tiny island (0.68 sq. Km) stretched railway, although much of present-day Lindau is on the coast. Moreover, regular buses run on this island.

Well, we went to the island on foot. The outlines of the island were lost in the mist. But just a couple of hours ago we walked around, under a clear, cloudless sky. As soon as we descended into the lowlands of Lake Constance, we immediately found ourselves in a thick "milk".

Nevertheless, just as Landsberg liked the serenity of a fine day, so Lindau was nebula to face - by the end of the walk we were unconditionally fascinated by the city, dissolving into night and fog.

Well, for now, we're just crossing the bridge. Swans are barely visible on the lake, poles stick out of the water.

We go up to the beach and enter the park. Araucaria, plane trees, lindens. Small but very nice park.

And here is the coat of arms of Lindau - linden.

The park ends. A short lane - and we go to the Market Square, Marktplatz.

In the center of the square stands the fountain of Neptune. Neptune with a trident is raised on a pillar and looks slightly dejected. And there is a reason - two towers are adjacent to it, against which it looks frivolous.

The towers belong to two churches standing side by side. One is Protestant, the other is Catholic.

That's pluralism. To understand which of them is of what sense, you can only go inside.

We go to the first - definitely Protestant. This is the church of St. Stephen of the 12th century. Of course, it was made Protestant four centuries later, in 1526.

In the second church - magnificent baroque. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was built in 1748-1752. architect Johann Bagnato. Previously, the 9th century Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which belonged to the abbey, around which the city of Lindau arose, stood on this site.

The opposite side of the Marktplatz is occupied by an elegant palace with a painted facade. At first I thought that it was nothing but the Town Hall - it was painfully beautiful. It turned out, no, the Town Hall is still ahead. And this is the so-called "Cavazzen house" built in 1729. Now it houses the city museum: a collection of musical instruments, furniture, interior items.

Upon entering, these are the characters:

Charming balcony. And it seems that someone is going there now

The next square - Bismarck Square - turned out to be quite small, but it was on it that the Town Hall was located, and not even one, but two: the old and the new. However, the new City Hall almost does not receive attention - admiring glances are immediately riveted to the old City Hall, which looks like a fairy-tale house with a brightly painted facade, a covered staircase and a bay window, with swirls-volts along the contour of the roof.

The Old Town Hall of Lindau was built in 1422-1436, and in 1576 it was completely rebuilt. The outer façade depicts the celebrations on the occasion of the Imperial Reichstag held in this building in 1496. True, these are not authentic paintings, they were made in 1972-75 according to old documents.

Decrees used to be read from the bay window of the town hall

It turned out that the town hall has two facades. WITH opposite side- the same elegant and bright painted facade.

And the area, by the way, is more spacious on the other side. It is called the Imperial Square (Reichplatz).

It has a nice little park.

In the center of the square is the Lindavia Fountain. Fountain in pink marble with bronze sculptures. It was installed in 1884 in honor of the coronation of the Bavarian King Ludwig II.

In the center of the composition is Lindavia, the mythical patroness of the city. She is surrounded by figures symbolizing shipping, fishing, winemaking and agriculture.

Having bypassed the Town Hall, we returned to Bismarck Square. By the way, what is the main Town Square emphasized by the fact that it was here that the largest Lindau Christmas tree was installed.

This time we got a better look at the New Town Hall. Its main decoration is a group of bells under the upper window. The bells ring daily at 11:45. Alas, we arrived too late and were deprived of this attraction.

From the main street - Maximilianstrasse - we moved to the neighboring "In the Ditch" and ended up on a square with another fountain. The water theme in this city on the water just pedals.

Having walked a little along the street, we came to a tall tower, rough and simple, behind which one could see a smaller tower and a more intricate view.

The intricate tower was called Thieves' (Diebsturm) and was built in the 14th century as part of the city's fortifications. Subsequently, a prison was made in the tower. Then the name "Thieves" appeared.

The severe tower belonged to St. Peter's church. Such is the neighborhood of the criminal and the saint, church and prison.

St. Peter's Church is one of the oldest on Lake Constance, over 1000 years old. In the 1480s, it was painted by Hans Holbein the Elder. Murals - on the theme of the Passion of Christ, the so-called "Lindau Passion". Some of these most valuable frescoes have been preserved.

Unfortunately, the church was dark, and these paintings could only be seen with a flashlight.

In the church there is a memorial to the soldiers, natives of Lindau, who died during the 1st and 2nd World Wars. The city is small, and there are a lot of names of the dead.

And I was also surprised that in this, of course, very valuable church, there were no ministers. The door is open, come in, do whatever you want. Still, Lindau is a remote German province, I can’t find any other explanation.

After passing through the chain of streets, we came to the Harbor Square (Hafenplatz). Both the streets and the square were decorated in a New Year's way. Large balls were hung on plane trees.

On the Port Square, near the water, stands the Magnturm tower, from the 13th century, which was part of the city's fortifications and at the same time served as a lighthouse.

The New Lighthouse was built near the Magnturm tower on an artificial embankment in 1856.

On the opposite side, the harbor is closed by another pier, at the end of which there is a six-meter sculpture - the Bavarian Lion. The lion looks menacingly at the Swiss coast. It weighs about 70 tons, and was supposed to symbolize the power of the Bavarian kingdom.

Both the Lion and the Lighthouse were outlined in gray outlines from the mist. Signboards with drawings were placed along the embankment. different years with the image of this effective composition: the Lion and the Lighthouse, meeting guests at the entrance to the port.

Lindau train station is located directly opposite the port. Built in 1913-1921 in Art Nouveau style, it still accepts not only commuter trains, but also passenger trains from all over Germany. For such a town, it is too big and too magnificent. But if you remember how many tourists visit this resort town, then everything falls into place.

Meanwhile, it was getting dark, the fog was thickening. The lanterns came on.

We walked along the parapet to the Bavarian Lion, who was sitting at attention in front of his lighthouse counterpart.

The city was simply mesmerizing with its lights and reflections.

And then there were wanderings along the foggy lanes. In some lanes the fog was blue, in others it was green or reddish. Either way, it was magical.

At the eastern tip of the island is an area of ​​small cozy houses, winding passages, unexpected turns

And again we go to the Town Hall

Church of St. Peter in the light of lanterns

On Maximilianstrasse, a house with high arches stands out - the so-called Bread House, Brodlaube.

Finally, we went to the Church of St. Stephen - its bells rang very invitingly, gathering parishioners for service. There were few parishioners, almost in complete solitude we listened to the organ.

And soon both the church and Lindau itself left, the city-island, similar to a fairy-tale vision.

I am glad that I visited this city not at the height of the holiday season, when it is crowded and bustling, when its streets are filled and the sun is hot. In my memory, Lindau remained half asleep, hazy, immersed in a winter slumber and inexpressibly beautiful!

All articles about this trip: Cherehapa

Railway and bus tickets in Europe and If you want to be notified when new stories appear on the site, you can subscribe.

The ancient German city of Lindau / Lindau, which was a free imperial city until 1806, and now - administrative center the eponymous district of the Bavarian administrative district Swabia, is located on the eastern shore of Lake Constance at the top of the "triangle", where the borders of three states converge: Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The first mention of the city dates back to the 9th century and is associated with the monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the lindens, hence the name of the city - Lindau (Linde in German means linden).

In 950, a large market arose on the mainland, which was moved to the island in 1079 for security reasons.

The historic center of Lindau is located on an island with an area of ​​0.68 sq. km, it is home to about 3,000 inhabitants. The island is connected to the mainland of the city by a car-pedestrian bridge and a 500-meter dam with railway tracks.

Railway tracks lead to the built in 1913-1921. Lindau main station / Hauptbahnhof Lindau.

Inside the station, elements of the original decoration have been partially preserved.

Life at the station is in full swing ...

In the first half of the 20th century, the station had a long wooden landing stage, part of which is reproduced. This landing stage served both the station and the passenger pier.

The railway tracks go straight to the water, which is done both for the convenience of passengers and in order to be able to reload cargo on ferries that go across Lake Constance to the German Konstanz and the Swiss Romanshorn.

The harbor of Lindau is absolutely charming.

The entrance to the harbor of the port of the island is closed from the lake by two artificial breakwaters.

On one of them, in 1856, the New Lighthouse / Neuer Leuchtturm was built with a height of 33 meters. The lighthouse is open to visitors and has observation deck, which can be reached by a staircase with 139 steps.

On another pier stands a sculpture of a lion - the symbol of Bavaria, installed in the 19th century.

Moles fence off the port part of the island from Lake Constance, on which Hafenplatz / Port Square is located, completely built up with hotels with cozy cafes and restaurants.

In good weather, the port embankment is probably the most favorite place for both residents and tourists.

Here, on Hafenplatz, stands the old Magnturm tower, left over from the old city fortifications. From the 1200s until the construction of the Neuer Leuchtturm on the jetty, the tower served as a lighthouse.

A colorful roof appeared on the tower in the 19th century.

Next to Hafenplatz is the central square of the historic part of the city - Reichplatz / Imperial Square. It attracts the attention of the Lindavia / Lindavia-Brunnen fountain with a red marble plinth. In the center of the composition is a sculpture of Lindavia, the patroness of the city. The figures surrounding her symbolize the sources of Lindau's wealth - shipping, fishing, winemaking and agriculture.

The colorful facade of the Old Town Hall / Das Alte Rathaus, built in 1422-1436, overlooks the Reichplatz. Inside the Old Town Hall, a Gothic hall and a library have been preserved.

The rear facade of the Old Town Hall overlooks Bismarkplatz.

Next to the Old Town Hall stands the new city council building, built in 1706-1717.

Bismarck Square is located on the main pedestrian and shopping street of Lindau - Maximilianstrasse.

This colorful street is replete with old houses of the 16th-17th centuries.

Many of the houses have a long history. For example, "Haus zum Pflug" was built in 1391 and is a symbiosis of typical buildings neighboring countries overlooking Lake Constance. For example, its arcade is very similar to those in the old houses of the center of Swiss Bern.

Very picturesque and numerous lanes, departing in different directions from Maximilianstrasse.

These lanes connect Maximilianstrasse with another pedestrian street running parallel to it - In der Grub / "In the Ditch".

Walking along this street, we find ourselves on the Market Square / Marktplatz with the fountain of Neptune / Neptunbrunnen.

On the square stands an old house known as the "House of Cavazzen" / Haus zum Cavazzen, the facade of which is decorated with paintings. The house was built in 1729 by the Swiss architect Jacob Grubermann. Now the house houses a city museum with a unique collection of 60 mechanical musical instruments from the Friedrich Wilhelm Kalina Collection.

There are also two old churches on the square.

Church of St. Stephana / Stephanskirche (she is on the left in the photo) has been standing on the Market Square since the end of the 12th century. The church was rebuilt many times, since 1526 it has been evangelical.

The Cathedral of the Virgin / Münster unserer Lieben Frau (the former monastery church, in the photo above - on the right) was built on this site back in the 9th century, in 1748-1752. rebuilt in baroque style by the architect Johann Caspar Bagnato / Johann Caspar Bagnato, author of the castle in Mainau and the new castle in Meersburg.

Luxurious interiors in the Rococo style have been preserved inside.

Let's go back along the In der Grub street to the eastern part of the historic core of the city to the Schrannenplatz square. This is perhaps the most romantic corner of the old city.

An integral ensemble of several historical buildings has been preserved here. From the ancient city fortifications, the Thieves' Tower / Diebsturm with interesting bay windows, built in the 14th century, remained. For my long history the tower changed several names - Malefitzturm, Stadtknechtsturm, Köbler. The name "Thieves" tower received from the time when it became a prison.

Nearby is a house, or rather, a complex of houses and workshops, which belonged to the family of Lindau bell makers Ernst / Ernst, who worked here from 1568 to 1768.

Next to the tower is the oldest church in Lindau - the church of St. Petra / Peterskirche. This temple is over 1000 years old.

Inside, wall paintings have been preserved, including the work of Hans Holbein the Elder "Lindau Passions".

Next to this lovely idyll of the old city, on the initiative of the Foolish Workshop / Narrenzunft - the name of the committee for organizing and holding Shrovetide festivities - in 1989 they built the Fountain of Fools / Narrenbrunnen. It is problematic to give an adequate translation of those allegories that are presented on the fountain (Binsengeister, Kornköffler, Moschkopf, Pflasterbutzen), but it sounds something like this: Idlener, Lost, Waste and someone else.

In fairness, we note that in our material we did not show much of what else can be seen in Lindau: numerous towers, part of the city's fortifications, various historical buildings. It's just that in Lindau, perhaps, not individual buildings are important, but the general atmosphere - the lake and beautiful embankment, charming pedestrian streets and lanes, old houses and squares, cozy cafes and restaurants.

And for shoppers, the city is of particular interest, as there are surprisingly many boutiques and shops with an assortment of world famous brands.

Well, we end our walk around the island at the monumental post office located on the square near the Lindau main station.

The building is decorated with the figure of Lindau, and in her hand she has a symbol of the city - a linden branch.