Ermatingen
Intro
The former fishing, farming and winegrowing village of Ermatingen is located on the delta of a stream directly on Lower Lake Constance, between Kreuzlingen and Steckborn, and is the first village in the Canton of Thurgau mentioned in a deed that still exists to this day.
Description
Ermatingen was formerly divided into two parts: Stad and Ausserdorf. Stad is a former fishing settlement with dense construction directly on the lake shore. The area forms an impressive front that is rather uniform for the locality, which has the quite the impact when seen from a distance. On the other hand, Ausserdorf, situated on a gentle slope, is characterised by dense buildings with half-timbered houses and stately homes dating from the 17th to 19th century. This former division of the village is now only preserved by the Kreuzlingen-Etzwilen railway line and a factory site.
In addition to its extraordinarily beautiful setting directly on the lake shore, Ermatingen also appeals through its variety of stately villas and parks. These include Villa Lilienberg and its surrounding parklands or the estate of Ulmberg, home to Wolfsberg castle. Today, the Ulmberg estate is the site of a training centre, while Villa Lilienberg houses an entrepreneurial forum. This is why Ermatingen is also a well-known conference and training location.
ISOS
ISOS is the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance. The inventory is maintained by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and lists the most significant settlements in Switzerland. Today, some 1,200 places are included in the inventory, from hamlets right through to cities. The inventory provides information on the development and identity of the settlements listed in it, thereby contributing to the preservation of architectural diversity in Switzerland and promoting both sustainable planning and a high-quality Baukultur.
