Lake Constance
Intro
The rolling landscape, the mild climate and a plethora of water sport and other leisure activities are responsible for attracting many holidaymakers and day trippers to Lake Constance, especially in the summer months.
Measuring 64 km in length and 12 km at it widest point, Lake Constance, which is sited at the tripoint of Switzerland/Germany/Austria, is the third largest lake in Central Europe. Scheduled boat services, allied with a range of attractive year-round offers and run by various companies from all three neighbouring states, operate on Lake Constance.
The "white fleet" connects the small shoreline towns and attractions around the lake. On the Swiss, south-western side of the lake, the noteworthy settlements include Romanshorn, Arbon and Rorschach with their delightful old towns, as well as picturesque townships on the Untersee (Lower Lake) such as Gottlieben, Ermatingen and Stein am Rhein. One of Europe’s most beautiful lake and river cruises starts off at Kreuzlingen, leads through the Untersee to Stein, and then continues along the Rhine to Schaffhausen. At the other end of the lake, boats cast off from Rorschach to ply the romantic course of the Old Rhine river and arrive at Rheineck.
Boats, buses, cableways and railways can all be used conveniently and easily with the Lake Constance EuRegio cross-national day card, as well as the multiple-day Lake Constance Experience Card which also offers free admission to 195 excursion destinations. Popular cruise destinations to nearby non-Swiss terrain include Mainau Island with its flower gardens and parks, and Reichenau peninsula with its UNESCO-World-Heritage-listed monastery.
A car ferry connects Romanshorn with the opposite German lakeshore in Friedrichshafen. The Romanshorn boat harbour is the largest leisure harbour on Lake Constance and it is here that Lake Constance unfolds to its maximum size and beauty.
There’s even now a steamship that operates on Lake Constance again: after a labour-intensive restoration over several years to return the vessel to original state, the ‘Hohentwiel’ steamer now offers public cruises again. The former Royal Württemberg steamship is also available for charter.
The gently undulating landscape around Lake Constance is a paradise for active holidaymakers. This excursion and relaxation region offers countless water sports opportunities, hiking and walking trails, but especially skating routes and cycling tracks. A favourite classic is the Lake Constance Cycle Path, which leads right around the lake.
