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Germany’s Riviera
The giant Lake Constance (Bodensee) forms much of Germany’s southwest border with
Switzerland, which provides a spectacular Alpine backdrop. The lake’s balmy, dry climate
makes it perfect for lounging on beaches and for outdoor activities such as hiking,
cycling on lakeside trails, swimming, and boating. The cosmo politan hub of Konstanz
has boat services to many points on the lake. Rich soils and a near-tropical climate have
enabled Mainau to maintain one of Germany’s most elaborate landscaped gardens,
while Reichenau has specialized in market-gardening. The towns that line Bodensee’s
northern shore include the attractive, medieval Meersburg, which boasts the oldest
castle in Germany. To the east, Friedrichshafen, once the hub for Zeppelin flights around
the world, has a fine museum devoted to the airships. Further east, just over the Bavarian
border, Lindau Island awaits with its charming half-timbered old town.BACK ROADS GERMANY
ACTIVITIES
Spend the day at a beach near
KonstanzTake a boat trip to the gardens of
Mainau or the ancient monasteries
of ReichenauSample local wines while enjoying
splendid views of the Alps at
Weingut Aufricht, near MeersburgTour reconstructions of ancient
Bodensee at Unteruhldingen’s
Pfahlbauten MuseumTake a trip in a modern Zeppelin
over FriedrichshafenBelow Arched gateway out of the old
town, Konstanz, see pp238–90 kilometers0 miles55BADEN-
WÜRTTEMBERG
Gehrenberg
2,356 ftB
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eeÜberlinger SeeKONSTANZREICHENAUMAINAUMEERSBURGTHE PFAHLBAUTEN
MUSEUMBASILIKA
BIRNAUFrasnacht
MuolenHagenwilDozwilKesswilGüttingenAltnauLangrickenbach
Dünnershaus
SommeriZubenSchönenbaumgartenMünsterlingenLipbach Riedheim
EfrizweilerSchnetzenhausenManzellNeukirchErdhusenKippenhausenNussdorfDingelsdorfWallhausenBottighofenDettingenMarkelfingenMannenbachNiederzell
Mittelzell
OberzellKaltbrunnFreudentalHegneStaadWollmatingenLangenrainSalensteinBerlingenTüfingenAndelshofen
SpetzgartHödingenDeisendorf MimmenhausenOberuhldingenBaitenhausenRiedetsweilerDaisendorfIttendorfBuggensegelNeufrachHepbachTägerwilenEgnachSteinachScherzingenRoggwilSalmsachHagnau am
Bodensee FischbachAllensbach
LitzelstettenBermatingenStettenRomanshornAmriswilImmenstaad
am BodenseeÜberlingenKreuzlingenArbonUhteruhldingen MarkdorfSWITZERLAND