Whoever calls Lake Constance “Swabian Sea” does not do justice to the third-largest lake in middle Europe and its surrounding area. In a short time you may learn about the diversity of the region, you will travel through Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The alpine mountain ranges form the background for agricultural areas with vineyards, orchards and cow pastures. Most visitors come between April and October and especially the autumn with vintage, fruit harvest and the first morning mists over the lake is attractive.
We start our round trip in Meersburg on the northern shore of the lake, a picturesque village with twisted places and beautiful half-timbered houses. On the outskirts in the centre of the Lake Constance wine growing region on of the most successful wineries at present is located. The family-owned winery Aufricht grows excellent white and red wines on 30 hectares. Take a seat on the roof terrace with lake view and try the fine wines. Afterwards it is definitely worth to make a guided tour of Meersburg to see all the highlights. Just amazing: the view of the sunset from the terrace of the palace. Right on the shore promenade the Romantik Hotel Residenz am See awaits you. You can enjoy a view of the lake from the guest rooms and also from the gourmet restaurant, which offers culinary delights of the highest class.
If you continue your journey on the shore in eastern direction you come to Austria. Just a few kilometres from the lake, the Bregenzerwald is an alpine picture-book landscape: high mountains, lush green meadows with brown cows, small, picturesque villages. The Romantik Hotel Das Schiff is a good starting point to discover the surrounding area. Learn at the dairy Metzler in Egg what you may produce from whey and buy some of the cosmetic products of the family business. Afterwards the cheese cellar in Lingenau is worth a visit. Behind an unspectacular façade of concrete more than 30,000 cheeses are stored. An amazing picture that makes your mouth water. This increases the anticipation for the dinner at the Romantik Hotel Das Schiff. The kitchen crew – by the way, all women – use mainly products of the region, among them, of course, cheese.
We continue the journey parallel to the south-eastern shore of Lake Constance, but stay away from the lake to arrive at Appenzell in Switzerland. The village is located in the middle of a unique hillside and delights with houses decorated with colourful paintings. Directly on the main square, the Landsgemeindeplatz, the Romantik Hotel Saentis hides behind a marvellous façade. Regular jazz concerts at the bar have become a popular meeting-point for holiday-makers and locals alike. In the personal atmosphere you may enjoy a time-out and indulge in culinary delights. A close-knit net of hiking trails covers the area and the Alpstein mountain region with up to 2,500 metres peaks is ideal for more demanding tours and climbs. Since 1983 the abbey district of near-by St. Gallen is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The abbey library is one of the oldest and most splendid libraries in the world, the baroque hall astonishes with its magnificent interior.
The journey continues on the southern shore of Lake Constance. The next stop is Gottlieben and the Romantik Hotel Die Krone. Only the house-own sun terrace separates the hotel from the so-called “See-Rhein”. (It is not Lake Constance here, but a part of the Rhine – you will not see or feel the difference!) Inside the hotel you will find guest rooms named after European royal houses with an elegant, pure style. After enjoying a meal created by chef Raphael Luethy, a culinary up-and-coming star according to the Gault Millau, it is worth to take a walk in the picturesque village. The nearby Palace of Arenenberg, which was home to Hortense and Eugénie, mother and wife of Napoleon III., is thanks to the original interior a beautiful possibility to take a trip into the past.
We continue the trip around the western end of Lake Constance and return to the northern, German shore to Ueberlingen. Although the town is officially a spa town, it intentionally avoids the title and prides itself with a lively old town. With a twinkle in the eye ueberlingen is called “Little Nice of Lake Constance” thanks to the more than 5 km long promenade with palm trees and inviting street cafés. On a large meadow close to the Palace of Rauenstein an educational trail on apples was installed with more than 50 different apple trees, giving visitors an impression of the fruit diversity of the past. A 400 years old mansion on the outskirts of ueberlingen houses the Romantik Hotel Johanniter-Kreuz. For centuries it was administered by the Order of Saint John as post station, today the forth generation of the Liebich family is in charge. Relax a little in the small, minimalistic spa area.
On your tour around Lake Constance you should leave the car from time to time. Make use of the combination of bicycles to rent and ships to get a more authentic and closer impression of the various regions around the lake. Do not miss all the interesting facets – culinary, cultural, historical and natural.
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