Lake Constance Holiday On The Bodensee

A ugust is ‘vacation month’        breathtaking views of the          for many Europeans. Shops       snow-capped Alps.                 close, traffic congests at                                         all hours of the day, and a           A visit to the Bodensee begs the   vacant hotel room is almost           question, “how much can I          impossible to find. So, where do      possibly see while I’m here?”      you go if you already live in a       because there are so many          country where international           options. On the German side of     tourists flock to? Many go to the     the lake, Meersburg is charming,   peacefully blissful shores of         boasts an old and a new castle,    Lake Constance.                      has a bustling pedestrian zone,                                          and enough half-timbered houses    Image visiting three different        to send the tourist back in time   countries in only one day! It’s       to an era less rushed. In          possible on Lake Constance.           contract, Birnau Abbey, a Baroque  Called ‘The Bodensee’ in German,      pilgrimage church, seems like a    the lake laps at the shores of        humble loner from the outside –    Germany, Austria, and                 standoffish and silent above the   Switzerland. Visitors have            reflecting waters. A step inside  several options when exploring        her sanctuary shows she’s          this area – by scenic car ride,       anything but shy. The exquisite    on a relaxing cruise via ferry        frescoes, towering walls, and an   boat, or to really experience the     influx of light so brilliant that  area’s personality – ride the         it momentarily halts her guests,   bicycle trail, stopping at each       as if reminding them of the        and every charming village on the     greater scheme of things. The      route. Whatever mode of               town of Langenargen boasts an      transportation is preferred, the      unusual Moorish castle – its       visitor will be enchanted by the      unexpected style feels out of      history, the atmosphere, and the      place among the traditional        German buildings. Yet as the sun      give the visitor a relaxing break  sets over the serene lake, the        from the area’s history…yet still  castle begins to glow with a          remains grounded in a time past.   sense of belonging. Even the                                             waters seem to agree as they                                             reflect a mirror image of Moorish     There are many more little towns   radiance.                            and larger cities along the banks                                        of this tranquil lake, however     On the Austrian side, the town of     it’s the small island of Mainau    Bregenz offers tall gothic            that should not be missed. No one  towers, onion-shaped cupolas, and     lives on this little seven         castle ruins at the very top of a     kilometer long piece of land       mountain. One wonders if the          surrounded by the waters except a  residents of this town look out       count and his family, yet it       of their windows and stare in awe     feels like a secret garden of      at the sheer magnificence they        sorts. Nicknamed ‘the garden       live and work in each and every       island’, Mainau bursts with        day. Or does the landscape become     almost every type of plant life    a mere backdrop – no longer           imaginable. From common flowers    overwhelming them with a deep         to tropical trees, each species    love of the natural beauty?          thrives in the unusually warm                                            climate the island experiences.    On the Swiss side of the lake,        The little island is an easy       Romanshorn mixes the traditional      ferry ride from any of the ports   with the contemporary. It, too        along the lake – a ride            has adorable half-timbered houses     effortlessly enjoyed with a warm   but it also contrasts these with      cup of cappuccino or hot           its modern port and many modern       chocolate.                        tourist attractions. Minigolf,                                           swimming pools, and playgrounds       Lake Constance can be considered   ‘the’ vacation spot of the German     absolutely nothing on a            people. Each city feels like a        waterfront bench while eating ice  seaside retreat with relaxing         cream or taking in centuries of    comforts and captivating sites.       history while shopping, playing    While a ‘melting pot’ of three        golf, or exploring museums. ‘The   beautiful countries, the Bodensee     Bodensee’ translates to ‘holiday’  is the perfect place to unwind –      in any language.                   whether that involves doing            About the Author: Vicki Landes is the author and photographer of Europe for the Senses, a Photographic Journal. She has been soaking up Europe for the last six years and has visited 42 countries. Learn more at Europe for the Senses Published At: www.Isnare.com