Pile dwellings as an introduction to prehistory
The visitor route at the Unteruhldingen Pile Dwellings leads through villages from the Stone and Bronze Ages. It also includes the ARCHAEORAMA multimedia show, featuring a virtual dive to the pile dwellings in Lake Constance. The museum is Germany’s oldest archaeological open-air museum. The exhibits combine a walk through the villages with a digital view beneath the water’s surface.
The site also includes the DISCOVERY TRAIL. At the pile dwelling cinema, experimental archaeologists introduce visitors to historic house-building techniques. Whether you choose a virtual dive or insights into earlier building methods, the different parts of the visitor route offer varied ways to explore the archaeological theme.
From the shores of Lake Constance to the rolling hills
Bodenseekreis stretches along almost the entire northern shore of Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg. To the east, it reaches into the West Allgäu hills and the Upper Swabian hills. The district has 57.7 kilometres of Lake Constance shoreline. The landscape is shaped by the lake and the neighbouring hills, as well as orchards, vineyards, meadows and forests. This means that experiences of nature and culture sit alongside a landscape whose character is shaped by more than just the lakeshore.
Museums exploring technology and history
Friedrichshafen offers another facet of the region’s attractions: The Dornier Museum houses nearly 400 exhibits across 6,000 square metres, including 14 original aircraft and a helicopter. The Zeppelin Museum offers public workshops, guided tours, talks, discussion groups and DIY activities; the individual events vary. Those interested in technology and how it is presented can find a range of formats here, rather than just a single way of viewing an exhibition.
Other museums focus on everyday life and trade. At the Auto & Tractor Museum on Lake Constance, 350 vehicles illustrate 100 years of urban and rural life. The museum in Humpisschloss Castle tells the story of the trading journeys of the Counts of Humpis. The subjects thus range from vehicles and ways of life to the history of trade.
Nature, thermal waters and trails
Eriskircher Ried is the largest and most valuable nature reserve on the German shore of Lake Constance’s Upper Lake, offering visitors opportunities to experience local nature. The Eriskirch Nature Conservation Centre complements this connection with nature by offering natural history tours, talks and special activities for children throughout the year.
In Ăśberlingen, Bodensee-Therme combines thermal bathing, sauna infusions, its own beach and panoramic views of Lake Constance and the Alps. Its thermal water is drawn from a depth of over 1,006 metres and flows into all the warm-water pools. The 53-kilometre SeeGang premium hiking trail connects Konstanz and Ăśberlingen. If you plan to hike it, take the trail conditions into account when making your plans.
Monastery history and wine in Meersburg
Salem Monastery and Castle was founded as a Cistercian monastery in 1134 and is one of the most beautiful and significant cultural monuments in the Lake Constance region. In Meersburg, a wine tasting is part of the castle’s programme: Every Thursday, four selected Lake Constance wines from the Meersburg Winegrowers’ Association are offered in the castle’s historic setting. As the exact schedule may change, check whether the wine tasting is taking place before your visit.
These places each have a different focus: Salem offers an introduction to the history of a Cistercian monastery, while the wine tasting in Meersburg provides a specific opportunity to discover wines from the Lake Constance region. Together with the museums, nature reserve and pile dwellings, they offer a diverse picture of Bodenseekreis for you to explore according to your interests.
Discover more destinations: Eriskirch, Frickingen, Friedrichshafen, Hagnau on Lake Constance, Immenstaad on Lake Constance, Kressbronn on Lake Constance, Langenargen, Bodman-Ludwigshafen, Meersburg, Salem, Tettnang, Ăśberlingen, Oberteuringen, Billafingen, Deggenhausertal, Sipplingen, Roggenbeuren, Neukirch, Meckenbeuren, Heiligenberg, Daisendorf, Bermatingen, Uhldingen-MĂĽhlhofen, Markdorf, Owingen, Baitenhausen, Beuren.
To the main travel overview: Baden-WĂĽrttemberg.
