The deep blue waters of Lake Constance lap the shores of Germany, Switzerland and Austria, making a visit a true international adventure. The lake was formed by the Rhine glacier eons ago and is fed by the Rhine River today. If you make the town of Konstanz (or Constance) your home base, you can gaze at the Alps, explore meadows and mountains, snooze on sandy beaches and take in Roman ruins all in one vacation.
Lake Constance is called Bodensee by the Germans, who claim over half of its 165-mile shoreline. The area is fresh and alluring, with vineyards and orchards scrambling down the hillsides to the water's edge and vibrant villages dotting the lake's edge. The generous sunshine and clean water lures international visitors who fly into Zurich, about 49 miles away, or Munich, some 150 miles to the north. It is also possible to arrive at Konstanz by train, bus or ferry.
Small, cosmopolitan Konstanz (called Constance or Lake Constance in English) is just across the border from Switzerland and makes a great hub for visiting the lake. Konstanz has perched on the northwestern lake edge for some 2,000 years, and parts of its history -- including Roman ruins and medieval churches -- remain visible in the older sections of town. But modern Konstanz is also a vibrant business center for high-tech firms and houses the University of Konstanz, a top-ranking German university.
Like many lively university towns, Konstanz has upbeat energy, and the streets in the cobbled Altstadt region are lined with little bars crowded with the young. Don't miss the Niederburg area of town, where galleries, cafes and antique shops line the narrow, twisting lanes, and look for the ancient convent Kloster Zoffingen, still operated by Dominican nuns. Fit in a visit to the 1,000-year-old Münster church, where Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance styles meld happily. And tour the glass pyramid just in front of the church. It protects the remains of the ancient Roman fort Constantia.
The lake in Konstanz is the focus of a sparkling variety of leisure activities. Tour the lakefront on foot or rent a bike or in-line skates to go farther, faster. Head for the beach at Strandbad Horn on sunny summer days to swim, surf, sail or dive. Alternatively, sunbathe on the lawn while the kids make full use of the playground there. The Bootsvermietung Konstanz in the Stadtgarten rents boats you can pedal across the lake, or else rent a canoe or kayak from La Canoa. Garden buffs enjoy the ferry ride to the island of Insel Mainau to ogle the incredible gardens.
