Description

Highlighting one of the largest lakes in Central Europe, this guide explores Lake Constance, demonstrating how it holds great appeal in both its fantastic setting in the northern foothills of the Alps and its splendid cultural landscape. The magnificent backdrop of the Appenzell Alps is captured as well as the peaks of the Bregenz Forest and the Alpine summits of the Allgäu. The lake's eleven islands are detailed, including Reichenau--now a UNESCO World Heritage Site--the city island of Lindau, and the famous floral isle of Mainau. Traveling through ancient towns and picturesque villages, this handbook bears witness to the region's long and rich history, with the reconstructed pile village in Unteruhldingen taking visitors back to the Stone Age, Romanesque, and Gothic church architecture redolent of the Middle Ages. Frescoed baroque facades in Lindau, Biedermeier chic in Heiden, and neoclassical flair in the Napoleonic palace of Arenenberg and the Kunsthaus in Bregenz with its collection of contemporary art are just a few of the things that make the Lake Constance area so attractive. An extensive array of photographs showcase this landmark and its surrounding area in all their glorious variety, with special features on the monastic market garden of Reichenau Island, zeppelin airships and Rolls-Royces, the region's culinary delights, and the painters and poets who once called it home.