Constance

Understand

Konstanz has traces of civilization dating from the stone age and was settled by the Romans in about 50 CE. Konstanz was an important trade centre and a spiritual centre. At the council of Konstanz in 1414-1418, a papal election was held, ending the papal schism. Three popes went into the council (one from Avignon one from Rome one from Pisa) an entirely different person left as the single pope. The council was also the place where Jan Hus was burned despite an assurance of safe passage. Konstanz attempted to join the Swiss Confederacy in about 1460, but was voted down. Due to its proximity to Switzerland, Konstanz was not bombed during World War II and its historic old town remains intact. It is a historic city with a charming old town, and could be called the jewel of the region.

Tourist Information Centre (in the train station). M-F 09:00-18:30, Sa 09:00-16:00, Su 10:00-13:00.

Getting there

By plane Konstanz has no commercial airport. The closest airports are:

Zurich Airport (Switzerland) (ZRH IATA). By car 1 hour to Konstanz. By train 1 to 1.5 hours to Konstanz. There is a direct train from Zurich airport to Konstanz once an hour, and another train with a connection in Weinfelden once an hour. Friedrichshafen Airport (Germany) (FDH IATA). By car 1 hour to Konstanz (take the car ferry between Meersburg and Konstanz). By train approx. 2 hours to Konstanz. By boat approx 1 hour to Konstanz (take the train from Friedrichshafen airport to Friedrichshafen Hafen and get the Katamaran to Konstanz). Stuttgart Airport (Germany) (STR IATA). By car 2 hours to Konstanz. By train 2.5 to 3 hours to Konstanz. EuroAirport (Basel, Switzerland). About 2 hours by car. By train, 2 hours from Konstanz first to the Basel Bad Bahnhof (in Germany) then about 45 minutes by regular tram/bus to the airport via a transfer at the Basel SBB station on the Swiss side.

By train 1 Konstanz Hauptbahnhof (in the old town). This is the main train station. It's the last German stop before the Swiss border, and is therefore served by both German and Swiss trains. Hourly direct trains from Zurich Main Station (1hr 20 min) go via Zurich Airport. Zurich Main Station has excellent connections to the rest of Switzerland as well as Italy, Austria and France. The other train stations in Konstanz are in the city districts of Petershausen, Fürstenberg and Wollmatingen. Most places around Lake Constance can be reached by train: Romanshorn, St. Gallen, Stein am Rhein and Schaffhausen can all be reached with a change in Kreuzlingen (which is the "Swiss suburb" of Konstanz, just across the border), whereas Friedrichshafen, Lindau and other German places around the lake require a change in Radolfzell and take a long time - the boat can often be quicker. Bregenz in Austria is best reached via Switzerland - change in Rorschach and St Margrethen. To reach Konstanz from the rest of Germany is time-

Getting around

On foot Konstanz's centre (old town) is largely pedestrian and very walkable.

By bus The bus system is fast and efficient. The bus costs €2.10 (adult) or €1.05 (child). A day ticket is €4.00.

By taxi Taxis are nearly always available in front of the main train station.

By bicycle There are bicycle paths all over the city. Bicycles can be rented from near the train station (about 100 m north of the main station building) for €12 per day or less.

See

Landmarks

1 Konstanz Cathedral (Konstanzer Münster) (In the old town, at Münsterplatz). Construction completed on the North Tower in about 1100 AD. Built between 1100 and 1854, the church is a magnificent example of architectural styles of the centuries. Climb up the tower for a fantastic view of Konstanz and the Bodensee. Art nouveau houses beside the lake, Seestraße (on the north shore where the lake meets the Rhine, just east of the train bridge). 2 Bismarck Tower, Bismarksteig (in the Petershausen district). There are towers commemorating the first German chancellor Otto von Bismarck all over Germany. Konstanz's Bismarck tower is at the top of a grapevine-covered hill. There are benches and firepits at the base of the tower. It's a nice place to watch the sunset. There's a good view from the base of the tower and an even better one from the top. Adults €1. (updated Nov 2021) Konzil (Council building) (at the harbour). This building was built in 1388 and originally used as a warehouse. From 1414-1417 the council of Konstanz was held here to resolve the three-way occidental schism (an earlier compromise attempt had not resolved the two rival claims, but instead produced a third). The Council was also where Czech reformer Jan Hus was burned as a heretic. The building contains a restaurant and concert hall, and is undergoing restoration work. Rheintorturm and Pulverturm (Rhine entrance tower and Powder tower) (On the south shore of the Rhine, just downstream from where the lake meets the Rhine.). Remnants of the old city defenses. 3 Schnetztor, Hussenstraße (at the south end of Hussenstraße in the old town). 14th-century city gate and tower, next to a bit of the old city wall.

Miscellaneous 4 Imperia statue (at the harbour entrance). By artist Peter Lenk. The statue is of a woman holding two naked men--Pope Martin V and Emperor Sigismund--in her hands. The men wear only the papal tiara and the crown, respectively. The statue refers to a short story by

Do

Take a boat trip on the lake. The ticket office is at the harbour, just past the pedestrian underpass. You can take trips to, e.g., Meersburg, flower island Mainau, Ueberlingen, Friedrichshafen, Lindau, Bregenz, or down the Rhine to Stein am Rhein and Schaffhausen. (updated May 2023) Swim. Either in the Rhine near the pedestrian bridge, or at the beach "Hörnle" at the east-most point of Konstanz. (Bus 5 goes to the Hörnle.) The Hörnle has a nudist area (in German: "FKK") at its north end. 1 Bodensee Therme, Zur Therme 2 (Bus: take bus 5 to the stop 'Therme'. Car: follow the signs to 'Therme'). 09:00-22:00; Tuesdays (except for holidays and school holidays) are ladies' only in the saunas. Go to the spa. The facility includes multiple saunas, multiple pools including an outdoor heated pool and an outdoor 50-m swimming pool, and a restaurant. The saunas are no-clothing areas and the pools are mostly bathing suit areas. Price ranges from €7 for 1.5 hours in the pools only, to €20 for a day pass for all pools and saunas. 2 Konstanz Theatre (in the old town). Konstanz has 3 theatres: "Stadttheater" for classic pieces, "Spiegelhalle" for youth theatre and experimental theatre, and "Werkstatt" for puppet theatre. You can buy tickets in advance at the Stadttheater (Konzilstraße 11) or at the tourist information centre (inside the train station). Konstanz Philharmonic. You can buy tickets in advance at the Stadttheater (Konzilstraße 11) or at the tourist information centre (inside the train station). Organ concerts at the Münster (Cathedral). For schedules and pricing, see the website or contact the Münster music office at