Around Lake Constance

Austria, Germany, Switzerland Bike Tour

Through three countries around the beautiful Bodensee…

Bordered by the countries of Austria, Germany and Switzerland, Lake Constance's rather unique location has made it one of Europe's most desirable cycling destinations. First mentioned around 43 AD,  the freshwater lake consists of 4 parts: Obersee, Überlinger See, Untersee, and the Zeller See and Gnadensee. Around 100 AD, the Romans established a fort at the spot where the Rhine River joins the lake, and this fort later became the medieval town of Constance (Konstanz), today a university town. This hospitable old Episcopal town is dominated by an impressive Romanesque-Gothic basilica. The city's palatial mansions and colorful gables will impress themselves upon you immediately. Constance too has interesting neighbors: the island Mainau, Europe's most beautiful tropical garden park with lots of flowers and butterflies and also a nice Baroque castle; and the island of Reichenau, made a World Heritage Site in 2001 by its great monastery, the Abbey of Reichenau. Other highlights include the Romanesque church of Saints Peter and Paul, south Germany’s oldest half-timbered buildings and a large nature reserve for birds.

Heading west from Constance, the route rides over the German border into the Swiss towns of Stein am Rhein and Ludwigshafen to Überlingen (frequently referred to as the Nice of Germany) and on into Meersburg, where you'll find half-timbered houses with cascading terraces.

Via Friedrichshafen, with its castle church and the famous Zeppelin Museum, the journey continues to the imperial island-town of Lindau, which is known for its lavish gardens, historic medieval town center and its great location nestled under Pfänder Mountain. From Bavaria into the Austrian town of Bregenz, we highly recommend taking the cable car to the top of Pfänder Mountain, especially on a clear day. Bregenz is world famous for its annual summer music festival Bregenzer Festspiele that is held on and around Lake Constance. The old Swiss harbor town of Rorschach has perhaps the prettiest Kornhaus in Switzerland. There is also a lovely lake promenade as well as the abbey Mariaberg, and Sulzberg and Wartegg castles. Then via Arbon, the oldest settlement on Lake Constance, and Romanshorn, the route will take you back to where it started, i.e. Konstanz, the largest city on the lake.

Where You’ll Stay

Option A: 3 star to 4 star hotels. Option B: 2 star to 3 star hotels & inns on the outskirts of town.

What’s Included

• 6 night accommodations
• Breakfasts
• Route descriptions & maps
• 21/24-speed hybrid bicycle
• Luggage transportation

Tour Dates

• Daily from April 1 to October 31, 2012.

Skill Level

Easy self-guided hotel tour following the shores and valleys of Lake Constance with average daily distances of 12 to 30 miles. Route runs predominantly flat (with some rolling hills) and along good asphalt roads and bike paths.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

1. Arrival in Constance. Optional cycling.
2. Constance – Stein am Rhein, surroundings, ± 19 mi. (30 km)
3. Stein am Rhein, surroundings - Lake Überling (Ludwigshafen/Überlingen)  , ± 25 - 31 mi.  (40 - 50 km)
4. Lake Überling (Ludwigshafen/Überlingen) - Friedrichshafen/Umgebung,  ±19 - 31 mi. (31 - 50 km)
5. Friedrichshafen/Surroundings - Lindau/Bregenz/Höchst/Buriet, ±13 -32 mi. (20 - 51 km)
6. Lindau/Bregenz/Höchst/Buriet - Rorschach/Arbon/Egnach, ± 6 - 31 mi. (10 - 49 km) 
7. Rorschach/Arbon/Egnach – Constance, ± 26 mi. (40 km), Individual departure or extension of stay

 TOUR IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS 8 OR 9 DAYS.  PLEASE EMAIL US FOR ITINERARY AND PRICING.

Please note all distances are approximate.

DAY 1: Arrival in Constance. Optional cycling.
Individual arrival in Constance (Konstanz). After picking up your bicycle, you will have time to partake on a short bike tour to discover the old senate town of Constance as well as the flower-island of Mainau, or perhaps the monastery-island of Reichenau. Overnight in Constance.

DAY 2: Constance – Stein am Rhein, surroundings, ± 19 mi. (30 km)
This route leads you through picturesque villages along the Untersee (Lower Lake) to Stein am Rhein. You should take the time to visit this medieval town with its dignified, fresco covered  houses, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Switzerland. There is the opton of going on a 16 miles side trip to Schaffhausen, famous for the Rhine Falls, Europe's mightiest waterfall. You overnight in Stein am Rhein or close by.

DAY 3: Stein am Rhein, surroundings - Lake Überling (Ludwigshafen/Überlingen)  , ± 25 - 31 mi.  (40 - 50 km)
From Stein am Rhein you continue across the unmarked border to Öhningen and across Höri Peninsula to Radolfzell. Here you will find the Radolfzell Basilica, an impressive late gothic structure with three main naves. Passing by the environmentally protected Lake Mindel, you will continue to Ludwigshafen via Bodman.  Finally, via Sipplingen, you bike to the city of Überlingen and its beautiful lakeside promenade. 

DAY 4: Lake Überling (Ludwigshafen/Überlingen) - Friedrichshafen/Umgebung, ± 19 - 31 mil (31 - 50 km)
You pass Birnau Convent and reach Uhldingen, famous for its crannogs. A visit to the Cistercian Convent in Salem is a worthwhile side trip. Your next destination of the day is the fishing and winemaking village of Hagnau. The Lake Constance Bike trail leads you past Castle Kirchberg and Immenstaad to Zeppelin city, Friedrichshafen.

DAY 5: Friedrichshafen/Surroundings - Lindau/Bregenz/Höchst/Buriet, ±13 - 32 mi. (20 - 51 km)
You cycle along the shore,  via Eriskirch, Langenargen and Kressbronn to Nonnenhorn with its famous "Weintorkel" and old winepress.  Past Wasserburg, you arrive in the Bavarian town of Lindau, Bregenz, capital of the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, to Hochst or Buriet in Switzerland. Parts of the James Bond movie "Quantum of Solace" were filmed at the Bregenz "Seebühne" and festival house. You have the option of taking a side trip from Friedrichshafen throughj the hinterland to the baroque castel of duke Montfort in Tettnag, before retunring to Lake constance in Kressbronn.

DAY 6: Lindau/Bregenz/Höchst/Buriet - Rorschach/Arbon/Egnach, ± 6 - 31 mi. (10 - 49 km)
You cross the Rhine Delta Nature Reserve and reach the old harbor town of Rorschach, where you can visit one of Switzerland's most beautiful corn houses.  It is recommended taking a gondola to Heiden in Appenzell or a trip to St. Gallen with its world famous library. Continuing along Lake Constance, you reach historical Arbon, which was part of Constance Diocese for half a millennium and then finally, Egnach. 

DAY 7: Rorschach/Arbon/Egnach – Constance, ± 26 mi. (40 km), Individual departure or extension of stay
The last day of your trip will be spent in the canton of Thurgau with its small, quaint villages and their typical half-timbered houses.
The Lake Constance bike path takes you via Romanshorn, a former fishing village,  back to Constance.

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