Meersburg

Meersburg has achieved something that not many places can claim: some of its historic buildings and the town’s most famous guest have been featured on a banknote. The green 20-D-Mark note no longer exists, but the memory of Annette von Droste-Hülshoff is still very much alive in the small town. The poet lived at Meersburg Castle for several years during her stays at Lake Constance – her living quarters can be visited, as can the medieval castle dungeon, the Knights’ and Princes’ Hall and the armoury.

Sights in Meersburg on Lake Constance

Right next to the castle, the New Palace is a real showstopper: a Baroque gem that’s also open to the public and often provides a fancy backdrop for exhibitions and concerts. Both the palace and the castle are built right next to a vineyard; the difference in height between the lower and upper towns is just under 40 metres. But a stroll through the steep alleys is well worth the effort: everywhere you look, you will find architectural gems from times long past, and along the way, interesting museums with unusual exhibits beckon. In addition to the Droste Museum in the Fürstenhäusle, there is also much to discover in the Zeppelin Museum. The Wine Museum, a miniature transport museum and a Bible gallery also invite you to linger.

Relaxation at the Meersburg thermal baths

In addition to so much culture and history, relaxation is of course not neglected either: you can relax at the thermal baths with a view of the lake and the Swiss Alps. A charming detail of the outdoor saunas is that they are located directly in the lake and their design is based on the nearby pile dwellings.

In short, Meersburg captivates visitors with its fairytale-like backdrop, which has also been immortalised in several films. ‘Die Fischerin vom Bodensee’ (The Fisherwoman from Lake Constance) was set in Meersburg, and the musical film ‘Alter Kahn und junge Liebe’ (Old Boat and Young Love) starring Roy Black and Willy Millowitsch was also shot in the small town.