Lake Constance cycle path

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Lake Constance cycle path
overall length 260 km
location GermanyGermany Germany Austria Switzerland
AustriaAustria 
SwitzerlandSwitzerland 
Height difference 1163 meters in altitude
difficulty light
Traffic volume low
ADFC certification 4 out of 5 stars
Website URL bodensee-radweg.de

The Lake Constance Cycle Path is a 260 km long long -distance cycle path along Lake Constance . With over 220,000 cyclists per year, it is one of the most popular cycle routes in Europe.

Sign for the Lake Constance cycle path in Kreuzlingen
Sign for the Lake Constance cycle path in Fußach

course

The Lake Constance cycle path goes around the entire Lake Constance including Untersee and Überlinger See . For a shorter route, the Überlinger See is crossed by the Konstanz – Meersburg car ferry or the Untersee is not circled. The cycle path leads through all cities along the shores of Lake Constance.

On the Swiss side, the Lake Constance Cycle Path coincides with the Rhine Cycle Path - more precisely with its Swiss section, the Rhine Route . The Lake Constance circular route , on the other hand, sometimes leads closer to the bank, but sometimes also above the lake and is often not suitable or permitted for cyclists. For the most part, the Lake Constance cycle path leads through only slightly hilly or completely flat areas.

Starting in Constance, the following stages result in a clockwise direction:

Constance → Steckborn → Stein am Rhein, 29 km

Steckborn town hall

Constance <7.5 km> Ermatingen <9 km> Steckborn <6 km> Mammern <6.5 km> Stein am Rhein

From Konstanz it goes directly to Switzerland (or alternatively first to the island of Reichenau and from there by ship to Ermatingen). The cycle path runs along the Untersee via Ermatingen , Salenstein , Steckborn , Mammern and Eschenz to Stein am Rhein.

Attractions

Variation (approx. 39 km): From Stein am Rhein via Diessenhofen , Feuerthalen , Flurlingen and Laufen to Neuhausen am Rheinfall . Through Schaffhausen , Büsingen am Hochrhein and Gailingen back to Stein.

Stein am Rhein → Radolfzell → Konstanz, 43 km

The upper gate of the old town in Radolfzell

Stein am Rhein <9 km> Gaienhofen <13 km> Radolfzell <10 km> Allensbach <11 km> Constance

After Stein am Rhein, the cyclist leaves Switzerland at Ennetbruck and comes back to Germany. In Oehningen the peninsula begins Höri - the God lakeside garden . You reach Radolfzell via Wangen, Hemmenhofen, Gaienhofen and the nature reserve on Lake Zell . In 826 Bishop Radolf of Verona founded a settlement here; the part of the name -zell testifies to the clergy of the settlement. Passing the Mettnau peninsula , the journey continues to Allensbach, known to many through the Institute for Demoscopy . Across from the vegetable island of Reichenau and at the foot of the Bodanrück , the Lake Constance cycle path follows the Wollmatinger Ried nature reserve, which has been classified as a " European reserve " since 1973 and a " wetland of international importance " since 1976, via Petershausen back to Constance.

Attractions

  • In Öhningen: the Canons' Monastery, the railroad pilgrimage church, the Höri peninsula of around 60 km² and the local history museum in the fisherman's house in Wangen
  • In Radolfzell: the old town with cathedral, town hall and knighthood house, the Scheffelschlösschen , the moated castle Möggingen , the Mettnau with nature reserve and the Austrian castle
  • In Allensbach: the Bodanrück wildlife park , the local history museum on Rathausplatz, the parish church of St. Nicholas and Hegne Castle with the grave of Blessed Sister Ulrika
  • Reichenau: the 724 and founded on the UNESCO list of world heritage listed Monastery , the Cathedral of St. Mary and Mark , the local museum and the churches of St. George and St. Peter and Paul
  • Around 300 species of birds can be observed in the 767 hectare Wollmatinger Ried; there are also numerous orchids and several types of gentian to be found

Constance → Überlingen, 40 km

Flowers on the Mainau
Uberlingen city moat
Shotenried Stone Age House in the Pfahlbaumuseum

Constance <6 km> Mainau <8 km> Wallhausen <5.5 km> Langenrain <10 km> Bodman-Ludwigshafen <11.5 km> Überlingen

From the city center of Constance, it goes over the old Rhine bridge. The metering of the Rhine , which has been in force since April 1, 1939, begins here : Its zero point is above the old bridge (sea mark with white globe) and ends at kilometer 1036.20 west of Hoek van Holland . Past the former Jakob leisure pool , now the Bodenseetherme, over to the ferry port in Staad ; the ferries to Meersburg that run here shorten the cycling distance by 54 kilometers! If you don't want to use the ferry, follow the cycle path towards Überlingen and come to the flower island of Mainau . After Litzelstetten, Dingelsdorf and Wallhausen a few meters in altitude have to be overcome: The path leads up to the Bodanrück. The descent to Bodman-Ludwigshafen is followed by the cycle path on the other side of the Überlinger See via Sipplingen , Hödingen and Goldbach to Überlingen.

Attractions

  • On the Mainau: the castle with the garden, gardener's tower and butterfly house
  • Near Langenrain: Marienschlucht down to the lake shore. The gorge itself is not passable for cyclists (stairs), the riverside path from Wallhausen over the Marienschlucht to Bodman is forbidden for cyclists.
  • In Bodman-Ludwigshafen: the Count's Castle, the Aachried and the Frauenburg Castle
  • In Sipplingen: the former Franciscan convent of St. Ulrich , the former Spitalhof, the Lake Constance water supply, the post office and the town hall
  • In Überlingen: old town with fortifications, the Franciscan church, the cathedral and the city garden

Überlingen → Friedrichshafen, 31 km

Überlingen <8 km> Unteruhldingen <5 km> Meersburg <5 km> Hagnau <13 km> Friedrichshafen

The cyclist leaves Überlingen in an easterly direction through the suburb of Nussdorf and below the pilgrimage church Birnau past the former Maurach monastery through Seefelden to Unteruhldingen, the community of Uhldingen-Mühlhofen with its pile dwelling museum . From here the route leads to the city of Meersburg . Through the wine village of Hagnau and past Kirchberg Castle, it goes through Immenstaad , Fischbach , Manzell and Seemoos to the Friedrichshafen city ​​station. In this section, the Lake Constance cycle path is bundled with heavily frequented hiking trails, which on busy days slows down or makes it more difficult for cyclists to make progress on this route.

Attractions

  • In Uhldingen-Mühlhofen: the Birnau pilgrimage church, the historic Zum Sternen inn , the St. Wolfgang chapel , the local chapel and the pile dwelling museum with finds and replicas of pile villages from the Stone and Bronze Ages
  • In Meersburg: Meersburg Castle with a museum with study, bedroom and death room by Annette von Droste-Hülshoff , the Bible gallery , the Vineum Bodensee wine-growing museum , the New Castle and the Zeppelin Museum
  • In Hagnau: Alter Torkel , the small museum and the parish church of St. Johann Baptist
  • In Immenstaad: the three castles Kirchberg , Helmsdorf and Hersberg , the Schwörerhaus , the Apfelweg and the late Gothic parish church with a fortified tower

Friedrichshafen → Bregenz, 33 km

Montfort Castle in Langenargen
Eligius chapel, parish church and Kressbronn town hall

Friedrichshafen <5 km> Eriskirch <3 km> Langenargen <5 km> Kressbronn <3 km> Nonnenhorn <3 km> Wasserburg <5 km> Lindau <9 km> Bregenz

The cyclist leaves the Zeppelin city of Friedrichshafen from the city station in an easterly direction. After the Eriskircher Ried , you cross the Schussen on a historic wooden bridge in Eriskirch . Through the districts of Schlatt and Moos, the cyclist near Schwedi reaches the municipality of Langenargen, crosses the Argen , which comes from the Allgäu , on the second oldest cable suspension bridge in Germany and then passes through the Kressbronn districts of Gohren , Schnaidt and Tunau . At the Kressbronn lido - the largest natural lido on Lake Constance - and past the Seegarten , it goes to the Bavarian Nonnenhorn and Wasserburg . Cyclists reach the town of Lindau via Reutenen, past Allwind Castle and through Schachen . After passing through the Lindau districts of Reutin and Zech , it goes over the Leiblach , which forms the German-Austrian state border, to Lochau in the state of Vorarlberg . Driving directly along the lake one arrives at the provincial capital Bregenz at the foot of the Pfänder .

Attractions

  • In Friedrichshafen: the Zeppelin Museum , the former monastery church of the Hofen monastery ( castle church ), the Zeppelin monument, the school museum and the waterfront
  • In Eriskirch: the Eriskircher Ried - the largest nature reserve on the northern shore of Lake Constance - with a nature conservation center in the train station and the historic wooden bridge
  • In Langenargen: the office building, the parish church of St. Martin , the cable suspension bridge and Montfort Castle
  • In Kressbronn: the exhibition of historical ship models in the Schlössle, the Milz courtyard , the baroque chapels, the farmers' path and a corn maze
  • In Nonnenhorn: the 400-year-old Weintorkel (oldest wine press in the lake region), the late Gothic St. Jakobus Chapel (on the Jakobusweg ), the stones of the Seegfrörnen , the village museum
  • In Wasserburg: the mint at Wasserburger Bühl, the court house, the peninsula with the parish church of St. Gallus and St. Georg and the castle
  • In Lindau: the old town hall, the seaport, the Haus zum Cavazzen , the Maximilianstraße (pedestrian zone), collegiate and St. Stephen's Church, the thief tower and the city fortifications
  • In Bregenz: the old town hall, the festival and congress house , the Martinsturm, Pfänder with the alpine zoo and bird of prey station , the bicycle tunnel, the Vorarlberg museum , the Bregenz art house and the theater on the Kornmarkt

Bregenz → Rorschach, 30 km

Bregenz <4 km> Hard <10 km> Fußach <8 km> Rheineck <8 km> Rorschach

From Bregenz train station, it goes past the floating stage in the direction of Bregenzer Ach , which is crossed over the bicycle and pedestrian bridge built in 2011. After crossing the Rhine, through Hard you reach the nature reserve Rheindelta , past the Rohrspitz , and crosses the state border into Switzerland on the Old Rhine . From there the cycle path runs past Rheineck and Buchberg to Rorschach. (Variant: from the Rhine bridge through Höchst to the border crossing on the Old Rhine)

Attractions

Rorschach → Constance, 40 km

Row of houses in the Arboner Untertorgasse

Rorschach <8 km> Arbon <10 km> Romanshorn <21 km> Kreuzlingen <1 km> Constance

The cyclist leaves Rorschach along Hauptstrasse 13 in the direction of Konstanz. Through Horn and Steinach you get to the town of Arbon , one of the oldest towns on Lake Constance: Arbon has Roman roots and was originally called Arbor Felix (Latin for "happy tree"). We continue through Frasnacht and Egnach to Romanshorn. There is a ferry connection to Friedrichshafen here. The cycle path then runs close to the lakeshore through Landschlacht with the Leonhard Chapel and Münsterlingen to Kreuzlingen and Konstanz, the largest city on Lake Constance.

Attractions

  • In Arbon: the old town, Roman finds, the castle from the 15th century, the St. Gallus Chapel and the St. Martin Church
  • In Romanshorn: the train station and the largest port on Lake Constance in terms of water area, the old church , the fountain on the lake
  • In Kreuzlingen: the St. Ulrich basilica , the fire brigade museum, the Kornschütte, the Seeburg, the former Augustinian monastery and the lake museum
  • In Constance: the old town, the council building, the Cathedral of Our Lady , the Rosgarten Museum and the Sea Life Center , the university campus with a panoramic terrace

Signage and route variants

The cycle path is generally well signposted. In some places, however, it is possible or worthwhile to deviate from the local signs in order to ride a quieter or closer to the lake variant that is also approved for bicycles.

  • Leg Steckborn → Stein am Rhein : Right behind Eschenz train station, you can cross the rails and go straight down to the Rhine. You can reach Stein am Rhein on a quiet bike and hiking trail and still have the option of a detour to the island of Werd .
  • Stage Constance ↔ Steckborn : Within the village of Ermatingen, instead of the signposted direct route, you can take the small detour along the lake promenade.
  • Stage Radolfzell ↔ Constance : Between Radolfzell and Markelfingen there is an alternative bike path on the lake side right next to the railway tracks. This is even more scenic than the official route, but not asphalted.
  • Radolfzell ↔ Konstanz stage: The stage between Allensbach and Konstanz is comparatively unattractive because you have to drive close to the main road for a long time. As an alternative, you can consider following the Lake Constance circular hiking trail , which runs much further inland than the bike path (take a map with you to find the entrance). The hiking trail is also permitted for cyclists on this part of the route, very rewarding in terms of the landscape, but involves a noticeable detour.
  • Stage Überlingen ↔ Friedrichshafen : Coming from Überlingen, behind Maurach Castle, the signs continue straight on to Unteruhldingen. But if you turn to the right just after the castle, you will cycle on a good bike and footpath along the Seefelder Aach estuary, closer to the lake. Also possible in the opposite direction.
  • Stage Friedrichshafen ↔ Bregenz : At the exit from Langenargen (coming from Friedrichshafen) or at the Gohren campsite (coming from Bregenz), contrary to the official marking of the Lake Constance cycle path, you can take the path over the Argensteg, which is also marked as a cycle path (closer to the lake and quieter, rather shorter, but not paved).
  • Stage Bregenz ↔ Rorschach : The official route crosses the Rhine delta on the shortest possible route. A variant that is highly recommended in terms of landscape is the drive on the polder dam, which extends along the entire northern edge of the delta, passing extensive reed areas, sandy beaches and the Rhine wood .
  • Stage Constance → Überlingen : The official route leads from Langenrain via Liggeringen to Bodman all along the road. As a variant, you can take the path with the Echotal hiking trail right up into the forest approx. 100 m after Langenrain , follow this marking upwards, on the Pfrundacker right in serpentines down to the lake shore and on through the quiet village of Bodman (slightly more incline , but very quiet, promising and approved route for bicycles on non-asphalt forest paths, also noticeably shorter than the official Lake Constance cycle path). This variant is also possible in the opposite direction, whereby you may have to push for half an hour on the steep ascent.
  • Stage Constance → Überlingen : The official route runs alongside the road between Bodman and Ludwigshafen. The following variant, which is approved for cyclists, is recommended: In Bodman, first follow the signs for the Bodenseerundwanderweg . Then do not turn right, but continue straight ahead along the sign towards "Großes Ried / Sportanlagen". Before the sports facility on the right, a cycle path leads into the nature reserve (keep to the right). You only have to follow the road for the last few kilometers to Ludwigshafen.

Path quality

The General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) awarded the trail four stars in 2016. According to the ADFC, 59.5% of the route runs on independent cycle paths, and on more than 70% of the route, the cyclist is hardly affected by any car traffic. The ADFC rates the route guidance as "very good" and gives it five stars.

Drinking water

On the bike path you can always find public drinking water wells. These are particularly numerous on the Swiss section, but also in Germany, namely at the tapping point for the Lake Constance water supply near Sipplingen and in some town centers (e.g. Überlingen , Radolfzell , Nonnenhorn ).

Others

  • It does not matter whether the Lake Constance cycle path is clockwise or counterclockwise, it is signposted in both directions.
  • Wild camping is forbidden almost everywhere on the Lake Constance cycle path. Numerous prohibition signs indicate this.
  • On the German side of the Lake Constance Cycle Route you pass grocery stores much more often than on the Swiss side.
  • In some small sections of the Lake Constance cycle path, cyclists have a speed limit of 7 km / h.
  • The signage of the cycle path is inconsistent.
  • The Lake Constance cycle path is now almost entirely paved and therefore also accessible for inline skaters. Only in the border area between Austria and Switzerland do you have to deviate from the signs and take a shortcut. In the Swiss area, the route is specially marked for inline skaters as part of Skatingland Switzerland and is sometimes guided a little differently.

Transport links

Near Immenstaad
At Kressbronn
Near Kreuzlingen

The Lake Constance Cycle Path is connected in many places with the transport network of the respective railways. The railway companies offer bicycles, as well as passenger ships and car and passenger ferries, which enable various cross connections across the lake.

The Lake Constance cycle path is networked with many other long-distance cycle paths: In Germany, for example, with the Lake Constance-Königssee cycle path from Lindau, the Hohenzollern cycle path from Ludwigshafen, the Danube-Lake Constance cycle path from Kressbronn or Immenstaad or the Heidelberg-Black Forest-Lake Constance path from Radolfzell. In Switzerland it is connected to the Lakes Route , the Mittelland Route and the Alpine Panorama Route , among others .

See also

literature

  • Patrick Brauns : Bodensee-Handbuch Cycle Tours for Connoisseurs. The most beautiful tours around Lake Constance with many variants . Multimedia Verlag Marcel Hinze, 2004.
  • Gertraud Gaßner and Rainald Schwarz-Gaßner: RadReisebuch. Around Lake Constance. From Lindau to Constance . Droemersche Verlagsanstalt Th. Knauer Nachf., Munich 1990, ISBN 3-426-04635-0 .
  • bikeline bike tour book “Bodensee-Radweg. Around Lake Constance, Überlinger See and Untersee ”(1: 50,000) . Verlag Esterbauer, ISBN 978-3-85000-002-4 .
  • Gerhard Unterkofler: Lake Constance - 30 environmentally friendly day tours, optimal tour planning, precise directions, route sketches . 1st edition. Pietsch Verlag, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-613-50298-4 .
  • ADFC : Regional map of Lake Constance . BVA Bielefelder Verlag, Bielefeld 2011, ISBN 978-3-87073-230-1 .
  • Map of Kompakt-Spiralo, Bodensee-Radweg - "By bike through three countries around the lake" (1: 50,000) . BVA Bielefelder Verlag, Bielefeld 2011, ISBN 978-3-87073-497-8 .
  • Cycling map - Leporello Lake Constance cycle path (1: 50,000) Lake Constance cycle path . Publicpress-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-89920-199-4 .
  • Cycling map of Lake Constance and its surroundings (1: 100,000) Lake Constance and its surroundings . Publicpress-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-89920-099-7 .

Web links

Commons : Bodensee-Radweg  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Wikivoyage: Lake Constance Cycle Path  - Travel Guide

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Lake Constance cycle path in the ADFC tour portal ( Memento from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ↑ Lake Constance cycle path in the ADFC tour portal ( Memento from August 25, 2018 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ↑ Arbeitsgemeinschaft Bodensee-Radweg: Final report of the ADFC classification as PDF . Online at www.bodensee-radweg.de. Retrieved March 25, 2017.

Coordinates: 47 ° 45 ′ 34.2 "  N , 9 ° 10 ′ 35.2"  E