LAKE CONSTANCE

Constance craving

Friedrichschafen is the perfect base to start exploring one of Europe's largest lakes, says Jessica Grace

Making waves

THINGS TO DO ON, AND ABOVE, THE LAKE

Get below the surface, with a diving course. Considered one of Europe’s best diving locations, the lake offers fascinating steep rock walls and even a shipwreck (www..adventure-diving.de).

Take an airship ride over the lake. Inventor Ferdinand von Zeppelin based his factory in Friedrichshafen, making the town synonymous with the airship. Rides range from 30 minutes to three hours and cost between €200 and €700 per person (www.zeppelinflug.de).

Why not take to the waves with one of the coolest sports around, wakesurfing?

A specially designed boat creates the perfect permanent wake to keep surfers afloat without the aid of a rope. Equipment and courses are available at several outlets around the lake, such as the Crazy Wake school (www.wassersportbodensee.com).

For a more laid-back way of exploring the lake, why not charter a yacht and a skipper? Prices range from €150 to €1,250, for trips lasting a day to a whole week (www.mitsegeln.com).

LADY OF THE LAKEFRIEDRICHSCHAFEN may not rank as one of the world’s most obvious holiday spots. But if your idea of a perfect holiday involves plenty of local food and wine, stunning sights, a touch of adrenaline and the chance to splurge some serious cash, then the town and its surroundings are well worth a look.

Set on the banks of Lake Constance (also known as Bodensee) in southern Germany, Friedrichschafen boasts the longest lakeside promenade in the region. The town is the perfect spot to admire the view over this huge expanse of water. Alternatively, you can explore on wheels – bicycles can be rented at the main train station from just €8 a day.

Indeed, pedal power is a great way to explore Lake Constance. An easy cycle route follows the waterside closely, passing through the three countries bordering the lake – Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Beware though, the circuit covers a whopping 190km. Less energetic types may prefer to make use of the ferry services crossing the lake that accept bikes on board.

The first port of call, travelling around the lake in an anticlockwise direction, is Meersburg. This attractive little spot is a great place to sample local wines, which thrive thanks to the lake’s microclimate – the warmest in Germany.

Situated at the foot of a vineyard, Meersburg has many small wine bars, located in quaint, timbered houses. Try the 500-year-old Weinhaus Hanser (Unterstadtstrasse 28), built right into the city walls. Also, from April to October, weekly wine-tasting sessions are held at the wine growers’ headquarters at Winzerverein (Unterstadtstrasse 9).

Not far away at Unteruhldingen is an intriguing waterside attraction, the g Pfahlbaumuseum (www.pfahlbauten.de). History buffs and kids will love exploring this village on stilts, reconstructed from original dwellings from the Stone and Bronze Ages that were dredged out of the lake.

More unlikely sights can be found at Salem, Lake Constance’s answer to Gibraltar. Here, in the middle of the countryside, monkeys wander freely among visitors, promising some fascinating photo opportunities. The magnificent Salem Castle is worth a stop too, along with its restaurant Weinstube Zum Alten Gefängnis (Im Schlossbezirk 1).

From fauna to flora, and what is possibly one of the lake’s most famous attractions, Mainau. The “flower island”, as it is known, is a stunning sight and a great place to enjoy the start of spring. Wander through more than a million tulips and daffodils in the flower ocean, or marvel at the more exotic blooms, with an orchid show in the palm house.

As guests are not permitted to spend the night on the island, your best bet is to plan on finding yourself a hotel in Constance itself, about 8km away. The best-known and biggest of the lake’s resorts, this attractive town dates back

freshen up. And where better to do this than at Rhine Falls, the largest falls in Europe? To get there, cross into Switzerland and head to Schaffhausen (about an hour by train), from where it is a 40-minute walk or a short bus ride to the falls. Although only 23m high, the falls are an impressive 150m wide. For the ultimate ride, take a boat trip out to the rock in the middle.

For one of the region’s best views, though, you need to visit Austria. From Bregenz, take a cable car up the Pfänder mountain and you’ll be spoiled with a 360° panorama stretching from the lake into the Alps.

At nearby Dornbirn, you’ll find the Rolls-Royce Museum (www.rolls-royce-museum.at). Those who want to arrive in style can be picked up from their hotel in a vintage Rolls. But, be warned, you’ll pay about €300 for the pleasure.

Finally, don’t miss Lindau, in Germany, on an island connected to the mainland by a bridge. A stroll around the quaint old town costs nothing and is an ideal way to soak up the atmosphere. The harbour, which glitters with thousands of lights, is one of the defining sights of the lake and a great memory to leave with.