10 reasons to love Lake Constance

Germany borders Lake Constance, along with neighboring Switzerland and Austria. A cultural highlight on the Austrian side is the annual Bregenz performing arts festival. Every year, an impressive floating stage is built on the lake. This time, Giacomo Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly will be showcased.

Attractions in the German town of Konstanz include a cathedral, port and lovely town square. In the 15th century, the Council of Constance ended the Papal Schism by deposing three popes and naming a new one. The Konzilgebäude, the site of the only papal conclave held north of the Alps, is still a famous attraction in Konstanz.

Not far from Konstanz is Mainau Island, a veritable floral paradise. For a small entry fee, visitors can admire the ever-changing array of flowers all year round. Still, spring is the best time to visit, with over a million early bloomers turning the island into an impressive sea of colors.

Reichenau Island is famous for its vegetables. But that's not the only reason the biggest island on Lake Constance was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. In the Middle Ages, Reichenau was the spiritual center of the Western world. The Church of St. George boasts impressive murals depicting Jesus' miracles.

In Lindau, visitors won't see flower meadows or vegetable fields. Instead, they'll find a charming little town, port and a shoreside promenade with numerous cafes and bars. Lindau can be reached by boat, making it ideal for day trips.

Lake Constance is large. So large, in fact, you cannot see its westernmost or easternmost shore if you're standing at either end, due to the Earth's curvature. With its unpredictable weather conditions, anyone wanting to sail on the lake needs to acquire an additional license regardless of their experience.

The small town of Meersburg has an idyllic flair, boasting timber-framed houses, cozy cafes and wineries. We recommend enjoying a glass of Meersburger Müller-Thurgau white wine. Also be sure to visit Meersburg Castle, where famous German poet Annette von Droste-Hulshoff once lived.

In Meersburg, rent a bike and cycle along the lake to Unteruhldingen. There, you can explore reconstructed stilt houses from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Remnants of the ancient dwellings were found in Lake Constance. In 2011, the houses were added to UNESCO's World Heritage list.

If you have time, continue cycling to nearby Birnau church — it's certainly worth it. From here, you can enjoy a spectacular view of Lake Constance. The church itself is a Baroque gem. Inside, you'll find ornate frescos and the famous "Honigschlecker" (honey licker) sculpture by Rococo artist Joseph Anton Feuchtmayer.

For a day every August, Konstanz celebrates Seenachtfest. The city erupts into festivities, with tens of thousands of people attending the main firework display, put on by Konstanz and the neighboring Swiss city of Kreuzlingen.