The trip to Switzerland, our final destination, was enriched by the beauty of Austria, more specifically Tyrol, followed by the sixth-smallest country in the world, Liechtenstein, and finally a small part of Italy. Tyrol surprised us with its beautiful landscapes, and Liechtenstein and Switzerland only further confirmed this, as these two countries also have an indescribably beautiful nature. During the trip, we also had a quick visit to Germany, on the northern side of Lake Constance.
Liechtenstein is a small country in Central Europe, a principality squeezed between Austria and Switzerland. The country is predominantly mountainous. The capital of the country is Vaduz, which is located at the foot of the mighty mountains. There are a few bars and souvenir shops in the city centre. The castle, which has been home to the rulers of Liechtenstein for 250 years, stands majestically above the city. The castle can be reached on foot or by car. Unfortunately, the castle is not open to the public.
There are quite a few attractions to see in the country. They have a national park called Rugell, which is home to many birds and butterflies. The park is the most beautiful to see by bike or on foot. The historic village of Bendern is interesting for its historic buildings. The small town of Balzers is famous for its spectacular Gothic castle. But the most interesting to us were the Liechtenstein mountains.
Liechtenstein is famous for its beautiful mountains, which are popular among visitors in all seasons. In winter, there are ski slopes, and in summer, the beautiful and steep mountains are popular with hikers, climbers, mountain bikers, paragliders and lovers of the great outdoors in general. The popular ski resort of Malbun is also a nice place to visit in the warmer months of the year, where the mighty ski slopes turn into pastures full of cows with loud bells.
Lake Constance is also called the South German "sea", as it is almost as large as the sea in its appearance. It is also larger than the Slovenian coastline. The lake is so big and so interesting that many people go there for their holiday. The lake is filled by the mighty Rhine River and several smaller tributaries. The lake is not the only attraction here, but also the places around the lake, where there are many vineyards and small hills.
The lake is of glacial origin. There used to be the Rhenish glacier, which slowly disappeared as the ice melted, but the water in the basin remained, creating one of the largest lakes in Central Europe. The lake is 536 square kilometres in size and the coastline is 272 kilometres long. Its deepest point is 254 metres.
There is a tourist town along the German coast. It is the town of Lindau, located on an islet of the same name. The islet has long since been fully settled, so it is best to go to the harbour and the old town. There are also some swimming spots in the centre, but most are not free of charge. To the left of the harbour, about a five-minute walk, there is also free access to the water. It is a small and quite pleasant beach that tourists do not even know about. We recommend exploring the city on foot or by bike, as it is almost impossible to get parking in the city itself. Outside the city, there are many car parks within easy reach. After about a ten minute walk, we can reach the Old Town and the harbour.
The city of Lindau has an interesting history, as it was first mentioned back in 882 when a monastery was built on the island. However, the island is believed to have been inhabited before that, in Roman times, as evidenced by various findings. The city had a special status within the Holy Roman-German Empire until 1802. This is still visible today in the magnificent architecture and is a source of pride for the local townspeople. Visitors especially enjoy the view of the harbour's grand entrance, protected by a mighty lighthouse and a statue of the Bavarian lion.
In the Old Town several things are worth visiting: the Old Town Hall, the Magenturm Tower, the Cathedral, two churches, St Stephen's and St Peter's, and, of course, the harbour. For those who love shopping, the most attractive shopping street is Maximilianstrasse, which is also home to many bars and restaurants. It is also a nice walk along the city lakeside promenade.
It is almost impossible not to see one of the Zeppelins flying over the lake as you visit. The airships were promised great success for the future in the 1920s and 1930s, but their plans were disrupted by a tragic accident when a zeppelin crashed into the ground while landing in New York. Therefore, 1937 is considered the last year for intercontinental flights with a Zeppelin. But despite its history, the Zeppelin ride is a big attraction on Lake Constance. The prices are quite steep with 290 euros for thirty minutes, but many visitors still take a ride in a Zeppelin. In Friedrichshafen, just a short distance from Lindau, there is a museum of Zeppelins. Why is the museum here? The answer is simple, because it was near of the city of Friedrichshafen where the Zeppelins were developed, and it was here that the first successful flight was made in 1900.
The journey around the lake is interesting at every turn. The road more or less follows the shore, so despite the dense population and many hedges and other fences here and there, there are still nice views of the lake. Unfortunately, there are not many access points to it. Parking lots are far behind, and from there we can only walk to the shore of the lake. Alternatively, you can choose to travel across the lake by ferry. We chose this option as it meant a shorter journey to the island of Mainau, which we wanted to see. The ferry runs virtually non-stop during the tourist season, so we did not have to wait at all.
Mainau Island is one of the most beautiful tourist spots on Lake Constance. It is a small island, measuring only 610 metres from north to south and 1050 metres from west to east. Its circumference is about three kilometres. The island is not accessible by car. The car park is arranged on the mainland, from where we can walk over the bridge to the island. Some people also call Mainau the island of flowers, as flowers are the main attraction for visitors. The creation of the park on the island is traced back to Duke Frederick I, who created the island's arboretum in 1856. Today, there are about 500 species of deciduous and coniferous trees, many exotic species of plants, as well as valuable species of plants found on the island, and about 200 species of rhododendrons and azaleas. The mild climate ensures that palm trees and other Mediterranean plants thrive there. There are many gardeners working there, constantly tending to the plants so that they shine in all their beauty. In addition to the beautiful plants, there are also some historical buildings on the island. The island is interesting to visit in all seasons, but each season is special in its own way. Many people like to go there in spring, when there are orchid exhibitions, some in summer, when everything is in full growth, or in autumn, when the island is once again bathed in beautiful colours, thanks to the colourful leaves. In winter, the island is a little less interesting, but it is still a nice walk along well-maintained paths. However, the view of the lake is certainly wonderful in all seasons. A stroll among the mighty trees, ancient buildings, sculptures and fountains can be pleasant at any time. Children in particular love the island. There are many playgrounds there, where kids can have fun, along with a Butterfly House.
Not far from Lake Constance is another major tourist attraction, the Rhine Falls. These are the largest waterfalls in Europe, and they are located on the Rhine River in Switzerland. The maximum height of the waterfalls is 23 metres, and the width is 150 metres. The average flow of the river over the waterfalls varies depending on the time of year. In winter, it is about 250 cubic metres per second, and in summer it is about 700 cubic metres per second. The water flow over the falls is so strong that it makes it impossible for fish to swim up, except for eels, which are the only ones able to cross the falls upstream. A blast furnace was built in the 17th century to smelt iron ore. It was used until the first half of the 19th century. Today, the Rhine Falls are used only for tourism, bringing huge profits to the country. We decided to see the waterfalls in two ways. The first is on foot along the well-maintained paths that led us all the way to the waterfall, so close that we got soaked. This is the type of tour that most visitors go on. Except that some people skip the nearest platform because they are not too keen on the heavy spray from the waterfall. They also have an elevator that provides access for people with disabilities, wheelchairs, and anyone who wants to avoid steep stairs. The most special and adrenaline-filled tour of the waterfalls is certainly the boat that goes almost below the waterfalls. But here it is guaranteed that all visitors will get at least a little wet. For an additional fee, we can also take a boat to the lookout point in the middle of the Rhine Falls. We chose just the boat ride without the viewpoint in the middle, as we had already seen and experienced so much already.
Travelling in this part of Europe, through mountainous Liechtenstein, around the huge Lake Constance and to the largest waterfalls in Europe, is a truly wonderful experience. There is so much to experience here, and you could even choose to travel only in this part. However, since the main point of travel for us was the country of Switzerland, these tours were just an addition to our journey. So, with the Rhine Falls, our destination journey had just begun.
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