According to Clothesbliss, Lindau is the only Bavarian city that was lucky enough to be on the shores of Lake Constance. Interestingly, its historical center is located on the outskirts, on the island. Its area is only 0.7 sq. km, but every meter of it is like a picture that has come off a postcard – old houses, paving stones, numerous restaurants and souvenir shops. And all this against the backdrop of the breathtaking scenery of Lake Constance. Despite the abundance of tourist artifacts, the island part of Lindau is quite alive – even a railway and a highway are laid here.
How to get to Lindau
The fastest and most convenient way to get to Lindau is through Zurich, fortunately, regular flights have been established between Moscow and this Swiss city. You can take a train right at the Zurich airport and after 1 hour 45 minutes you will be at your destination. True, there are only three direct flights: at 9:21, 13:21 and 18:21. You can check the schedule and buy tickets online at the office. website of the Swiss railways (in English).
Another option is a flight via Munich, from which Lindau is 180 km away. Trains to the city leave directly from the airport terminal, follow with 1-2 transfers, travel time is 3-4 hours. Buses leave from the Central Bus Station, travel time – 2-2.5 hours, carrier Flixbus (off. site in English). From the airport to the Central Station can be reached by trains S1 and S8 in 50 minutes.
Transportation
Lindau public transport is 4 lines, buses that run every 30 minutes. Routes connect all parts of the city. In general, you can see the sights of Lindau without using the OT: all the most interesting is in the island part. There are several bike and segway rental stations. Parking on the mainland of the city is paid. On the island, the movement of private cars is limited, but there is a large paid parking near the station. Taxis are quite expensive, but you can save some money by calling them by phone or via the app.
Hotels in Lindau
Lindau hotels are compact, often family-run hotels, most of which are located in the Old Town. The prices are quite high. A standard double room in a three-star hotel costs from 125 EUR per night (with breakfast). Guesthouses are a little cheaper: 90-130 EUR. A night in a stylish boutique hotel will cost 220 EUR. A bed in a hostel – 55 EUR. Apartments – about 96-130 EUR per day. The prices on the page are for August 2021.
Cuisine and restaurants
Lindau is Bavaria, which means that the local cuisine is the patrimony of boiled white sausages with sauerkraut and sweet mustard and, of course, pretzels. Plus fish from Lake Constance cooked in many ways.
How much: whitefish fillet in almond butter with broccoli and potatoes costs 20-30 EUR, roast pork with dumplings will cost 25 EUR. Two people can have a hearty meal and drink a glass or two of beer, keeping within 90 EUR.
Fast food in Lindau is not to say that it is popular, after all, this is a place where no one is in a hurry. Usually the townspeople take a cup of coffee with them and a piece of cake. All this is sold for 10-15 EUR in numerous Backerei (bakery).
Attractions in Lindau
Walking through the historical center of Lindau, it is difficult to single out one thing – the eyes run up from the abundance of beautiful buildings, each of which is different from the next. But still, among these treasures, I want to find the very best.
One of the most important attractions is the city harbor. Vessels cruising the lake meet on one side a 6-meter statue of a lion (the symbol of Bavaria) by sculptor Johan von Halbing, and on the other, a 36-meter-high New Lighthouse. There is an observation deck on its top, to get on it, you need to pay 2.50 EUR, for children – 1 EUR and overcome 139 steep wooden steps.
But the lighthouse offers a stunning view of the serene expanse of Lake Constance with dozens of snow-white ships, the island, neighboring towns and the Austrian Alps.
The main symbol of Lindau is also located here in the port. The massive 20-meter Mangturm tower, covered with colorful tiles, once served as a lighthouse and was connected to the land by a drawbridge. Unfortunately, you can get inside only during city holidays.
You can not miss the most famous street of the city – Maximillianstrasse. The architectural gem of Lindau stretches for only 230 m, but this is enough to touch the history – even the cobblestones that cover it come from the Middle Ages. The colorful burgher houses located along the street are a little younger, dating back to the 16th-18th centuries. Each of them is decorated in its own way, if only to be sure to be better than that of a neighbor.
The architectural gem of Lindau is Maximillianstrasse.
In the middle of the street is Bismarckplatz, on which stands a low-rise 15th-century building. This is the Old Town Hall and it has a stunning painted façade (Bismarckpl., 4). The wall depicts farmers, fishermen, a monster from Lake Constance, and even the dance of a skeleton and a naked woman – a symbol of the struggle between life and death. Interestingly, the drawings appeared relatively recently. The artist Wilhelm Nida-Rümelin completed the masterpiece that shocked the townspeople in 1931.
Maximillianstrasse, meanwhile, turns north and passes into Kramergasse, which in turn leads to the Market Square. Its dominant feature is the City Museum (Cavazzen, Marktpl., 6). The building was built in the 18th century in the Baroque style with a hipped roof and an unusually colorful painting on the facade. The permanent exhibition is divided into 3 sectors. The first is devoted to the connection of history with art. Along with traditional exhibits, such as archaeological finds, there are collections of watches, toys, porcelain, and church utensils. The second tells about the life of Lindau at the time when he had the status of an imperial city (1496-1806). Here are paintings with views of the island, furniture and household items of the rulers. The third part of the exposition is an impressive collection of mechanical musical instruments: caskets, pianos, hurdy-gurdies.
The oldest Lindau temple stands at the very end of Maximillianstrasse (Oberer Schrannenplatz). It was founded over 1000 years ago by local fishermen and named after their heavenly patron Saint Peter. The massive windowless tower indicates that the church served as a fortress and was often damaged. In the end, in the 17th century it was abandoned and stood in a dilapidated state until 1921. Today, St. Peter’s Church works as an art gallery. Its main treasures are the gothic frescoes by Hans Holbein Sr. depicting the Passion of Christ and scenes from the life of St. Peter.
