Arbon: History and experiences on Lake Constance

Arbon lies directly on Lake Constance and brings together prehistoric traces, Roman heritage and culture in historic buildings. The lake also shapes the activities on offer: you can walk, cycle or skate along the shore and get to know the town from different perspectives. For planning your visit, you can choose from museums and exhibitions as well as bathing facilities and activities for active hours.

Traces from many centuries

The medieval Arbon Castle houses Thurgau’s largest museum of local and regional history. Using original finds, documents, scale models, pictures and photographs, its permanent exhibition traces 5,500 years of settlement history on Lake Constance. Highlights of the Roman-era exhibition include a 145-kilogram lead ingot and a model of a heated Roman bathing facility. From the castle tower, you can look out across Lake Constance and the Germany–Austria–Liechtenstein border triangle, towards the orchards of Upper Thurgau and the Säntis massif.

Buildings from different eras tell their stories beyond the exhibition, too. The fortified Late Roman fort of Arbor Felix dates back to 250 AD; the castle’s north and west walls stand on Roman fort foundations. Two of Arbon’s pile-dwelling settlements have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps” since 2011. The Catholic Church of St Martin brings together several construction phases: its core dates from the 12th century, its Late Gothic choir from 1490, and its nave from 1786 to 1789. The tower was built in 1457 and raised in 1895. Gallus Chapel is a Romanesque building with a polygonal choir dating from 1768 to 1770; sections of the medieval town wall have also been preserved.

Museums, machines and art

The Saurer Museum displays around 20 historic vehicles, including trucks, buses, military and fire service vehicles, as well as postal buses. The collection also includes machines and engines, a hand embroidery machine and one of the first shuttle looms. They are on display in a building more than a hundred years old. The textile machines have been restored to working order and are sometimes operated during guided tours. The Saurer Museum am See is wheelchair-accessible, including its toilet facilities; if construction work is taking place during your visit, it is best to confirm the accessibility information in advance.

At the Swiss Cider and Distillery Museum MoMö, an informative and interactive journey of discovery takes you through the Möhl world of enjoyment. A guided tour of the cider mill offers insights into the production of traditional Thurgau apple wines and the Möhl family’s modern cider creations. It also includes a tasting of typical Thurgau juice specialities. Booking details may change; check the current tour information in advance.

There are several places to enjoy contemporary art. Since 1993, Kunsthalle Arbon has presented art in the former halls of metalware manufacturer Schädler. It organises private guided tours for groups of art enthusiasts or as part of an excursion; admission is free. The programme and admission details may change, so it is worth checking before your visit. The ARtBON collection displays mainly works by artists from Switzerland and neighbouring countries across an extensive site. Public tours take place from April to October on the first Saturday of each month at 2 pm. Confirm the date before you travel.

Games, exercise and time by the water

ArboPark brings together more than 20 action-packed experiences in a 6,000-square-metre indoor leisure facility. These include a modern go-kart track, a DriftPark with a winding course and the CUBE Challenges. As the range of activities may change, check which experiences are currently available before your visit. The Arbori Puzzle Trail offers another way to discover Arbon, inviting you to explore the old town and the lake in a playful way.

Opened in 1933, Arbon Lido is a listed Bauhaus-style bathing facility. It features a large sunbathing lawn, partly shaded by mature trees, a children’s paddling pool and a spacious play area. Arbon swimming pool offers direct access to the lake, a 50-metre and a 33-metre swimming pool, a non-swimmers’ pool and a children’s paddling pool. A giant water slide and a 10-metre diving tower complete the facilities.

For exercise beyond the bathing facilities, a three-kilometre lakeside path invites you to stroll on foot, by bicycle or on inline skates. Arbon is also directly on the Lake Constance Cycle Path. Pedal boats and boats can be rented at the harbour, and boat trips with the “White Fleet” are available. Rentals and trips are seasonal; check what is on offer before your trip.

Getting here and finding your way around

Arbon is on the Zurich–Rorschach and Schaffhausen–Chur railway lines. There are well-developed bus connections between Arbon, the city of St. Gallen and the nearby region. As timetables should be checked separately, it is best to look up current connections before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Romanshorn, Kesswil, Amriswil, Horn, Uttwil, Arbon, Sommeri, Dozwil, Hefenhofen, Egnach.

View the overview of the wider region: Thurgau.