Kreuzlingen on Lake Constance: Parks, Nature and Culture

Kreuzlingen lies directly on the shores of Lake Constance and borders Konstanz in Germany. Seeburg Park gives the lakeside setting a tangible frame: it is 2.5 kilometres long and stretches from Kreuzlingen harbour around Seeburg Castle and along the shore of Lake Constance. This makes the lakeside landscape a destination in its own right – alongside nature experiences, boat trips and culture.

Lakeshore, Park and Nature

Seeburg Park is considered Kreuzlingen’s green park and offers opportunities for walking, picnicking and relaxing, as well as a small animal enclosure and a children’s playground. The Kreuzlingen Animal Park is home to traditional domestic breeds that are endangered. Goats, sheep and donkeys can be fed and petted; as opportunities to interact with the animals may change, it is advisable to check shortly before your visit. Numerous medicinal and culinary herbs grow in the publicly accessible garden in Seeburg Park, arranged in beds according to their properties.

The pond landscape also offers a different perspective on nature. The Lengwiler Weiher protected area is both a place for recreation close to home and a nature reserve, with ponds, forests criss-crossed by streams and fens. Reed beds and wet meadows provide spawning and nesting grounds for amphibian and bird species that have become rare. The Pro Natura hut serves as a base for activities and gives schools and interested groups the opportunity to learn about nature on site. If you are planning a group visit, check access and available activities in advance.

Paths, Audio Walks and Boat Trips

The routes described follow different waterways and lead to various destinations: the Saubachweg follows the Saubach from above Bernrain through the Emmishofen district to the Döbeli sports grounds. The Chogenbachweg runs from Lengwiler Weiher via Kurzrickenbach to Lake Constance and the jetty by the Fischerhaus. Two different themes are available for an audio walk: “Tree Whispers” features 17 stops about trees up to 120 years old. “Lake Stories” begins at the Lake Museum, follows the shore and returns to the starting point after about 60 minutes. Audio offerings may change; check availability before making plans.

Those who want to experience the region from the water will find further options at Kreuzlingen’s landing stages: boat companies operate on the Lower Lake as far as Stein am Rhein and offer cruises on Lake Constance. Pedal boats and motorboats are also available for hire. Timetables and rental options may vary by season, so it is worth checking what is available for your travel dates.

Museums, Art and History

The Kreuzlingen Lake Museum presents the history and present-day story of shipping and fishing on Lake Constance. Digital treasure hunts take visitors on journeys of discovery on and beneath the water; digital offerings may change. The “Here and There” exhibition on the Swiss-German border is housed in the former wine cellar of the Rosenegg Museum. The museum itself is located in a Rococo palace built by the Bächler wine-trading family around 1785.

Seeburg Castle and the Augustinian monastery of “crucelin” also tell different chapters of the town’s history. Seeburg Castle was built in 1598, restored after a fire in 1633 and subsequently served as the summer residence of the abbots of Kreuzlingen. Bishop Ulrich I of Konstanz founded the Augustinian monastery in 1125. It was destroyed in 1633 in the aftermath of the Swedish siege of Konstanz and rebuilt at its present location in 1650.

For art in public spaces, the art trails allow visitors to create their own tours of locations and artworks; QR codes provide information about the objects and their locations. The “Thurgau Lake Art Trail” runs from Arbon via Romanshorn and Kreuzlingen to Stein am Rhein and includes six works of art in Kreuzlingen. Kunstraum Kreuzlingen is devoted to contemporary art and the discourse around it; its programme includes exhibitions, performances, discursive and social events, and educational activities. There are no regular opening hours due to construction work. Check access for the event you wish to attend in advance.

The Lake Constance Planetarium presents changing multimedia and live shows on a 360-degree dome. At the observatory, expert guides accompany observations of the Moon, planets, star clusters, gas nebulae, galaxies and the Sun. The programme may change. The facilities described at Bad Egelsee include a family pool and an adventure pool, a toddler area, two diving platforms and a 40-metre slide. The relaxation area also offers a steam bath, sauna, experience showers, a Kneipp alcove and a heated stone; facilities may change during renovations.

Discover more destinations: Kreuzlingen, Tägerwilen, Gottlieben, Ermatingen, Altnau, Lipperswil, Salenstein, Güttingen, Langrickenbach, Lengwil, Bottighofen, Wäldi, Münsterlingen.

For the main travel overview: Thurgau.