Altnau: Apple Trail, Pier and Local History

Discover Altnau through its many facets: fruit growing, lakeside walks and the history of the town. The Apple Trail winds through a variety of landscapes, while the pier and bathing beach offer their own impressions of the lake. Churches and historic buildings also shape the townscape. What you would like to do in Altnau may therefore influence how you plan your stay.

Experience the Apple Trail and fruit growing

The Altnau Apple Trail features 24 information boards with activity stations about fruit growing. Its three routes can be combined into circular walks of five, six or seven kilometres. This lets you choose your preferred distance: the shortest and longest loops differ by two kilometres. You can explore the trail on foot, by bicycle or by horse-drawn carriage; take local conditions into account when making specific plans.

The sections also offer different highlights. East of Altnau, the Apple Trail passes through apple orchards beneath the bright-red apple “Lisi.” On the green “Emma” route west of Altnau, you can observe wild bees and honeybees. The routes thus offer different impressions, from orchards to bee-watching.

Apple weeks and local products

The traditional Altnau Apple Weeks take place every September and last for two weeks. Their culinary and themed programme revolves around apples and concludes with an autumn market. The Bluescht-Fäscht takes place every year on 1 May. The two events therefore have different seasonal focuses. If you would like to plan your visit around a festival, check the specific dates and programme in advance.

The Feierlenhof farm shop offers various apple and pear varieties as well as other seasonal fruit. The range also includes the farm’s own sweet cider, the sparkling Apfeltraum and various liqueurs. The fruit selection is seasonal, and the range of drinks and liqueurs may also change. Cyclists and walkers can also enjoy refreshments at the Feierlenhof and a quiet spot to take a break.

Pier and bathing beach on Lake Constance

Altnau’s 270-metre-long landing pier serves the large passenger ships of the Swiss Bodensee Shipping Company. From there, you can look out across Lake Constance and the surrounding shores. After dark, lights embedded in the ground turn the pier into a glowing avenue of light. If you are planning a boat trip, check the timetable, as times may vary.

Altnau’s free bathing beach has a large sunbathing lawn shaded by poplar trees. Public barbecue areas and sanitary facilities with toilets, showers and changing rooms are also available; check the details of the facilities on site before your visit. A small platform attached to the pier lets you jump into the water. You can sunbathe on a raft. Water conditions and safety rules may vary; check local conditions before jumping in.

You can reach the bathing beach by train, boat, on foot or by bicycle. Parking is available nearby. This gives you several options for getting to the beach; if you are travelling by boat, checking the timetable will help you plan.

Churches and historic buildings

Altnau’s Reformed church stands on a rise formed by the Lake Constance glacier during the Ice Age. It was inaugurated in 1812 and is a Neoclassical plastered building with a pointed-helmet tower, set within a walled cemetery. The Catholic Church of St. Martin is also a gabled-roof building with a pointed-helmet tower and stands in a walled cemetery.

The historic Oberdorf ensemble comprises secular and sacred buildings dating from the 17th to the 19th century, all aligned in the same direction. Together with the two churches, it offers another perspective on Altnau: here, architectural forms and the arrangement of the buildings shape the impression, while the Apple Trail and lakeshore reveal other sides of the town.

Discover more destinations: Ermatingen, Güttingen, Lipperswil, Wäldi, Lengwil, Langrickenbach, Salenstein, Gottlieben

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