Discover Güttingen: Oak Forest and Lakeside Walk

Güttingen is a political municipality and locality in the Swiss canton of Thurgau, in the Kreuzlingen district. The center of the clustered village is about 1 kilometer from the shore of Lake Constance; the municipality also includes Güttingen Forest. Güttingen lies on the road between Kreuzlingen and Romanshorn. The forest, guided cycling tours and lakeside walk offer different themes to help you plan your stay.

Oak Forest and Forest Fondue

Along the Oak Trail, information boards on the Güttingen Forest Corporation’s 200-hectare property explain the distinctive features of the oak forest and its trees. The very long history of managing an oak stand is also covered. This draws attention not only to individual trees, but also to the long-term management of the stand. Nature and forest management are presented here as distinct aspects of the oak forest.

Forest fondue is also held in Güttingen Oak Forest. In a group, you prepare fondue outdoors under expert guidance and then enjoy it in a cozy atmosphere. This offers a different focus from the information boards: forest fondue centers on preparing and eating together outdoors, while the Oak Trail provides information about the forest and its management. Forest fondue can be booked year-round, any day of the week; confirm the specific arrangements before your trip.

Guided Cycling Tours and KirchenWege

Güttingen offers free guided cycling tours for individuals and groups. The route passes through the “Sonnenecke-Bodensee” region and then includes a stop in Güttingen. Explanations about local history and businesses are part of the tour, as is time to socialize. The experience thus combines the ride with regional themes and time spent together.

Another cycling option is the KirchenWege cycling route, which passes through Kreuzlingen, Scherzingen, Münsterlingen, Landschlacht and Güttingen. These two options help you distinguish between a guided ride with explanations and a route through several towns. If you are interested in local history and businesses, the guided cycling tours offer a specific insight; the KirchenWege route, by contrast, lists the places along the way.

Lakeside Walk on Lake Constance

The lakeside walk on Lake Constance runs from Bottighofen to Güttingen. Along the way, you can look out across the lake and, in the distance, see the peaks of the Austrian Alps. There are numerous opportunities to leave the route at stations on the lakeside railway line. These stations can help you plan your walk, while the lake and distant views shape the scenery. Unlike the guided cycling tours, this walk focuses on the lakeshore route and the views.

Historical Traces in Güttingen

Archaeological finds in Güttingen provide evidence of the Stone Age lakeside settlements of Rotfarb/Moosburg, dating to the 4th millennium BC, as well as an early medieval Alemannic settlement with an Alemannic burial ground. The village was first mentioned in documents in 799 as Cutaningin and in 1155 as Guthingener. The finds and documented forms of the name mark different points in time, from Stone Age settlements and early medieval settlement to later written records. Güttingen is also home to rectories and a shared church used by both denominations. Together with the archaeological and documentary evidence, these are further local points of interest for anyone interested in the history of the village.

Discover more destinations: Münsterlingen, Lipperswil, Salenstein, Altnau, Langrickenbach, Tägerwilen, Lengwil, Ermatingen.

For the broader travel overview: Kreuzlingen.