Meersburg: Castle, Art and Lake Constance

Meersburg brings together several distinct visitor interests: the New Palace represents Baroque residential history, while the Fürstenhäusle is known for its Biedermeier furnishings and connection to Annette von Droste-Hülshoff. There is also modern and contemporary art, a permanent exhibition with open guided tours, and boat trips on Überlinger See. When choosing a destination, you can therefore consider culture, views and boat trips as separate focal points.

Castle, Art and Biedermeier

Meersburg New Palace was the Baroque residence of the Prince-Bishops of Constance. Its monumental staircase was designed from a plan by Balthasar Neumann; the palace also offers panoramic views over Lake Constance. For those interested in architectural history, the attribution of the staircase design is a specific point of interest, while the view over the lake adds a scenic highlight.

In the Red House, a Baroque palace opposite the New Palace, the Bodenseekreis Gallery displays modern and contemporary art. The two buildings facing each other offer contrasting highlights: Baroque residential history on one side and a gallery of contemporary art on the other. The exhibition season may vary; if you are planning a gallery visit, check the current exhibition dates.

The Fürstenhäusle also offers views over Lake Constance, but its furnishings and connection to Annette von Droste-Hülshoff give it a different focus. It is authentically furnished with Biedermeier-period furniture and offers insight into the poet’s life and work. Unlike the New Palace, which recalls the Prince-Bishops of Constance, the focus here is on the Biedermeier furnishings and Droste-Hülshoff.

Guided Tours and Boat Trips

At the Meersburg Bible Gallery, open guided tours of the permanent exhibition are offered every Friday from 4 April to 31 October. The period and day of the week are important when planning. If you plan to join a tour, check the specific dates with the provider before travelling.

Boat trips on Überlinger See aboard scheduled vessels are available from Meersburg. This adds an option on the water to the choice between architecture, art and literary heritage. Boat services and timetables may vary seasonally; check the provider’s information before your trip.

The Wider Region: Bodenseekreis

The wider destination of Bodenseekreis stretches along almost the entire northern shore of Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg. The district also extends into the Upper Swabian hill country and, in the east, the West Allgäu hill country. It has 57.7 kilometres of Lake Constance shoreline; its landscape is shaped by the lake, adjoining hills, fruit orchards, vineyards, meadows and forests. Bodenseekreis therefore includes not only the lakeshore but also a range of landscapes inland.

Other cultural attractions in Bodenseekreis have a different focus from the buildings in Meersburg. The Unteruhldingen Pile Dwellings are located in the wider destination of Bodenseekreis. They are Germany’s oldest archaeological open-air museum. The visitor route includes the ARCHAEORAMA multimedia show, with a virtual dive to the pile dwellings in Lake Constance. The site also features the DISCOVERER TRAIL, with a pile-dwelling cinema where experimental archaeologists introduce visitors to historical house-building techniques. Archaeology and ancient building methods are the main themes there.

In the wider destination of Bodenseekreis, the Dornier Museum Friedrichshafen offers a different thematic focus. It houses almost 400 exhibits across 6,000 square metres, including 14 original aircraft and a helicopter. In contrast to the pile dwellings, the focus here is on aircraft and the museum’s collection. These distinct areas of interest can help you decide which cultural attractions to explore during a stay in Meersburg and the wider destination of Bodenseekreis.

Discover more destinations: Bodman-Ludwigshafen, Langenargen, Owingen, Billafingen, Beuren, Friedrichshafen, Deggenhausertal, Tettnang.

Back to the regional travel overview: Lake Constance.