Arbon on Lake Constance

Arbon lies on a peninsula on the southwestern shore of Lake Constance, between Romanshorn and Rorschach. The town is considered historic and is the district capital of the Arbon district in the canton of Thurgau. Several aspects of the town are central to planning your trip: the castle and the town’s history, collections on regional industry, the Bleiche 3 archaeological site, and activities by the lake.

Castle, history and collections

The Arbon Historical Museum is located in medieval Arbon Castle, which includes a defensive tower. It is considered the largest local and regional history museum in Thurgau. Its permanent exhibition covers 5,500 years of settlement history on Lake Constance. If you want to make the region’s history a focus of your stay, you will find a broad overview spanning many periods here. Exhibition topics may change. Climbing the tower offers panoramic views; maintenance work may affect access. So check whether the tower room is accessible before your visit.

The castle walls also point to an earlier history: its northern and western walls stand on the foundations of a Roman fort. The Saurer Museum offers a different focus. It exhibits commercial vehicles and engines, as well as embroidery and weaving machines made in Arbon. The collection includes around 20 historic vehicles, including trucks, buses, military and fire service vehicles, as well as postal buses. The size and composition of the collection may change slightly. The townscape and museums thus bring together architectural history, transport and local production.

Bleiche 3 and settlement history

The Bleiche 3 archaeological site gives the long history of settlement a tangible dimension. It dates from the transitional period between the Pfyn and Horgen cultures and is dated to 3384–3370 BC. The settlement is particularly well preserved thanks to the archaeological findings. Excavations uncovered the outlines of 26 houses, arranged in four rows and destroyed by a fire.

The archaeological layers lie beneath a car park and several buildings, hidden under several metres of sediment. An information sign at the site provides details about the archaeological site. So, to put Bleiche 3 in context, both the excavation findings and the present-day location of the archaeological layers are part of the picture: the house outlines tell the story of the settlement at the time, while the sign points to the protected site.

Old town, lake and harbour

The Arbori Puzzle Trail leads through Arbon’s old town and along the lake. Along the way, participants solve puzzles and complete tasks. The trail connects two distinct points of interest without limiting its stops to a single theme: you encounter the old town as well as the lakeside landscape. If you explore Arbon by bike, you can include the Lake Constance Cycle Path; Arbon lies directly on this route.

Arbon Harbour has 650 berths and 30 visitor berths, making it one of the largest harbours on the Swiss shore of Lake Constance. For current berth availability, it is worth checking the information before you arrive. You can also explore the Lake Constance region by ferry or scheduled boat. A boat trip can be combined with a bike tour or a hike. Check the current timetable when planning your trip.

Bathing facilities and the history of cider making

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. The complex also includes a giant water slide and a 10-metre diving tower. The swimming pool operates seasonally; check which facilities are open before your visit. The different pools and access to the lake give the bathing facilities several distinct features, without requiring you to plan a particular programme.

MoMö – Swiss Cider and Distillery Museum presents the world of Möhl’s cider in an informative and interactive way. The exhibition shows how apples and pears are pressed, from methods used in past centuries to modern juice-making techniques. It also offers insights into traditional and modern cider specialities and the age-old art of distilling fruit brandies and spirits. The history of cider making and distilling adds another topic—fruit processing—to the museum offerings on the town, transport and settlement. Programme details may change.

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

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