Horn on Lake Constance: lake, castle and churches

Horn lies on Lake Constance and combines a stay by the water with cycling connections and striking architectural heritage. The lido, the Lake Constance Cycle Path, the national Rhine Route No. 2, Horn Castle and two churches each offer a different focus. When looking for a hotel in Horn, you can consider whether your stay should be shaped more by lake activities, cycling or cultural history.

Lido, Lake Constance and cycling routes

The sheltered Horn lido lies directly on Lake Constance. Facilities include a paddling pool for small children and steps providing access to the lake. There is a 3-metre diving tower in the water, as well as 1- and 3-metre diving boards. Next to the lido, a large lawn provides space for sports and leisure. This means the lakeside offers both dedicated swimming facilities and an area for other leisure activities.

Horn is also a named starting point for cycling trips: it is one of the starting points of the approximately 260-kilometre Lake Constance Cycle Path. The national Rhine Route No. 2 runs from St. Margrethen via Horn to Kreuzlingen and continues to Basel. The route information provides different kinds of guidance: the approximate total distance is given for the Lake Constance Cycle Path, while the sequence of towns is given for the Rhine Route. This lets you consider the two routes in terms of their respective courses and connections to Horn.

Parkland and nature

Horn Castle has a very large park with a remarkable collection of mature trees. Only Seestrasse separates it from the lakeshore. Horn’s protected natural heritage also includes the horse chestnut avenue «Rosskastanien Seestrasse West». The park and avenue complement the water and cycling routes with striking natural and landscape features of the town.

Castle and churches

Horn Castle was built in the second half of the 16th century or in the early 17th century. The greenhouse on its east side contains murals depicting the four seasons by Theo Glintz. They were created around 1930 and restored in 2001. The entrance portal also reuses an older architectural feature: it incorporates the choir screen from the castle chapel. The chapel was built after 1716 and destroyed in 1826.

Horn’s Protestant church was built in 1929 by Zurich architect Emil Schäfer and lies directly beside the lake. Its striking tower has a very shallow hipped roof and an unusually slender spire. A stained-glass panel depicting the «Adoration of the Three Kings» by Paul Morach of Zurich dates from the time of construction. The Catholic Church of St. Francis Xavier was built from 1909 to 1911 to designs by Frauenfeld architect Albert Rimli. It is considered an important Neo-Gothic church building with elements of the Heimatstil style; the winged altarpiece from the original furnishings has been preserved. Horn Castle and both churches are listed as protected cultural properties.

The town’s name also has a historical connection: the form «Horna» is first recorded in 1155 in a document issued by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Together with the buildings, it offers a way to trace the town’s history through specific names, dates and surviving details.

Getting here and finding your way around

All scheduled boats stop at Zollplatz in Horn. If you are planning a boat connection, check the timetable before travelling. Horn has three harbours with around 320 moorings for boats and 60 for dinghies. Bikes can be taken on board at the train station and at the boat landing at Zollplatz, so you can include both cycling and boat travel in your plans.

A direct bus from Horn railway station reaches St. Gallen’s main station in 30 minutes. There are 76 covered bicycle parking spaces at the station. P+Rail Horn offers 22 parking spaces, including one accessible parking space.

Discover more destinations: Romanshorn, Hefenhofen, Amriswil, Arbon, Kesswil, Uttwil, Egnach, Dozwil.

Go to the parent travel overview: Arbon.