Ermatingen on Lake Untersee: Culture and Landscape

Ermatingen lies on the southern shore of Lake Untersee, the western arm of Lake Constance, opposite Reichenau Island. The lakeshore, the village’s history and its winemaking tradition give the place its distinct character. When planning your stay, you can choose between nature and cultural experiences: options include walks and cycling tours, as well as a visit to the Vinorama Museum or the shared St. Albin Church.

Lake Untersee landscape and trails

The municipality extends from the lakeshore at around 396 metres above sea level to the Seerücken ridge at 613 metres. Between them, vineyards, meadows, forests and lakeside landscapes shape the surroundings. Ermatingen has a temperate climate, with warm summers and mild winters. Its lakeside location and varied landscapes provide a setting for walks and cycling tours. If you would rather spend your trip outdoors, you can combine these activities with the area’s cultural attractions.

One specific hiking option is the Thurgau Fable Trail. It runs from Steckborn via Oberfruthwilen to Ermatingen and is eleven kilometres long. Along the way, 18 panels introduce you to animal characters from fables and their stories. The trail is considered particularly suitable for children and families and takes about three hours to hike. Its length, approximate duration and stops give you a guide for planning your day; the story panels also make the trail an encounter with fables.

Church, museum and village history

The shared St. Albin Church was first mentioned in a document in 1215 and is of outstanding cultural and historical significance. Protestant and Catholic congregations use it together. The term “shared” suits a church connected with both congregations. A visit therefore focuses both on the building’s long history and on its shared use.

The Vinorama Museum Ermatingen shares insights into the history of winemaking on Lake Untersee. It also explores regional history through notable people, buildings and significant events. These offer two complementary perspectives: the development of winemaking and the history of the people and places of the region. The museum offers guided tours; if you plan to join one, check the current dates before your visit.

Groppen Carnival and regional tradition

Groppen Carnival is celebrated on Laetare Sunday, three weeks before Easter. Since Easter falls on a different date each year, the festival date varies too. Its origins probably go back to an ancient Germanic spring festival celebrated by local fishermen; Groppen Carnival is also associated with the catching of the first groppen fish. This traditional interpretation and the calendar date make the festival a distinctive part of local cultural history.

Culinary lore is also part of the story, but as a historical tradition: accounts described groppen fish as a delicacy, salted and fried in a pan. One such account dates from 1897. It recounts an earlier food culture, not a current dining option. Together with fishing and the cultivation of grain, fruit and wine, this story shows which activities shaped the village’s historical character.

Traces of early settlement

Near Ermatingen, prehistoric pile-dwelling remains have been found in sheltered bays along the lake. The lakeside settlements of Westerfeld and Büüge yielded finds from the Pfyn, Horgen and Corded Ware cultures. The names of these cultures place the finds in different periods of prehistory, broadening the perspective beyond the village’s later history. Ermatingen and Triboltingen, as well as the Untersee castle landscape, are also listed in the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. The municipality thus brings together evidence of early lakeside settlements and the recognized importance of historic townscapes.

Discover more destinations: Triboltingen, Lipperswil, Güttingen, Salenstein, Bottighofen, Wäldi, Gottlieben, Kreuzlingen.

Back to the main travel overview: Kreuzlingen.