Lengwil-Oberhofen: Trails, ponds and church history

Lengwil lies south of the city of Kreuzlingen on the Seerücken ridge. The municipality has a railway station on the Konstanz–Weinfelden line. If you plan to travel by train, check the current timetable before your journey. Trails through meadows, forests and fields offer opportunities for hiking in Lengwil.

Hiking, cycling and seasonal recreation

In Lengwil, varied trails lead through meadows, forests and fields. They offer opportunities for hiking. One specifically named route is the “Auf Waldwegen zum Grillplausch” (Through forest trails to a barbecue) hike: it passes through stretches of forest and reaches the Bäärehölzli barbecue area. If you plan to use the barbecue area, check its condition before your visit; the facilities may be maintained seasonally.

Cyclists will also find regional routes: the wider area around Lengwil has an extensive network of marked cycling paths. Check the conditions on the relevant route before setting out.

Emmerzen pond offers different opportunities depending on the season. In winter, it is a place to go ice skating and play Bavarian curling. Outside the winter season, it is considered a peaceful place to relax. The seasonal focus therefore differs: in winter, activities on the ice take centre stage, while outside this period the pond is associated above all with peace and quiet. Conditions on site may vary; check before your visit if necessary.

The Lengwiler Weiher natural area

The Lengwiler Weiher nature reserve near Lengwil can be visited year-round. Reeds and marsh meadows around the pond provide spawning and nesting sites for amphibian and bird species that have become rare. The landscape is therefore not only a place to enjoy the outdoors, but also a habitat whose distinctive value lies in its wetlands.

In the area around Lengwil, the Pro Natura hut at Lengwiler Weiher serves as a base for activities in the area. It gives school classes and other interested groups the opportunity to learn about nature on site. If you are planning a group visit, arrange the details in advance. This makes it possible to tailor your stay to the services available for groups, without assuming that the hut will be available at short notice.

Church and history in Oberhofen

The present-day church in Oberhofen was built in 1519. During its renovation from 1964 to 1966, three stained-glass windows by Hans Affeltranger were added. Its protected status is also documented: the Protestant church in Oberhofen near Lengwil is legally protected, registered as an ÖREB cultural heritage object and classified as particularly valuable. Its construction date, windows and protected status offer different ways to understand the building’s historical and cultural significance.

The church’s earlier history includes a period when the church in Oberhofen was a subsidiary church of St. Stephen’s in Konstanz. The Reformed parish of Lengwil has existed since 1942 and has two churches: one in Illighausen and one in Oberhofen. These references belong to different periods in the church’s history; the former connection with Konstanz and the parish established in 1942 should therefore not be understood as one and the same status.

For the general travel overview: Lengwil.