Münsterlingen: Cultural Trail, Churches and Lake Constance

Münsterlingen is a locality and, since 1994, a political municipality in the Swiss canton of Thurgau; the municipality belongs to the Kreuzlingen district. For travellers, the town combines a cultural trail, churches with diverse architectural and artistic histories, and opportunities to enjoy Lake Constance.

Münsterlingen Cultural Trail

The Münsterlingen Cultural Trail is an information trail just under four kilometres long, with 22 stops covering natural science, history and economic topics related to the Lake Constance region. Allow about two hours to complete the circuit on foot. The length, approximate walking time and number of stops offer different points of reference for planning your day; the trail goes beyond history to cover natural science and economics, too.

The cultural trail starts at the Münsterlingen Spital stop; the starting point is about a two-minute walk from the railway station. If you are planning your journey around this starting point, check the current timetable in advance. Along the way, you will pass St. Leonard’s Chapel in the district of Landschlacht. You can therefore include the chapel in your cultural trail plans; check locally for access.

Churches and Cultural Heritage

The former Münsterlingen Abbey Church is a High Baroque building by Walser master builder and architect Franz Beer from the Bregenz Forest. It was built between 1711 and 1716 and consecrated in 1727. The church also has an iron grille dated 1736, made by the Constance blacksmith Jakob Hoffner. Münsterlingen Abbey is listed in the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

St. Leonard’s Chapel in Landschlacht houses a Gothic Passion cycle in the so-called “floating style”, created after 1300. The Leonhard cycle in the chapel was completed in 1432. Art enthusiasts can compare the chapel’s Gothic art with the High Baroque architecture of the abbey church. Scherzingen Protestant Church also offers a tangible connection to the region’s church history: it is considered the first place of worship built for Protestants in Thurgau. In 1886, it received a tall Neo-Gothic spire on its west side, with a peal of four bells.

Walks and Time by the Lake

The lakeside path in Münsterlingen is ideal for walks, and you can swim in Lake Constance at Münsterlingen lido. Local bathing conditions may change, so it is advisable to check local notices before planning a day of swimming. The lakeside path is for walking, while the lido is for swimming in the lake.

Scherzingen bathing area has a playground with a pirate ship and a beach volleyball court. Barbecuing is permitted at the designated fire pits. At Münsterlingen swimming pool and playground, there is a pirate ship called “Starfish” for balancing, climbing and sliding; the Münsterlinger Hafenfeld bathing area has a basket swing. This offers different ways to plan your day: exercise on the court, play equipment or swimming in the lake. Check local access conditions before you travel, especially if you are planning your stay around one of these activities.

Guided Tours and Local Offers

If you would prefer to explore cultural and nature topics on a group tour, you can book tours from the “Cultural and Nature Tours” programme through the Thurgau Tourism online portal or directly with the project team. Confirm booking options before making plans. In 2025, the programme included guided cultural and nature tours as well as talks; check dates again before your trip.

Feldhof sells freshly harvested vegetables directly from the farm in Münsterlingen-Scherzingen. If you plan to visit, check the sales arrangements and opening hours beforehand.

Discover more destinations: Tägerwilen, Lengwil, Ermatingen, Wäldi, Gottlieben, Kreuzlingen, Salenstein, Bottighofen.

Go to the main travel overview: Kreuzlingen.