Lake Constance (Bodensee), Germany's largest lake, is bordered by Switzerland and Austria. It's an old-fashioned resort area, with one of the warmest summer microclimates in the country. It's also a big fruit-growing region and a popular location for boating. There are several resort towns along the northern shore of the lake, which are connected by road and ferry.
Uberlingen has a nice lakeside promenade and an old moat around part of the town. Meersburg is surrounded by vineyards and has half-timbered houses and the oldest structurally intact castle in Germany. The quiet town of Friedrichshafen is home to the Zeppelin Museum. Probably the most popular resort is Lindau, a quaint town set on an island connected to the mainland. On the southern shore is Konstanz, the largest town on the lake.
The island of Reichenau is famous for its abbey churches dating back to Carolingian times, with splendid 10th-century frescoes. Reichenau ranks as one of the intellectual cradles of Germany. A nearby attraction is the island of Mainau, with its castle and lush flower gardens.
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