Bodensee

9 October 2022

7 days from £2,950pp

Stay in a former Dominican Monastery on the banks of Lake Constance – otherwise known as Bodensee – and discover all three countries that line its shores. Explore the delights of Austria, Switzerland and Germany and sail the lake to magical island towns.

Explore the lakeside treasures of all three countries bordering Bodensee – Austria, Switzerland and Germany
Relax in five-star comfort in a former Dominican monastery for the duration of your stay
Sail to the monastic island of Reichenau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a morning of exploration
Discover merchant splendour in the magical island town of Lindau

With Shores in three Countries – Germany, Switzerland and Austria – Lake Constance (in German 'Bodensee') occupies an enchanted spot in the heart of Western Europe with charming mediaeval towns such as Lindau, Überlingen and Meersburg. Beyond the southern shore, the Swiss Alps rise to glacial heights, while gentle slopes with rich vineyards and luscious orchards fringe the German northern side. The combination of outstanding natural beauty and fertile agricultural lands have given this area, inhabited since the Bronze Age, the epithet 'God's Garden'. Moreover, the lake's gateway position has led to the development of august abbeys and flourishing towns along the shoreline, which offer a fascinating heritage ranging from pre-historic times to the present. This Art Pursuits Abroad study tour invites you to discover the region by coach and boat, from the millennium-old monastery island of Reichenau, one of the leading cultural centres of the Carolingian Empire, to the dazzling Rococo pilgrimage church of the Birnau, from Bronze Age lake dwellings to the busy merchant towns of Konstanz, Lindau and Bregenz.

Day 1:
Morning flight from London Heathrow to Zurich. Transfer by private coach to Stein am Rhein. Right by the river bank lies the Monastery of St George with beautiful interiors from the eve of the Reformation. From there continue to our five star hotel in Konstanz, a tiny German enclave on the otherwise Swiss side of the lake.
Day 2:
During the High Middle Ages Konstanz was the capital of a prince-bishopric whose rulers were frequently at loggerheads with a burgeoning town council. Visit the minster whose construction continued for 600 years, the Rosgartenmuseum occupying the town’s former guildhall, and the Church of the Trinity, an ensemble of Gothic mendicant order architecture. Across the lake, Meersburg replaced Konstanz as bishop’s seat after the religious conflicts of the mid-16th century, with two castles — one ruggedly mediaeval, the other restrained Baroque — dominating the skyline.
Day 3:
Überlingen’s prosperity during the late Middle Ages was founded on the town's role as southern Germany's largest grain market. The huge minster manifests Überlingen's might: while the architecture exudes Gothic solemnity, the altars are ostentatious demonstrations of wealth. Our walk through the town includes the municipal museum and the simple Chapel of St Jodok (James) with primitive but moving wall paintings. After lunch, continue to the pilgrimage church of the Birnau, one of the last and most glittering manifestations of Rococo art.
Day 4:
Excursion by Catamaran to the island of Reichenau. Three monasteries were in place by the end of the 9th century, but monastic life reached its zenith one hundred years later, when 700 monks contributed to the island's fame for its scholarship, literature and painting. The walls of St Georg are covered with a wonderful set of Ottonian frescoes. The church of Sts Peter and Paul presents itself today in Baroque disguise, but an apse fresco of the Last Judgement betrays the building’s mediaeval origins. At St Maria und Markus, the treasury includes a 5th century ivory goblet and some priceless 1000-year-old stained glass. We return from Friedrichshafen to Meersburg by private boat with a light lunch included before a free afternoon.
Day 5:
Lindau’s shoreline is flanked by expensive villas, while the harbour is dominated by two lighthouses and a statue of a gigantic Lion, clearly stating Bavarian rule. Located on a major north-south trading route, Lindau has many handsome merchant mansions, most notably the Haus zum Cavazzen, now an attractive local history museum. The ancient church of St Peter is decorated with a Christological mural cycle, possibly the work of the young Hans Holbein the Elder. In the afternoon, return to Konstanz by coach and car ferry via the church at Eriskirch, embellished with paintings, sculptures and stained-glass of the early 15th century.
Day 6:
Transfer by coach to Austrian Bregenz, famous for its large floating stage behind the concert hall, used for spectacular operas in the annual summer festival. The capital of Voralberg has a wide range of attractions, from the foundations of Roman warehouses to contemporary art in the ultra-modern light-reflecting cube of the Kunsthaus.
Day 7:
A coach excursion along the Swiss shore will take you to Landschlacht and Arbon, both with churches that house rare 14th century wall paintings. A few kilometres south of Arbon, the monastery town of St Gallen is best known for the richly decorated library. From there we continue to Zurich airport for our return flight back to London Heathrow.

Return flights with British Airways from London Heathrow to Zurich
Private coach transfers and excursions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and private or public boat transfers
Six nights’ bed and breakfast in the 5* Steinberger Inselhotel in Konstanz
Three dinners and one lunch
Guided visits to sights and museums listed in the programme
Services of the Lecturer and Tour Manager
Detailed programme and study notes
All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers and waiters.

Fly from London Heathrow

Return flights from London Heathrow are included in our package on our specific arrival and departure dates plus one item of checked in luggage, per person.

Transfers will also be included on our specific arrival and departure dates to take you to your holiday destination. If you choose to arrive or depart on a different day, there may be an additional supplement charged to cover your transfer costs.

Overview

This five star hotel is situated in a former Dominican monastery, located directly by the lake on a small private island of Constance and within easy walking distance of Konstanz city centre.

Room Facilities & Amenities

En suite bathroom
Safe
TV
Minibar (additional charges may apply)
Wi-Fi
Air conditioning

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Bodensee

9 October 2022

7 days from £2,950pp

Day 1:

Day 2:

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Day 7:

Tom Abbott

Fly from London Heathrow

Your Accommodation

Steinberger Inselhotel, Konstanz

Overview

Room Facilities & Amenities

Bodensee

9 October 2022

7 days from £2,950pp

Your Accommodation

Steinberger Inselhotel, Konstanz

Overview

Room Facilities & Amenities

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