Lindau Travel Guide

Introduction

179km (111 miles) SW of Munich, 32km (20 miles) S of Ravensburg

Lindau dates from the end of the 9th century. It was a free imperial town of the Holy Roman Empire from the Middle Ages to 1804, when it became a part of Bavaria. For centuries, it was a center of trade between Bavaria and Switzerland.

Its unique setting on an island at the eastern end of Lake Constance made Lindau a prime tourist attraction. Today this garden city is under landmark protection and has outgrown its boundaries and spread to the shores of the mainland. It now caters to the tourist's every whim, from sunbathing to baccarat. Lindau is a charming city. You can wander at will through the maze of winding narrow streets lined with houses that have stood the test of time. At the harbor stand two lighthouses: One, Mangturm, was built in the 1200s, the other in 1856. Each tower is some 37m (120 ft.) tall and can be climbed by the athletic via narrow spiral staircases. The reward is a panoramic vista of...