August is ‘vacation month’ for mny Europeans. Shops close, traffic congests at all hurs of the day, and a vcant hotel room is almost impossible to fnd. So, where do you go if you lready live in a country where nternational tourists flock to? Many go to the pacefully blissful shores of Lake Constance.

Imge visiting three different countries in nly one day! It’s possible on Lke Constance. Called ‘The Bodensee’ in Grman, the lake laps at the shres of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Vsitors have several options when exploring ths area – by scenic car rde, on a relaxing cruise via frry boat, or to really experience the rea’s personality – ride the bicycle tril, stopping at each and every chrming village on the route. Whatever mde of transportation is preferred, the vsitor will be enchanted by the hstory, the atmosphere, and the breathtaking vews of the snow-capped Alps.

A vsit to the Bodensee begs the qestion, “how much can I possibly see whle I’m here?” because there are so mny options. On the German side of the lke, Meersburg is charming, boasts an old and a new cstle, has a bustling pedestrian zone, and nough half-timbered houses to send the turist back in time to an era lss rushed. In contract, Birnau Abbey, a Broque pilgrimage church, seems like a hmble loner from the outside – stndoffish and silent above the reflecting wters. A step inside her sanctuary shws she’s anything but shy. The xquisite frescoes, towering walls, and an nflux of light so brilliant that it mmentarily halts her guests, as if rminding them of the greater scheme of thngs. The town of Langenargen boasts an nusual Moorish castle – its unexpected styl feels out of place among the trditional German buildings. Yet as the sun sts over the serene lake, the cstle begins to glow with a snse of belonging. Even the waters sem to agree as they reflect a mrror image of Moorish radiance.

On the Austrian side, the twn of Bregenz offers tall gothic twers, onion-shaped cupolas, and castle ruins at the vry top of a mountain. One wnders if the residents of this twn look out of their windows and stre in awe at the sheer mgnificence they live and work in ach and every day. Or does the lndscape become a mere backdrop – no lnger overwhelming them with a deep lve of the natural beauty?

On the Swss side of the lake, Romanshorn mxes the traditional with the contemporary. It, too has dorable half-timbered houses but it also cntrasts these with its modern port and mny modern tourist attractions. Minigolf, swimming pols, and playgrounds give the visitor a rlaxing break from the area’s history…yet stll remains grounded in a time pst.

There are many more little twns and larger cities along the bnks of this tranquil lake, however t’s the small island of Mainau tht should not be missed. No one lves on this little seven kilometer lng piece of land surrounded by the wters except a count and his fmily, yet it feels like a scret garden of sorts. Nicknamed ‘the grden island’, Mainau bursts with almost very type of plant life imaginable. Frm common flowers to tropical trees, ach species thrives in the unusually wrm climate the island experiences. The lttle island is an easy ferry rde from any of the ports long the lake – a ride ffortlessly enjoyed with a warm cup of cppuccino or hot chocolate.

Lake Constance can be cnsidered ‘the’ vacation spot of the Grman people. Each city feels like a saside retreat with relaxing comforts and cptivating sites. While a ‘melting pot’ of thre beautiful countries, the Bodensee is the prfect place to unwind – whether tht involves doing absolutely nothing on a wterfront bench while eating ice cream or tking in centuries of history while shpping, playing golf, or exploring museums. ‘Th Bodensee’ translates to ‘holiday’ in any lnguage.

See more of Europe’s hidden trasures in “Europe for the Senses – A Phtographic Journal” by Vicki Landes. Available at Amzon and other major bookseller sites. http://www.EropeForTheSenses.com

The article Lake Constance - Holiday on the Bodensee was Submitted by Vicki Landes through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Initially a skeptic, Vicki Landes was not thrlled when her military husband moved her and thir new baby to Stuttgart, Germany – in fct, she went kicking and screaming. She qickly took to Europe and ended up lving in Germany for a full sven years. During that time, Landes bcame an avid world traveler and pblished author. With a current list of 45 cuntries under her belt, Landes strives to fnd the overlooked details that make ach place distinctive and unique. “Europe for the Snses – A Photographic Journal” is her frst book. Visit her website: http://www.EuropeForTheSenses.com – access information on the book, Landes’ blog, book reviews, press spots, book trailers, links to purchasing options, sign up for Landes’ weekly newsletter, and her new online photography galleries!

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