Meersburg (Bodensee)

We start our tour climbing the steep road that will take us to our first touristic attraction: the Fortress. This medieval castle is considered to be the oldest inhabited German fortress and also the town emblem. A local legend says that this castle was built starting with the 7th century, by the Merovingian king Dagobert 1st. The tour around the Fortress Museum will take you to a medieval living area, the Knight Hall, the Arms Hall, the well room, the dungeon and the chapels, but also a newer section that was the living (and death) quarters of one of Germany's best known poets: Annette von Droste-Hülshoff. Make sure not to miss the panoramic view of the old town and Lake Konstanz, with the Alps in the background. From here we shall walk to our next stop where we will enjoy a nice change of registry. We move from the medieval times to baroque period while visiting the New Castle. Built in the 18th century as the new residency of Constance Prince Bishops, the extravagant bishops’ apartments with stucco work and frescos, or Bathasar Neumann’s elegant staircase, will attest of the royal glamour of those days. And if that is not enough, enjoy the panoramic view from the garden's terrace. To wash down all this history, we shall stop at VINEUM Lake Constance, a famous local wine growing museum. Here you will find the oldest wine press from Lake Constance, an area where wine-growing tradition dates back to the 14th century. Don't miss the media console with a digital "Wishing Table" from the Brothers Grimm fairytale, and its changing virtual drinks table with its matching "table talk".