The best city hikes and walks in Bezirk Kreuzlingen

History This medieval residence is located in the historic center, not far from the Münster and the Obermarkt. It mainly dates from the 13th century and is among the oldest patrician houses in Constance. It belonged to wealthy merchant families linked to the trade of Lake Constance. Architectural features The building is famous for: • its tall Gothic facade, • its decorative frescoes, • its old-framed windows, • its typical appearance of medieval German bourgeois houses. The current painted facade features decorations inspired by the Renaissance and the historicist style of the 19th century. Historical importance Like other grand residences in Constance, the house testifies to the city's prosperity during: • medieval trade, • the imperial period, • the Council of Constance. Today, this house is one of the most photographed facades in the old town.

Zum Hohen Hafen is one of the remarkable historic houses on the Obermarkt, one of the oldest squares in the old town of Konstanz. L’Obermarkt ("upper market") was an important commercial and civic center from the Middle Ages onwards: * markets, * fairs, * public ceremonies, * gatherings related to the Council of Constance. The square still retains a strong medieval atmosphere today with: * old bourgeois houses, * painted facades, * historic signs, * cafes and restaurants. The house "Zum Hohen Hafen" The name means approximately "At the High Port". Like many medieval dwellings in Konstanz, it probably belonged to rich merchants or traders linked to lake trade. Among its features: * colorful historic facade, * windows with traditional shutters, * late Gothic architecture remodeled in the Renaissance, * prestigious location on the square. These houses often served as: * housing, * warehouse, * place of business. Current atmosphere Today, the Obermarkt is one of the most photogenic places in the old town: * shaded terraces, * fountains, * restored facades, * a very different atmosphere from the lively port district.

Kreuzlingen and Konstanz merge seamlessly here.

Two Cities Connected by Art It is the fact that the sculptures are not located on the border, but actually directly on it, half on Swiss and half on German territory, that gives the project its unique character. The two cities are thus literally connected through art. Many people contributed to the realization of this unique project. In addition to the collaboration between the two cities and the cooperation of numerous authorities on both sides, the project owes its success primarily to the private initiative of the Johannes Dörflinger Foundation. The Kreuzlingen-based foundation contributed approximately CHF 1,000,000 to realize the project. Art Border as a Visitor Magnet and Political Document The Art Border has now become a true visitor magnet. But the eight-meter-high sculptures attract attention not only from a tourist perspective. The Art Border is also the first work of art ever to be presented at a congress of the Council of Europe in 2007, as part of the 22nd Plenary Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. The exhibition honored the art border as a document for a free Europe without borders and as a milestone in the history of the neighborly relationship between the two countries, Germany and Switzerland.

The origins of St. Stephen's Church date back to late Roman times. The square lies to the south, outside the first settlement and later cathedral district. The earliest building is thought to have been either a secular market and court hall or a cemetery church. The church, dedicated to St. Stephen, was already in existence when the Diocese of Constance was founded at the end of the 6th century. It may have been a wooden structure. The pre-Romanesque church was damaged or destroyed during the Hungarian invasion of 926 and was probably rebuilt under Bishop Noting. At that time, a market already existed near the church, which was still located outside the walled city. During the Council of Constance (1414–1418), the court of appeal, the Roman Rota, met in St. Stephen's. In 1428, extensive expansion work began on the building, which lasted for three-quarters of a century and gave the exterior its present form. The side aisles were doubled in size. The nave was extended by three meters, and the church was now oriented to the east. A polygonal choir was added on the east side. The clerestory windows received Gothic tracery. In 1483, construction of the tower added to the south was begun. However, all of this work reflects a chronic shortage of funds. Gothic modifications were kept to a minimum and retained in simple early Gothic forms.

The pre-Reformation furnishings of St. Stephen's were largely lost in the turmoil of the Reformation. Only a portion of the current furnishings were created specifically for St. Stephen's. Many pieces come from elsewhere. The choir stalls, along with eight oil paintings of saints mounted above them, date from the early 15th century (partly from the cathedral). The stained-glass windows depicting saints, which have been installed in 1863, flanking the historicist central window in the choir, were probably created by Claus Nithard around the middle of the 15th century. Among the 16th-century contributions, the tabernacle, created by Hans Morinck in 1594, stands out. With its rich and vibrant figural program, it is one of the most important examples of its kind. Several epitaphs in the choir are by the same sculptor. The cycle of apostle images with credo texts on the nave pillars, which was uncovered during the recent restoration, is slightly older.

Powder Tower: It formed the corner of the inner city wall along the Rhine. Speculation about the circumstances and exact date of its construction is not historically verifiable. Today, the Powder Tower serves as the guild hall of the Niederburg Carnival Guild.

The Konstanz Funnel is the bay of Lake Constance east of Konstanz and north of Kreuzlingen. The outflow of the Upper Lake begins in the Konstanz Funnel, leading into the Seerhein. The eastern boundary of the Konstanz Funnel is roughly the line between the Hörnle (southeast tip of the Bodanrück) in the north and Bottighofen on the southern, Swiss shore, as well as the old Rhine bridge in the west. The Konstanz Funnel is the only area of the Upper Lake where a sovereign border exists between the neighboring countries – in this case, Germany and Switzerland – and even then, only in the western part near Konstanz.[1] The Dominican Island, belonging to the city of Konstanz, lies at the western end of the Konstanz Funnel on the left bank.